Category Archives: Christmas

Get on My List For the Remaining “12 Weeks of Christmas”!

Time is flying by and there are only 8 weeks left of my 12 Weeks of Christmas holiday emails! Every week for 12 weeks I send you a free holiday project idea that you can use to make your holidays brighter! The only people who receive these free projects are the people who are on my Stamping With Karen Mailing List! This is my way of thanking my mailing list subscribers for following me, so if you would like to receive these special holiday emails, please sign up!

You have already missed the first four emails but there are eight more to come, starting this afternoon at 1:00 PM Central Time! Sign up right now and here’s how: If you are on my blog, sign up in the red box in the top right sidebar. If you are on your phone, you may have to scroll way down. OR go to my sign-up page HERE and sign up in the red Mailing List box! We’d love to have you!

Besides these holiday emails, I also send out a weekly newsletter on Tuesdays with the latest Stampin’ Up! news and new product information plus a stamping project or two or maybe some papercrafting tips!

Please join us!

Fitting Florets Collection Available TODAY!

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Today is the first day you can purchase the Fitting Florets Collection in the Stampin’ Up! Online Store! “Add just the right touch of elegance to any occasion, including Christmas and seasonal celebrations, with the sweet Fitting Florets Collection. From color schemes to sentiments and embellishments to dies, these unique products blend together so that your cards and crafts fit whatever occasion you might need. Send birthday wishes, express your gratitude, or spread Christmas cheer—with so many options to mix and match you’ll be set no matter the celebration all year!”

This is an interesting Collection because all of it is available now through January 4th (while supplies last), but the Framed Florets Bundle (stamp set and dies, all of the same name!) will continue on and be in the January-June 2023 Spring Mini Catalog! (I know we can’t comprehend a Spring catalog when we just finished Halloween!)

The best way to get an idea about this whole beautiful Collection is to watch this Stampin’ Up! video!

Click the photos below to read the Flyer.

This is a beautiful set of new products! Use them exactly as is or, as the designer did, turn some into a Christmas presentation. The Framed & Festive Stamp Set has really fun greetings to use right now for our Christmas cards and projects.

Check it all out and let me know if you have any questions! The Framed & Festive Stamp Set, the Gold embellishments, and the designer paper will only be available until January 4th or while supplies last before that. The Framed Florets stamps and dies are available now and will be in the Spring Mini Catalog! It’s all pretty! You’ll like it! Get it all in the Collection or pick and choose what you want!

SHOP STAMPIN’ UP!

Twinkling Lights Christmas Tree Card

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Here’s a Christmas card idea with a pretty diecut Christmas tree, the Twinkling Lights Christmas Tree Card. I felt like I was missing out, not having cards with a Christmas tree on the front! I already purchased this pretty Lights Aglow 6″ x 6″ Designer Series Paper but I found I couldn’t do without a Christmas tree!

This card begins with a Cherry Cobbler card base, one of the coordinating colors of the Lights Aglow paper. Next, I layered a piece of Gold foil (if you want to “cheat”, cut a piece out of the middle of the Gold Foil to use later, it won’t show on the front of the card!) and then a print layer of the Lights Aglow paper.

The Christmas tree is die cut with the tree shape in the Twinkling Lights Dies. Actually, there are two dies to use. One cuts out the tree with the little punched-out dots to look like lights and the other cuts out the same size and shape solid tree. On this card, I die cut the tree out of the Lights Aglow patterned paper with the die that cuts the little holes but I also cut a solid tree out of Gold Foil to show through from the underside of the tree. They are adhered together.

The tree is popped up on Stampin’ Dimensionals with some Gold 1/4″ Shimmer Ribbon that is adhered back and forth on the back of the tree.

The greeting is stamped in Cherry Cobbler Ink from the Brightest Glow Stamp Set. I just cut the banner ends and layered it on a piece of Gold Foil. It is popped up on Stampin’ Dimensionals.

