Aussie Scrap Source

christmas cards – special!

We’ve spent the last couple of weeks covering quick Christmas cards – the kind you can make a whole batch of, that probably should be in the mail any time now!    You can find these posts here and here. You can find heaps of inspiration if you click over on the Christmas button on the sidebar too.

Now we want to bring you some ideas for the more special cards – the ones that you might only make a few of each year.  For recipients who mean a lot, or for those who appreciate the extra work that goes into such a card.

 

 

Jane tends to make larger cards when it’s for someone special as she usually likes to write a small novel in them of the happenings of the past year or if they are a close friends it would be a heartfelt sentiment. Jane added a large frame sticker to her card front using foam mounting tape for dimension then cut poinsettias from the remaining background paper, the fussy cutting always looks as though it has taken you hours but the design was quite easy and they fill out the design quite nicely!

 

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At Christmas there is always someone special you want to create that one off distinctive card for.  Leanne has used the stunning and traditional All Is Bright range from My Minds Eye to create some unique cards and a tag with a difference.

For this card Leanne gained inspiration from many a pinterest post and a tutorial posted by the talented Marianne Skjelstad.  The card folds flat but then transforms into a standing easel style card.    A tutorial on how to make this style of card can be found here.

Leanne used a combination of chipboard elements and hand pieced fishtail banners to create this banner style card.  The pieces were foam mounted on a die cut piece cut using the Memory Box Tessatina Border Die. 

Leanne finished off the top of the banner with a combination of button, brads and bows all strung together with some twine.

A chipboard element was distressed and added to the card as the sentiment.

 

This special card was constructed using the diamond fold technique. Leanne die cut some memory box scrolls, layered on some hand cut fishtail banner pieces and some folded paper pieces before adding the chipboard “Joy” sentiment.  Leanne applied distress stickles to the “Joy” lettering to add some sparkle.  Some of the fishtail banner pieces were made from the All Is Bright decorative tape which she applied to cardstock before hand cutting them.
A tutorial on how to construct a diamond fold card can be found here

 

This tiny tag was created using a gate fold style construction.  Leanne made the tag background and then added the gatefold sections to the tag front.  These sections were created from label dies. The peg was covered in the All Is Bright decorative tape to tie the pieces together.

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For one of a kind Christmas card why not try a Centre Step Card.  This is a very eye catching dimensional card that is so simple to make all from one piece of cardstock and some clever scoring!  Chris decorated her centre step card using the Echo Park Very Merry Christmas collection kit, Sizzix die cuts and some bling from Prima and Zva Creatives.  For a tutorial on creating a centre step card click here. 

 

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Chris has used the Echo Park Very Merry Christmas collection kit again to create this fabulous card.  I think the 'hero' element of this card is the magnificent red Prima flower with gorgeous jewel in the centre.  The Prima crystal swirls, American Craft glitter and hand stitching all come together to make this Christmas card one that would be treasured. 

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christmas cards – quick!

Need ideas to create a heap of Christmas cards quickly?  It’s nearly December – of course you do!!  Here’s some ideas that our design team are hoping will get them out of some jams this Christmas season.

 

Jane created these quick Christmas cards by stamping and clear embossing a tree on the front of the folded cards (smooth side) then she dragged an ink pad down the card over the image (use a sponge around the image if need). Clean over the image with a tissue, Jane then added glitter tape down the sides to create clean lines. She then stamp the sentiments with the same inks, cut them out and arrange them on the cards with a white ribbon bow.

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Simple triangle Christmas trees are one of the quickest and most effective ways of communicating Christmas on a card.  Suz Doyle tends to go back to them every year – mostly because she loves them!  This year she has layered patterned papers on Tim Holtz’s fabulous new mirrored cardstock to create these fun trees.  Simple punches show off the mirror underneath, and raising the trees gives them a really pretty three dimensional look.

 

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Three sheets of patterned paper are all you need to create these gorgeous quick cards by Carole Janson.  She has used the beautiful Webster Pages Royal Christmas range.  The stunning Deck the Halls features 25 gorgeous unique windows and doors and she has used those as the feature to her cards.  Carole also created a tag to match.

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Finally, Jennifer Maguire often makes cards that look like simplicity itself – and sometimes they are, but they are always beautiful!  This breathtaking card can be made using a simple circle mask and your own choice of inks and stamps.  See how Jennifer has created this card here.

christmas cards – quick!

