Hi All!
Every year I create a holiday photo card to send out to family and friends. I usually send out 80 of them. Well, last year, I decided that it’s just too much. I would have to either (a) simplify my card to be very basic or (b) send out fewer cards. I’m sure many of you can understand that sending out a basic card was not an option for me. I want the card to be really special and thoughtful, like a gift. So, I’m only making 40 of these.
The finished card is 5″ x 7″, so it fits a standard A7 envelope. You can get two cards out of a 12×12 sheet of paper, so I only needed 2 packs of cherry cobbler cardstock. I chose these framelits for two reasons: the size was big enough to fit a typical 4″ x 6″ photo, and the top and bottom points in the center make it easy and quick to line up for die-cutting.
If you recall, I was originally looking for a nativity stamp to use for this year. Well, since I send cards to non-Christian families, I decided it was better to use something a little less religious. But, if you are inclined to use one, the Stampendous Manger stamp fits perfectly with this framelit. If you scroll down past the video, you’ll see some of the prototype panels I created with this stamp.
If you are planning to make a photo card, you can view my previous ones HERE, HERE, and HERE for ideas.
I have a treat in store for next week! A couple of weeks ago my youngest, Courtney, turned 9. I was telling her that her junk food consumption was a little out of control… birthday cake, trick-or-treating, Halloween parties, etc. She said, “Mommy, it’s a sugarpalooza!”. She’s the child that whips out witty sayings and sophisticated vocabulary on a whim and just makes me laugh. 🙂 Anyhoo, next week is going to be a videopalooza! Simon Says Stamp has a monthly card kit. They sent me the one for December to see what I could create with it. Well, I loved it so much that I created 4 cards and did 4 videos to match! And yes, all in one day, lol!! Now, this kit has a bunch of patterned paper in it. Not usually my thing. I think I was just having fun being out of my comfort zone. Come back for the first video on Monday.
Until then, enjoy the video and have a great weekend!
Panels I created using the Stampendous Manger Scene stamp. All images were heat embossed with white powder first:
Top Left: I used masking to watercolor the ground in Walnut Stain distress ink. I used Spiced Marmalade, Broken China and Dusty Concord distress markers to flick upwards from the center, then I used an aqua painter to blend it.
Top Right: Same masking of the ground, but I applied the colors using a foam applicator (Walnut Stain, Spiced Marmalade, Broken China, and Chipped Sapphire). I stamped the Hero Arts Musical Background in Chipped Sapphire. I highlighted the image with matching distress markers.
Bottom Two: I randomly sprayed the panels with Ranger Dylusions Crushed Grape and Vibrant Turquoise shimmery sprays.
Supplies:
To purchase at Ellen Hutson, click the EH link. To purchase at Simon Says Stamp, click the SSS link.
 Tannenbaum Stamp EH|SSS |
 Labels Framelits |
 Stampin’ Up! Gorgeous Grunge |
 Holiday Sayings |
 Sizzix Big Shot EH|SSS |
 Cherry Cobbler Cardstock |
 Neenah Cardstock EH|SSS |
 Distress Markers (12-set) EH|SSS |
 Penny Black Love and Joy Dies EH|SSS |
 Stampin’ Up! Scoreboard |
 Corner Chomper EH|SSS |
 Versamark Ink EH|SU |
 Cherry Cobbler Stickles |
 Yellow Stickles EH|SSS |
 Ink Foam Applicator EH|SSS |
 Wild Honey EH|SSS |
 Cherry Cobbler Ink |
 Clear Embossing Powder |
 Gold Embossing Powder EH|SSS |
 Uniball Gold Gel Pen EH|SSS |
 Eclipse Masking Tape Roll EH|SSS |
 Glue Pen |
 Tombo Mono Multi Glue EH|SSS |
 Stampendous Manger |
mamichelle
Oh my, this is gorgeous!
Sandy
Great ideas! You are so nice to share. Thanks.
Barb
Wow! What a gorgeous card, Darlene! LOVE the fun design! And I’m really looking forward to next week! 🙂
Valerie Martin
Hi Darlene!
First off, let me tell you…the photo of your girls is GORGEOUS! They are such beautiful girls and that is such a sweet picture!
Every year there is usually one 1 Christmas card that I receive that is just SO special and SO beautiful that I usually leave it out displayed somewhere pretty much year round. If I received this card from a loved one…this would be it! I just LOVE it!
The manger scene would be an AWESOME choice as well. I especially LOVE the one with the music notes in the background.
Thank you so much for sharing,
Valerie
Lana
Beautiful!
Richell
Stunning card!!! Thanks so much for showing how to make a flip card without the die! You make everything so easy to understand! Thanks for sharing!!!
Carrie Davenport
wow! beautiful card!! and your daughters are gorgeous 🙂 thank you so much for letting us be apart of your holiday tradition!! I can’t wait until next week when we get to see 4 different cards 😉
Nana 4
I have followed your blog faithfully…..you have some God given talent girl 🙂 So…..does your oldest dtr. get told she looks just like her mom?? lol…a compliment to both, I think 🙂 Love also that you support foster kids… Have a joyous holiday season!
Maria A. Rodriguez
Oh Darlene, this is fantastic, really with this video there is NO need to buy that Sizzix die, I love it and it can work with a lot of dies, really awesome. Now, your daughters are simply beautiful, thank you for sharing this picture of them with us, and this card would be a joy to receive, I know you will finish them in time. Thank you for this wonderful video, you make it so easy to follow and understand, you are amazing and so generous sharing your time and effort, not to mention, your incredible talent with all of us and, to add to that, you save us money too!!