There are so many variations you could make of this same card with different colors and patterns of paper or using cardstock along with the designer paper. Everyone loves a Christmas tree for Christmas cards so if you need one, use the trees in the Twinkling Lights Dies to make a card like this Twinkling Lights Christmas Tree Card.

SHOP STAMPIN’ UP! HERE

Cottage Wreaths Christmas Card

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To make this card, I started off with the designer paper in the Fitting Florets Designer Series Paper, a new release coming November 1st. It has lots of flowers so you wouldn’t think you could use it to make a Christmas card. But this Evening Evergreen plaid pattern is perfect for this Cottage Wreaths Christmas Card. I even made it easier than I originally planned on!

The card base is Evening Evergreen to match the designer paper. I thought about putting a layer of Real Red in between the card base and designer paper, but I didn’t. I used the Stitched Rectangle Dies to cut out a piece of Basic White and a layer of Real Red. My Basic White piece is about 2 5/8″ x 4″ and the Real Red layer is 3″ x 4 3/8″. You can just cut out rectangles with your Paper Trimmer if you do not have the dies or you can make yours different sizes.

I simply stamped the wreath and berries in the Cottage Wreaths Stamp Set on the Basic White. I originally thought I would of course die cut it, but then I thought let’s just stamp it. I inked the wreath with Pear Pizzazz ink BUT then I added some other greens with Stampin’ Write Markers. I think I used Garden Green, Old Olive, and Granny Apple Green. I just randomly and lightly added the marker on various leaves of the wreath, trying not to do all of them. This is a Distinktive stamp set so just inking up a stamp and stamping automatically gives that textured look to the image. I thought it worked especially well with this wreath. Then I stamped the groups of three berries around on the wreath in Real Red. They were a little light so I couldn’t resist just adding a dab of Real Red Stampin’ Write Marker to each berry.

The bow in the stamp set was also stamped on a scrap of Basic White and die-cut with the Country Wreaths Dies. I just glued it onto the bottom of the wreath. You could also pop it up on Stampin’ Dimensionals. The greeting is stamped in Real Red and is also in the Cottage Wreaths Stamp Set. The size is perfect for this card design.

To finish it off, I used a few of the Red Rhinestone Basic Jewels. I like a little sparkle but you could easily leave these off or use ones that are not red. You could also color plain rhinestones with a Real Red Stampin’ Blend Marker.

If you want fancier, then use the wreath die cut and leaves and go for it! You can purchase the stamp set and dies in a Bundle, the Cottage Wreaths Bundle.

SHOP STAMPIN’ UP ONLINE HERE!

New Paper Pumpkin Kit For November!

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This November, Paper Pumpkin delivers this and more with its one-of-a-kind, holiday-themed crafting experience. This festive kit includes 12 fun, sparkly gift tags and (as always!) an exclusive stamp set—plus everything you need for a successful holiday crafting experience.

This kit includes:

This month’s kit contains enough elements to create 12 tags—4 each of 3 designs. This all-inclusive kit includes printed die-cut paper pieces, twine, adhesive, and more!
Includes a Cherry Cobbler Classic Stampin’ Spot!
You’ll love decorating your gift tags with snowflakes and banner die-cut pieces on our Mint Macaron glitter specialty paper (a Paper Pumpkin exclusive).
Create festive gift tags for all your packaging needs this holiday season with classic Christmas colors and designs.
Finished gift tag size: 2″ x 3″ (5.1 x 7.6 cm)

Coordinating Stampin’ Up! colors: Basic Black, Cherry Cobbler, Crumb Cake, Mint Macaron, Shaded Spruce, Sweet Sorbet

If you need unique Christmas packaging to round out your gifting, you will be able to purchase these exclusive North Pole Sacks add-ons in the Online Store under Paper Pumpkin Past Kits, for subscribers only. Available now.

Join Paper Pumpkin by November 10th to receive this kit!

SUBSCRIBE NOW!

My 12 Weeks of Christmas Begins Today!

