It’s time to send notes of appreciation for all those wonderful holiday gifts and thoughts you received in the last few weeks. Here are three easy cards to slide you into the creative mood. Sometimes it is difficult to transform from holiday mode to everyday life. Start off with these “no brainer” cards and you can develop more ideas as you go.
I used the circle cut out cards from Stamp Express. They now are available in colors like black, red, yellow, green, pink, blue and purple as well as white. Cover the bottoms with Bo-Bunny designer paper, and add a stamped message, sticker or image. Purchase circle cut out cards here.
Still in the winter theme I used a snowflake sticker on the black and white sample. The Sizzix tag sports the sentiment leaving the inside to write a message. On the key collage, I finally got to use Stampin’ Up butcher twine with an Accucut buckle and the stamped message on the circle. This stamp is from Hero Arts, but you could use any that fit the round Nesties circle. My third card is thinking of Spring. Daffodils are Just-Rite and colored with Copic markers. The ribbon is May Arts. Check out stampexpressstore.com for all supplies. There is a SALE going on in January.
Now write a brief message and send these notes out to those you love. Friends and family would much rather receive a real card than an e-mail blurb from you in the new year!
Happy 2012!
Thank You Card #1
ThankYou Card #2
Thank You Card #3
It’s almost the new year and time to make the calendars. We have 12″x12″ and 8″x8″ wall calendars that are blank. These are nice because they fit into scrapbooks as pages at the end of the year and you have a record of everything that happened. They are also great for recording baby’s first year or the first year of a marriage or job. Today we are featuring a 4″x4″ desk calendar. You might want one for work and one for home. These also make great gifts. They come in a kit with precut chipboard, designer papers, calendars, and rings to bind them. If you have a Bind-it-all you could use it instead of the rings. Add your own embellishments. It’s a good way to use up parts of sticker packages, buttons, flowers and jewels. Best of all, you can design these around your personal interests. If you collect snowmen, put one on every page. You could have a melting one in the summer months. If you like cows, put a cow print on each page! You get the idea. All materials are available at our on-line store. Check it out now!
January 2012 Sample Page
February 2012 Sample Page
March 2012 Sample Page
Everyone loves homemade sweets during the holidays. Here are two of my favorite recipes that you can package in papercrafted boxes. The boxes come blank.
Order here at our on-line store. Then cut windows with Nesties and cover the window with clear plastic. Here are some yummy recipes.
Peanut Butter Party Mix
1 box Captain Crunch Peanutbutter cereal
1 bag pretzel sticks
1 can peanuts
1# melted white chocolate
Mix dry ingredients and drizzle melted chocolate over them. Mix well. Spread out on waxed paper to cool. Package in your handcrafted box or place in plastic bags and stamp a cardstock header for the bag.
Peppermint Bark
12 candy canes hammered to crush
1# white chocolate melted
Mix together and spread on waxed paper to cool. Break into chunks and package.
Candy Box - Blank
Candy Box - Hand Made Sample
If you need quick and easy gifts for the Sunday school class, book club, students or anyone who likes to read, consider making bookmarks. A simple tag decorated and bearing a ribbon or tassel can be made from scraps. Or, cut a corner from an envelope, cover with paper and decorate it. This slides over the corner of the page to keep your place. My samples today were big paper clips. Tie a ribbon to the top and then cover with two back to back punched or diecut circles. Add embellishments or stamped images. This is a useful gift that will last forever. And when the recipient uses it they’ll b thinking of you.
3 Samples of Paper Clip Bookmarks
When you need a small remembrance during the holidays these candy favors are great. Use them for co-workers, teachers, beauticians, neighbors, and children. Purchase the clear plastic containers at
www.stampexpressstore.com Cut holiday double-sided paper to 4-1/2″x3-1/2″. round the corners and punch a 1/4″ round hole at the top. Insert into plastic. Fill the bubble with small candies. Close and tie with a ribbon about 9″ long. Decorate the front with flowers, stickers, or stamped images. Cut two scalloped circles with Nesties. We used 2-1/2″ and 2-3/4″. Or, you can punch them out if you have punches about that size. Stamp a message or picture on the circles and glue to the back. We used Just-Rite stamps. Everyone will love this unique gift.
- Front View of Party Favor Sample
Back View of Party Favor Sample
While Barb Barton and I were crafting together, she mentioned that her father-in-law always gives money as a gift. last year he spent more than $2 a piece for money holders to present them. Since we have an Accucut die for money holders, I gave her some i had cut out. Here is an example of the way Barb decorated them for a Christmas gift. She covered it with designer paper, added a ribbon and gift tag, and embellished with a flower and snowflake. Maybe you would like to make some of these for your holiday giving. The blank money holders are available at our on-line store. You just add the imagination and love. And the best news is that they only cost 83 cents each plus the scrap paper you use to decorate them.
Money Holder Sample - Closed
Money Holder Sample - Open
Money Holder Blank
These circle cut-out cards are such FUN to make. (and easy too). Cut designer paper to cover the front with a narrow border. Then choose a stamped image (we used Just-Rite stamps) that can be cut into a circle and layered. We used the Nestabilities from Spellbinder in our Cuttlebug die cut machine. The images were colored with Copic markers, but you could use pencils or whatever your choice of coloring technique that you like. Some elements were mounted on foam tape for a 3-D effect. Ink pads used were Memento from Tsukineko. The blank diecut cards are available at our online store along with other products used in these projects.
Go to www.stampexpressstore.com/store/die-cuts.html/
Friends Fill Your Life With Joy
Plant Smiles
Our Craft Robo (electric diecut machine) was getting dusty because we didn’t learn how to use it efficiently. Our son figured it out and cut out 2 new projects that are now for sale on the web store. Below is a sample of a gift card holder. It comes blank. You just fold, glue and decorate. We added a bellyband with a charm, but you could use a sticker, button, or flower. The other project is shown on our home page. It uses a circle cut out card blank which we have decorated with designer paper and stamped images. It too is available blank for your crafting creativity. Have fun with these 2 unique paper projects and start your holiday off right.
Gift Card Holder
click here to purchase blank gift card holders
Circle Cut Out Christmas Card
click here to purchase blank circle card cut outs
Here are some samples of the holiday cards that Betsy Gibney is planning to teach at her class. You can register for the holiday card workshop on Saturday, Nov 12, by clicking here. Or you can call us at 717-938-3425. Bring your personal tool kit and plan to have FUN!
Christmas Joy Card
Christmas Angel Card
May Peace Be Your Gift Card
The Embossed Christmas Card
Winter Magic Card
If you want to make quick and easy holiday cards, purchase these kits on our
website store here. Everything is cut out and ready to color and glue. Some background papers may vary because of availability, but the results are all perfect. The fence card is impressive and the gatefold card is simple while looking complicated. I colored everything with Copic markers, but you can use colored pencils. Be sure to stock up on Scor-tape and Tombow glues. And, get crafting for the holidays.
Gatefold Christmas Card
Click here to purchase the Gatefold Christmas Card Kit
Snowman Fence Card
Click here to purchase the Snowman Fence Card Kit
