Rest of the Window Christmas Card

I gave you the materials and instructions for the first part of this card on Wednesday. Today we have the rest of the card, or as Paul Harvey used to say, "the rest of the story."

front of the card from Wednesday

Open the window of the card and see a Christmas tree with a message.

Do not adhere the window to the large piece of Whisper White cardstock yet.

Evergreen stamp set (#127973)

Gumball Green InColor ink

Night of Navy classic ink

Daffodil Delight classic ink

Basic Black marker

Whisper White cardstock cut 5 1/2x 8 1/2"

The window that you made from Wednesday.

Score and fold the Whisper White cardstock at 4 1/4." On the front folded section, stamp a solid tree from the Evergreen stamp set in Gumball Green In Color ink in the center of the cardstock. Use Night of Navy to stamp the words of Silent Night onto the tree.

Use the basic black marker to draw lines to make mounds of snow around the tree.

Now adhere the window from Wednesday onto the front of this. Be sure you only place adhesive on the outside edges of the window. Do not adhere the window portion. You want the window to be able to open.

Finish the card by stamping the inside of the card like you see here.

The inside greeting and the lighter tree are both with the Evergreen stamp set. Now how many times have you used every stamp in a set on one card? Be sure to sign your creation on the back of your card. I always sign with my name and date. I have a dear friend who signs her cards with her first name. However you want to sign your card, just be sure that you  do because, even though it's my design, it's your creation!

Christmas Window

I know it's not even Thanksgiving yet, but for those of us who make our own Christmas cards, we have to start early. It's less than 6 weeks until Christmas Day and even less than that to mail your cards. So here is one that I designed for my own use that has a very religious theme. It's also a bit more time consuming to make. I actually started on this one back in July but haven't gotten very many of these finished. With being my usual busy self plus an extreme allergic reaction to pencillin, I've had trouble just getting 3 cards a week on my blog. Now, I've got a torn rotator cuff and will be having surgery right after Thanksgiving so it looks like I won't get these finished for this year. Maybe I can send it out next year!

With the rotator cuff problem (my right shoulder & I'm right handed) I am limited on the things I can do. I'm trying to make enough cards ahead, before my shoulder gets to the point that I won't be able to use it at all, so that I will still be able to have 3 cards a week for you. Well, have to see what happens with that.

At first glance, this looks more like an Easter card, than a Christmas card. IMO, Christmas wouldn't matter, if Jesus hadn't died on the cross for us at Easter time, so I started this card with a cross.

Crosses of Hope stamp set (#120567)
Gumball Green In Color ink
Whisper White cardstock, 1 piece 4 1/4 x 5 1/2" and 1 piece 5 1/2 x 8 1/2" for each card
Primrose Petals In Color ink
Midnight Muse In Color ink
Wisteria Wonder In Color ink
Daffodil Delight classic ink
Marina Mist classic ink
Sponge Daubers (#102892) one for each color works best
Evergreen stamp set (#127973)
craft knife
ruler
Simply Scored Scoring Tool (#122334)

Use a ruler to measure the center of the card and lightly draw a pencil line down the center of the card. Choose the cross that you like and stamp it centered on the line with Midnight Muse ink. You also need to stamp another cross to cut out and use as a mask.

Use a large label to make a pattern for the window. Trace the label and cut out the inside on some scrap cardstock. Lightly draw with pencil the entire pattern of the inside of the window. You will use this later. Use paperclips to hold the pattern in place on the 4 1/4 x 5 1/2" piece of Whisper White.

Hold your cross mask on top of the stamped cross.  Use the sponge daubers and 5 colors of ink to stamp the inside of the window to give it a stained glass look. Remove the paper clips and pattern. Use the star from Evergreen stamp set to stamp around the top and sides of the window.

Use the Scoring Tool to score the edges of the window about 1/2" from each side of the cardstock depending on the label you used. The label that I used was cut from an Original Sizzix crescent tag die. Look to see where the curve of the top of the window ends and begin your score mark from there and end it at the bottom of the tag.

