Christmas Cards!

Lately I've been on a card-making mission.  After not sending any Christmas cards for the past few years, I really want to send them to friends and family this year, but not just the multi pack cards you buy in the shops, handmade cards! 

Because I need to have a few to send, I started making them back in August.  I used the Kaisercraft Workshop magazines for inspiration as well as Pinterest.  I use scrapbooking paper, cardstock, stickers, buttons, ribbons, foam tape, little cutouts that match the paper (elephants, ornaments, etc.). 

Here are a few samples of cards I've made lately.  First I used a simple navy card, some red/white striped paper and two circles with a pattern on them.  The two circles I stuck together to create a 3D ornament, which I then stuck to a piece of card with smaller circles on it.  To finish off I used some foam tape on the back of the "Happy Holidays" quote and a piece of ribbon with mistletoe on it (the ribbon is tucked around the back of the card front).

The second card is a burgandy side opening (that is it opens lengthwise) card.  The wooden embellishments I bought on special, they have either a star cut-out or are solid.  On the solid one I used a rub-on to make it look like an ornament.  I cut a piece of gingham-style paper, used foam tape on the back of the "Seasons Greetings" saying and then finished with a sticker of bells.

 This card is blue, another side-opening one, with a piece of polka dot paper along the bottom.  Three pieces of thin white ribbon from the top down with a green and red sparkly pompom on the bottom of the longer pieces.  More foam tape on the back of a gift tag in the shape of an ornament (I received a few of these free with a magazine subscription) and finished with a little white ribbon bow at the top of the gift card.

Left is a white card with a piece of burgandy cardstock and a piece of striped paper on top.  More wooden embellishment ornaments, this time with rub-on alphabet to spell J O Y and a rub-on saying at the bottom.

The right card is an embossed card (my first time using them).  A ribbon with gingerbread men on the right, again tucked over the top and bottom and stuck to the reverse of the front of the card.  A gift ribbon glued on near the top.  A white circle of cardstock, a circle of red/white paper and then the word "Believe" rub-on on to a tag. 

Finally, red card with a piece of paper - white with green, slightly embossed, shiny Christmas trees on it.  The tag was a set I bought for scrapbooking, but repurposed onto a piece of pale green cardstock that was trimmed to 5mm larger than the tag.  The "Santa's List" was a rub-on.  A piece of pale gold ribbon tucked around the tree paper (stuck behind the paper rather than on the reverse of the card, so it's more hidden).  The J O Y are rub-on alphabet again on punched pieces of burgandy paper. 

All these cards are quite simple, but look much more hardwork.  I can't wait to go through them all again and send them out in the next few months.  I've actually now got a collection of about 18 Christmas cards and will be making more throughout the next month or so. 

Cancer Society Monkeys

Last year, I made half a dozen sock monkeys for the Cancer Society to sell during Daffodil Day.  I wasn't going to this year, however I received a phone call asking if I would make some for this year's sale as well.  Below are the 6 I made, I tried to have either yellow, blue or a combination of both since those are the colours of the Cancer Society.  

The bunch!

A lovely lady sent me two separate parcels of socks for making monkeys with - the white with pink spots and the blue with yellow nose were both made using a combination of some of the socks she sent.  It's so lovely that others donate socks for monkeys, especially considering they know I'm going to cut them up rather than wear them!!