Holiday How To: Christmas Cards
The lost art of sending a card in the mail doesn't have to be a lost art anymore! And what's wonderful about making them yourself is that IS the gift of your time. This year I am not doing Christmas presents but I am making Christmas cards and sending them to people who have made my year wonderful. It is a great time to reach out and say THANKS for being in my life and I really think that's what the holiday brings about in people....or should.
This Holiday How To is the simplest of all because it is up to you and your imagination and what you feel like expressing in a card.
Your materials could be many or few! I am liking scissors, paper and glue and the simplicity of these cards but stamps and stick-ons and glitter are also fun. I've made all my cards different so everyone is getting something different this year. I am handwriting my sentiment inside and putting them in the mail the old fashioned way!
So this is less of a tutorial and more of a challenge...what can you make and who will you surprise with it? I've included samples of mine to give you some ideas.
Hitting your local craft store is a great place to start, if you're going to Micheals make sure you look online for DISCOUNT COUPONS first! Also your local dollar store has fun stuff for cheap as well. Recycling old cards and photos is also a fun idea. Make it personal and fun, it doesn't have to be perfect! If you've never sent Christmas cards you will be giving your friends and family a happy surprise. I started this a few years ago- sending cards I made to family members I hadn't seen in years. They were so surprised they called my Mom asking about the mysterious cards and getting my address so they could send them back. I now have an aunt who sends me birthday and holiday cards regularly because of it. We are in touch and theres no computer screen needed!
Your card will probably sit by their Christmas tree, mantle or fridge- you've just put a little piece of you into their holiday!
Cards!
You can buy blank cardstock at your local craft store or get creative and make your own cards out of recycled material. I've used different papers and foam stick-ons for these.
Paper
Another fun thing to work with is paper punches. Punches will cut a fun shape out of your paper. I made this "wreath" card using a punch shaped like a twig and then just cut the pieces and glued them into my wreath shape. There is so much printed fun paper to work with. Experiment!
Assorted
I found some cool glitter paper and cut out ornament shapes. You can glue beads, ribbon, sequins and anything that is semi flat and will still fit in an envelope to your card for decoration
Paper Punches
Heres another example of the paper punch and fun with sequins! I also used a stamp pad and stamps to make the card on the right. Make sure you let the ink dry before handling it or else... smudgey cards
Festive
There are lots of fun ways to make your own cards, pick a theme and stick to it or be random and experimental with it. The snowflakes were punched with a paper punch and some paper snowflakes were added for contrast.
Kathy Wiesner
Phillip Morales
Patricia Rodriguez
Rita Berumen
Clavel Gutierrez
Mi Escuelita Preschool
Fabian Campos