I made far too many Christmas cards of a single design this year. My goal for 2022 is to make a set of Christmas cards each month, so there’s not a big rush at the end. I post a few as I go along if I create one for a challenge, but typically wait to post until I know they’ve been received. So today, I thought I’d do a Christmas card roundup of some of the cards I particularly liked. And, in fact, there’s still one challenge looking for Christmas cards.
First of all, two cards created with one of my favorite 3-D embossing folders: the poinsettia from Altenew.
This was was embossed with red paper and lightly swiped with a white pigment ink. I tried a couple of variations with this technique, but this was the only one I liked enough to make into a card.
I made two or three variations of this card with the same embossing folder and a red frame from The Greetery.
This card went to one of my best friends, a single man. It got posted on Instagram, but not here. I dry-embossed the frame and added the gold embossed deer and sentiment to a Nordic Circle die from The Greetery that a friend had die cut for me.
I used this oversized Joy stamp from Waffleflower on several cards–all a slight variation of this one.
Another card made with a 3-D embossing folder and a sentiment from The Stamp Market. I should have made a few more of these.
This was one of the cards I made early on, and I made a set of them. It’s a set I’ve owned from Altenew for awhile, but never found a design I was happy with. Stamped on white and then die cut with a pierced frame.
This was the biggest set of cards I made–25 in all. There were four different snowflakes so I could die cut them in sets so it went pretty quickly. I did the die cutting at home, and stamped and assembled them in November when we were visiting Sarah.
And one variation on the card above, I only made one or two of these because they required embossing of the sentiment which takes more time. I already know the first set of cards I’m making for next year and they do require embossing, but if I’m working well ahead of time, it shouldn’t be a problem.
All the following cards were made in one session with a group of pre-made tags and die cuts from 2020. Several of them use a new tag die from The Greetery that die cuts two tags at a time. I have more ideas for those tags for 2022.
And my favorite of the bunch:
There’s still one of my favorite challenges open for Christmas cards, so I’ll be posting to AAA Cards, and then calling this season of card making done.
What a lot of time and effort you invest in your cards! It’s obvious of course but seeing them presented like this really hammers the fact home. I’m not surprised that you need to rethink your production strategy for this year. Hope it reduces stress and adds to the creative pleasure.
Anyone would be thrilled with any one of these, but my faves are the very top one (simple but effective and so unusual – is the red card raised up from the white underneath? I see a shadow at the bottom), the mistletoe, and the black one with the poinsettia and gold wreath.
I have often thought, but possibly never told you, that I love the way you photograph your creations – i.e. with a pen, a bit of foliage or some additional crafty bits alongside. They really add perspective and atmosphere!
Such a fabulous variety! Those tag cards are iconic, of course, but my favorite is the white snowflake with the large red merry and little black Christmas sentiment. I think red, white and black is my all-time favorite color combination.
If I am stamping cards, I cannot do more than about 8-10 before I am ready to move on. I much more enjoy “scrapping” the front of cards, that way they can all be a bit different. Doing Christmas cards every month doesn’t appeal to me, but I can certainly see the benefit of it being a July or September project instead of a December one. 2020 was the year I came closest to having them done ahead of time (in September), but of course there were still a few add-ons in December.
I am saving photos of several of yours to my card inspiration folder.
Oh, how fun to see all of these beauties at once! The 3-D Poinsettia EF is on my list and also that wonderful free “joy” WF sentiment. I haven’t blogged since June but your post today may push me into sharing all the cards that didn’t get onto IG. Your knack of putting red, black and gold together inspired me to create a few “darker” cards! Happy New Year. PS. By the time I got to the “Ws” on my Christmas card list it was after the holiday. Hope winter wishes won’t bother the bottom of the alphabet!
Each and every one of these cards are masterpieces – perfection in design & creation. I’m with you on the making a few cards every month to avoid the rush (panic) in December. Like Susanne, I’m taking note of a few designs for my ideas folder.
I do like that deer card (love the colourway too) and the Joy one especially – but you have such style and execution skills that they all have merit in their own way. Making some each month sounds like such a good idea – I’m just a bit allergic to thinking of Christmas until later in the year!
So many beautiful cards! Thanks for sharing your favorite with us at AAA cards! Hugs Åsa
You made some simply stunning Christmas cards and tags! Thanks for playing along with us at AAACards!
WOW! So many cards in one post! I so enjoyed looking at each one while sipping my evening coffee! As I got to the final cards those poinsettia ones really were my favorite. Especially the final tag one! My fav also! Awesome post! My usually plan is to make 4 or 5 Christmas cards a month so at the end of the year it’s more manageable. Good luck!
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