Christmas Cards

I'm beginning to receive such terrific hand-stamped Christmas cards in the mail!  It's so much fun to see what my friends have created!  Here's one using A Cardinal Christmas stamp set, along with the Top Note Die for the Big Shot, as well as the Scallop Oval Punch.  This  beauty was designed and created by Jeanne Gage of Naples, NY.

This next card is from Fern Legters of Bloomfield, NY.  Fern used the wonderful stamp set, Winter Post, to create her card.  I love the vintage feel of this card, and the color scheme is just perfect for that look.

Don't Forget!

    * To order your retiring stamp sets before they're gone forever on January 4th – click HERE for the listing!
    * To register for the Birthday Card Class – click HERE!  Registration is due by December 27th.

Dasher Tag Card

We're well into December – many people already have their Christmas cards done – and I'm just pulling out the very popular stamp called Dasher.  It was a "must have" when I first saw it, then I got busy with other things.  Do you know how that goes?  Anyway, thought I'd share what I came up with.

I made this card with a base of Real Red card stock stamped with the filigree stamp from Priceless stamp set.  I tore and layered on a couple of different prints from Merry Moments Designer Series Paper packet.  The red and vanilla print is also from that same packet.  Dasher is stamped in Chocolate Chip Classic ink, then a 2-Way Glue Pen holds some Dazzling Diamonds on his antlers.  I used the Crop-A-Dile to set a Pewter Jumbo Eyelet then threaded through some 1-1/4" Chocolate Chip Striped Grosgrain Ribbon and tied that off with a piece of Old Olive Taffeta Ribbon from the Ribbon Originals Mistletoe (Holiday Mini catalog).

The tag is not permanently adhered, so when you pull it out, here's what it looks like.  The "Merry Christmas" is from A Cardinal Christmas stamp set.

THINGS YOU'LL NEED:

Item No. 116816 Dasher   $8.95
Item No. 111760 A Cardinal Christmas   $23.95
Item No. 115672 Merry Moments DSP   $9.95
Item No. 115617 Chocolate Chip 1-1/4" Striped Ribbon   $8.95
Item No. 116792 Mistletoe Ribbon Originals   $10.95
Item No. 108362 Crop-A-Dile    $29.95
Item No. 108432 Pewter Jumbo Eyelets   $9.95
Item No. 109109 Vintage Brads (Pewter)   $8.95
Item No. 100425 2-Way Glue Pen   $3.50
Item No. 102023 Dazzling Diamonds Glitter   $4.50

And the Christmas Card Ideas Keep Coming!

Here we go with some more terrific Christmas Card ideas!  This post will wrap up all the great Christmas card ideas from The Heartfelt Stampers team of Stampin' Up! demonstrators.  I feel l like I should say "and let's give these ladies a hand"!  Didn't they do a great job?

The first is from Debbie Rought of Middlesex, NY.  Debbie paired the Level 1 hostess stamp set Holiday Best with the trio of snowflakes from Serene Snowflakes stamp set for a great look.  The Big Shot and the Top Note Die made short work of creating this card, and Debbie did a wonderful job adding interest with the different layers, sponging, cotton ribbon and beads from the Red Bead Duo.

This card comes from Jacki Wrubel and uses the Sweet Treat Cups to make a "wow" statement!  Jacki stamped the Christmas image from the Level 1 hostess stamp set Holiday Best behind the cup, then filled it with artificial snow!  How fun is that?  Jacki's tree image is from Lovely as a Tree, still a fabulous stamp set after being in the Stampin' Up! catalog for years.  She stamped the tree with VersaMark added Iridescent Ice embossing powder and heat set it with the Heat Tool.

Next up is a card with a lot of interest!  Melissa created this fabulous card using Cold & Cuddly stamp set from the Holiday Mini Catalog.  I love her unusual color scheme; this card wouldn't be strictly for Christmas, but would work for any winter occasion.  Melissa took lots of time stamping then cutting out each individual component.  One of the "coolest" (no pun intended) ideas with this card is stamping the pieces of ice onto glossy card stock — what a great look!

Great Technique Christmas Cards

Here are some more great cards from the Heartfelt Stampers team of Stampin' Up! demonstrators.  If you've missed the other card ideas, scroll down through past posts — you won't want to miss all these terrific cards!

Dionne Wallington. a team member in Florida, chose this beautiful color combination of Rich Razzleberry and Brushed Silver to create a very elegant card.  The greeting is from a stamp set called All Holiday that is just that — sentiments you can use throughout the year.  Dionne stamped both the greeting and the snowflakes with VersaMark ink, then poured on silver embossing powder and heat set it with the Heat Tool.  She added a Clear Rhinestone Brad to the corner to complete her look.

