Howdy folks, there is nothing like the feeling of being ahead of the game. I decided this year I would make all of my Christmas cards ahead in small batches instead of mass producing 75 in November. If you missed the first batch of cards you can see them here. Here is the second batch of 12 and they were so fun and affordable, each card and envelope cost about 10 cents to make with scraps left over, you can’t beat that! Please note: I did not count the cost of the stamp and ink or sewing machine thread, I’ve had them all for years and have more than gotten my money’s worth out of them;)
I did not buy anything new to make these cards.
- I chose 12 Christmas papers leftover from old Die Cuts with a View paper stacks (I bought the 180 sheet stacks for $10, that is about 7 cents a sheet) and I trimmed them to 8.5″ square and used my score pal (tutorial is here) to make the envelopes keeping the pattern to the inside for a faux liner look.
- You will end up with 3.5″x12″ and 3.5″x8.5″ scraps. Trim the 3.5″x8.5″ scraps into strips (the short way) and save the longer scraps for other cards.
- Cut 8.5″x11″ kraft cardstock in half (8.5″x5.5″) and fold to make a standard card. I bought a 50 sheet pack of Kraft cardstock by the paper company on sale at Joanns for $2.50 (that is 5 cents a sheet or 2.5 cents per card!)
- Stamp the Christmas postmark with brown ink on the card.
- Clip the strips of paper to varying lengths and arranged them in a tree shape and sick them down with a glue stick then use a sewing machine to zig-zag stitch down the middle to make a trunk and help secure the papers.
- Stamp “Merry and Bright” in the lower corner.
- Print out a bunch of stamps from the 12 Days of Christmas set from Lettering delights on cardstock, cut them out with stamp edge scissors and glue them to the card at the base of the tree.
- Attach a star brad to the top of the tree. (I bought a bulk pack of these at Target many years ago, I think it was 100 for $2)
You will end up with a bunch of paper strips leftover too, you can do this tree arrangement on brown paper lunch sacks for cute unique gift wrap, perfect for kids classmates or gifts of baked goods, it never hurts to be prepared!
This card qualifies for the following challenges: Dutch Dare, Penny’s challenges (anything goes) and OWH-Stars and Stamps (pattern paper).
So now it’s your turn, go ahead, look through you old stash of papers and stamps and make a batch of Christmas cards, leave a link if you do so I cam marvel at them;)
Thanks for stopping by and til next time happy crafting!