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Today is the day my 12 Weeks of Christmas holiday emails begin! Hard to believe, I know, to think about Christmas when we have just entered fall! But we crafters know that we must start early on our handmade projects so we can get all the fun things finished on time that we want to make!

It’s just 4 hours until my first 12 Weeks of Christmas email goes out today at 1:00 PM (CT)! The only way you can get these emails is to be on my Stamping With Karen Mailing List! I send out a regular weekly email on Tuesdays and these holiday emails will go out on Wednesdays until Christmas! To get on my email, sign up in the red box on the right side of this blog. If you are on your phone, you may have to scroll to the bottom of your screen.

Or CLICK HERE to sign up for my emails and begin receiving these special holiday emails!

Every year I send out special holiday emails with a single project for you to make or by inspired by on Wednesdays to my mailing list subscribers. This is a thank you gift to them from me for following me and being on my newsletter list. I really do appreciate those who show an interest in my stamping business either by being a customer or even just following my blog and reading my newsletters.

Please join us and sign up now so you don’t miss the first 12 Weeks of Christmas email this afternoon!

Coming Next Week! It’s the 12 Weeks of Christmas!

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Believe it or not, Christmas is not that far off, just a little over 12 weeks away, so it is time for my 12 Weeks of Christmas Holiday Emails to begin! These special emails will begin next Wednesday, October 5th!

Every week for 12 weeks you will be getting an email from me with a fantastic holiday project for you to make! It is completely FREE, but it is exclusive to people on my mailing list. You can use these ideas to make your holiday preparations easier!

This is a thank you gift for my mailing list subscribers that I like to do every year. Just like in my regular weekly email, I will send a photo of a project, a list of supplies needed, and all the directions to make it.

In the first few weeks, I will send card ideas since it’s likely that is the first thing most of us will work on at this point. Next, come a few weeks of gift ideas, and finally, as we are doing Christmas shopping, some ideas for gift wrap, bags, and gift tags.

These are exclusive projects that I won’t be posting on my blog or anywhere else. I just want my subscribers to know that you are appreciated! If you are already on my mailing list, no need to do anything!

The only way you can get these special 12 Weeks of Christmas emails is to be on my Stamping With Karen Mailing List! If you are not on my Mailing List, you better get on it before Wednesday, October 5th at 1:00 PM, otherwise, you are going to miss out! The first 12 Weeks of Christmas goes out on Wednesday!

Just sign up in the red box on the upper right if you are on my blog or click the link below!

JOIN THE STAMPING WITH KAREN MAILING LIST!

Jingle Jingle Jingle Christmas Card With Bells

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This Jingle Jingle Jingle Christmas Card With Bells was fun to design! This stamp set, Jingle Jingle Jingle, is probably a less noticed one in the Holiday Mini Catalog because it’s not part of a Suite or Bundle. However, it’s a fun stamp set with cute words and extra little stamps like a candy cane, Christmas lights, stars, and Santa hat, plus fun words to use as sentiments.

This card has a card base of Real Red and a layer of Basic White. I simply spaced out the stamped word “Jingle” using my Stamparatus to make sure I had it straight and that it stamped the image well in Real Red ink. I didn’t really do it the “right” way with my Stamparatus (I should have just moved the plate down instead of placing the stamp on the card where I wanted it!) but it turned out just fine. Using the lines on the Stamparatus, I could see if I had the word straight.

In between the words, I stamped the string of Christmas lights. These are stamped in Memento ink and colored in with Stampin’ Blends. I used Real Red, Pumpkin Pie, Granny Apple Green, Orchid Oasis, and Daffodil Delight. You can use the Light or Dark marker or any other colors you like for Christmas. Another tip would be to add some Wink of Stella Glitter Brush to each light bulb for a little bit of sparkle up close.

I added two Flat Jingle Bell Trinkets to the bottom of the card. I’m not sure where the red and white baker’s twine came from but it was on my desk so I used it! I ran the twine through the holes in the bell trinkets but glued down the bells with Mini Glue Dots. These bells are flat which is great because they will be easier to go through the mail. So cute!

