Christmas Card(s): May 2024

As a demonstrator I have access to new products early.  This time, because I registered for a demo-only event in June, I was able to purchase the Nests of Winter suite of products already.  I believe it will be in the September - December 2024 mini catalog.  While not specifically a Christmas suite, I used it this month for my Christmas cards.

This one I left off a sentiment, but I think it makes a beautiful card for Christmas.  I stamped the swag on the top and bottom of the Basic White panel in Shaded Spruce.  I colored the greenery with a Water Painter and ink from the Shaded Spruce ink pad.  The berries were colored with Blends.  I stamped, colored and die cut these birds as well, but the Designer Series Paper (DSP), Nests of Winter, has these birds that can be die cut.

This is a simple card.  The layers and large die cut do all the work!  I added a few extra evergreen sprigs and the red berry sprigs to the large layer.  The sentiment is from a Paper Pumpkin stamp set.

This is my favorite card so far that I've made with the suite.  The birds were die cut from the DSP using the Spotlight on Nature dies.  The white layer was embossed with the new Birch Wood 3D Embossing Folder.  I used a Blending Brush to add a bit of Gray Granite ink to bring out the embossing.  You can't go wrong with Cherry Cobbler and Shaded Spruce for a traditional Christmas card!

The embellishments are Earth Tone Shimmer Gems.  They come in Copper Clay, Very Vanilla, Crumb Cake and Garden Green.   Because I had already decided to use Shaded Spruce as my card base, I colored Very Vanilla gems with a Shaded Spruce Blend.  Likewise, the linen thread was Garden Green, so I colored it with a Shaded Spruce Blend to match my colors.

These last 2 cards are not Christmas cards, but I wanted to share them here anyway.

 

I love the pussy willow images.  As you can see on my sentiment label, the Winterly Tree Tops stamp set includes an image, too.  That Night of Navy linen thread is in the suite, along with rolls of Copper Clay and Garden Green.

I thought about omitting this card, but I love the layout!  You only use a 3" X 4" piece of DSP.  It wasn't until I looked at my photo, that I thought the pussy willow stamped above the birch trees in the DSP looks a little off.  It might have been better without the stamping on the Basic White layer.  Oh well.  I don't like every card I make.

I hope these cards inspire you to start making your Christmas cards soon!

Happy Stampin'!