Check out my take on one of this year’s on trend Christmas card ideas!
I’ve been researching on trend Christmas card ideas for this year and one of them is the use of pretty illustrations as a background. When I saw this brand new, just released Pine Bough Background from Rubbernecker I pictured it on a card with a simple, popped up sentiment in the middle and this is the card that I created. I used the Fancy Decorative Nested Set for the sentiment and the Holly #1 die set to make a sweet little adornment.
This would be a great card for batch making since just about each step can be done separately and it uses a minimum of supplies but looks like a million bucks thanks to the gold embossing, shiny berries and the glittery touch on the 3D greenery. Let me share with you how to make this and see if this doesn’t make your short list!
Card Base and Sentiment Layer
- Use cream cardstock to cut an A2 sized card base, a 5.50″ x 4.25″ layer and the decorative layer. Pro Tip: Heat embossing a stamped image directly on a single layer card base will cause the base to curl from the heat. I always use a separate piece layered over the base to maintain the shape and sharp edges.
- Apply embossing magic powder to both the card layer and the decorative layer.
- Secure the stamp base layer and stamp in the MISTI and stamp with versa.
- Repeat this step with the sentiment layer and stamp.
- Sprinkle super fine gold embossing powder over the images, shake off excess and heat with the heat gun.
- Apply ATG adhesive to the back of the stamped layer and attach it to the card base.
- Set the sentiment layer aside.
If you are going to batch make this card, here’s what I would suggest. Do all your cutting in one session. Stamp and emboss all your decorative layers in another session. Do your greeting layers in another and then in the fourth, adhere all your stamped layers to your card bases.
Color The Stamped Layer
- Color the branches and holly leaves using a light layer of green ink. I used alcohol ink markers so I was careful not to reduce the gold embossing.
- Add depth to portions of the holly leaves with a darker green.
- Color the holly berries using a red marker and add black dots to the berries using a superfine black marker.
- Apply glossy accents to cover each of the berries and set the card aside to dry.
If batch making, you can do all your coloring in different sessions; add the light green, then the dark accents, then the red, then the black details and finally add the shine to the berries. Of course you could completely color each panel as you go but I find that when I am making lots of the same card, it’s helpful to get into the groove of each stage, making things do much faster. The more cards you are making the more time you save!
Sentiment Layer and Holly Decoration
- Use green and red cardstock to cut the holly leaves and berries.
- Gently form the holly leaves with your fingers.
- Attach the red berries to the holly branch using glossy accents.
- Apply a light layer of Cosmic Shimmer Flake and Glitter glue to the holly and berries and sprinkle with clear glitter. Pro Tip: I love this glue because it dries perfectly clear and holds the glitter very well. So many others lets the glitter flake off.
- Apply strips of mounting tape to the back of the sentiment layer and attach it to the card base.
- Use glossy accents to attach the holly to the top corner of the sentiment layer.
For the batch making, do all your die cutting all at once. Then use another session to shape the leaves and attach the berries. In the next, add the glitter. In the last, add the sentiment layer and the sprig and – voila – tons of on trend Christmas cards ready to go!
I rarely color stamped images but I love this Pine Bough Background image and couldn’t resist giving it a try. I really like how it turned out even though I feel my coloring a little rusty! Here are the items I used today and you can always skip the glitter process if you want to save even more time and money:
|
|
I am not usually one to jump all the way in with on trend Christmas card ideas – I like to see what they are and sometimes will take ideas from them and fold them in to my own designs. This one, though, feels tailor made for the stamp! Can you see yourself using this idea for your own cards this year?