Making Christmas Cards for the First Time

 Making your own Christmas cards doesn't have to be a daunting task! You don't have to mass produce!

While Christmas cards are cheaper at any discount store, and quick to sign and address, a handmade card is a work of art and a gift of time! A handmade card is one of a kind and often remains a treasured memento.

If sending this type of heartfelt message at Christmas is your goal, here's how to do it! How about making 10 cards? That's a good goal for a beginner.

Choose a patterned or themed paper. Double sided is best because it gives you 2 patterns on one piece to choose from and the colors coordinate.

To discover the Stampin' Up! products I recommend for these cards, click on the underlined links below.

The Designer Series Paper I chose for this sample is Painted Christmas from Stampin' Up!

The card base cardstock is Shaded Spruce

The inside layer is white cardstock basic white cardstock

The glue recommended is Tombo Multi-purpose glue

or double sided tape runner  in a refillable dispenser, Stampin' Seal

The investment for 10+ cards is about $25. You can mail them in A2 envelopes or make your own.

This Stampin' Up! Designer Series Paper comes in 12" x 12" size.

Painted Christmas Designer Series Paper (DSP) has traditional colors and designs. There are 12 pages of double sided papers.  

                                                

With six of the 12 pages, cut a 4x12 piece off of each. 

Next take each piece, and cut them into two 4" x 5 1/4" (*) pieces.  

The remaining piece measures 1 1/2".

Out of the Shaded Spruce cardstock, cut each 8 1/2" x 11" piece in half. This is a standard card base, an A2 card.  Score it at 4 1/4" and fold in half.  The card now measures 4 1/4" x 5 1/2".   

Each layer you put on the front relates to this size and is adjusted smaller by 1/4". So each piece of DSP is 1/4" smaller, or 4 x 5 1/4", as stated in the paragraph above at the *.

For the front layer for your Christmas card, use either side of the printed DSP, and attach it with a fine bead of multi-purpose liquid glue or double sided tape.

Add a circle sentiment and ribbon or something similar. 

                                    

Cut a white layer for an inside sentiment or handwritten message, size 4" x 5 1/4" (*), the same size as the layer on the front. 

                                         

Note that you can add the remaining piece of 4" x 1 1/2" from the front piece of DSP, to the bottom edge of this inside white layer for accent.

For an alternative style for the card front, score the front in half at 2 1/8" and fold it towards the inside of the card.  This could create a pocket for a gift card or currency.  To create the pocket, glue it along the top and bottom.

Attach a piece of DSP, which will extend over the whole card front, so that when you open the card, the pattern on the reverse side is seen as well.  

                                        

Another style with the folded front would be to make an easel card, the kind of card that stands. 

For the easel card, turn the card sideways and attach the DSP to the bottom half of the folded front, as shown in these two cards. 

The last two cards here are examples of card fronts by using strips of the Designer Series Paper pieces, similar to the 1 1/2" piece remaining from the first example at the top of this page.   The first card below uses 2 pieces of 1" x 4"  and 2 pieces of 1" x 3" paper.  The next card uses 7,  1/2" x 3" pieces on a layer. 

So, now you have some ideas for easily assembled Christmas cards. Cards that you can put together easily and know that your heartfelt Christmas message will be appreciated and perhaps treasured!

Get started now.  These instructions or patterns are really for any themed beginner style cards. I'd always like to know if you chose any of these styles. Feel free to comment.

Find more card styles and patterns on Instagram and Face Book: Card Connoisseur.  Shop at my Stampin' Up! online store at www.susanboback.stampinup.net.

Thanks for stopping by!  Be Blessed!  sb