Papercrafting: 2024 Christmas Cards

 

My first love remains papercrafting and cardmaking. I still make all of my holiday and birthday cards for friends and family and remain honored each year that several keep and use them in their own holiday decorating. 

I have amassed quite the collection of papers but can't resist checking out new ones every year and sometimes combining with collections from previous years. I start stalking Michaels in September for their holiday papers since they go fast when they come out. Here's this year's crop! 

Supplies

• Holiday Themed Papers: New stacks this year High Shine and Holiday Cheer by Recollections
• White 110lb Cardstock: Recollections
• Glitter Cardstock (Amazon)
• Foam Tape and Squares (Dollar Tree)
• Tape Runner and Tape
• Self Adhesive Rhinestones

See? Stacks on stacks! 

I found some wonderful tree images via my Creative Fabrica subscription that are reminiscent of handmade papercuts. Thanks to modern technology I can use my Cricut to cut! I uploaded the images to Cricut Design Space, used the offset feature to create another layer, and cut them out.

I love metallics and glitter papers but especially at Christmas. I cut the offset layer from foil cardstock and the tree from glitter. Then layered the papercut tree on to the offset layer using foam squares. 

For a few I went glitter on glitter. The more sparkle, the better!

I chose various papers from the stacks to use as background and kept these fairly simple (for me) since I have to keep postage in mind and I am convinced the post office says "Not her again". 

Oops a little off on the placement here. Photos don't lie, but at any rate, you get the idea!

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Paper Crafting: 2023 Christmas Cards

 

Now that I know my Christmas cards have been received and the Post Office hasn't sent me a cease and desist order, I can share the cards I made for friends and family this Christmas season. I previously shared the Hanukkah cards I made and said in that post that Mr.Chocolate thought I was nuts when I said I'd be quilling our cards this year. Here are the Christmas cards! I'm still old school and since cardmaking is my first crafting love, I love making them for those I love! 

Supplies:

• 110lb Cardstock for Card Base (Recollections from Michaels)
• Holiday Themed Papers (Michaels)
• Coordinating glitter and Foil Papers (Recollections)
• Coordinating Quilling Strips
• Coordinating Sequins

I was on the lookout early for the Recollections holiday papers this year. Frosted Juniper and Glistening Snow are from this year. Black and White Winter is from last year. 

I'm consistent in my card construction:

• Cut 110lb paper 7x10
• Score
• Cut chosen decorative papers in panels and layer
• Attach focal 

I didn't take pictures of the quilling process ( I need to grow more arms and hands), I used a random approach and cut out the base tree shapes using my Cricut Explore and then just started making coils and swirls! 

I like to make a few different versions of cards versus making the same card for everyone. Part of that is because I can never limit myself to one set of papers and another part is because I try to match cards to their recipients. For this set, I cut modern looking trees from gold glitter paper and used silver and gold edged quilling strips from Quilling.com and finished with mirror sequins and rhinestones.

I used the Frosted Juniper papers for others, matching the colors with green glitter trees and coils in blues, greens and whites, and then embellished with rhinestones and sequins.

I loved the Black and White Winter stack I got last year (so much so I bought another after Christmas!) and have a few friends who are black and white fans like me. 

For these I cut trees from glitter silver and white papers, and then used coordinating quilling papers. 

I get these ideas before thinking about mailing them and then wait with bated breath! 

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Sundays on Silverado

Crafting for a Cause

Being a cardmaker, I always have more supplies than I can use (sssshhh don't tell) so when I see a way to use them that is also for a great purpose, I'm thrilled. I get such joy out of making cards and even more joy when friends and family tell me they keep them, decorate with them, or re-purpose them to give to others.  

Jennifer McGuire who is a "world famous stamper" ( my words...she's a stamping queen!) is one of the generous crafters behind "Caring Hearts Card Drive 2017" where cardmakers are invited to make holiday cards for elderly residents of nursing homes. From Jennifer's post: 

The purpose of our card drive is to collect holiday cards for the elderly that live in nursing homes. Vera Yates started this card drive 8 years ago, in honor of her mom’s request. Last year we received over 66,000 cards and distribute the cards to various nursing homes throughout the US, Canada, Australia and United Kingdom.

Vera and I are excited to continue bringing holiday cheers to many nursing homes.

Needless to say,  I wanted to participate and here are some of the cards I'm sending.  

I had a few sheets left from a DCWV Christmas stack that were perfect for this. The stack came with a sheet of panels I used for the focals of the cards. 

I cut and trimmed the panels, then mounted on coordinating cardstock. Each card is sized A-2 ( 5.5 x 4.25) so I cut slightly smaller panels from candy cane and candy cane striped paper ass the background. 

I accented each of the cards with Stickles glitter glue and/or self adhesive rhinestones. Kept them simple but fun! 

I also added a Christmas tree washi tape to some of the cards. The papers really did all the work because they're so pretty! 

I also read recently about a little guy named Jacob who is battling an inoperable brain tumor. Jacob's wish is to have his room decorated with Christmas cards so I was more than happy to send one off to him! 

If you'd like to send Jacob a card as well, here are the details: 

Jacob Thompson

c/o Maine Medical

22 Bramhall St.

Room 653

Portland, Maine 04102

Ding Dong My Cards Are Done!

Not that my cards are wicked. For all my pretend grumbling, I can't imagine Christmas without making cards. I'm usually done earlier but something's been distracting me this year....hmmmm....maybe blogging :) ? But they're all (57) addressed, stamped (including extra postage for heavier ones Post Office people!) and on their way. Here are a few I remembered to take pics of before sending:

Forgot to change my camera setting for detail ... Me&My Big Ideas glittered polka dot paper, glittered winter scene rub-o, K&Co glittery self adhesive scrapbook borders

Me&My Big Ideas music paper, K&CO glittery scrapbook border scrap, misc snowflake and postage rub-ons, focal sticker from Michael's $1 section Christmas collection

Studio G Rhinestone strip, another diecut sticker from Michael's $1 pack, Me&My Big Ideas paper

In years past I was obsessive about every card being exactly the same. Then a few years ago I couldn't find enough of something , got over it and made different cards, and since then have made more and more variety .

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