I almost added some Iridescent Rhinestones or some jewels for a little sparkle, but then I decided to use the star stamp in the set stamped with Daffodil Delight ink.

On the inside of the card, I added a Basic White layer stamped with two rows of Christmas lights and one of the phrases in the set that goes with the bells. I could also stamp or write “Merry Christmas” underneath when I send the card and sign it.

Jingle Jingle Jingle Christmas Card With Bells inside

Whether we like to think so or not, it’s the middle of September already, and time to get ahead of ourselves and start making our cards and projects so we won’t be so rushed when the holidays arrive! I am saying this to myself!

This Jingle Jingle Jingle Stamp Set is a good stamp set to use because you can make several different versions of cards with this set. The whimsical images will be fun to use!

SHOP STAMPIN’ UP! ONLINE HERE!

Paper Pumpkin Holiday Kit!!

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‘Tis the season to make your own Christmas cards with the Ho Ho Ho Paper Pumpkin Kit! This kit contains whimsical designs of Santa and his reindeer in a classic Christmas color palette which is sure to match various styles of holiday décor and look great on mantles everywhere.

Each kit contains enough supplies to create 9 festive cards—3 each of 3 designs—and 9 coordinating envelopes. These cards are sure to bring a warm holiday spirit.

And word from the North Pole is that this kit coordinates with next month’s Paper Pumpkin tag kit and the special add-on product! With so much coordination between products, you’ll have a breeze at creating a cohesive look for all your holiday gifting needs. Make this season the most wonderful time of the year for your loved ones—and for yourself!

My Spooky Treats Paper Pumpkin Kit isn’t even here yet but already I can’t wait to get these next two coordinating kits! If you want extras, just change the quantity in your account! The Holidays are definitely coming! This is an easy and fun way to get ready!

JOIN PAPER PUMPKIN NOW!

If you don’t care for a monthly subscription, purchase a Prepaid Subscription on your regular Stampin’ Up! order for the number of months that you choose!

New Kit For Christmas Gifting!

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You’ll love the ease of gift gifting this year with the Christmas Gifting Kit! Create gorgeous gift tags to attach to presents or make the gift card holders to wrap your loving gift cards in!

Available starting today, the Christmas Gifting Kit is a simple way to enhance the gift gifting experience for you and your loved ones! Give your friends and family gift cards to the places they love, while still adding a handmade touch.

DETAILS

Kit Includes:

Kit includes 9 tags and 9 gift card holders—3 each of 3 designs
Includes the exclusive Christmas Gifting Stamp Set and a Shaded Spruce Classic Stampin’ Spot
Sized to fit standard gift cards
Coordinating colors: Basic Black, black foil, Mint Macaron, Real Red, Shaded Spruce

Celebrate the season with a card kit that has everything you need to wish those you love a merry Christmas and a joyous New Year. Don’t let the holidays overwhelm you–get your all-inclusive kit and make quick multiples everyone will love!

Watch Sara show the Christmas Gifting Kit in this video! Watch for the pretty foil! That caught my interest!

By the time you start wrapping Christmas gifts, you will be very happy to have these tags already made and ready to go instead of having to use those stick-on tags you buy at the grocery store!

There’s also the Cozy & Bright Kit for making Christmas cards with all the supplies included in your kit!

Check out the entire Kit Collection in the Stampin’ Up! Online Store!

Lights Aglow Gold Christmas Card

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I looked through the Lights Aglow Designer Paper and chose this pattern without knowing what I would make. That’s a good way to get started when you are trying to come up with an idea. In a little while, I had this Lights Aglow Gold Christmas Card made!

