Low-budget scrapbook papers are usually also fairly low quality; they’re thin, crack easily and they sometimes even lose their top layer – hence, their colors! Nevertheless, if you’re on a limited budget you can still create some lovely cards with the more affordable, brandless paper pads.
Just don’t fold them and glue them down really well…
Check out the video for two examples, in which I’m sharing some more low-budget tips – and have fun Christmas Card crafting! 🙂
Several people have told me they wish they could make their own cards (Christmas or otherwise), but that unfortunately “they have no experience”, “they wouldn’t know where to start”, or even the infamous “they are not creative” – which I do not believe is true for anyone.
So in this blog post I’m sharing two beginner’s level cards, to hopefully inspire you and to encourage you to “just do it”. This is an extra blog post, apart from the regular weekly ones, so no video but a blog exclusive 🙂
How to make these cards – in three easy steps
1. Buy a set of colored cards & envelopes. This way you won’t have to do any cutting and scoring of cardstock, and your card will automatically fit into its perfectly matching envelope.
2. Cut three pieces of decorative paper to fit the card; one of them will be the inside of your card so choose one solid pattern to enable you to write or print and/or stamp a message on it. If you’re not sure how to figure out the right measurements for matting, check out my free, easy to follow video tutorial on matting:
3. Glue these decorative mats onto the front, back and inside of your card, and you’re DONE! 🙂
Backsides
Three more optional steps, after step 3
4. Cut a journalling spot from a piece of colored cardstock and glue it onto the mat inside your card. This way you can use a patterned paper after all (instead of a solid). You could also add a ribbon or some strips of paper behind the journalling spot for some extra highlights.
Die-cut labels make perfect journalling spots; you can also cut a rectangle or square with a paper trimmer or craft knife
5. Add a small decoration to the front of your card. In my case I only added a gold-glittered bow to the top edge.
Done!
Papers used: Kris Kringle collection by S.E.I.
So I basically only matted three sides of my card, and my main concern only was which decorative papers to choose! 🙂
I hope this post was helpful to some of you to get started and go create your own Christmas cards!
Please click the like button before you leave 🙂 – and see you next blog post!
Christmas time is nearing and for all of you who’d like to create their own Christmas cards but are wondering how not to make them all mostly the same, I’ve compiled a stack of cards – and 33 variation tips to go with them!
Have fun watching the video, then please find all of the 33 tips listed below for your convenience!
The list with 33 (Christmas) card tips:
This week I’m sharing a tip for your Christmas cards. I know it’s early, but at least this tip will be on time for you! 🙂
Usually when creating a card you would create a cardstock base first, which you would then mat with design paper (and decorate). What I’m showing you in the video and pictures below is a fun and light-weight alternative: use double-sided design paper only and leave out the cardstock entirely! Your cards will be lighter and less bulky, making them easier (and more affordable) to send by mail, and you can decorate them just as you would any cardstock-based card.
As a bonus, the insides of these cards will be gorgeous without you having to put in any effort!
So have fun creating your Christmas cards, enjoying their new lightness 🙂 !
I tried out a new die set, called Modern Patchwork, which lets you create your own, well, patchwork of papers. 🙂
I really like the results, these cards were fun to create, give you a totally different look and as a bonus they are perfect to use up those beautiful scraps of paper you’ve got lying around everywhere because you can’t bring yourself to throw them away 🙂
So here’s the video! (and please don’t forget to click the like button 😉 )
The die-set’s product number is CLMP02 by the Dutch company Crealies. I used Coral Couture papers by DCWV.
A while ago I designed an interactive wallet card that perfectly fits your 6×6″ paper pads. It takes 9-10 sheets of paper for one card – which is perfect especially if you like projects that help you destash a bit (for all of you Paper Hoarders in denial out there 🙂 ).
For the first edition of this card I used a Kaisercraft paper collection, which I like because practically all of their collections come with die-cuts and sentiment ATC cards. That is why I chose Kaisercraft for this second wallet card as well. The Time Machine collection is a mostly masculine collection – stunning with its sophisticated darks and teals and beautiful specialty papers.
