I’ve had so much fun stamping our Christmas cards this year. I got on a roll for a couple of days, and cranked out card after card. I have a lot of holiday theme stamps from several companies, but most of the cards this year were done with Impression Obsession stamps adding stickers and ribbons, elements from other cards, pretty papers and fun glittered chips.
This technique uses the embosser two ways. First, inking the folder gives you an impressed image with color.
Just use the ink pad in your hand, and lightly brush the folder’s raised side.
Add the card stock, and press it with the machine. You’ll get a lovely image like this.
A different way to accomplish much the same technique is to emboss the paper first, then use the pad to tap over the raised side of the embossed paper. You’ll get a bit more color on the paper this way.
Using that tree, I put shiny star stickers on top of the ornament circles on the tree, fussy cut it, then mounted it on a card with a plaid paper behind 2/3 of the tree. That left a small area to stamp a sentiment.
Next, I played with stacking stamps, using one block to stamp several images at once.
I have a cute row of ornaments, mounted on a red frame with a red cord accent. This element is placed near the bottom on top of two rows of ribbon, allowing room for some stars and sentiment above it.
It was still a Season to Sparkle, with the next card featuring Santa.
This gift package was cut from another card and mounted on red card stock. I added the red glitter cord tied with a bow, and a glittery tree to the bottom right.
Next, a nice sentiment is framed in green and mounted with a red velvet ribbon scrap. A Victorian Santa brings gifts.
Another simple card, ‘Celebrate the Season!’ is mounted on green then placed on striped paper with a glittery stocking added.
This reindeer is so elegant. It is half-mounted on red with feathery ribbon across the top of a green patterned paper. The sentiment is stamped on the green paper.
Pretty paper in blue is a good background for a snowman and a snowflake.
I wanted to use the snowflake emboss folder, so I got out some white cardstock and made a couple of embossed pieces to use behind some glittery elements. The card on the left is a snowflake theme, and has a Happy New Year sentiment inside. Then I put the snowflakes on red, and added the cardinal. I actually loved this design idea so much, I kept going with it.
I embossed more pieces of white and kept going with the same basic design. These two used elements from cards I have received in previous years.
The bright gold behind the dove and the glittery tree look great with the snowflake textured background.
Each card has this sentiment in red, plus a greeting in green. The envelopes have little trees stamped on them.
I need to do yet a few more for my neighbors to give them with the pumpkin bread loaves I baked for them. Seems we are all doing home baked goodies for each other this year. We’ve received a cranberry pecan coffee cake, and a loaf of banana bread so far.
Are you sending more cards this year?
Save 25% on Winter theme stamps until 12/31 at Impression Obsession.
Fat Quarter Shop has a special 20% off the Basic of the Month, 30% the Notion of the Month, and check out the Daily Flash Sale for great Countdown to Christmas sales!
From My Carolina Home 
I love these cards! You give me so many ideas that I would love to try. Maybe when I retire, I will have time to try this and will look back on your stamping posts.
Thank you for posting your cards. They are beautiful and you gave me some ideas for next year as I make my cards also. Think I’ll get started after Christmas before I forget the ideas.
Beautiful cards – I need to refresh my stamp pads & try to make some as pretty as yours. Mine always seem too amateurish to send, but seeing yours shows me how to improve. This year I sent friends & family commercial cards with a little mini charm quilt using the Fat Quarter Shop’s free pattern. Usually at our gathering I have a basket of hand knit hats, socks, slippers to pick from. 2020 is a different kind of year.
Beautiful cards. I have a whole box of “received” cards from years back that I use elements from when making cards. I haven’t sent ONE card this year….sigh….maybe New Years cards…..
All of your cards are darling! I love the embossed snowflake backgrounds and you used such cheerful elements and sentiments. I ended up making about half of our cards this year, though I told myself I wasn’t going to make any. My husband likes to send “the reason for the season” cards and I couldn’t find nativity stamps that I liked, so we sent some extras from last year and some secular ones that I made. I did 5 or 6 at a time over a few days, and it was actually fun and not the chore I expected it to be. A productive use of the time ( read “eternity” !)spent at home. 🙂
Beautiful says it all
Lovely cards! I have sent cards this year but I didn’t make them – some years I do, this year I have been sewing more and stamping less (and working full-time). I enjoyed seeing your cards, though – lots of good ideas there. Merry Christmas!
Very pretty Carole! Merry Christmas!🎄
Beautiful cards and looked like allot of fun to create too
Merry Christmas
My goodness…You were on a roll having the time of your life. Everyone will enjoy yur creative arts.
What fun!! Someday I MUST see your massive craft and quilt supplies!!
What a treat to go along with my morning coffee. I really love the embossed card stock. The “Gift Package” card is especially impressive. I’ll bet your friends and family can’t wait to receive a card from you! I hope you have a very Merry Christmas.
The options are endless to making the holidays special with homemade cards and gifts. You hit a home run with these cards
Today was cookie baking day and now I think I will use your great ideas and make a couple cards for gifts that were going out “underdressed”. Now instead of a simple “to/from” I think I can do a couple just a little nicer. Thanks for the reminder! Happy Holidays.
Your cards are beautiful, Carole! I stamped the inside of one of my embroidered cards and it turned out fairly well. I need to practice more!