After deciding on this gold foil snowflake pattern of paper in the Lights Aglow 6″ x 6″ Specialty Designer Series Paper, I decided to make the card base Cherry Cobbler cardstock. I started with Real Red, but I think just knowing the coordinating color for this designer paper pack was Cherry Cobbler, Real Red just didn’t feel right. I cut the snowflake layer down a little so I could add some Gold Foil strips to the top and bottom. I cut two Gold Foil strips 3/4″ x 5″ to add a 1/4″ edge peeking out.

For the greeting, I stamped “Merry Christmas’ in the Brightest Glow Stamp Set. I stamped it with Versamark ink so I could heat emboss it with Gold Embossing Powder in the Metallics Embossing Powders using the Heat Tool. I used Very Vanilla cardstock.

To help the Very Vanilla greeting stand out, I diecut it with one of the Painted Labels dies and immediately cut another one out of Gold Foil. The gold foil is then cut in half horizontally so that it could be layered just a tiny bit under the top and bottom of the greeting piece. It’s not absolutely perfect, but plenty close enough.

For a little embellishment, I remembered that I had Gold Holly Leaves leftover from last year’s Holiday Catalog but carried over to the current Holiday Mini. They are almost like little fabric leaves and come in two sizes in the package. Then I die cut some Cherry Cobbler berries from the Christmas Banners Dies. I think they are a little larger than I would have liked but they still are okay. I popped the greeting up not on Stampin’ Dimensionals but on Foam Adhesive Strips. They seem to be a little higher than the Dimensionals so I might have preferred the Dimensionals. But it is fine!

So once you know what the design is on this card, it’s really fairly simple! You can change the background designer paper and make it a little different or even make the card for a different occasion, instead of this Lights Aglow Gold Christmas Card.

SHOP STAMPIN’ UP! and SALE-A-BRATION (until Aug. 31st)!

Lights Aglow Tis the Season Christmas Card

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I just got this designer paper and sort of copied a sample card in the Holiday Mini Catalog to come up with this Lights Aglow Tis the Season Christmas Card. When you don’t have an idea of what to make with one of your Stampin’ Up! products, always remember to look in the catalog for ideas. You might think you will copy the card exactly, but I’m willing to bet that as you go along you may just change it up a little as your ideas start to flow.

Although I don’t have the Christmas Lights Bundle in the Lights Aglow Suite, I wanted to get the Lights Aglow 6″ x 6″ Specialty Designer Series Paper. As I write this, the Lights Aglow Paper is not available but should be back in stock in early September. I must have ordered the last pack! LOL! This paper has gold foil dots that are meant to look like twinkling lights! Very pretty papers!

To make this card, I started with a Cherry Cobbler card base. Then I used the Cherry Cobbler paper with tiny stars all over as a layer on the card base. If you wanted to save paper, you could just add strips to the side. I made all the paper layers on this card run the full length of 5 1/2″. The Cherry Cobbler paper with stars is 5 1/2″ x 4″.

The center portion of the card, the arcs of stars and dots, needs a little extra care. Surprisingly I realized that before I cut it! To get the proper arc, you need to cut the center portion of the sheet of that paper. Below is a photo of how I cut the paper. Since I wanted a 3″ wide section, that left 3″ so I cut 1 1/2″ off each side.

Before adhering that center paper to the card, add some Gold Foil strips to each side, or as the Holiday Catalog shows (page 30) use the Gold Glimmer Paper in the Glimmer 12″ x 12″ Specialty Paper.

For the greeting, I sort of copied the design of the sample card but changed it up a little bit. I used a sentiment in the Brightest Glow Stamp Set. I think this is a fantastic set of traditional Christmas greetings in pretty fonts. I chose the ‘Tis the Season stamp and stamped it in Cherry Cobbler. Then I die cut it with a small plain circle in the Layering Circles Dies and layered it on a scalloped circle die in the same set, cut out of Gold Foil.

On the inside of the card, I used a layer of Basic White and added a strip of designer paper with the little stars that I used on the front of the card. That way you can stamp a greeting or write a note.

That’s all there is to this Lights Aglow Tis the Season Christmas Card but if you wanted to add any extra embellishments you could do that.

