Are you looking for a beautiful Christmas card idea?

How many Christmas cards do you send each year: 10, 20, more than 50? If you send a lot of cards each year I am sure that you are looking for a design that is easy to make but creates card that will still impress. I have the perfect suggestion in today's post.

 

One of my hot tips for this card idea is to choose a designer series paper pattern that tells a little story or that creates a lot of visual interest.

 

 

The color scheme and tree images in the A Walk in the Forest pack make this paper a natural fit for winter crafting—use it to accent your holiday cards which we will be doing today and you can also use it for gift tags.

 

The key to impress on your holiday cards is use to a few layers and levels. When I create my Christmas cards each year I always use a Basic White card base for those cards that I will be mailing overseas. I try to avoid colored card bases because I would then have to add a Basic White layer inside to write on - which adds extra weight and cost to each card.

 

So today I stuck to my plan: a Basic White card base but 2 A Walk in the Forest layers to add visual interest. 

 

For my phase I also kept that simple - using the Brightest Glow stamp set: 

 

 

This set is perfect for the busy stamper and helps with your crafting costs too. I love that the set offers phrases out of the outside of the card AND the inside as well. This is my go-to set for this holiday season. 

 

To add a bit more visual interest, I used my Basics 3D embossing folders - I chose a subtle folder for a bit of texture and to add a bit more sophistication to my card front. 

 

 

My final tip is to add a bit of bling on your Christmas cards - this adds that final professional-looking detail and polish. 

 

Here's my card: 

Here's how to make my card at home: 

SUPPLIES

Stamp set: Brightest Glow (159542)

Ink: Pretty Peacock

Paper and cutting dimensions:
        Basic White: 8 1/2" x 5 1/2"; 2 1/4" x 1 3/4"
        A Walk in the Forest: 2 3/4" x 5 1/2"; 1/2" x 5 1/2"
        Balmy Blue: 2 1/4" x 1 3/4"

Misc: Basics 3D Embossing Folders (161598); Stampin' Dimensionals; A Walk in the Forest designer series paper (162377); Iridescent Pearl Basic Jewels (158987); Something Fancy Dies (160424)

Here's my video - be sure to watch all the way through for my bonus tips and design ideas. 

 

 

As promised, here's my tip for creating many of these cards in a week!

The key to making 50 or more cards is to set up an assembly line system and work on each step over several days. For example, Day 1 is to cut all card bases. Day 2 is to emboss all card bases. Day 3 is to cut all DSP and adhere them to the card base. Day 4 is to stamp and die-cut the phrase and layers. And so on. If you set up this kind of an assembly line you can easily have 50+ cards made in a single week! 

Comments

[Jennifer]

Such a cozy card! Thanks for sharing at the Will Blog for Comments #10 linkup. Hope to see you again next week.

[Esme]

So beautiful, I need to start making my own cards again, although I embroider patterns on card stock
Thank you for sharing your links with us at #282 SSPS Linky. See you again next week.

[Jennifer]

The textured paper is so pretty with this whole combo. Beautifully done. Visiting from the Tell it To Me Tuesday linkup.

[Xmasdolly aka Marie Moody]

Oh my goodness, so is my daughter! She went nuts with that last year when she found the stamps at Michaels... hahaha She was as giddy as my baby girl use to be. I loved it. God bless you both.. hehehe!!! You did a great job... I've got to show this video to my daughter. She's gonna love you! Thanks and have a great day!

[Joanne]

That is such a lovely card! I just got all the supplies in for making my Christmas cards this year.