What’s more Christmas-y than a Santa and sleigh card?

The classic Santa and sleigh motif is always a holiday card favorite and today I am sharing a fun, colorful version of this theme. The entire Santa and sleigh and that darling little reindeer are all made from die cuts and here I am going to show you exactly how to make one of these yourself.

Sometimes I hear people say, when they look at cards I’ve made, “Oh, I could NEVER make that” and I am here to tell you, absolutely YES you can! Trust me when I tell you that the hard work is done for you by the dies and learning how to assemble them in the way I do, with lots of dimension and details, you can learn from me in my posts. I encourage you to try following along – I am pretty sure you will be thrilled with your results!

Card and Scene Base

• Use white cardstock to cut an A2 sized card base and to die cut a white scene base and snow layer.
• Use the decorative die to cut the bottom and side edges of the snow layer so it will match the white scene base.
• Cut a brightly colored 5.50″ x 4.25″ piece of designer paper and attach it to the card base using ATG adhesive.
• Apply strips of mounting tape to the back of the white die cut layer and attach it to the card base.
• Line up the edges of the snow layer with the base and attach it with a strip of mounting tape.
• Use green cardstock to cut several pieces of greenery, trim them and tuck them in behind the snow layer and attach them using glossy accents.

Santa’s Sleigh and Presents

• Cut the sleigh using green and gold metallic cardstock.
• Create a string of rolled up double stick tape, apply it to the back of the top sleigh border and attach it to the sleigh.

• Apply touches of glossy accents to the sleigh runner and attach it to the back of the sleigh.
• Use red, white and green cardstock to cut the presents.
• Attach the ribbon sections to the packages using glossy accents 
• Use glossy accents to pile in and attach the packages to the back of the sleigh.

Santa and Christmas Tree

• Cut all the Santa parts using red, white, black and gold cardstock.
• Assemble and attach the pieces together using glossy accents.  Note:  You don’t need to assemble the bottom legs of Santa if you are not going to have him stand up in the scene.
• Apply glossy accents to the lower portion of Santa and attach him to the back side of the sleigh.
• Use green cardstock to cut an evergreen tree, crimp it with a straight crimper and attach it to the back of the packages.
• Finish the tree with a tiny yellow star.

The Flying Reindeer

• Use red and white cardstock to cut the reindeer.
• Apply a light layer of Antique Linen ink to the whole body of the reindeer using a mini applicator.  Pro Tip:  Applying a light layer of ink to the cardstock will help blend the darker ink when it is applied.
• Apply darker brown ink to the reindeer body, antlers and hooves.  
• Attach the antler to the reindeer back of the reindeer head using glossy accents.
• Attach the red and white harness section to the body using glossy accents.

Finish the Santa and Sleigh Card

• Cut a length of gold metallic string, fold it in the middle and attach it to the back of the reindeer using glue dots.
• Use mounting tape to attach the reindeer to the scene base.
• Trim the ends of the string to a length that will fork well with where Santa is going to be placed.
• Attach both ends of the string to the back of Santa’s hand using glue dots.
• Apply pieces of mounting tape to the back of the sleigh and Santa and attach it to the scene.
• Cut a few tiny green branches and punch a couple red circles and attach them to the reindeer neck and Santa’s hat for the final  finishing touch.

I really love how festive Santa, his sleigh and reindeer look on my holiday cards.  You can see my Adorable Santa Card and my Santa Double Shutter Card to see other cards for inspiration.  

5305D Inside Scallop Nested Dies [ RBB ] 5416-05D Santa with Presents Die [ RBB ] 5416-04D Santa’s Sleigh Die [ RBB ] 5416-03D Flying Reindeer Die [ RBB ] Greenery #1 Die Cut 5162-09D [ RBB ] 5217-01D Evergreen Tree Die [ RBB ] 5338-02D Christmas Mini Die [ RBB ] Crossover II Fabric & Paper Cutting… [ RBB ]

The Color Catalog by Sarah Renae Clark [ SRH ] Metallic Cardstock – Gold, Lawn Fawn… [ ELH ] Amazon.com: 6X6 Pattern Paper Pack -… [ AMZUS ] String by the Spool – Metallic Gold,… [ ELH ] Dress My Craft – Hole Punch – One… [ SBC ] Sizzix – Paper Sculpting Kit [ SBC | BLIC ] Amazon.com: Scotch CAT 085 Advanced… [ AMZUS ] Mini Glossy Accents, Ranger Accents [ ELH ] Amazon.com: Mini Foam Dots… [ AMZUS ] Amazon.com: Scotch 1/2-Inch by… [ AMZUS ] Fiskars 01-005452 Recycled Bypass… [ AMZUS ] Teflon Bone Folder, Essentials by Ellen [ ELH ] Scor-Pal Measuring & Scoring Board 12×12 [ ELH ] Glue Dots, Mini (3/16″) [ ELH ] Amazon.com : Accent Opaque White 8.5”… [ AMZUS ]

I get such a kick out of Santa and sleigh cards – they just feel so magical and seeing the Big Guy doing what he does on a card is just a sweet reminder of the fun aspect of the holiday!