It’s that time of year again: time to make our annual Christmas card. I have hand-made our Christmas cards for well over ten years. I always admired the beautiful hand-made cards that my cousin made. However, she is a talented artist but I am the first to admit that my drawing skills are lacking. My artistic talent has always leaned in the direction of paper cutting and tearing. I used to create some really awesome bulletin boards when I was a teacher. I hand cut my letters just by looking at an example. One year, I cut out the entire world map by just looking at an actual map. Those are the skills I use when making my cards.
Just like with all the greeting cards I make, I have a pattern book that I record all the necessary supplies and steps needed for each of my Christmas cards. I also record the greetings I write so that I don’t use the same one year-after-year.
I must confess, now that I look back, the first card I made was VERY primitive. I am almost embarrassed to think I actually mailed it out. I am not even sure much thought was put into the design, but it did get me started. After that first attempt, I started using AVERY note cards for all of my cards.
My card for 2010 was an improvement, yet still quite simple. I was inspired by just a tiny corner of a card we had received. I pre-printed the word PEACE on the front of the cards and then added my design. However, it is the inside of the card that made it special. I found a photo I had taken one winter of our back yard, and inserted it into my document on the inside of the card. Then, I typed the greeting over the picture.
It was about this time that I discovered Pinterest and it opened my eyes to an entire new world of inspiration. I would sort through and pin the different ideas others had shared. Then I would take those ideas and create my own design. Our 2011 card was the result. It still was quite simple but easy to make. I cut out my tree design free hand on a folded piece of file folder to make the template. I did this by looking at a picture. Then, I used several of the punches I have to create the snowflakes and ornaments. The garland was made by using some of my fancy scissors to cut it out.
In 2012, I used a photo I saw in a magazine as inspiration. I cut the seven pieces free hand to make the templates. I used glitter glue to add sparkle to the snow and the chimney smoke. I was pleased with the results.
The inspiration for our card in 2013 came from a card I received from one of my employees several years before. I adjusted the design some and went to work. It was very time-consuming and I was glad I only had to make 30. It involved creating 10 templates and cutting them out 30 times. It also involved quite a bit of sewing. The yarn hair also had to be made but all the work I put into this card was worth it.
I had to purchase our 2014 and 2015 Christmas cards as I went back to work full time. However, I used that time to create different designs to use for the coming years.
I cannot take credit for the design for our 2016 card. I patterned that card after a hand made card we had received several years before from one of my very talented nieces. It took longer to glue the pieces to the card than it did to cut them out.
Our Christmas card for 2017 again came from some cards I found on Pinterest. It was simple and easy to make. In fact, I have the templates made and quite often use them to make birthday cards. The little message in the center I printed off from my computer and then used sticky sponge squares to raise it and add depth to the card. The simple Santa card is one I made for our great-great-nephew who loved getting mail.
The 2018 card is one of my favorites I have made. The design of this card was also inspired by Pinterest. It is an eight-square pattern that took me a while to figure out but once I did, it was easy to make. I used Christmas themed paper and added the ribbon-like message. The snowflake embellishment I purchased in the craft store. It was time consuming but well worth the end result.
Last Christmas, 2019, I made our cards out of my old stand by pattern and design. It is the design that started it all. I demonstrated how to make this card in my post Scrapbooking 101: Card Making.
Besides the 30 Christmas cards I make each year for family and friends, I make special Christmas cards for our immediate family. I design each of them to be unique and different from my general design. My hubby also gets a special card designed just for him. The two below I gave him last year and in 2018. I am still trying to design the one for him for this year.
That brings us to this year’s card. I got the inspiration for this card in December of 2019. My hubby and I were out shopping and I happened to see these gift tags. I already had all my presents wrapped so didn’t need them for that but thought they would look great on a Christmas card. My design developed from there. I printed off sheet music for “Jingle Bells” and printed it out on parchment type paper. I found a simple holiday print paper and a forest green paper to round out my design. I also decided to use some great ribbon I had as well. I like the final results.
For the inside of the cards, I either write my own greeting or adapt ones from old greeting cards. I pre-print them on my Avery cards using my computer, then separate the cards to construct them.
I really enjoy sending hand made cards to family and friends but I also enjoy designing them. In fact, I have already come up with my design for 2021. Come January, I will start assembling my supplies. This design will involve some navy blue card stock, ivory card stock, water colors and some embellishments.
I am glad that I keep samples of all the cards I make. I have enjoyed seeing the progression of design and complexity as I write this blog. Our annual hand-made Christmas card has become a tradition. Do you have traditions for the holidays?
Until next time, “Don’t Save Today for Tomorrow.”
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Your Christmas cards are so amazing! How special to receive one of these in the mail.
I love this! I have not scrapbooked in years and this makes me miss it!
These are absolutely beautiful!
We used to do this every year but somehow got away from it. These are gorgeous!
Very creative and beautiful ideas
I used to love scrapbooking (when I had time), so I can appreciate the amount of work this takes. The cards are super cute!
Such creative cards!
Such cute cards! I feel ashamed to admit I never jumped on the Christmas card wagon. We always say next year but we never do it. I should really change that. Thank you for sharing!
I love all of your examples! They are so cute! Handmade cards like this are my favorite!
Pinterest really is eye candy and helps spark the imagination. These cards are so cute!
These are awesome. I do not celebrate Christmas but if I did I would definitely do the personalized note too. It just means so much more.
Really cute cards!
That is so creative!! I never would have thought to create a card that way
Great ideas. Love that it creates so much less waste!
This is wonderful. I like seeing your progression through the years. In a time where actual Christmas cards are on the decline, it’s great to see you continue and with such a personal touch.
Your cards are a gift in themselves. I enjoyed reading about your progress each card was beautiful.. You really are an artist. Thanks for sharing.
What a fun and memorable tradition. I need to get better about mailing out our Christmas cards.
I love your cards.. and when I receive a homemade card it really makes me feel so special that someone took extra time to connect!
All of your cards are beautiful! And them being made by you just makes them so much more special for those that receive them!
I loved seeing your card history. They are all so beautiful. What a fun tradition.
Your cards are incredible! I’m in awe of your creativity!
It keeps me busy during these troubling times.
These are so lovely! It is always so much nicer to receive something handmade by someone!
Wow, those are beautiful! I would love to do that someday, probably not this year as I’m still getting settled in my new home.