I do enjoy making cards, and holiday cards are such fun. With the price of stamps these days, I want the card to be worth sending. I’m doing better this year, getting my cards out in plenty of time for them to arrive before the big day. I got these Christmas theme die cuts a couple of months ago, and now is the time to use them.
These two have essentially the same design, three layers of card stock, with a Merry Christmas stamp and a die cut on top. The ornaments and the train are on dimensional foam dots to raise them just a little off the surface.
This diagonal stripe looks a bit like a candy cane. I used the same sentiment on both of these cards. The sentiment in the gold frame on the left is put on with foam dots. The Santa is a chipboard die-cut.
The same basic elements are arranged a bit differently in these cards. I used foam dots on the Santa and the ornaments for dimension.
Inside, a stamped sentiment is accented with a holly sticker. My handmade stamp is on the back.
These cards have tiny white dots on red background. The gold frame and bar set off the colors well. Layers of patterned paper and die cuts with dimensional dots complete the designs.
The envelopes are stamped “Merry and Bright”, and they are sealed with ornament stickers.
Using elements cut from cards received in years past, you can make wonderful cards without stamps. These use an embossed background white card stock, with cut outs on vertical ribbons.
Framing the square images with a dark card stock gives more dimension to the design.
From last year, these cards used patterned paper for backgrounds. The left one has an image cut from a card received in a prior year with a stamped sentiment. The one on the right has a dimensional leaf with a cardinal die-cut on a foam dot.
From 2022, an embossed card with metallic green powder. This is set with a heat gun to make it melt onto the paper and shine.
In 2016, I did a tutorial on my post Iris Folded Christmas Cards. These are not hard to do, and work great with leftover bits of wrapping paper. All you need for a tree is a cut out triangle.
Using a punch with a matching stamp makes an interesting card like this one from 2016. Just punch the shape out of the top, then stamp an image in the space. I stamped the ornament in blue to go with the base card stock. On top, the white is embossed snowflakes, and the silver star sticker was added to the top.
I also really like the technique of embossing with white powder onto dark backgrounds. These trees are one of my favorite all time designs.
I’ve done snowflakes on dark blue too.
Save the cards you receive this year, and put them to good use with my post Christmas Card Crafting. I show how to recycle a retail store gift bag into a holiday gift bag.
Creative cutting can make bookmarks, gift tags and elements for future cards.
You can use stickers and ribbons to dress up purchased cards and make them just a bit more special. Or just put a holiday sticker on the envelope to make it more festive. You still have time!
Do you still send cards in the mail?
From My Carolina Home 
Your cards are so cute, and inspirational! Yes, I still send greetings to those acquaintances I don’t see regularly. Merry Christmas!
Carole,
Lovely cards. You are such a “craft-master” as there doesn’t seem to be anything you don’t do.
Beverly
These are so beautiful and use so many fun techniques! I love to send and receive cards in the mail but only have a couple of friends that send them these days. I would love to make my own and plan to expand my skills in cardmaking when I retire. I like to send out Happy New Year cards after the holidays!
Your cards are always lovely! I do still send cards, but that won’t happen until later this week!
Beautiful cards!
Your cards are beautiful! I loved making cards but the cost of stamps is just too much to send them anymore.
Beautiful cards Carole
Hi Carole, Very Cute Cards!! I really love those larger die cuts on the cards. I am a scrapbooker, too, and have just recently begun to use large elements as accents on my 12″ x 12″ pages. They really add interest get the viewer’s attention. And, great idea to reuse and recycle the cards that you receive in the mail. While I don’t do cards very often, I do make them from time to time. I have a group of penpals that I send short notes to each month and I have a cute, fun card project to make for that. Decorating, sewing, cooking, wrapping, creating…so many ways to bring ourselves and others joy at this time of year!
Your cards are beautiful, Carole! Love all your ideas for them. I bet people love getting your cards. We do still send out some cards – we get the kind where you can put a photo of yourselves on it and get them printed at Walmart. Time to send a few!
Your cards are so professional. I occasionally make cards but they look like grade school. Not that there’s anything wrong with grade school, but that was soooo long ago for me.
You do a great job – so pretty!
Your cards are lovely. I bought a bit of paper this year, no new stamps or die cuts. I know I have plenty of “stuff” and need to use what I have. My goal is to get my cards in the mail today. The cards are made and envelopes addressed, just need to write notes and sign them. Niki
Your cards are beautiful! Thank you for all the ideas. We still send cards, but purchase them. Maybe next year I’ll make them!
I love every single one of them, Carole. But that iris-folded tree is especially dazzling, as are the simple but elegant snowflake and winter scene. I’ve always appreciated embossing. They are gems. If your recipients are anything like me, they will save them. I don’t think I’ve ever tossed a handmade card. I have a little album for some that is pretty packed! Mine are almost done. I had a little setback, as you know, but will be getting them out this week!
Your crafted cards are beautiful!
Your cards are absolutely stunning!
I still send cards to those far away. I often hand out cards to people at church or music rehearsals in order to save on postage. I have tried making my own cards, but they rarely turn out good enough to send.