SHOP STAMPIN’ UP! ONLINE HERE!

Painted Christmas 2-4-6-8 Gift Bag

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I was inspired to make something different than a card so I looked through my designer paper and this pinecone paper is what jumped out at me! I thought it would be perfect for an easy little gift bag for the holidays, like this Painted Christmas 2-4-6-8 Gift Bag. You know the holidays will be here before we know it!

There’s almost nothing easier to make than a 2-4-6-8 gift bag! And so versatile! you can leave the top open or you can pinch it closed, as I did. Make a lid if you like. All this one takes is a piece of paper – cardstock or designer series paper – cut at 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″. I used the Painted Christmas Designer Series Paper which was around last year and has returned this year in the Holiday Mini Catalog so you may have some! Put it in your Paper Trimmer or Simply Scored board to score at 2″, 4″, 6″, and 8″. Make sure you pay attention if there is a pattern so you have the design going the right way and not upside down or something. Then turn the paper lengthwise and score at 1 1/2″ or 2″ to make the bottom flaps of the bag. You can vary the height of the bag if you make it wider than 5 1/2″. Then cut those score lines for the flaps up to the horizontal score line. Also, cut off the tiny little 1/2″ piece at the end. Check out the paper below.

To assemble, crease all the score lines with a Bone Folder for a good fold, and then see how the bag is going to go together. Apply adhesive (Multipurpose Liquid Glue gives you some wiggle room to get the paper lined up but Tear & Tape or Stampin’ Seal+ is good, too!) to that narrow 1/2″ piece on the end. You don’t really have to hold the bag up in the air to adhere the other side to that 1/2″ side. Just lay it flat on the table and carefully fold over the opposite side to adhere to that 1/2″ side. Then just fold in the flaps, trying to not have seams showing on the front side of the bag. Apply some adhesive to the flaps and always stick your Bone Folder or something down inside the bag to put pressure on all those flaps and make sure they have fully adhered together. If you want the top of the bag closed AFTER you put your gift or treat inside, just pinch in on the sides and then close the top with ribbon through some punched holes, a staple, or some kind of clip. Whatever you like!

To decorate the bag, I used a little diecut rectangle out of Crumb Cake Cardstock and die-cut some evergreen branches out of Evening Evergreen Cardstock using the Christmas Banner Dies. I had a scrap of the Real Red Glimmer Paper in the 6″ x 6″ Pack so I diecut some red berries just in case I wanted to use them. The “joy” is stamped in Real Red ink from the Brightest Glow Stamp Set. You can purchase the whole Brightest Glow Bundle with the stamp set and some fancy dies, but if you just need some more or some Christmas greetings, you can just get the stamp set.

This little Painted Christmas 2-4-6-8 Gift Bag started out with some not real exciting pinecone paper and got turned into a real Christmasy bag for a small gift or treat! Time to get ready for the holidays!

Christmas Wishes Banner Card

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I wanted to make another Christmas card sample so I copied a design in the Holiday Mini Catalog on page 11. I found just the Real Red card base and the striped paper already cut so I just started with that even though the sample design uses a green stripe paper. I was happy with my Christmas Wishes Banner Card when I finished. That red glimmer paper really adds some pizzazz!

The green paper in the background is just another of the Sweetest Christmas Designer Series Paper designs that I put under my card for the photograph, but I kind of like it if I wanted to make a card with that as the layer if I made the center part smaller!

As I said the card base is Real Red with a striped layer of the Sweetest Christmas DSP. The center piece is Basic White cardstock, stamped with leaves, with a die-cut banner overlaid, and some glimmer paper on the top and bottom.

Here are the details! The Basic White piece is 4 1/2″ x 2 3/4″. I stamped various leaves and stems in the Christmas Banners Stamp Set. I used Garden Green, Soft Sea Foam, and Mint Macaron in for the greenery and Soft Suede and Real Red for the stems of berries. I love how those turned out! The berries and stem are two different stamps so you don’t have to color directly on the stamp to get two colors. As I stamped the greenery and berries, I just imagined the banner going across the middle so I didn’t have to worry about how it looked underneath. You can see in the photo below how I stamped all of that.