 

Some card makers can often find Christmas card making to be a little frustrating and stressful. Instead of card making being a creative outlet or something that brings you joy - it starts to become just another job on the Christmas to do list and you can be overwhelmed with so many cards to make.  This year that does not need to be the case. Leanne has put together some Christmas cards and tags using the Simple Stories Handmade Holiday range that are quick, easy and fun to make. 

By combining the 3x4 and 4x6 Holiday Cards along with a 6x6 paper pad, the Handmade Holiday range just works so easily together.  You can come up with one design and replicate that a number of times alternating the papers, embellishments and colour combinations you use.

 

Using the bingo cards and flash cards as the focal point on these cards Leanne made each card look different and yet they all follow the same basic layout.

 

The 6x6 paper pad has miniature journaling elements which become perfect little tag toppers.  Leanne combined them with the 3x4 Holiday Cards and they instantly become cute tags.  On some tags/gift cards she added some extra embellishments like buttons, stickers etc and others were left just as they were.  Flipping the basic layout from portrait to landscape Leanne was also able to change the look of the gift cards.

 

 

Leanne turned the cardstock stickers into embellishments by mounting them on foam tape to add extra dimension to her tag.

 

Leanne decided a quick and fun way to use up those left over off cuts was to turn them into fishtail banners.  She teamed them up with the 4x6 Holiday Cards as they make an instant and perfect background.

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No sentiment needed on this Christmas card as it's all in the Hero Arts Background stamp!  Ink the Merry Background stamp with your favourite inks, stamp it onto Kraft cardstock, then using silver embossing powder, heat emboss the beautiful Branch & Flourish tree stamp also from Hero Arts, cut around the tree and it's ready to mount onto your card.  Add some bling and you're done!

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For this quick set of gorgeous Christmas cards, grab your favourite Christmas themed pattern paper - Chris has chosen Jillibean Soup Christmas Eve Chowder, use small strips of the paper to frame the Branch & Flourish Tree stamp.  Complete the card with some crystals, pearls and a simple sentiment.

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This final card took Chris just 15 minutes to make and she said if she was making this card in bulk it could be even quicker once you get all the pieces cut out and start a production line.  The flourish tree stamp was heat embossed with white embossing powder and the rest of the card is simple cutting.  Chris used the Echo Park Very Merry Christmas collection kit.

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10 reasons to send a card: thank you

 

10 reasons to send a card: anniversary

 

 

10 reasons to send a card: with sympathy

Probably the saddest reason to send a card is to acknowledge the death of a friend or family member.  These cards need to be thoughtful and uplifting, to show care and condolences.

 

 

10 reasons to send a card: congratulations

Congratulations… on your new job, your new house, your new baby … congratulations cards can cover a multitude of celebrations.  Make them specific or more general so that you always have one on hand.

 

 

10 reasons to send a card: thinking of you

 

 

10 reasons to send a card: i’m sorry

 

A sorry card can be given for many reasons and is lovely way to show you care - passing of a pet, hard times, loss of job etc

 

10 reasons to send a card: get well soon

 

 

10 reasons to send a card: getting married

 

 

10 reasons to send a card: happy birthday

One of the most popular reasons to send or give a handmade card, and probably the ones we turn to most often, birthday cards obviously come in all shapes, sizes and themes.

 

 

10 reasons to send a card: i love you

We’re starting off the new design/school year with a new card series here on the Aussie blog, called 10 Reasons to Send a Card, and each week we look at one of those reasons!  February is of course the month of love and tomorrow is Valentine’s Day so it’s only fitting that we start with Valentines cards. 

 

 

 

production line christmas cards

Making your own Christmas cards can seem a little overwhelming when your Christmas Card list reaches triple, or even just double figures! It’s easy to fall back on a cheapie box of printed cards, but we wanted to share some inspiration today on creating your own handmade Christmas cards that look like you’ve put hours of work into each one, but really they’re fairly quick and simple as part of a production line process.

 

 

Suz Doyle starts us off with a set of cards that look vintage and special, but are so easy an eight year old can make them (in fact, her eight year old daughter who doesn’t like being left out of the creating fun, did make the one pictured directly above!) 

Suz layered Prima leaves onto a strip of chipboard which she then cut into triangle shapes to make the trees.  The backgrounds are made from the new tim Holtz Kraft Resist papers (and you can get six card panels from each sheet), Glimmer Misted quickly, distressed and adhered to kraft cardstock.  A little braid and a little bling are all these cards need, but Suz couldn’t resist some finishing touches from the gorgeous Fancy Pants ‘Saint Nick’ Glitter Cuts pack.

