How to Create Quick and Easy Christmas Cards

Even though I love creating cards with lots of details, sometimes, I just need a few quick and easy cards. When I do, there are a few things I reach for most of the time...

First, I go through my pre-made tags.  These are often sold in packages from Stampin' Up! For my card sample below, the Christmas tree image is a tag from a retired pre-made kit. 

The second product I reach for is DSP, often with ephemera in the package. My second card is one such product, North Pole Delivery DSP.  The postage stamp was made with the Keeping Traditions stamp set and the background paper is from the Elegant Pine Snowflakes DSP.

Each card took very little time to create but both project what I want, one a more formal card and the second, a fun and whimsical card.

The next time you need a few quick cards, give these ideas a try!

'Tis the Season...for Mittens!

With the cold front hitting the nation today and tomorrow, I decided to create a card with the Stay Warm stamp set. I decided to combine it with  the Global Design Project's weekly challenge. This week it is a card sketch challenge.

I began with an A2 card base using Shaded Spruce card stock and cut a panel of the Shaded Spruce and snowflake DSP from the Elegant Pine Snowflake DSP.  I also cut another piece from the DSP pack and mounted it on a strip of Cherry Cobbler card stock.  I used a 1 3/4 circle punch to cut three circles, one in Cherry Cobbler, Shaded Spruce and Secret Sea card stock.  I also cut three 1 1/2 circles in Basic White card stock and stamped the mittens from the set in the coordinating colors of ink.  I used the coordinating Stampin' Write markers to draw a squiggly line on each to connect each set of mittens.  I used the Wink of Stella pen to add some sparkle to the mittens and blend the ink to create pale colors on the mittens.

I stamped my sentiment from a retired stamp set in Shaded Spruce ink and mounted it with dimensionals to the right side of the card.  To finish the card, I added some small pale green rhinestones for a bit more sparkle.

To see more cards with this sketch, visit Instagram and search #gdp522.  

Dog Lovers Fa La La

Do you know anyone who loves dogs?...bears?...cats?  The ephemera pack in the North Pole Delivery DSP  is full of fun and whimsical images of animals and this little golden lab is just one of them.

This card has a Poppy Parade card base and a panel from one of the designs in the North Pole Delivery DSP pack.  The sentiment is from the Keeping Traditions stamp set and the ink colors are Petal Pink, Real Red and Shaded Spruce.  

I love the postal them in this DSP pack.  It is so on trend right now!  Be sure to check it out!

O Come Let Us Adore Him Card

This card gives me a sense of peace.  I used the stamp set, A Child is Born to stamp and fussy cut the manger and Baby Jesus.  I adhered them to a pre-made tag from a last year's kit. Then I stamped the sentiment and stars in Secret Sea ink.  The background is the Elegant Pine Snowflakes.  

...a very simple card, but elegant too.

Wrapped in Cheer November Paper Pumpkin

Have you subscribed to the November Paper Pumpkin kit? It promises to be a great help in preparing for the upcoming holiday season!  The contents of the kit are listed below.

November Paper Pumpkin:  Wrapped in Cheer

Craft festive goody boxes perfect for holding gift cards or small treats!

• Makes 8 projects: 4 each of 2 tag designs with 8 identical coordinating boxes • Foldable box bases and precut paper pieces

• Linen thread and red dot embellishments

• Coordinating colors: Basic Beige, Cherry Cobbler, Mossy Meadow

(Classic Stampin’ Spot), Old Olive

Delicate greenery pieces with double-sided printing add a sophisticated touch.

Subscribe by November 10th at www.stampinup.com with 

Demonstrator Tonya Byrd

Stampin' Up!'s November Creative Challenge

I love creating cards for challenges and this month, SU!'s challenge is to create a nontraditional colored Christmas card.  I chose Petal Pink, Calypso Coral, and Granny Apple Green to use on my card.  The stamp set I've chosen is called Merriest Moments, unfortunately it has retired. There is a die and embossing folder that coordinates with this set.  

I started with a Petal Pink A2 card base.  I stamped "Joy" in Petal Pink on the card front for a tone-on-tone effect.  I cut two pieces of the focal point from the embossing folder in Granny Apple Green two tone card stock.  I stamped some greenery from the set in Granny Apple Green ink and cut them out.  I stamped poinsettias and holly berries in Petal Pink and Calypso Coral inks. 

Once all the elements had been cut out, I assembled the card layers and added some glitter dots to finish it off.  

Upcoming November Paper Pumpkin kit

If you are like me, my family likes to receive gift cards instead of gifts over the holiday season.  This month's Paper Pumpkin is 8 small boxes with coordinating tags that will hold gift cards.  They also have a food safe coating on them so they can be used for treats as well.  

If you don't give gift cards, the panels can be cut apart and used to create cards, so either way, this month's kit will be handy for preparing for the upcoming holiday season!

If you need more than 8 gift card holders, you can login to your Paper Pumpkin account and increase your number of kits to reach the number of card holders needed.

The subscription deadline is November 10th, so don't delay!