2020 Christmas Cards

Ho, ho! Tis the season! It’s only December 4th, and I’m already feeling behind in my Christmas preparations! Although this will be a “scaled back” celebration for us this year, I’m trying to maintain as many of my annual Christmas traditions as possible. Each year, I always enjoy making and sending Christmas cards to my family and closest friends. I used the Holly Jolly Card Kit from Creative Memories to make most of my cards this year, but I still need a few more. So I turned to my tools to make a few specialty cards for my grandchildren and also a few extras that I could mass produce easily.

I used our new Treeline Border Punch to create the card below on the right. This simple but beautiful card will be quick and easy to make in duplicates. For the base of my cards, I used blank cards from CM’s Blank Card Kit. The Blank Card Kit contains 12 solid white card bases and envelopes. It’s a smooth pure white card that is cut and scored from heavy cardstock. The quality is superior. I also the Pine Tree Punch from last year to create a similar card (on the left). Again it was easy and will be quick to mass produce.

To Make My Card on the Right:
1. Cut designer paper to 4-6/8″ x 3-1/2″, and punch with the Treeline Border Punch.
2. Reserve the two punched out pieces, and cut the remaining border piece in half at 2-3/8″.
3. Cut ribbon ends on the bottoms of the two punched pieces.
4. Adhere pieces to a Blank Card (5-1/2″ x 4-1/4″).
5. From Scarlet Cardstock, cut a 5-1/2″ x 1/4″ strip and adhere as shown.
6. Use the Merry Blooms Border Punch to punch a border from Scarlet Cardstock and fussy cut apart the flower pieces. Adhere flower with a Foam Square.

To Make My Card on the Left:
1. Cut designer paper into three strips that measure 1-1/2″ x 3-1/2″.
2. Center the strips into the Pine Tree Punch and punch.
3. Pull or cut off the bottom edges of the remaining strips.
4. Adhere pieces as shown to a Blank Card (5-1/2″ x 4-1/4″).
5. From Scarlet Cardstock, cut a 5-1/2″ x 1/4″ strip and adhere as shown.
6. Use the Merry Blooms Border Punch to punch a border from Scarlet Cardstock and fussy cut apart the flower pieces. Adhere flower, and add a rhinestone to the center.


The next two cards require a little bit more time but are super cute and will be perfect to send to my granddaughters. You might recognize my first gnome from a layout that I shared with you last year. I was inspired to create my second gnome by my scrapping friend, Angie. Angie didn’t have the Petal Frame Punch that I originally used, so she used the Baroque Border Punch as a substitute. I liked it so much that I made a similar version.

To Make My First Gnome:
1.  Use Petal Frame Punch to punch three 4″ x 4″ pieces of Gray and Charcoal Cardstock.  Use dark and light grey cardstock, and layer the pieces as shown. Use the Metallic Silver Dual-Tip Pen to add dimension to the layered beard.
2. Cut the hat by using the Green Blade on the inside edge of the diamond pattern from the Gemstones Cutting patterns.  Cut in half.  Embellish the hat with a narrow strip for the rim and a punched piece of greenery.
3.  Cut the nose using the smallest oval pattern from the Oval Cutting Patterns and the Green Blade on the inside edge, and ink the edge of nose with a Brown Dual-Tip Pen.
4. Add nose and hat to the beard piece to create the gnome.

To Make My Second Gnome:
1. Use the Baroque Border Punch to punch a 4″ x 4″ piece of Gray Cardstock.
2. Use the Custom Cutting System with the largest Circle Pattern and Green Blade on the inside edge to cut a circle from Charcoal Cardstock. Adhere the Baroque beard on top of the circle piece.
3. Cut the hat by using the Green Blade on the inside edge of the diamond pattern from the Gemstones Cutting patterns.  Cut in half.  Embellish the hat with a narrow strip for the rim, fold over the tip of the hat and add a small star or circle piece with a Foam Square.
4. Cut the nose using the smallest oval pattern from the Oval Cutting Patterns and the Green Blade on the inside edge, and ink the edge of nose with a Brown Dual-Tip Pen. Add nose and hat to the beard piece.


I hope that you too are able to enjoy the simple pleasure and joy of creating and mailing Christmas cards this season! I guarantee that your recipients will love to find a homemade card in their mailboxes!

You can purchase the Holly Jolly Card Kit, Blank Card Kit, Treeline Border Punch, Custom Cutting System, Oval and Gemstone Cutting Patterns, Petal Frame Punch and Baroque Border Punch through my Creative Memories website link.

Happy Scrapping!
Karyn

Daydreamer Scrapbook Layouts

Hello!  Today I’m sharing some layouts that I created earlier this past spring.  The Daydreamer collection from Creative Memories is one of my favorite collections from this year, and I wanted to show it to you before it sells out.  Photographs of this collection do NOT do it justice.  The subtle light-colored patterns and the sparkle on the embellishments are hard to capture.  Trust me – it is even more beautiful in person!  I’ve already used up three sets of it!

