I have used Xmas papers for my card because I am a traditional girl at heart. I might be an expensive scrapper to keep – but I am the original Scrooge when it comes to making cards. So for me it is about using up the left-overs from layouts and making them into cards, rather than throwing them out.
Although there are 3 cards shown, there is only one basic design – one that is versatile enough to be used for any shape/size card and for any occasion. The best part about it is that it is quick and easy to make – even though it allows for every card to be different.
It works best with a double sided paper where one pattern is a background one (either a small pattern eg dots or a subdued pattern – just nothing brash and fancy) and the other is a more interesting pattern (stripes are particularly good for this).
Adjust the sizing of any element of the card to suit the size card you want to make. Although the instructions are general – I am referring to the middle card of the three.
Step 1I have used a strip of cardstock that is 12” x 6” in size and have folded it so that it is a 6” x6” square card that opens vertically. I inked around the face of the card in a complimentary colour to the patterned paper.
Step 2Then I used a strip of double sided paper that was originally about 6” (15cm) in length and trimmed to 6” width. To start with I used a border punch along one edge – making sure the striped pattern was vertical (the stripes look better going up and down – you don’t want your card looking fat do you??).
Remember I am Scrooge McScrapper – keep the long thin strip of paper you get leftover when you use the punch. You will need this later.
Step 3Trim the piece of patterned paper from step 2 so that it is about 9.5cm deep (top to bottom). Ink all edges with the same ink as you inked the cardstock and adhere to the card face about 1cm from the bottom.
Step 4Take the small strip left from the border punch and turn it over so you can see the fancy pattern (the stripe). Again ink the edges in the same ink as before and adhere to the top of the base paper with the fancy pattern side showing.
Step 5Take the left over bit from Step 3 and along the bottom edge tear it so that you get a nice distressed edge to it. You can ink the torn edge if you want to – but I didn’t for mine, just all the straight edges. You can adhere it anywhere you want over the base piece of patterned paper – where ever looks best. I’ve done mine so that there is about one third of the base patterned paper showing above it and two thirds below it.
Step 6Now comes the embellishing part. I’ve used combinations of stickers,
Green Tara flowers, a ribbon and either brads or rhinestones for my embellishments. For two of the cards I was even Scroogier and punched a circle out of the patterned paper from where the flower was going, so that it would hide the hole.
So for the middle card I made the card sentiment out of a cardstock sticker and placed it on the right near the top of the patterned paper. I’ve then taken a 7cm
Green Tara flower and popped the patterned paper circle (which I inked) on as the flower centre (I used pop-dots for this) and then onto that I used a brad which I had
Kindyglitzed. The flower goes to the left and slightly down compared to the sticker sentiment. It’s really a matter of playing around until they look good to you.
The last touch is a little red ribbon bow – I simply tied it around the card and cut. Too easy!!
Now you can tinker around with this basic design to your heart’s content. Move the little strip up and down compared to the base paper; use punched out dots rather than ribbon; rubons rather than a sticker for the sentiment; there are heaps of border punches you can use;
Kindyglitz part of the pattern – the list is endless.
So have a go at this card – you know you have the leftovers to do it. We’d love to see your card in the gallery.
Materials - 123 StoreOriginally it pretty much all came from the store - the ranges used are last years
Little Yellow Bicycle and
Making Memories Christmas ranges. I've only listed those items that are currently in stock though.
Little Yellow Bicycle - Christmas Magic
- Cardmaking Rubons
Kaisercraft
- Split Pea rhinestones
Kindyglitz
- Crystalina
Bazzill
- Sprout
- French Vanilla
Fiskars Border Punch
- Effervessence
- Apron Lace
- Scalloped Sentiment
Green Tara
- 7cm blossoms - Red and Green
Materials - Own Stash- Red and Green organza ribbon
LYB – Christmas Magic
- Glitter snowflakes
- Brads
- Cardstock stickers
VersaMagic
- Hint of Pesto
- Tea Leaves
- Red Magic