 

 

 

 

 

Jenni Hudswell created this simple but effective set of cards from Prima North Country Art Paper.  Already sized at 6x6” these sheets are perfect for cardmaking, and Jen cut them into 1” strips to adorn plain white cards.  She created a couple of different looks with the pretty co-ordinating stamp, and it can be fun to change it up a little when you have a lot of cards to make.  The white tree, above is inked and then embossed, picking out the gorgoeus detail of the tree.  It serves a second purpose though as Jen then glimmer misted over the top of the embossing to create a resist effect.

 

 

 

 

Jane Clark has used the Cosmo Cricket Mrs Claus papers for these super quick and economical cards.  The ‘Yes Virginia’ paper has twelve of these cute little Santa figures on it. Jane covered the fronts of the folded cards with a range of other Mrs Claus papers in various sizes and then further decorated the cards with punched out bows and large adhesive pearls.

aussie christmas special: handmade card ideas

Halloween is over.. the Melbourne Cup is over.. surely that means it’s time for Christmas!  Our design team have come up with some beautiful ideas for handmade Christmas cards this year – and we’re thrilled to announce, and welcome new design team member, the talented Kim Arnold,  who along with Georgia Keays makes her debut for Aussie in this post.  Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

Georgia wanted to make Christmas cards for her children's teachers which were similar but also unique. The first step was to let each child choose one of the bigger pieces of chipboard from the Crate Paper Peppermint line to serve as the focus of the card. As the colours of this range are so vibrant Georgia decided to use a very neutral paper as the background. Once Georgia had made the first card she simply repeated the design using the different chipboard pieces and adding other embellishments to suit.

 

 

When it comes to Christmas cards they need to be eye catching, but easily replicable and simple to make as most people need to be able to make large batches quickly. The Echo Park Holly Jolly Collection packs are perfect for easy but interesting Christmas cards with virtually everything to make these cards in one pack.

 

Whipping up some fabulous Christmas cards with the Jillibean Soup Christmas Eve Chowder 6x6 paper pad can be as simple as you wish to make it. Chris has combined the Jillibean Soup papers with the new Hero Arts Cling Wishes Come True stamp set, a Sew Easy Floss and a few Crystal Dots. She cut out the little penguins and trees from the paper itself to create some very quick and easy embellishments and to finish the cards off did a little machine stitching.

 

 

 

There has to be sparkle at Christmas time Jane tell us! The punched background was created by using a Martha Stewart Punch All Over The Page Country Tile punch. Jane also said that these punches are fantastic!! They're so easy to use and there are no mistakes trying to line up the pattern!! The punched card was then layered on Jac paper or single sided adhesive sheet and glitter poured over the top. Jane also cut out one of the punched designs and placed it over the paper bow.

 

Jane fell in love with these Webster's Pages Cameo, so she decided she would use these on her special Christmas cards for family and close friends. Jane extended the element of the cameo by glueing lace around the edge then added folded stripes of paper as shown. One tip Jane said 'Use lots of strong adhesive to keep everything in place!'.

 

 

When Sue first saw the Postcards to Santa paper from Webster's Botanical range, she knew that it could be turned into simple but beautiful Christmas cards. Sue has combined the papers with the lush Webster's ribbons, along with twine and bells to create her cards. Gold stitching has added a touch of elegance. Sue also added Frosted Lace stickles to highlight the designs on the paper.

weekend inspiration: little yellow bicycle

 

 

 

 

Chris Millar thinks Little Yellow Bicycle have made it so easy with the Tiny Princess range of papers to make the most darling baby and little girl cards. The papers lend themselves to be inked up just a small amount to add a touch of shabbiness and depth. And the dimensional stickers and jewels are wonderful embellishments to give the cards that extra bit of something special!

The card directly above was created following a sketch on the Mojo Monday blog group.

 

 

 

Jane Clark decided to continued the circle design of the Layered Flower Button Dots to her card, she trimmed three circles slightly larger than the stickers from the Fuschia Flower Dot paper then sanded the edges to make them stand out, and mounted the piece on teal daisy paper. The Button Dots were added in the centre, for one of them Jane pulled the layers apart and added a butterfly cut from the Flutterby paper between the layers.

Jane placed the square canvas word in the bottom right-hand corner to balance the design. Quick and easy idea!