The banner is stamped in Garden Green ink with the greeting words stamped in Real Red. The banner was diecut with the Christmas Banner Dies. You could just place the banner over the center of that stamping, but I noticed the catalog sample looked like it had ribbon underneath it. I used the green ribbon in the Real Red & Garden Green 3/8″ Ribbon Combo Pack. It just goes across and back and then back to the other side so that you can see a loop at each end of the banner. I added some Stampin’ Seal on the back of the banner so I could adhere the ribbon going back and forth and back, then popped up the whole banner with Stampin’ Dimensionals.

Before adhering the piece to the front of the card, I added two scrap pieces of red glimmer paper from the Real Red & White 6″ x 6″ Glimmer Paper to the top and bottom of the center piece. I cut the glimmer paper at 4″ x 5/8″ and adhered to the white cardstock, then adhered the whole thing to the card front.

The sample in the catalog has a little bow tied with one of the Flat Jingle Bell Trinkets. You could also add some jewels if you wanted to, such as the Red Rhinestone Basic Jewels.

Even if you copied this sample, there are ways you could change things up a little if you wanted. It at least helps you to get going to copy something!

Shop Stampin’ Up! Online HERE!

Slimline Painted Christmas Banner Card

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I remembered that one of the Christmas papers in the Holiday Mini Catalog is a returning one, Painted Christmas! And I have it from last year so I was anxious to try it out again! After pulling out all the papers and some coordinating colors of cardstock, I came up with this Slimline Painted Christmas Banner Card, much to my surprise!

I say “much to my surprise” because I didn’t imagine I would be making a slimline Christmas card! But you never know what you may come up with! As it turned out, from the pieces of designer paper and scraps of cardstock, it just seemed like they would fit well as a slimline card! This is even a fairly large one that could be used if you wanted a lot of people to sign the card!

The card base is 8 1/2″ x 7″, folded in half so the width is 3 1/2″. I used Pear Pizzazz cardstock. The layer of Painted Christmas Designer Series Paper is 3 1/4″ x 8 1/4″.

For the greeting, I decided to use the Christmas Banners Stamp Set. I stamped the banner in Real Red ink, diecut it with the Christmas Banner Dies, then stamped the words. You could do all the stamping before die-cutting. The stamp set and dies can be purchased together as the Christmas Banners Bundle so you can save 10%. I thought the banner might need a background to stand out better so I used Real Red cardstock to die cut a Stitched Rectangle. You might notice it is longer than the actual die. I used that technique to partially cut the rectangle, then stop and move the die down longer, lining it up with the already cut die-cut lines. You will feel it fit in there. But don’t roll that end of the die through the Stampin’ Cut & Emboss. Start it farther down and then roll the platform past the longer end. If you try it, you will figure it out! It always takes me a minute to remember how it works, but it’s a good technique when you want a longer die.

Next, I stamped and diecut lots of the leaves and stems in the Bundle to decorate around the greeting. I even found a scrap of gold foil in my little pile so I used that for a little gleam on the card. The banner greeting is popped up on Stampin’ Dimensionals® and the stems can be slid a tiny bit underneath the banner around the sides. Just lay around with the pieces that you have and see what looks good. For a finishing touch, I added some Red Rhinestone Basic Jewels.

This card will fit into one of those long business envelopes or you can use the Slimline Envelopes in the Annual Catalog. Here is another slimline card, but much smaller, in this post. That one is 3″ x 6″ but I think that’s a good size too. Just make your cards to fit the envelope you have! We are past July 25th so it is LESS THAN five months until Christmas! I hope this Slimline Painted Christmas Banner Card offers you some inspiration for a holiday card!

SHOP STAMPIN’ UP! ONLINE HERE!