Wednesday, October 27, 2010

November '10 - Candy Cane Christmas - PPSAS11a


Christmas Cards for Beginners:
The Ornament Card (PPSAS11a)

Don't be frightened of Christmas cards!  You can turn a boring chore into a fun family tradition.  Instead of sending discount cards this year, make your own cards and imagine how impressed your family will be when they open your envelope.  

Even if you don't have a single piece of paper crafting equipment, these cards take a minimum of supplies.  Each paper pack holds enough card stock and paper to make 12 greeting cards (of this design), and the only specialized tools you'll need are the ornament punch and the holiday greeting stamp set.  

If you have ever done any paper crafting you may already have most of these supplies.  If you don't, you'll love getting some basic tools!  

Specialty Tools for this project: 
Christmas themed paper pack (any style) - $5.00
Four The Holidays stamp set - 116921 - $13.95
Ornament Punch - 119847 - $16.95

Basic Tools for this project: 
Paper Cutter - 104152 - $24.95
Bone Folder - 102300 - $6.95
Basic Black Classic ink - 101179 - $5.95
Stampin' Dimensionals - 104430 - $3.95
Medium Whisper White Envelopes - 107301 - $6.50
A ruler for marking
Stampin' Write Journaler (optional) - 105394 - $3.50
Stamp-a-ma-jig (optional) - 101049 - $11.95
Personalized name stamp (optional) - 115600 - $18.95

Directions: 

1)  Prepare the card bases: Each paper pack will include six 8-1/2" x 11" sheets of card stock, 4 colored and 2 white.  Place each sheet on the paper cutter horizontally and cut in half.  That will give you will give you 12 sheets measuring 5-1/2" x 8-1/2".  Fold each of those sheets in half and crease the folds with your bone folder.  You should now have 12 card bases measuring 5-1/2" x 4-1/4".  

2) Create the scored frame on all of the card fronts:  Remove the cutting blade from the paper cutter and replace with the black scoring blade.  Place your opened card base on the paper cutter horizontally, and score from top to bottom at the 1/2" mark and the 3-3/4" mark.  Now place the card base in the paper cutter vertically, and score from the edge to the fold at the 1/2" mark and the 5" mark.  

3) Stamp your greeting: Choose your greeting from the "Four the Holidays" set.  Ink it with Basic Black ink and stamp it just above the bottom score line, centered within the frame.  To ensure perfect placement, use a Stamp-a-ma-jig.  (Click here for a video on how to use the Stamp-a-ma-jig.)  

4) Punch your ornaments: first select the three patterns you want to use together which best compliment the color of your card base.  Turn your punch over and slide your paper in while looking through the punch hole.  Move the paper around to select the best section of the pattern to punch out.  Also aim to punch your ornaments near each other and near the edge of the paper to avoid waste.  

5) Arrange your ornaments and draw the strings: Place your ornaments on the card base, within the scored frame, and arrange to your liking.  With a black pen, place a dot just above each ornament to mark where the ornament string should go.  Remove the punched ornaments and use a ruler to draw the strings.  Then adhere the ornaments to the card using stampin' dimensionals.

6) Finish your card: If desired, stamp another holiday greeting on the inside of the card, or just write your own greeting.  If you have a personalized name stamp, sign your creation by using your stamp on the back of the card.  (If you choose to make greeting cards to sell, you must use a name stamp or another copyright stamp for copyright reasons.  If you are giving your cards away for free, it is not necessary.)  

Congratulations!  You have just made your own Christmas cards!  If you need more than 12 cards, buy another paper pack in a different design.  Once you have all right right tools, you can make as many cards as you need!  



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