It's A Wrap - and No Patterned Paper

Cards wrapped in acetate, vellum or anything for that matter are the intriguing latest challenge set by Daring Cardmakers.

I made my first Christmas card of the year (gulp) with an acetate wrap of stamped and punched snowflakes. The paper underneath is by Dovecraft and the Seasons Greetings stamp is by Hero Arts: I used clear UTEE to give it some texture.

Meanwhile Arty Girlz latest challenge is to crate a card with no patterned paper. I created the background with alcohol inks and gold stamping.

Finished the Christmas cards!

I've now made 26 Christmas cards, which is nowhere near enough but I decided I wouldn't send a hand-made card to everyone. Last year I made around 55. As you cardmakers will know, a lot of people don't appreciate handmade cards very much so I'm only sending them now to close friends and family.

It didn't cost me much to make my cards this year because I had a LOT of supplies left over from last year and I made good use of a free stamp that came with Papercraft Essentials. I did buy some snowflake stick-ons and a snowflake punch, and these were fab. I also bought some large aperture card blanks which make "special" cards, and some great texured card blanks from Papermania. Well worth the investment.

I've grouped some of the cards together to give an overview of what I made.

The first flurry of Christmas cards

Well, as I threatened the other day, here are some of the first Christmas cards off the production line!

Yes I know I said I wouldn't make many this year (I think 10 was mooted), but this year I've discovered a new formula: "making it easier on yourself."

So, no more fiddly decoupage or painting with H2Os. No more elaborate stamping or layering. Instead, simple cards that use embellishments and the stacks of Christmas paper I already have.



This one uses the free stamp that came with Papercraft Essentials and some of the free decorations. I stamped it and embossed it with green tinsel.

The mauve one again uses scraps of paper plus a "Joy" chipboard embellishment from Making Memories and snowflakes by Dovecraft.

I've got lots more but I haven't photographed them yet. Second flurry to follow. Gird your loins.