Amber
SO impressed! LOVE LOVE LOVE this card! You just continue to amaze me. I know how hard it is to commit to a design and I think that you nailed this one. Thanks so much for sharing. I have the gorgeous grunge set and I never thought to use if for snow. Such a great idea! Thanks again for the inspiration.
Anna Jernigan
How lovely, both the card AND your girls! What a fantastic idea for family photo Christmas Card! You are so clever, and funny……..daunting task…I’ll say. How about 40 cards later…….you let us all know how that went! LOL It’s always a pleasure to watch your videos, and learn something!
Love the Nativity scene examples, all of them are so pretty! Perhaps, an occasional one here and there to the more religious members of your family and friend list, might break up the monotany. LOL
Acutally, I am sure that an assembly line is in your near future, and that will work, broken down into each task. Plus, it’s all playing at what we all love….making cards! Right? LOL
Hey, I am loving that grunge: “snow” stamp, I NEED one of those! LOL Of course, I can’t watch without being both inspired, and finding something else I absolutely NEED to have! LOL TFS, Darlene, you are very talented, and inspirational, indeed!
Catherine Pooler
Beautiful card, Darlene! I didn’t know you had an Alaina…I have an Alana! She’s almost 11. 🙂 what a GREAT NAME!
Dee
I like all your posts and videos! I did want to comment particularly about today’s posting. Your daughters are so cute and they look like their mom. Thanks for all your work and posting them; they are looked at every week. I found the dye ink post interesting also.
Casey Thrush
Love it!
Carol B
Awesome card Darlene! What a great picture of your two lovely daughters, makes your card extra special and a keeper for sure. Happy Holidays to you and your family.
Teresa R.
What a great idea! To use Gorgeous Grunge for snow!! Thank you, thank you!! Also, love the flip card tutorial. I have so many dies this would work with, so glad I don’t need the expensive die to do it. Thank you for a beautiful card.
Magda van Spankeren
hej Darlene, such a nice card, but……….
can we only make them
with those beautiful girls
whom look a lot like you, you must be there mom
bye Magda
Edna
It’s a great idea to use a flipcard for Christmas cards – beautiful design, stamps and daughters, too. Once again thanks for sharing your ideas.
Love, Edna
Wanda M.
Beautiful Christmas card, but not as beautiful as your precious daughters. I enjoy your designs so much. Thank you for sharing.
Jennifer R.
Fabulous!
Denise Parcells
I love this. I’m totally going to try this out. 🙂 I think I’ll try with a heart die or something to make a fun surprise card for my hubby.
Heather North
I would love to see how you made that “burst of light” behind the nativity scene.
Cathy E
So striking and beautiful! Another wonderful card and video! Thanks!!
Laura in CO
Darlene, every week it’s like art class with your most favorite teacher and video time with your bestest coffee bud all wrapped into one! Am I right girls?! Love, love, LOVE this card, what a beauty (as always)! And your girls are SO darling, SO adorable! Thank you so much for sharing your holiday cards with us each year, and in plenty of time to give us ideas for doing exactly the same card, uh..I mean something similar. ; ) I agree with Nana4 who wrote you do have some God given talent girl, and I am so grateful you take the time and energy to share it with us. Thanks for the dye ink comparison, that was very interesting, and I will be really curious how the markers compare. And OMG, I can’t wait for next week…squeal!! Have a blessed Thanksgiving!
julia
Dear Darlene, I really enjoy reading your blog! You are such a sweet lady. Even thought I am super busy this week and have no time to sit back to watch your Christmas photo card videos, I enjoy “hearing” your “chatting” about the cards and your daughter’s cutest talk 🙂 You are so nice and even show us the prototype of the other cards. In this thanks-giving season, I want to thank you for always being there and showing us many card making technique so that we can learn and enjoy every week. May God bless you and your family richly!!
Susan W
Fabulous card! But I can’t imagine making 40 of these! I just KNEW you’d used a Flip It die for this…and was so happy to see that you didn’t and told us how to duplicate it! Wayyyy cool, Darlene!
Missie
Flip cards are really popular right now, and this video has really inspired me to make my first Christmas card of the season! Thank you!
Robin in WA
Beautiful card! I know what you mean about the card being the gift. I feel the same way about all of my cards, because we don’t really exchange gifts with family. The receivers are going to love your card! Thanks for the technique!!!
Robin in WA
I have to ask–is the Festive Berries marker a pretty red? My Barn Door marker is an exact match for Fired Brick and I’m very disappointed with it. I have even talked to Ranger about this and they said this is just how it is.
Darlene DeVries
Robin, I just went upstairs to compare my red distress markers. Barn Door is the lightest, Festive Berries is in the middle, and Fired Brick is almost brownish. If your Barn Door is the same as Fired Brick, then I think you have a bad marker. Maybe another reader can make a comparison?
Mary, Wausau WI
A flip card without the flip die? Who knew!!!??!
Thanks for sharing your talent and wisdom – – talk about getting a lot of mileage from our tools (aka toys)
Amy G
I absolutely love this card!! Thank you for the tutorial!
Annette S
Darlene, this is absolutely beautiful. Thank you so much for your ongoing inspiration.
Cynthia
Darlene, the card is a work of art and even prettier in person. Thanks for including us in your list:-) It is by far our most beautiful and meaningful card! I’m in awe. Merry Christmas to your family! Cynthia
Darlene DeVries
Thank you Cynthia!! 🙂 Merry Christmas to you too.