5 Tips to make fast Christmas cards!

Hi friends! I know it’s not even Halloween yet but if you make Christmas cards by hand you need to start early and this video will show you how you can make a big batch of Christmas cards fast! You can also use these tips anytime you need to make a lot of cards or invitations for ANY event or occasion.

Watch the video to see how!

This tutorial is sponsored by Top Flight Stamps! SAVE 10% off your next order with coupon code: thefrugalcrafter10 *USA orders of $50+ ship free!

Supplies:

• Branches with ornaments stamp set
• Christmas Sentiments and Decorations
• Holiday Birdhouses
• Kraft and white cardstock
• Watercolor pencils (Inktense)
• Versafine Clair ink: in pinecone and glamourous
• Clear waterbased blending marker
• Scan n Cut 2 (model CM 350) for cutting out stamped images
• Ribbon, Raffia, Brads, Wood christmas shapes
• Adhesive
• Glitter pens
• Metallic pens (Arteza)

5 tips to streamline holiday card making!

1.  Keep the basic design and supplies used the same.
2. Work in batches assembly line style.
3. Ask for help. Even non cardmaking spouses and children can cut, score and fold cardstock, Stamp sentiments inside cards and stuff envelopes. If you have many images to color let your family help!
4. Consider investing in a time-saving tool like a die to match your stamps. I never got the appeal of owning dies for something you might only cut a couple of times but when you are making Christmas cards not having to cut 100 images out by hand is a blessing. I invested in a  Scan n Cut machine a few years ago so I could have the convenience of dies to match any of my stamps without having to purchase any more dies.
5. Buy a big pack of embellishments and use them all up.

Bonus tip!!!!

Make your own envelopes from unused leftover christmas paper. Simply measure your card from corner to corner and add 1″ to that measurement. Cut a square of paper that size and fold around your card as shown in the video.  If I am mailing my cards I make my envelopes so the pattern is on the inside of the envelopes and it is so pretty like a lined envelope and the paper gets used (and is cheaper than store-bought envelopes.) I make rosettes from the scraps to decorate packages and punch tags from the smaller scraps. I keep a dish on my craft table with tags I punched out of scraps so anyone wrapping a gift can grab them to use. It’s so unique, pretty and festive and it’s using resources wisely!

Good luck in your next batch card making project and til next time happy crafting!

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Cute little matchbook notepads

Hi friends! Today’s project will help you use up some scraps and make handy little notebooks.

Watch the video to see how!

This video is sponsored by Rubber Stamp Tapestry  Use coupon code: LINDSAY and receive 15% off your retail order of $10 or more of peg stamps, peg stamp sets, and unmounted stamps! Coupon expires a week from this video publication. Continue to receive great deals by becoming a PegStamp VIP here. As a PegStamp VIP
you’ll get a weekly deal via email plus links to fabulous tutorials by me, Lindsay the Frugal Crafter and other designers.

Supplies:

• I used the Thorny Rose peg stamp set. Here are some other rose peg stamps & sets you might like.
• Dye ink (Memento)
• Ink blending brush
• Pattern paper (Joann Fabrics Park Lane patterned cardstock)
• Paper fasteners (aka brads) I got them from Staples and painted them with nail polish:)
• Scalloped circle (2″) and regular circle punch (1.5″) or dies or hand cut
• Scallop edge scissors
• Paper trimmer
• Scoring board (Scor pal)
• Double stick tape and foam tape
• Thin white paper or thin scrapbook paper with a white back you want to use up.
• Heavy duty punch (crop a dial) or an awl you can poke through all of the paper layers.

Directions/measurements

1. You can get 4 booklet covers from a 8.5″x11″ cardstock. Score the cardstock first. Score at 3.5″, 4″ and 7.5″ (you are scoring parallel to the long side of the paper so that last score is 1″ from the edge.)
2. Cut the scored piece of cardstock in quarters so you have 4 pieces of 2.75″ x 8.5″ pieces of paper. When you fold on the score marks you will have the matchbook cover.
3. Your inside pages will be 2.5″x3″ and I use 3 pieces of 12″x12″ thin scrapbook paper to get the pages for 2 books. You can make them as thick as you like, you just might need to punch your booklet papers in batches.
4. Follow the video for full directions!

I hope you enjoyed this stash busting project and til next time happy crafting!

Let’s Make Paisley with your Tiny Stamps!

Hi friends!  Today I’ll show you how to get a little more use from your little stamps!