Use a craft knife and cutting mat to cut down the center of the window on the same line you stamped the cross on. Then erase any pencil marks that still show. With the craft knife, cut the line you drew earlier on the curved top and the straight bottom of the window pattern.

Use your bone folder to fold the window sides back so that the window will open.

Check back on Friday for materials and instructions on the inside of the window and the inside of the card.

Window Curtain card

I have been having such fun playing with my Twitterpated Designer Fabric (#125412). I've always loved fabric, just not so crazy about sewing! When I was in the classroom, I would buy yards of fabric to use on my bulletin boards for the background. I always thought they looked so much nicer than just the big sheets of butcher paper that was in the work room. Well, now, thanks to the SU! designers, I get to play with fabric on my cards.

For this card, I wanted to give the idea of a window curtain or valance across the top. I cut a piece of fabric about 2" wide and 12" long. Using a running gather stitch, I loosely gathered the fabric at the top. I attached it with my Sticky Strip (#104294) to the background paper of the card and then added a scalloped piece of cardstock on top of that. I cut a piece of Melon Mambo cardstock to 1 1/2 x 5 1/2" and punched one edge with the Scallop Edge Border punch(#119882). Putting that on top of the fabric covered up my not so neat stitches and gave it the look of a cornice across the top of the window.

The greeting and the leaves are from the Just Believe stamp set (#120453) and cut out with the 1 3/4" Scallop Circle punch (#119854). The background paper is from the Brights Collection (#117155) paper stack.

The dimensional flowers are made from Marina Mist and Mambo Melon cardstock. Check out my tutorial on paper flowers for directions. I added a couple of drops of Crystal Effects (#101055) to give the flowers the dewdrop look.

Remember, any time that you make larger dimensional flowers like these, not only will they require a larger envelope or box but they require extra postage to mail. Check with your post office for current rates.

Cresent Window Card

I used an old Original Sizzix die, the Super Crescent Tag, to inspire me to make this fun window card.  It opens to the front for reveal bright & spunky paper and a butterfly but also is put on a card base to allow for a special greeting or a note on the inside.

Twitterpatted DSP (#125406)

Kaliedoscope DSP retired

Beautiful Butterflies Bigz (#114507)

Original Super Crescent Tag die

Gumball Green In Color ink

Simply Scored Scoring Tool (#122334)

craft knife

thin wire

Fabulous Florets

Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set (#127802) YES! this is my favorite stamp set. I use one of the sentiments on almost every card that I make!

1. Start with a piece white or scrap cardstock. Cut out a Super Crescent Tag with your Big Shot or ther die cut machine. This piece will be your pattern. 

2. On a piece of Twitterpatted DSP cut 4 1/4 x 5 1/2." Trace the crescent tag pattern lightly in the center of the patterned paper.

This tag is 3" wide so you will need to measure top & bottom at 1 1/2" and draw a light down the center of the trace pattern.

3. Stamp the leaves/stem with Gumball Green In color ink and the flowers with Tangerine Tango or another coordinating color. It actually looks better if you stamp your image before you cut it.

4. Using your craft knife, carefully cut the center line, the bottom line and the top curve so that it will open. DO NOT cut the left and right edges of the tag pattern.
Using your Simply Scored Scoring Tool, score the left and right edges of the tag pattern so that they will fold out.

5. Cut a piece of patterned paper (I used some leftover Kaliedscope paper) to card size, 4 1/4 x 5 1/2." Decorate this piece of paper so that it will show through the window. I used the Beautiful Butterfiles die for this and stamped a greeting from my Teeny Tiny Wishes.

6. Place adhesive on the back, outside edges of the window frame. Carefully, place this on top of the decorated patterned paper. When you are happy with it, adhere this paper on to your card base.

7. Ink the open edges of the window and using a sponge dauber, add some extra color around the outside window frame.

You can add a special message or a stamped greeting to the inside of the card base.