2014 Handmade Holiday Cards

Since 2011 I’ve been making handmade holiday cards to send out.  Not every holiday card I send is handmade though.  I usually only have time to make 30-35 handmade cards, so they go out to friends & family who I know would appreciate the work that goes into making handmade cards. 

You can see previous years’ handmade cards below:

• 2013 Handmade Holiday Cards
• Crafting | Our 2012 Holiday Cards
• Crafting | Anatomy of a Holiday Card

This year I was ambitious.  I wanted to make some shaker and multi-layered cards using Papertrey Ink stamps & dies.  (I’ve used Papertrey Ink stamps & dies every year.)  I started out by creating some samples so I could get a feel of how complicated it would be to make the cards, and how long it would take me.

I made this shaker card first and it did take quite a bit of time. 

The shaker elements were what took the most time, so I thought I would modify the design and take out the shaker elements, but still have the same feel and multi-layers.  This one was easier and took less time.

Another multi-layered card.

I still thought the shaker cards were fun, so I decided to make just a few to give to the most special people in my life.  The layers for the shaker card were such:  card base, diecut foam adhesive shape, shaker background and elements inside the circle, sequins, acetate cover, then the diecut shape over that.  It was very tedious.

I did each step in mass-production mode to save some time.  So first I diecut all of the elements out of cardstock and shimmer paper.  Then I stamped them.  When I stamped them I added one color/element at a time so I didn’t have to change stamps or stamp pad colors.

First I stamped the snowman in black.

Then the house in shade of gray and red roof.

Then the trees.

Then I stamped all the banners.

I started in mid-November and worked on it quite a bit every weekend for two weekends.  After I assembled the different parts of the card and got them done, I lined them up in my box.

Then one morning I stamped all the insides of the cards.  That took quite a bit of time too. 

Then I stamped the back of the cards so people knew I made them.  :)

Here are some of the different cards I made.  I only made one shaker card with “snow” and that one went to Peppermint.

Shaker card with sequins.

Multi-layered cards on white cardstock.

Some on white shimmer cardstock.

Some on gold shimmer cardstock.

Some in red snow globe shapes.

Some in pink snow globe shapes.

They went to good homes by mid-December.  :)

While they were a lot of work, they were worth it.  I got several comments from friends who said that my card was the only handmade card they received this year.  Or that they look forward to my handmade card every year.  I guess I may have developed a reputation with some friends!  I’m so glad I had time to make handmade holiday cards this year and was able to send joy to many!