Photo Finish Holiday Card Challenge

Edited again: The adhesive I use with fine glitter is a two way glue pen from Stampin' Up!.

Edited to add: To answer a few questions-Yes, the card is stitched shut to form a pocket. The card does not open up, the inserts simply slip into the pocket. Yes, the stitching shows on the back. I usually don't like to see stitching exposed but I'm gonna live with it this time. The tiny buttons are about 1/4" diameter and I got them in one of those clear bags of buttons from Foofala, the best deal on buttons!! They run about $6 bucks and I find a good assortment at Archiver's. I stick them on with glue dots. Thank you all for the wonderful comments, I SOOO enjoy reading them.

It's challenge time at Papertrey Ink! This month, Nichole challenged Design Team members to create a Christmas/Holiday card that incorporates photos. Check out Nichole's blog HERE for more information. I was up to the challenge and took it one step further......I finished all of my Christmas cards!!! (Well, 90% complete...I ran out of Kraft card stock so I'll need to finish up the inserts later). It's not even October......I have my Christmas cards done!! Woohoo, write THAT in your journal (that's what I tell Eric when I want him to remember something!).

Once I got started I couldn't stop! The thought of getting my Christmas cards done early made me so excited. And to think that there's a photo and a little family letter is even better! Do you include photos in your Christmas cards? How about livening it up this year? Instead of just slipping the photo in the card, incorporate your photo into the actual card design. I chose to make pocket cards to hold my photos this year. I dearly love a pocket card!

Here's what my design looks like below, complete with decorated envelopes ANNNND matching address labels. Can you believe I did it all? For the address labels, I used Papertrey's address labels. I just printed off my label sheet and added a matching snowflake to coordinate with the rest of my ensemble. Josey stamped the snowflakes onto the labels for me.
Here's a closer view of the completed pocket card. I simply added some patterned paper to my folded pocket and stitched around three sides to make the pocket. All Kraft card stock edges are inked with white ink.
Here's what the insert looks like. A photo of our family adhered to Kraft card stock. I corner rounded one corner. Note: This isn't a current photo of our family. As much as I tried to organize a photo shoot for a Christmas photo, the timing just didn't work out. So I'll have to update my actual cards this year with a current photo. Besides, Eric would faint if I asked him to light a fire with near 80 degree temperatures!
Oh but wait, there's more! I added a second piece of Kraft card stock to my pocket insert. This is the same size as the photo insert, and I attached the two together with a brad. This allows the two pieces to swivel. LOVE it!! I printed my insert with *Happy Holidays from the Woodersons* then added some 2008 Family Highlights for each family member. Font is AFL Postmaster.
Okay, you wanna see some behind the scenes action on how to make the embellishments? I got out all of my supplies and matched up my papers and ribbons, etc. I used Papertrey's Everyday Blessings patterned paper, Spring Moss and Aqua Mist Grosgrain ribbon. I love seeing everything all piled up, ready for mass production.
I wanted my cards to have some beautiful embellishments but I didn't want to spend hours and hours mass producing twenty-some Christmas cards. A stamper can only take so much mass producing right? And I know a lot of you probably make double or triple what I make! So I decided to stick to one fancy embellishment and then keep the rest very simple. I started out by stamping snowflakes from Pine's Rustic Snowflakes onto Kraft circles that I punched out. I embossed the snowflakes using VersaMark embossing ink and white embossing powder.
I wanted my snowflakes to have a soft feel to them so I used one of those finger dauber spongy things and white ink to soften the centers of my white snowflakes.
Then I threaded my buttons with linen cording and adhered them to the centers of my snowflakes. I didn't want to thread them all but I knew Pine would be proud if I did. :)
Then I glitterfied the snowflakes with some SU! Dazzling Diamonds glitter. Love that stuff!!
Aren't they so pretty and glittery?

I then added my snowflakes to my pocket card fronts. My finishing touch was stamping the fun sentiment from the Rustic Snowflakes set with black ink. It reads *may you never forget the flavor of snowflakes*. I love how Pine designed the word *snowflakes* with a different font. So cute!!

I hope I have inspired you to get a head start on your Christmas cards! I'm nearly giddy that I have mine almost done!! Have I said that yet? Be sure to check out all of the other Papertrey Design Team Members' blogs. They each have made a photo Christmas/Holiday card so you'll have plenty of ideas to get you started.

Here's the links:

Lisa Johnson's blog is HERE

Lauren Meader's blog is HERE

Heather Nichols' blog is HERE

Debbie Olson's blog is HERE

Becky Oehlers' blog is HERE