Did you know that there are now new hostess stamp sets to choose from in the Holiday Mini Catalog?  And what better way to start your Christmas card making than to host a workshop and earn your stamp set free!  Here's a great card using Patterned Pines Level 1 hostess stamp set, along with some paper from Merry Moments Designer Series Paper.  The sentiment comes from Short & Sweet stamp set.  To create a two-colored stamped image, stamp first in Real Red Classic ink, then using the Blender Pen, wipe away the red on the stars, then add Summer Sun by using a Stampin' Write Marker.  This method is much easier than using markers throughout when you're changing just a bit of color on the stamp.  (This card wasn't signed, so I don't know who gets the credit!)

More Christmas Card Ideas

Here are a couple more Christmas card ideas I've received from The Heartfelt Stampers team members.

Here's a card from April Waite.  April used the stamp sets Snow Swirled and Warm Words to create her beautiful card.  The background is created with the Big Shot and the Flourish Texturz Plate.  It coordinates beautifully with the swirly look of the tree.  April added some corner rounding to the edges of her main image, completing the swirly, more rounded theme.  And there's no where more perfect than a Christmas card to use a little Dazzling Diamonds glitter!

Next up is an elegant card using many new products from he Holiday Mini Catalog — Delightful Decorations stamp set, which coordinates beautifully with the Ornament Punch, as well as Platinum Shimmer Paint, Silver Elastic Cord and a greeting from Four the Holidays.  There wasn't a name on the back of this card, so I don't know who to give credit to!

Christmas Cards Galore

I recently participated in a card swap with my team of Stampin' Up! demonstrators, The Heartfelt Stampers.  We decided to share samples of Christmas cards, and wow, did I receive a lot of great ideas!  I'll share a few each day with you, and maybe one will inspire you to create your very own Christmas cards this year.  You have plenty of time to start! 

The first one is from Aly Schilling.  Her work is simply fabulous!  Don't you just love the yummy Sleigh Bells cotton ribbon featured in the Holiday Mini Catalog?  It ties so beautifully and brings in just a touch of Christmas color.  Aly used the delightful stamp set called Snow Buddies which is a Level 2 hostess set in the Holiday Mini Catalog to create this adorable little snowman.  She used an Aqua Painter and some Sarah Sand Classic Ink to shade in the right side, making him look ever so real!  Several images from that same stamp set are stamped on various layers, and she added just a touch of designer paper from the Merry Moments Designer Series Paper (main catalog) for interest.  A Mini Library Clip adds an additional spark.

Next is a card from Ann Wallawander, a team member from Buffalo, NY.  Ann used the Build-A-Bear dies and the Big Shot to create this darling Santa Bear.  And while Stampin' Up! doesn't sell puff paint, Ann added a bit to the trim of Santa Bear's outfit to make it "pop".  And what could be better than a piece of Christmas Cocoa Specialty Designer Series Paper with shimmery snowflakes for the background!

Guest Designer – Phyl Lyons

I have a super talented customer and wanted to share her artwork with you.  She’s made some spectacular Christmas cards!  I asked Phyl to give us some tips on how she created her beautiful cards, so the comments below are hers:

The day I designed this card, I had just received my beautiful new striped grosgrain ribbon and desperately wanted to use it — so this card gave me the opportunity!  I sponged the oval on whisper white card stock then stamped the trees from Lovely as a Tree stamp set.

For this card and the next, I really got interested in creating backgrounds.  I used glossy paper, VersaMark Pad and the brayer.  I stamped the image with VersaMark onto Glossy paper, let it dry a couple of minutes (the dryer the VersaMark, the whiter your finished imaged).  Next, I inked my  brayer and rolled it over the stamped cardstock until I covered the whole piece of cardstock and the color was uniform.  Then I rubbed off any excess ink with a tissue.  After that step, I’m now ready to make the rest of my card.

For this card, I used my punch to add a "collar" on the tag.  I just love the Dasher stamp set!

Thanks so much, Phyl, for sharing your beautiful holiday projects!  Phyl used the following Stampin’ Up! products:

Item No. 115026 Lovely as a Tree stamp set   $27.95
Item No. 116816 Dasher stamp   $8.95
Item No. 115617 Chocolate Chip 1-1/4" Chocolate Chip Striped Grosgrain Ribbon
                            10 yds./$8.95
Item No. 109052 Real Red 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon   15 yds./$7.95
Item No. 108340 Rund Tab Punch   $12.95
Item No. 102599 Glossy White card stock   25/$5.95
Item No. 102283 VersaMark Pad   $7.50
Item No. 102395 Brayer   $12.50