So go ahead and take a look; if you’d like to create it yourself, check out my tutorial on Etsy.
As you may have noticed I really like to use up every last bit of paper I’m using, both the design paper AND the cardstock. So here’s two cards I created with what little I had left from two previous projects. And I’m pretty convinced that if I hadn’t said anything you wouldn’t have noticed these two pieces of postal happiness are actually created from leftovers – for there’s nothing measly about them at all! 🙂
The first card is made from a single strip of cardstock, folded just so, and with a piece of decorative chipboard-turned-magnetized-closure.
The second card is a napkin-fold card with a gloriously embellished belly band. You can make one yourself quite easily – Yes you can! Just watch my free video tutorial and have at it!
So go ye’ all, beeth the Frugallest of Crafters and enjoyeth thee with thy Scraps! 🙂
Not too long ago I participated in Kaisercraft’s brand new international snail mail project called Kaisercraft Exchange, which I really enjoyed. You send out anything you created with Kaisercraft products to someone around the world you don’t know, and likewise you receive something – from someone else entirely. Kaisercraft functions as the trustworthy middleman to swap all of the addresses.
It was so, so much fun to participate the first time! So when they announced their second run of this worldwide surprise swap, I was game!
This time I used the Lush design papers, a Kaisercraft paper collection from 2010, of which I had also miraculously still been able to find the rubons. I designed something completely new (well, to me at least): a Mini File Folder, or Mini Collection Folio if you will. I was absolutely engrossed in designing and creating this project, it really scratched all of the right itches for me, especially after finishing a larger project (coming up soon…) 🙂
So without much further ado, here’s the video. Enjoy, let me know what you think, and do participate in Kaisercraft Exchange next time! Who knows, maybe I’ll be sending you something! 🙂
The three cards I’m sharing with you today were made with Bo Bunny‘s Trail Mix collection, filmed in the serenity of my mother’s garden on a sweet Summer’s day 🙂
And those are the actual birds in her garden you’re hearing, even some baby birds crying for their mom and dad to hurry up already bring them something to eat! 🙂
All three cards have their own unique design, so enjoy a moment of pieceful quiet – and while you’re at it, have a nice cup of tea!
While you’re here – please like & subscribe, and/or leave a comment and let me know what you think!
Today I’m sharing a short video with you of a card I decorated mainly with leftover scraps. I always find it amazing how much design paper real estate you can still pull from your scraps, and I always enjoy sharing my inspiration with you all to not throw away your scraps too easily 😉
This time I used the leftovers from my Springtime Dreams keepsake album, created with papers by Webster’s Pages, using their collection called Nest. The larger flowers are by Prima Marketing.
Enjoy and please subscribe if you like this project and would like to see more! 🙂
I love the full-color spectrum of Graphic 45’s World’s Fair paper collection, which allows me to create the kind of colorful projects I enjoy so much.
Of couse I created a large keepsake album first to take full advantage of the gorgeous papers, and fortunately I had enough paper left over to create several cards. Today I’m sharing the first of these – it’s what I like to call a double layout card, by which I mean that it has a layout on both the front and the inside.
To embellish I made use of cutaparts, flowers, chipboard pieces, the tags & envelopes of the collection, and even a small butterfly.
Enjoy the inspiration!
Last May Kaisercraft announced their Kaisercraft Exchange project, aimed at sending and receiving Happy (snail) Mail to and from people around the world, without knowing anything about them except their name and address.
I immediately signed up, for it’s always a lot of fun to create specifically with someone else in mind!
I chose the Be-You-Tiful collection and designed a new wallet card, to be sent to a lady called Kirstie, in Pacific Pines in Australia (hi Kirstie, hope you’re reading this! 🙂 ) I also added a small a mini album to keep pictures of her loved ones, to keep in her purse.
For both of these designs together I only needed 2 sheets of 12×12″ cardstock and 5 sheets of 12×12″ double-sided design paper (including two cutapart sheets with some lovely sentiments).
I also wrote a 29-page tutorial for the wallet card, which you can find in my Etsy shop for a small price, to help me keep doing what I do.