This paisley design is fun and versatile as it can be used for adults and kids and many occasions! Watch the video to see how to turn your itty bitty stamps int a fun and bold paisley design!

This video is sponsored by Rubber Stamp Tapestry  Use coupon code: LINDSAY and receive 15% off your retail order of $10 or more of peg stamps, peg stamp sets, and unmounted stamps! Coupon expires a week from this video publication. Continue to receive great deals by becoming a PegStamp VIP here. As a PegStamp VIP
you’ll get a weekly deal via email plus links to fabulous tutorials by me, Lindsay the Frugal Crafter and other designers.
Supplies:

• You will want a variety of flowers, stems with leaves and small design elements. I used the following peg stamp sets: Giddyup!, Retro Sundress, Cherry Blossom,
  Floral Frame, Hoo-Ray
• Embossing ink pad
• Embossing marker
• Black pigment ink
• Paisley Washi Tape
• Circle and scalloped circle punch
• Foam Tape
• Double stick tape
• White gel pen or paint pen
• White, black, kraft, red and aqua cardstock
• White embossing powder
• Heat tool

I hope you enjoyed this fun way to use your small stamps! I have a fun surprise for you next week that I can’t wait to share! Any guesses? Til next time happy crafting!

Using freehand elements to improve your cards!

Hi friends! Have you have tried to stamp a scene with multiple images on a card and felt like everything was floating, nothing matched or it just didn’t feel whole? Today I will show you how you can add a few hand drawn elements to make your card feel cohesive and complete.

Watch the video to see how!

This tutorial is sponsored by Top Flight Stamps! SAVE 10% off your next order with coupon code: thefrugalcrafter10 *USA orders of $50+ ship free!

Supplies (contains affiliate links)

• KatzelKraft Cats
• Katzelkraft Sleigh
• Cream heavyweight cardstock
• Watercolor Paper (6″x9″ Aquabee)
• Watercolors (Pretty Excellent brand, yes, that’s really the name LOL! )includes waterbrush
• Red pattern paper
• Black Waterproof Archival ink
• ATG adhesive
• Extra Fine tip Sharpie
• White gel pen

Make sure when you are hand drawing elements that you use a pen that matches your stamping ink color and will work with your coloring medium. I used a black sharpie because it was black like my stamping ink and was waterproof so it wouldn’t smear when I painted it with watercolors. I hope you enjoyed this tutorial and til next time happy crafting!

Double inked embossed resist!

Hi Friends! Today I have a fun technique to share that will have you getting inky with your cardstock and stamps!

Watch the video to see how it’s done!

This video is sponsored by Rubber Stamp Tapestry  Use coupon code: LINDSAY and receive 15% off your retail order of $10 or more of peg stamps, peg stamp sets, and unmounted stamps! Coupon expires a week from this video publication. Continue to receive great deals by becoming a PegStamp VIP here. As a PegStamp VIP
you’ll get a weekly deal via email plus links to fabulous tutorials by me, Lindsay the Frugal Crafter and other designers.

Supplies:

• Falling Leaves unmounted stamp set
  *If you need stamp mounting glue try this.
• Cardstock in white, cream, yellow and purple
• Versafine Clair inks (fall colors)
• Distress inks (yellows, orange, reds)
• Ribbon
• Embossing ink
• Clear embossing powder
• Heat tool
• Large Stamp Mount (Fiskars Easy Stamp Press)
• Anti static pouch (Corn starch or paper powder in a pouch or baby sock to pounce on paper)
• Sponges for ink blending
• Scissors, paper trimmer, adhesive

Double inked emboss resist technique How-To:

1. Ink up your cardstock with light and bright-colored inks. This will be the color that shows through your stamping.
2. Stamp images with clear embossing ink and heat emboss with clear embossing powder.
3. Sponge dark ink on top and let it sit for a minute so it absorbs into the paper.
4. Wipe off the excess with a tissue to reveal the embossed design.

I hope you try this with a variety of stamp images as the possibilities are endless with this technique! Thanks for stopping by and til next time happy crafting!

 

Embossing mistakes? I’ve made a few…

Hi friends!  There is something magical about the glossy goodness you get when you heat emboss a stamped image…

…that is as long as the powder stuck where you wanted to. In today’s video I’ll show you how to fix embossing mistakes and make 4 inky fun Halloween cards!

This tutorial is sponsored by Top Flight Stamps! SAVE 10% off your next order with coupon code: thefrugalcrafter10 *USA orders of $50+ ship free!

