I did a couple of DIY Christmas cards this year. One using very traditional colors, and the other more modern. I like them both!
DIY Christmas Cards: Traditional
The manger? A pre-made envelope. Genius, right! I will show you how I created it!
Supplies needed to make your own “The Reason for the Season” card:
- David Tutera™ Celebrate A2 Card and Envelope Set: Kraft Deco Value Pack
- David Tutera™ Celebrate Mini Cards: Butterfly Design (envelope only)
- Core’dinations Tim Holtz® Kraft-Core™ Shattered Collection™ 6 x 6 Paper Pack
- Sewing Machine
- Circle Craft Punch
- Star Craft Punch
- Oval Craft Punch
Step One: Cut Kraft-Core Shattered cardstock into 3/4″ strips. Adhere strips on card base and trim to fit flush with the top of the card.
Step Two: Machine stitch perimeter of card with sewing machine and white thread.
Step Three: Cut mini envelope into manger shape as shown:
Cut off top flap. Keep both scraps- and cut scraps into fringe.
Insert the fringed pieces inside the top of the envelope.
Step Four: Adhere manger to card. Add oval and circle punch shapes to create Baby Jesus. Adhere inside manger.
Step Five: Computer generate card sentiment. Cut into a long strip. Cut ends of strip into pennant shape. Trim both ends, and adhere underneath the card sentiment to create a banner. Round corners of sentiment piece and end pieces as shown.
Step Six: Adhere star shapes as shown.
DIY Christmas Cards: Modern
The second card I made was inspired by some vintage Christmas fabric and is more of a modern style.
Supplies needed to make your own “JOY” card:
- Core’dinations Core Couture Glitter™ 4.25 x 5.5 Paper Pack
- Core’dinations White 4.25 x 5.5 Blank Cards and Envelopes
- Core’dinations® 8.5×11 Vellum Paper: Printable Transparent Paper Sheets
- Darice Polka Dots Embossing Folder
- Darice Assorted Stars Embossing Folder
- Silver Bead
- Pink and White String
- Sewing Machine
- Silhouette Electronic Cutting Machine
Step One: Emboss a green sheet from the Core-dinations Core Couture Glitter pack using a star embossing folder. This paper pack is pre-glittered! The glitter is wonderful and does NOT flake off of the paper. It also cuts well in my Silhouette, and looks fantastic when embossed. Adhere embossed paper to white card base. You can see the fabulous glitter paper closer up here:
Step Two: Emboss a 2.5 x5.5″ section of vellum using the dot embossing folder. Attach embossed strip to center of the card using a sewing machine and white thread.
Step Three: Using an electronic cutting machine, cut out the letters “J,Y” from the pink cardstock in the paper pack. Cut six 2″ circles from the blue paper in the paper pack.
Step Four: Fold each blue circle in half, and glue them together back to back. Adhere to vellum strip. Adhere letters to both sides of the ornament as shown.
Step Five: String silver bead with pink and white string. Adhere bow to top of the card, and adhere the bead to the top of the ornament.
Which of these two DIY Christmas cards do you like best?
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Shaunte is a 30-something, chocolate-loving, SAHM from Utah. She has been scrapbooking since 1997, the dreaded era of photos cropped with deco scissors. Since then, her work has evolved into a clean, linear, photo-focused style. Her favorite subjects to scrap are her husband and five kids (never a lack for subject material there).
I have been struggling for weeks to come up with a perfect handmade card. Just had surgery so limited on what I can do with my right hand! Thank you so very much for your webpage and sharing such an awesome idea for this card. Merry Christmas! I’ve got to get busy….
Very cute cards! What font did you use for the J and Y?
Thanks, Michelle! The font was a freebie from dafont.com called “Anderson Four Feather Falls.” Here is the link: http://www.dafont.com/anderson-four-feath.font HTH!
LOVE the JOY card! I’ve been starting to work on ideas for our Christmas cards this year, and think this is a major contender! Thank you for sharing!
Would love to make the JOY card but can’t figure out they can be mailed?
@Vicki K- The 3D ornament can be folded flat-separate the the folded circles side to side and then just squish it down. I fit mine into an envelope easily. HTH!
I was wondering the same thing! 🙂 I might just go with a single flat circle for the ornament so it’ll fit in the envelope – but may try making one and flattening out to make sure it pops back up well.
SO clever! Thanks for the manger tutorial.
Great cards!
Both great looking cards.
Thank you for instructions on making that cute manger