Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Kelli's Krafts - Let's Talk Christmas Cards

Yes Friends, it is that time to really be thinking of Christmas cards, especially if you're going to make them.  "Make my Christmas cards...what Kelli, are you crazy?"  Well maybe a little, but I still think you can make Christmas cards without being overwhelmed.  I thought I'd give you a few tips on how to make Christmas card making simple and smooth.


Here's the card I made last year (and please excuse the terrible picture) and I'll use it as the example as I go over the tips:
 
  •  Plan your card...make a sketch or find a card that you want to CASE (Copy And Share Everything).  There are places where you can find sketches of cards as wells as samples of cards you can CASE.  Or if you find a Stampin Up! stamp set that you really like, look in the Stampin Up! catalog or the SU website for examples.
  • Once you know what card you are going to make figure out your measurements and write them down.  This will help you create the card step-by-step over time.  For example, in the above card I knew the measurements for the snowflake paper so I was able to cut out as many as I needed at one time.
  • Which leads me to doing your cards step-by-step.  Over a few days just take a little bit of time and prepare each piece of your card.  For the above card I took one night to cut the base of the card (which is taking a 8 1/2 x 11 piece of card stock and cutting it in half to make two bases for a 5 1/2 x 4 1/4 card).  Another night I cut out the next layer and another night I stamped the sentiment, punched it out and layered it.  Finally, you put all of the pieces together and that's it...in just a few evenings you're done!  No, seriously.
  • One major tip is to make sure you have plenty of adhesive.  I make sure I have plenty of Snail before I start.
  • Remember to have a system to keep all of your pieces together...I talked about that a little here last year along with pictures of some of my step-by-step process. 
  • Turn on some Christmas music and have your favorite drink while you work (though you may not want to have the drink too close to your work because that could be a disaster waiting to happen...or am I the only clumsy one?).
  • Enjoy!!!
Here's the stamp set I'm using this year (well, the tree from the set) and I can't wait to start building :)  I'll keep you posted.

Happy Stamping!

7 comments:

Angie said...

Thanks for the fun tips. I just need time now :) I really would like to make my cards this year, but I don't have time. I will make a few though for my close family...so these tips are great!

Kelli W said...

I am so impressed with your cards Kelli! I just don't seem to have the patience to make them. I made a few gift tags this afternoon and just 10 minutes of paper and glue was stressing me out:)

jennykate77 said...

Fabulous tips!!! I need to get busy! I really want to make my own cards this year. Thanks for posting! :)

Hope you've had a great day!♥

Lelan @ Good Gravy! said...

You're so right: it IS that time of year right now (almost scary, but super exciting!).

Carrie said...

I love the stamps you'll be using! They will be so cute! it is overwhelming making your own cards...but you are so good at it! It was enough just to get the pictures to put on my card this year, haha! :) And I still have to wait for the little one to arrive before I can order them...c'mon miss Elizabeth! ;)

Can't wait to see your new creations!

Amy DeTrempe said...

I can't even comprehend making my own cards. I've tried things like this before (never pretty). I will find some I love at the store and send them in the mail.

Joanna said...

First off I must say that from receiving one of your cards last year from Christmas, it's fabulous! You are so very talented!! So proud of you for getting into this!