Supplies:

• Hocus Pocus Stamp Set
• Cardstock: White for inking, Cream for card bases
• Patterned paper (Old World Stack from DCWV)
• Distress oxide ink
• Versafine black (slow drying pigment ink for embossing)
• Embossing markers (for fixing mistakes)
• Black embossing powder
• Heat tool
• Black mini brads
• Black sheer organza ribbon
• Black spider buttons (Love Nicole from ACMoore)
• Adhesive (ATG gun)

Directions:
1. Make envelopes first then trim scraps of envelope paper to use on your cards. The cards are A2 size (half of an 8.5″x11″ sheet of cardstock)

2. Cut white cardstock down to 3 3/4″x5″ and ink up with various shades of distress ink, heat set and flick water on all but one panel. Dry. *Heat-setting before flicking water makes the oxidization more pronounced. Heat-setting between layers prevents muddy colors.

3. On the panel with no water flicks stamp the large owl scene and heat emboss with black powder. Then take a clean brush and paint water over the own and castle to “bleach” it. Let dry. Stamp the other images on the other backgrounds, heat emboss and trim if needed.

4. Ink edges of panels and paper scraps with black soot ink if desired. Add brads and ribbon to background panels and adhere them to your cardbases.

Trouble shooting embossing tips!

• Always use a anti static pouch (or baby powder) on your cardstock before stamping to heat emboss. It will wick away moisture and reduce static so your powder will only stick to your pigment ink.
• If you do get stray powder use a small clean paint brush to brush it off.
• Stamp with a slow drying pigment ink so you have time for the powder to be applied.
• Heat up the heat tool for a few seconds before heating your powder. Move the tool to a new area after you see the powder starting to melt. Over heating will flatten the embossing powder and can scorch the paper.
• If you missed a spot stamping fill it in with an embossing marker then re sprinkle powder and reheat. There no shame in that game!

So, before you toss a less than perfect embossed card in the trash try one of the above tips to spruce it up. Remember, handmade is not supposed to be perfect (what is perfect anyway?) a homemade birthday cake that is less than perfect in appearance is still as delicious (probably more so) than the expertly frosted one from the store. And your handmade birthday card will be more beautiful and meaningful than a perfectly mass printed one from the store. Your work is beautiful, share it with the ones you care about, and til next time happy crafting!

Stamped & Painted One Layer Cards!

Hi friends! Today I’m going to show you a very simple technique for creating one layer greeting cards.

I use the Succulents stamp set I designed for Rubber Stamp Tapestry combined with other stamps to create a Thinking of You card to send to a friend. You can try this with any stamps you have that have large areas you can color. I recommend working on watercolor paper if you have it because the paint will flow and blend nicer and the tape will not rip it.

This video is sponsored by Rubber Stamp Tapestry  Use coupon code: LINDSAY and receive 15% off your retail order of $10 or more of peg stamps, peg stamp sets, and unmounted stamps! Coupon expires a week from this video publication. Continue to receive great deals by becoming a PegStamp VIP here. As a PegStamp VIP
you’ll get a weekly deal via email plus links to fabulous tutorials by me, Lindsay the Frugal Crafter and other designers.

Supplies:

• Unmounted Stamp Sets: Succulents, Wrought Iron Planters, Uplifting Sentiments
• Peg Stamp Sets: Build a Prickly Pear cactus, Desert Cactus, Retro Sundress, Cherry Blossom (*this is one of the best peg stamp sets to begin with!)
• Ink: Versafine Clair or Archival
• Watercolor greeting card or you can fold your own watercolor paper
• Masking Tape
• Watercolors (I used Pretty Excellent 36 half pan set and included waterbrush)
• *Previously cut out masks from post it notes

Directions:
1. Fold and tape down your watercolor card. Make an even 1/2″ border with the tape around the card and press the tape so paint can leak under it.

2. Stamp the planter in black and the succulents in green. Use the masking technique when stamping the plants.

3. Color the image with watercolors and let dry.

4. Paint the background with shades of pink, purple and yellow. You can flick on paint splatters if you wish. Let dry.

5. Remove the tape and stamp the sentiment.

6. Use paint to ink up some peg stamps and decorate the envelope if desired.

You can use any watercolor you have for this or scribble your water based markers on a white plate and pick the color up with a wet brush to paint with instead. I hope you enjoyed this easy project and til next time happy crafting!