Making Holiday Cards {2009}

Making cards for the holidays is something many crafters enjoy this time of year, and to jump start your creative process here are cards from four different Fiskars design team members. Each one created a sketch as well as three different takes on the sketch so you have over a dozen ideas to get you going!

Designer: Stacey Kingman 
It’s that time of year! Those of us who love to send handmade holiday greetings are thinking about what they are going to look like this year. Colors, size, design, the message - so many decisions! Here’s help.

This sketch is versatile and makes the creative process easy to get started because the design is simple, but easy to manipulate into a variety of card styles. The more cards to be made, the simpler the process needs to be. With this sketch and some great Fiskars tools, you can create Christmas cards that are unique and relatively simple, but they will look amazing!

Card #1
The new Limited Edition Pine for Me Squeeze Punch is the key to making this quick card look more complex than it is. I used the bottom two sections of five punched trees and created a fun, festive Christmas wreath by arranging the larger pieces in a circle with the smaller pieces layered on top. [Photo - Christmas Cheer Card Process] The strip across the lower section is ¾” wide and I notched the ends with my scissors. If you are planning to make a pile of these cards to send for the holidays, use the Push and Print Stamp Factory to stamp multiple sentiments in no time at all. The card is 4” X 6”, the music patterned paper is 3 ¾” X 3 ¾”, and the pink text paper is 3” X 5”.  I rounded the corners with the Around the Bend Corner Squeeze Punch. This card is a perfect candidate for mass production because the pieces are so easy to create and assemble, and the wreath make it look like you spent a lot more time than you did!

Card #2
For this card, I used the same sketch and the same punches, but the resulting card is quite different from the first. Here I used the Pine for Me Squeeze Punch and the Around the Bend Corner Squeeze Punch, and I added the Star Pop-up Punch and some scalloped edges with the Scallop Rotary Blade.  I highlighted the center tree in the design by punching a fourth tree and placing the pieces over the center one with Adhesive Foam. The star is also adhered with Adhesive Foam. I love how the foam makes the tree pop out from the card! [Photo – Merry Christmas Card Side View] This is also a 4” X 6” card and the center piece with the rounded corners is 2 ½” X 4 ½”. The striped piece is 1” wide and the scallop-edged cardstock is  1 ¼” wide. If you are mass-producing this Christmas greeting, the Push and Print Stamp Factory will make stamping your sentiment a snap!

Card #3
My third card based on this sketch is a bit more involved, yet a great card for mass producing because it utilizes several tools that do all of the detail work for you. The card starts with a 4” X 5 ½” base. Lay the card out flat and use the Ultra ShapExpress and the Super Sized Circle Template to cut the front panel so that it has a curved bottom. [Photo – Season’s Greetings Card Process 1]  To create the pinked edging, cut a piece of 4” X 5 ½”  red cardstock and adhere to the inside of the front panel. Using the Pinking Paper Edgers, cut along the curve. [Photo – Season’s Greetings Card Process 2] Cut a piece of patterned paper to fit on the inside panel. Although this is the inside of the card, it is also becomes part of the front because the front has been shaped. Using the same patterned paper, cut a 3” X 3 ½” rectangle and round the top corners with the Romantique 3-in-1 Corner Punch. The strip along the lower part is 1” wide. To make the scalloped “brackets,” punch patterned paper with the Extra Large Seal of Approval Squeeze Punch and cut in half. I printed the sentiment from my computer, but you could stamp or handwrite something here, too. Finish by using the Snowflake Pop-up Punch to make three red snowflakes. If I were mass-producing this card (and I just might do that!), I would still add light inking to all of the lighter paper pieces and machine stitch the inside panel and the front strip. I love these details and they would be important for me to include, but you could skip the inking and the stitching and still have a unique card that would be easily reproduced and a joy to receive!

Designer: Lisa Truesdell
I don’t like to buy a lot of new supplies to make holiday cards – I prefer to see what I can use from my existing stash. 

For these cards, I started with one multicolored snowflake paper from Cosmo Cricket, and then dug through my patterned paper to find monochromatic sheets from a variety of companies that complimented the colors in that sheet.  I also pulled out every Fiskars star punch that I own – Squeeze Punches in two sizes, a pop-up punch, and a small hand punch. 

I came up with a and then modified it into two cards and a gift tag.  While the design is simple, the punched shapes “floating” on a transparency have a big impact.

Once I’d trimmed my cardstock to 5.5in x 8.25in, I folded it into a card that measures 4.25in x 5.5in.  I love making cards in this size – you can get two out of an 8.5x11 sheet of cardstock, and it’s easy to find envelopes that fit it. I used the new Retractable Fingertip Craft Knife to cut a 3.75in x 5in window out of the center of the card, and then trimmed two pieces of transparency to 5.25in x 4in. I attached one transparency to the back of the front of the card. I used my Round N Round Squeeze punch to punch a circle from my snowflake patterned paper, and attached it to the center of one transparency. I layered stars punched from vintage text paper and yellow patterned paper over my circle, and I added a sentiment typed on the same yellow patterned paper to the bottom right of the card.

