Spruced Up Christmas Cards

 Hello friends!

I'm a little later than I planned posting this today, so as I sit t the computer the afternoon sun is coming through my craft room window. It's still a joy to have an entire room for my crafting space. The fall colours are still in evidence outside my window, but today has definitely been cooler, and it's never too early to get started preparing for Christmas (in my humble opinion!). 

All of the cards used the Spruced Up Bundle plus the Celebrate Everything Designer Series Paper. For a materials list, you can check out the projects on my web page. The first two cards I have to share are the cards we made at my October Christmas Card class. The ladies loved them, and I bet you will too. 

Measurements:

• Basic White Thick Cardstock 5 1/2" by 8 1/2", scored at 4 1/4"
• Basic White Cardstock 2 pieces 4" by 5 1/4", 3" square for die cutting largest stitched square from the Stylish Shapes dies, 3/8" by 1 1/2" strip for stamping MERRY, 1" by 3" strip for die cutting stitched rectangle from the Stitched Rectangle dies, 2 pieces 1 1/2" by 2 3/4" for die cutting 2 white Christmas trees, one for inside card and one for card front (use only the inside of the tree)
• Poppy Parade 1 1/2" by 2 3/4" to die cut tree, then emboss in Stripes 3D Embossing Folder
• Granny Apple Green 3" square, 2 pieces 1 1/2" by 2 3/4" to die cut trees, use outside pieces to fram white trees, and use inside of one tree for the card front
• Granny Apple Green DSP 1 3/4" by 4 3/4", stripes running horizontally as shown above, cut notch in one narrow end. 
  
  Measurements:
• Granny Apple Green Card Base 5 1/2" by 8 1/2", scored at 4 1/4", 3 1/2" by 4" scored at 3", 3/4" by 1 3/4"
• Basic White Cardstock 4" by 5 1/4", 2 1/2" by 3 1/4" embossed with Stripes 3D Embossing Folder,1 3/4" by 3 1/2" to die cut ornament (use inside portion), 2" by 3 1/8", 1/2" by 1 1/2"
• Poppy Parade Cardstock 1 3/4" by 3 1/2" to die cut ornament (use outside portion)
• Horizontal Striped DSP 2" by 3 1/8"
• Ornament DSP 2 3/4" by 3 3/4"

Instructions for creating card base:

First, score 5 1/2" by 8 1/2" cardstock at 4 1/4" as if to make a traditional card base. One half of the card base will be untouched to form the back of the card, You will trim sections off of the other half to create the card front. Turn the card 1/4 turn counter clockwise on the trimmer and cut at 2 3/4" down to the score line. Move the card base over to the 5" mark, and cut down to the score line again. Turn the card base back to the original position and cut from lower outer edge up to your first 1/2" cut. Cut from upper outer edge down to your 2 3/4" cut. Finally, position the remaining part of the card front along the upper edge of the trimmer and cut 7/8" off to make the remaining part of your card front 3 3/8 (horizontal) by 2 1/4". Use the larger cut out section from above to cut a piece 2 3/8" by 3 1/2" to make the section for the ornament.

On my Tuesday evening  Facebook LIVE video I demonstrated how to make the following VW fold card.

Measurements:

• Granny Apple Green 5 1/2" by 10 3/4", score at 1 5/8", 3 1/4", 4 7/8", 6 1/2"; 3" by 5 1/2" scored at 2 3/4", 2 1/4" by 3" to die cut wider ornament, 1 1/2" by 2" to die cut gift
• Poppy Parade 1/1/2" by 2" to die cut gift, 1 1/2" by 2" to die cut round ornament
• Basic White 4" by 5 1/4", 2 1/4" by 3" to die cut wider ornament, 2 pieces 2 9/16" by 2 13/16", tiny piece to stamp and die cut star for tree, 2 pieces 1 1/16" by 1 3/16" to back the gifts so the dsp will stay put and one gift can be popped up with a dimensional
• Horizontal Striped DSP cut 2 pieces at 1 7/16" by 2 5/16", 1 1/2" by 2" to die cut gift
• Polka Dot DSP cut 2 pieces at 1 7/16" by 2 5/16", 1 1/2" by 2" to die cut gift, 1 1/2" by 2" to die cut round ornament

My final card today was CASED from stampinghabit.com. I turned the card into a portrait style card for my take on her card and added some of the bright dsp. To make the Christmas lights, I die cut the bulb string in white, then coloured with my Stampin' Write markers.

Measurements:

• Granny Apple Green 5 1/2" by 8 1/2" scored at 4 1/4", 1 3/4" by 2 3/4" to die cut thin ornament (use outline)
• Basic White Cardstock 4" by 5 1/4", 3 1/2" by 4 3/4", cut 2 at 1" by 2 1/4" for die cutting light strings
• Poppy Parade Cardstock  2 3/4", 2 1/4" by 3" to die cut wider ornament, 1 1/2" by 2" to die cut round ornament
• Crushed Curry Cardstock (for inside card) 2" by 2" to die cut 3 stars
• Diagonal Striped DSP 4" by 5 1/4" 

Whew! This was a long post today. Hope you like the cards. Please leave me a comment if you do and just roll on by if you don't! LOL! All of the materials used to make the cards are available in my online store. Please use Host Code BWGE2GNP for orders less than $200. 

Happy Crafting!

Kelly Pulham

aka Craftin' Granny