Who's Ready for Christmas?

I'm not!...but here I am anyway, faced with the inevitable...

Christmas is coming!

Like many of us, every year I think I have more time than I really do, "Heck, it's only early November. I have plenty of time to craft and create and plan." But, before I know it, I am frantically on Kodak Gallery looking for a photo card and hoping it will make it here before December 22. Then, I can thoughtlessly scribble our names on them, stick them in the envelope and hopefully mail them by December 24.

Well, not this year! I am determined to get my craft on and go for it. One of my favorite past times used to be crafting, but it was first replaced by opening my own business and then by having kids. I used to hand make all of my Christmas cards and many of my gifts because it was fun and I liked it, and I want to do it again! So, this year I am going to start off by making my Christmas cards.

I first made these cards - or something  similar - about 10 years ago, and have always liked them very much...PLUS they are so easy and can be done really cheap! I have made a lot of stylistic changes since I first made them, and so here they are...

SUPPLIES

Cards: Packs of 50 cards and envelopes can be purchased  in stores (about $10 per pack). They have a flat surface. You can also purchase Watercolor Cards or Creative Cards, which have a heavier feel and more expensive look.

Paper: Scrap book paper, handmade paper, newspaper, tissue paper - whatever type of paper suits your style. I had some Christmas paper but I also used blue patterned paper and some other paper from paper packs in winter/Christmas colors....decide what fits your style.

Trim: Ribbon, crystals, trimming, craft paper (optional depending on design)

Cutters: I used a Portable Paper Trimmer, pinking shears, and regular scissors.

Paper Tearing Tool (optional): One of my favorite scrapbook tools ever. I used if for making tags too (tutorial on that one coming up next week!)

Adhesive: The type of adhesive will depend on the paper and trim you select. I used glue dots and photo adhesive. Glue will work too, and maybe necessary or easier for certain designs such as the trunk and if you are using small fabric trims (see green tree below).

INSTRUCTIONS

Tree

Cut lengths of ribbon: I used four lengths, 4.5", 3.5", 2.5", and 1.5". You may need to snip off a little here and there to adjust for placement and the size of your card. (The ribbon or paper doesn't necessarily stay these measurements once you trim it up)

OR

Rip/Cut: Rip the paper into long lengths using the paper ripper or trimmer (depending on if you want a clean edge or a ripped edge). Make strips approximately 1/2" wide (it will be larger in areas and smaller in other areas - if you use the ripper). The paper strips can also have a straight clean edge - just cut the paper into 1/2" strips. Cut them into lengths of 4.5:, 3.5", 2.5", and 1.5".

Decide if you want the edges of your tree to be a straight cut or a pinking shear cut and if you want them angled (if so, cut from the bottom of the ribbon/paper up and in about 1/2"). You can lay the pieces out on a flat surface to do this. I find it easier to affix the paper strips to the card (with adhesive just in the middle), place the trunk and then using a ruler draw a light pencil line. The I cut. After cutting, apply more adhesive.

Trunk

Decide what you want to use as a trunk. 1/4" ribbon - grosgrain or satin - works well, just trim each end off at an angle. Rick rack can be a trunk. You can also use a brown scrapbook paper cut into a thin 1/8-1/4" strip and then cut to the correct length. A paper bag will also work as the trunk. My original idea used brown thread and I actually stitched the paper and ribbon to the card with a sewing machine.

Layout

Place your paper strips on the card and when you are happy with the placement begin glueing from the bottom up. Lay trunk into position and glue down.

Topper

For some cards I used a star stamp and for some I used crystals, and honestly, the trees look great without a topper too.

Inside

I am printing a photo of the munchkins and using photo corners to affix it on the inside of the card (the photos are my favorite part of a holiday card). On the opposite side, I will write a personal greeting...I may cheat a little and print out a little something on the computer and glue it on the inside or even use a "Happy Holidays" or "Seasons Greetings" stamp and just sign our names. (see top photo)

I made a few different styles of cards to show you how much fun you can have and that is doesn't have to be out of Christmas paper.....and for those who don't celebrate Christmas, I am working on a design for that too.

Same paper - two different techniques, two different looks!

One with ripped edges and straight sides and

One with stragith edges and pinked sides

Black and White

Ribbon and Fabric Trims

Ripped paper, straight edges

The Original Idea...circa 1999

Happy Crafting!

Holly