I used my pop-up star punch on my monochromatic patterned papers, and then set my second transparency over the top of the card.  Layering the second transparency while you’re working on the placement of the stars lets you see how it will look with the existing elements.  Once I was happy with the arrangement, I used a little liquid adhesive to stick each star in place, and then attached the second transparency behind the first one.  A border of stitching finished this card.

I started this photo card with the same steps as the last card – but I rotated the orientation of the card to fit my photo. Then, on one transparency, I stamped a “Merry Christmas” sentiment from a Heidi Grace stamp set repeatedly to create a background. I attached that transparency to the back of the front of the card. I printed a small photo (2.5inx1.67in) and attached it to the front of the transparency.  I cut pink patterned paper slightly bigger than the photo and attached it to the back of the transparency, behind the photo. My next step was to punch yellow stars using my pop-up punch.  I attached them in a rectangle on the second transparency, and then layered it behind the stamped transparency.  I finished the card with a row of stitching around the border.

I wanted to use the same basic design for a transparent gift tag.  I trimmed two pieces of transparency to 3x4in.  I used my Seal of Approval squeeze punch on some vintage text paper, and layered a pink patterned paper circle typed with “to” and “from” on top. A row of stitching and some tiny punched red stars finish the centerpiece of the tag.  To dress up the tag, I used my star hand punch on more patterned papers, and attached them to the second layer of transparency. I also trimmed a narrow piece of striped patterned paper to add to the bottom of the tag. I attached the second transparency behind the first, then punched a hole through both layers and added some red and white baker’s twine. This tag would look beautiful layered over a gift wrapped in simple paper.

Designer: Katrina Simeck

Handmade holiday cards don’t have to be a chore! Starting with a simple sketch, it’s easy to create a collection of cards to send to family & friends.

This card starts with a very simple “window” design…but turns into 3 distinct card styles!

note: card base is 5x7 inches, with a 3x5 inch window. Use the lines/guides on your Fiskars Portable trimmer to ensure that the window is evenly cut.

Merry & Bright
This photo card is a great way to share a holiday photo with everyone on your list. Since it calls for a 3x5 photo, it’s easy to order duplicate copies of your favorite snapshot. I used the small Round n Round punch, and Snowflake pop-up punch to add wintery accents. The Merry & Bright sentiment is a stamp from Heidi Grace…stamps are great for cards because you can use them over & over again!

Winter Wonderland
This card takes the “window” concept literally! Adding strips of cardstock creates window panes, and the winter scene was created with Fiskars Pine for Me squeeze punch. Since I can imagine sitting inside with a cozy mug of cocoa, I added a cup to the card using the Fiskars Bistro Brew squeeze punch.

Sparkle
This last card reverses the window idea…with a 3x5 inch raised mat. I added detail to the edge of the mat with Fiskars Quilted Corners border & corner punch. I punched bright ornaments using Fiskars Jingle Bulb squeeze punch…alternating colors for a little more festive color! 

Designer:  Lisa Storms

This sketch is very versatile and works well for mass production. 

The card front is 4.25" x 5.5" which is half of an 8.5" x 11" paper folded in half.  This fits perfectly into a standard A2 invitation envelope.  The main block in the center is 3" x 4" and is divided into two sections by an overlapping strip.  The top block is perfect for patterned paper, repeating punches, or a large image.  The overlapping strip can be a ribbon bow, block of paper punched with decorative edge, or row of punches.  The bottom block houses the card's sentiment.

Sweet Holiday Wishes

This first card is all about the gumdrops, as they are one of my favorite things during the holiday season! 

The XL Funky Love squeeze punch creatively cropped as shown makes quick work of these treats.  A layer of glue and crystal glitter that resembles glitter gives them texture and sparkle.  This card design allows the row of candy to take center stage.  Rounding all corners with the Round the Corner squeeze punch adds a polished look in seconds.

Peace

With this second card, the overlapping row is replaced by a simple tree branch hand-cut from chipboard.  The limited edition Cardinal's Song squeeze punch cleverly cropped of its feet and top tuft, paired with a medium Comma Comma Chameleon squeeze punch fringed with Micro Tip Scissors, make a pretty dove perfect for the holiday season.  The new Snowbubbles corner border punch is a must-have for holiday crafting.  In seconds it adds such a beautiful and dramatic backdrop to any project.

Season's Greetings

This third version flips the sketch sideways, while keeping the sentiment horizontal for readability.  The overlapping strip is replaced by a series of three knotted strings.  These are simple and inexpensive and held in place by the dips of the scalloped decorative edges from the Scallop Sentiment border punch.  Just be sure to start at the same position when punching each side so the scallops align.  Randomly knot three lengths of white string (the knots could also be doubled up for more impact) and tape to back of cardstock fed through scallops.  While it can give a snowy look for winter, this technique can be used year round for an easy decorative element.  While rounding all corners with the Round the Corner squeeze punch, try punching all corners of a small sentiment for a cute label look.  The card is finished off with a few Snowflake pop-up punches for pops of color. 

We hope these ideas have inspired to put a little homemade love into your cards this year!

By Fiskars Design Team