2009 Holiday Card Making 101

It's that time of year again when we start creating holiday cards. I love when Nichole issues this challenge to the Papertrey Design Team because it really is the jump start to the holiday season for me.

For my holiday cards, I'll be using my good buddy Heather Nichols' set called Holiday Tree. Heather's sets are always so cute and easy to use and I love this little snowman image featured on my cards. I'm using one of my Tent Topper designs and lots of punches to make quick work of my set of cards. If you'd like to see more samples using this set, visit Heather's blog and just scroll away.....she's been showing sneak peeks all week long.
Here's a closeup of one finished card below. Be sure to visit Nichole's blog today because she has a listing of the supplies needed to finish the cards I've shown today.

And remember...if you use my tried and true method of separating all the little pieces and parts of your cards...then using an assembly line fashion to assemble your cards, you'll make easy work for yourself and be able to finish lots of lots of cards in a short amount of time.
For my Tent Topper cards, I always use a base card size of 4.25" square. Next, I went to work and punched out scalloped squares on which my main snowman image from Holiday Tree was stamped with Fresh Snow and Dark Chocolate ink. I also used a polka dot square image from Borders and Corners Squares to add a finishing touch to my main focal image. I also stamped a little leaf image from Borders and Corners Squares in Ripe Avocado so that the snowman looked like he was holding a little branch. I then matted my main image onto a Ripe Avocado square. For a fun twist, I adhered the tent topper portion of my cards to the right hand side of my card base.

The embellishments for my cards came together very quickly by punching out one inch squares of patterned paper from the Holiday Cheer collection. Simply line them up along the bottom of the card base. Strips of Ripe Avocado Saddle Stitched ribbon line up right on top of the squares. Then I stamped the border image from Holiday Tree in Scarlet Jewel ink. And as you can see in the photos, I finished off my cards with a simple sentiment and Scarlet Jewel Buttons tied with Rustic Cream Twine.

For my holiday card envelopes I stamped the border in Scarlet Jewel along the side of my A2 size Kraft envelopes. I then stamped a circle sentiment and snowflake onto Ripe Avocado cardstock and punched them out with a circle punch. Punch a larger half circle out of the envelope flap...then adhere punched circle. It's just a fun way to fancy up your envelopes.

Be sure to do a little blog hopping today so you can see all the other Designers creations:
Nichole Heady
Becky Oehlers
Heather Nichols
Lauren Meader
Lisa Johnson
Dawn McVey
Debbie Olson
Geny Cassady
Betsy Veldman
Melissa Phillips
Niki Estes

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you're motivated to start your holiday cards early this year. You'll be glad you did it!