Unique Handmade Christmas Cards That Are Giftable

I love coming up with unique handmade Christmas cards and when I saw this fireplace die all I could see was a brick hearth and sweet little stockings. Yes, this is a detailed card but it’s not difficult. And it’s so special that it could easily serve as a gift on its own.  It would be so pretty mounted inside a glass covered shadowbox frame. 

For this project I used the Rubbernecker Stamps Fireplace, Greenery #1, Mixable Flower Stack, Tall Terracotta Pots, Cats, Nested Oval Set, Rectangle Combo #2, Splatter Background and Moose Set.

Brick Card Base

• Secure the brick stencil to a piece of cream cardstock using masking tape.  I find the Scotch Safe Release Tape holds the stencil perfectly in place and yet releases easily from the cardstock when finished.
• Begin applying the base color to the brick using Antique Linen ink and a blender brush.  I love my Life Changing Blender Brushes for applying color with stencils.
• Continue applying darker shades of color using the blender brushes and Rusty Hinge, Fired Brick and Vintage Photo inks.
• Use a mini applicator to apply darker shades of color randomly over the whole brick base to create a more natural looking brick wall.
• Remove the stencil and use a blender brush to apply Antique Linen ink over the grout lines.

The Fireplace Elements

• Cut the fireplace elements using white, black, woodgrain and yellow cardstock.  Note:  I cut the top part of the mantle in black to use as the base for the hearth.
• Use strips of mounting tape to attach the fireplace and hearth to the card base.
• Apply Wild Honey and Rusty Hinge ink to to the flame pieces and apply sparkle using yellow Stickles.
• Attach the flames and logs to the grate using glossy accents and attach the whole piece to the card base using pieces of mounting tape.

The Decorative Pieces

• Create a mini scene on a small oval using using the tiny tree stamps from the Moose set and Shady Lane ink. Apply Tumbled Glass ink to the sky area and then heat set the scene with a heat gun.
• Stamp the Splatter Background on the scene using white pigment ink, and paint touches of white pigment ink on the ground area using a brush and then heat emboss using white embossing powder. 
• Use two oval dies to cut a frame for the scene, attach it to the picture using small pieces of mounting tape and then attach it to the card base using double stick tape.
• Arrange the pots of poinsettias and evergreen and attach them on both sides of the fireplace using pieces of mounting tape.
• Create the fireplace decoration with a few branches of evergreen branches and a single poinsettia and attach using glossy accents.
• Make the tiny stockings using colorful designer paper and attach them to the fireplace using glossy accents at the tip and small pieces of mounting tape near the heels.
• Finish the scene by adding a curious cat on the mantle and another on the hearth. 

Do you enjoy making unique handmade Christmas cards as much as I do?  Although this card is detailed there is really nothing about it that is hard. It just takes time to create the scene one step at a time.  Here is a link to a fireplace card I made earlier this fall.  Check out this Pinterest link for more fireplace card inspiration.  I want to thank you for all of your supportive comments on my posts yesterday.  I really appreciated all of your input.  And I must apologize for sending a second post out.  It was an accident.  Thank you for coming by and I hope you have a good day.

5220D Fire Place Die [ RBB ] Greenery #1 Die Cut 5162-09D [ RBB ] Mixable Flower Stack Die 5109D [ RBB ] Tall Terracotta Pot Die Cut 5147-16D [ RBB ] Cats Die Cut 5142-09D [ RBB ] Nested Oval Die Cut Set 5004D [ RBB ] Rectangle Combo #2 OPC Die 5132D [ RBB ] 3013 KKCS Moose [ RBB ] 1231 Splatter Background [ RBB ]

Tools and Supplies

English Brick Wall Stencil [ MFT ] Bazzill Card Shoppe Cardstock, Easter… [ ELH ] Bazzill Card Shoppe Cardstock,… [ ELH ] Bazzill Card Shoppe Cardstock,… [ ELH ] Neenah Cardstock, Neenah Heavyweight,… [ ELH ] Classic Cream – 25 pk, Neenah Classic… [ ELH ] Bazzill Card Shoppe Cardstock, Sour… [ ELH ] Woodgrain Embossed 110 lb Tan – 10… [ ELH ] Life Changing Blender Brush – 2 Pack,… [ ELH ] Mini Applicators, 12 pk, PanPastel Sofft [ ELH ] Wild Honey, Ranger Distress Ink Pad [ ELH ] Antique Linen, Ranger Distress Ink Pad [ ELH ] Fired Brick, Ranger Distress Ink Pad [ ELH ] Vintage Photo, Ranger Distress Ink Pad [ ELH ] Rusty Hinge, Ranger Distress Ink Pad [ ELH ] Tumbled Glass, Ranger Distress Mini… [ ELH ] Unicorn White, Hero Arts Pigment Ink Pad [ ELH ] VersaFine Clair Ink Pad, Shady Lane [ ELH ] Ranger Super Fine Embossing Powder,… [ ELH ] COPIC Sketch Marker 100, Black [ ELH ] Susan’s Garden Tool Kit, Elizabeth… [ ELH ] Embossing Gun (Wagner), Hero Arts [ ELH ] Tonic Nuvo Crystal Drops, Gloss White [ ELH ] Ranger Stickles, Yellow [ ELH ] Scotch Safe-Release Masking Painter’s… [ ELH ] Mini Glossy Accents, Ranger Accents [ ELH ] Scotch Foam Mounting Tape [ ELH ] Crossover II Fabric & Paper Cutting… [ RBB ] Scor-Pal Measuring & Scoring Board 12×12 [ ELH ]

Unique handmade Christmas cards are perfect to send to family and friends.