 

 

Upon looking at the Fluuterby paper covered in gorgeous pattern butterflies, Jane's first thought was to cut them all out and have them flying across the card, that's a lot of butterflies!! So a lovely strip with three butterflies trimmed around the wings will also do a lovely job! Jane popped one butterfly on an angle to create more interest and to show off the beautiful paper underneath. Jane found the canvas word stickers to have great texture and add elegance to cards.

 

 

Now wouldn't one of these cards just brighten up your whole day?!! Rae Barthel has captured the complete essence of the Sweet Summertime range with these 2 bright and cheery cards. We love the way Rae has used the clear cut shapes and canvas border stickers in such a fabulous way! Thank you Rae for sharing your gorgeous card with us!

 

 

These two amazing layouts are from Mary Ann Jenkins. Mary Ann has also used the Sweet Summertime range, including their fabulous chipboard shapes which add such wonderful dimension to her page.

And here's a little bit from Mary Ann herself about creating with this range "I love the bright Summery colors, and how about that cute fruit and button banner!" We do love that fruit and button banner too Mary Ann! Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful creations with us!

countdown to christmas day 16: tattered angels

 

 

 

 

 

 

Louise is excited and amazed at the creative potential for the new range of Glimmer Glam and Glazes! They are a wonderful addition to the range of Glimmer Mists and Chalkboard Mists! Together this range provides you with an endless range of creative possibilities for all of your creative and paper projects.

Louise has created a range of layouts and accompanying cards to show the versatility of the Glimmer Glam and Glaze, just from a style perspective. For this first Layout and card she has used the Glimmer Glam to add simple but effective festive bling to the regal Alpha frame, and for the card she has used a festive red glaze to decorate the frame which has a subtler sheen.

countdown to christmas day 18: the girl’s paperie

 

 

Card expert Charlene Cundy has created these two beautiful cards with the stunning Girls Paperie range. The bakers twine and rosette details add a lovely vintage touch and dimension to the subtle layering and stamped sentiment.

countdown to christmas day 25: hero arts

 

 

Hero Arts stamps always give a beautiful crisp image when used. Sue loves to heat emboss the images to create a lovely glossy look. Sue has quite a collection of branch stamps and this holly flourish was the perfect addition! It is lovely to hang things off such as the cute baubles cut from patterned papers and embellished. You could also hang stars or snowflakes for a different look.

christmas card inspiration: part three

 

 

 

 

Suz shows here how one basic design and a single cool stash busting technique can become the answer to your Christmas card crisis this year in just a couple of hours work.  It’s all about the christmas trees in these cards.  Suz covered a 4x12” piece of chipboard in Strano RibbonStiff – it’s a waterbased sealant and stiffener.  She layered randomly co-ordinating ribbons right along the length of the chipboard and then brushed another coat of RibbonStiff over the top.  After it dried she went over the entire surface with a thin coat of white gesso, just to soften the colours and bring them all together.  She then cut the entire board into triangles approx 2.5” at their widest point. 

After that it was a simple case of inking the edges and embellishing each tree – delicate lines of Stickles, some bling and a co-ordinating bow.  The background of the card was as quick as inking Webster’s Pages journalling cards around the edges, tearing a short length of 7Gypsies tape for the tree ‘trunk’ and a stamped Christmas Greeting.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Janine is a self-confessed Christmas humbug! So for her to find a Christmas range that she fell totally in love with is quite a Christmas Miracle, but this divine range by Teresa Collins certainly hit the mark. The papers are sublimely elegant and contain Janine’s prerequisites to a perfect range, script paper, music paper, damask paper and paper with elements to hand-cut out!! Bliss!!!

When you have such amazing products to work with, creating these elegant cards became simple, especially with the inclusion of a few Prima Innocence flowers and Prima lace with a touch of gold and ruby red Glimmer Mist to add those perfect accents.

 

 

 

For these Christmas cards Louise wanted to keep the creative process quick and simple, but still with a festive flavour. Louise has created all her card bases from basic white cardstock and cut them to size to suit the envelopes she already had, and to give that coordinated look, she has decorated the envelopes to match her cards.

For these two particular cards Louise has used both the Hero Arts Creative Trees Stamps and the Elsie Flannigan Christmas time stamps to create a simple but effective look of Christmas trees, with a little funk. To complete decoration of the cards she has coloured in the design using water colour paints, and doodled a border.

 

 

 

 

 

For these two cards Louise has used the Elsie Flannigan Christmas Time Stamps. Louise has again doodled a funky border to coordinate with the stamp design and then coloured in the doodling and stamp images using watercolour paints.