How to make Christmas Cards (Beginner’s Level)

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!

 

Two Tiny but Practical Micro Pocket Books

If you want to use up your scraps but are not in the mood for the umpteenth card 😉 , why not try a micro booklet!

After having designed and created a new Removable Folio Albumplus a card 😉 , I was very happy to give my micro pocket book design a second iteration.

S.E.I.’s beautiful Mimosa papers gave this project a lovely and very sophisticated summer feel, and these cute little things make perfect alternatives for birthday cards!

Enjoy the video and check out the photo collage below (or follow me on Instagram to not miss any new project – plus sneak peeks and other goodness!).

Want to create it yourself? Check out the tutorial!

 

Still in stock!

 

New Design: Removable Folio Album

Happy New Year everyone! I’m very happy to be able to start this new year by sharing with you my first new design of 2016: a Removable Folio Album! 🙂

This folio can house 60 pictures, folds in and out like an accordian and… can be completely removed from its cover to grant maximum freedom of movement! As a bonus feature, the cover can fold a full 360 degrees!

If you’d like to create it yourself, check out the tutorial in my Etsy shop!

I used the Mimosa paper collection by S.E.I., which is a beautiful, bright and warm design paper that reminded me of spring and summer.

Enjoy the video, and let me know what you think in the comment section!

 

How to use every last piece of scrapbook paper

I don’t know about you, but I don’t like to throw away my lovely scrapbook paper. Not even the smallest pieces! No doubt there’s lots of creative things to be done with them, I just haven’t figured all of them out yet 😉

But: here’s one!

Click here if you can’t see the video below.

 

Klik hier als je geen filmpje ziet.

Een beetje scrapper vindt het niet leuk om papier weg te gooien en zou het liefst alles bewaren, ook de kleinste stukjes. Dan is het wel handig om wat ideetjes achter de hand te hebben voor wat je dan met die snippers zou kunnen doen. De meeste ervan moet ik zelf ook nog uitvinden, maar hier is er alvast eentje!

 

BewarenBewaren

BewarenBewaren

SEI Couture cards & envelopes mini album

— Nederlandstalige video onderaan!

To this day I’m not quite sure what, in “scrapbooking speak”, exactly counts as a mini album; based on what I’ve seen so far, I tentatively conclude that it means something like “any photo album smaller than 12×12 inch (or 30×30 cm)” – which is the standard size for the design paper stacks we all love so much. This of course would automatically mean that virtually every photo album we make is called a “mini album” even if it’s 11×11 inch, the logic of which escapes me somewhat – but since I haven’t yet found any proof to the contrary, I’m sticking to this definition. 😉

Anyway! On to the album! Excuse me, mini album. 🙂

I was inspired by one of Kathy Orta’s mini albums, added some of my own ideas and together with the gorgeous Couture paper stack by SEI it led to a pretty nice result. But don’t take my word for it, see for yourself. And by all means, let me know what you think!

Click here if you don’t see the video below.

 

Hieronder de Nederlandstalige video. Klik hier als je niks kunt zien.