As the holidays get closer, here are some easy techniques for Christmas cards. Besides painting my own cards, I like to make cards using recycled items as much as possible. These are quick and easy projects that can be part of a fun family night activity.
I save tags, paper scraps and items from cards and gifts I received over time. You can use wrapping paper scraps, napkins, gift tags and holiday cards. Cut outs from old magazines also work well. My granddaughter gave me a packet of papers for my birthday. It includes an assortment of patterns for various holidays and celebrations. They make nice backgrounds for the cards. The main image here is a gift tag. The paper strips underneath the tag lift it so the image is not lost in the busy background. I was glad to have saved this tag especially because it pairs well with this patterned paper. A nice surprise. You never know what you might end up with when you start your paper stash. I painted the punched circle at the top of the tag to camouflage it.The red star is part of a double sided card. The original card was meant to be an ornament; it had gold twine at the top to use as a hanger. Instead, I separated the sides and made two cards. The angel hides the hole. The gold paper is a scrap of holiday type paper. You can also use embossing powder on white paper to achieve a similar effect.Another gift tag tops this card. I covered the hole at the top of the tag with snowflake confetti. The candy shapes on the red paper strip are candies that I punched from the background paper using a circle punch. I also cut some of the candy cane images and will share those cards in an upcoming post.
As you can see, these cards come together fairly quickly once you have gathered your paper supplies. The designs are easily adaptable to whichever holidays you celebrate.
Perhaps these easy techniques will give you extra time for the holiday baking. Or time to sit and read a good book.