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My first layout features pretty frames punched with the Petal Frame Punch from Creative Memories and some beautiful embellishment/sticker clusters.  I can’t wait to find the perfect photographs for it!

To make my layout:

1.  Cut burgundy paper to 10″ x 10″.
2.  Cut white/beige paper to 10″ x 10″, and punch around the edges with the Petal Frame Punch.
3.  Cut yellow photo mats to 3-1/2″ x 3-1/2″.
4.  Cut journaling box from White Cardstock using the Custom Cutting System with the medium sized Circle Pattern and the Green Blade on the inside edge.
4.  Punch a 4″ x 4″ burgundy square with the Petal Frame Punch.
5.  Assemble page as shown.
6.  Layer Daydreamer Stickers and Embellishments as shown and adhere with Foam Squares.

My second layout features another pretty framed piece that I created with the Lace Trim Border Punch and more of the lovely Daydreamer Embellishments and Stickers.  The Lace Trimer Border Punch is another favorite of mine.  It’s great for layering and for making pretty pages!

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To make my layout:

1.  Use the Lace Trim Border Punch to punch 4 borders from White Cardstock.  Cut the pieces off of the cardstock at about 1-1/4″ and trim to 9-1/5″ in length.
2.  To make mitered corners on your border pieces, place the borders onto the 45 degree line on your 12″ Trimmer.  Place the upper edge of the border onto the dashed cutting line and cut.  Flip the border over to the backside, turn it around and place the other end onto the 45 degree line and upper edge on the dashed cutting line, and cut.

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3.  Cut green paper to 7-3/8″ x 7-3/8″.
4.  Cut photo mats to 4″ x 6″ and 2-3/4″ x 2-3/4″.
5.  Cut journaling circle or photo frame using the Custom Cutting System with the largest Circle Pattern and the Red and Green Blades on the inside edge.
6.  Assemble layout as shown.  Add stickers and embellishments adhering some with Foam Squares.

For my next layout, I used a quick and easy technique that I borrowed from Tessa Chapple.  Tessa calls this technique Shadow Borders.  You can use this technique with any of our border punches or even our border maker cartridges.  This is a great technique for the Roller Coaster Border Punch!

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To make my layout:

1.  Punch both ends of the pink paper with the now discontinued Tulips Border Punch.  Cut the bottom end off of the paper, flip it over to its backside and adhere onto the pink paper.
2.  Use Foam Squares to adhere a 4-1/4″ x 6-1/4″ Daydreamer Variety Mat to the center of the page.
3.  Cut two additional Daydreamer Variety Mats to 3-1/4″ x 5-1/4″ and adhere at angles.
4.  Add Daydreamer border stickers to the top and bottom of the layout.  Add additional stickers and embellishments adhering some with Foam Squares.

 

 

I was inspired by the Mother’s Day post on the CM Blog to create my last layout.  Instead of using circles cut with the Custom Cutting System, I punched circles using the Floral Circle Punch to create my heart pieces.  This layout is even prettier in person!

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To make my layout:

1.  Cut two 6″x6″ pieces from the Ombre sheet of paper and punch with the Floral Circle Punch.
2.  Cut the two circle pieces into fourths.  Please refer to the instructions and diagram on the CM Blog  for cutting and arranging the pieces.
3.  My photo mats are 4-1/2″ x 6-1/2″ and 3-1/2″ x 4-1/2″.
4.  Add embellishments, stickers and journaling as shown.

I love to make pretty pages, and the Daydreamer collection provides the prefect materials!  Again – trust me – it’s even more beautiful in person!  You can purchase the Daydreamer collection and the tools that I used through my CM website link.

Happy Scrapping!
Karyn

Merry Little Christmas Scrapbook Layouts

Hello!  I’m back with some layouts that I created using the Merry Little Christmas collection from Creative Memories.  I had good intentions of getting this posted right around Christmas, but whew – life got busy!  Better late than never – but I hope that you had been able to purchase the Merry Little Christmas items a few weeks ago before they sold out.  This was a hugely popular collection for CM.  Both of the embellishment packs sold out in October and were later re-introduced only to again sell out with the rest of the collection.  The traditional red and green colors along with playful and trendy gnomes and traditional Christmas icons made this collection a sell-out!  (If you don’t have the Merry Little Christmas items, you can still create my layouts using other materials.)

 

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For my first layout, I used my favorite sheet of Merry Little Christmas paper – the mistletoe print.  I also used our discontinued cranberry cardstock, but other shades of red would work.  My layout is adorned with photo ornaments highlighted by pieces created with the Petal Frame Punch.  Click here to view a video on how to use the Petal Frame Punch.  To make my layout:


1.  Cut a hollow frame from cranberry cardstock and adhere a piece of 11″ x 11″ mistletoe paper.  Add faux pen stitching around the cranberry frame.
2.   Punch two 4″ x 4″ and one 6″ x 6″ pieces of cranberry cardstock with the Petal Frame Punch.
3.  Use the Custom Cutting System with the Circle Patterns and Red, Green and Blue Blades to cut photos into varying sizes.  Mat photos with slightly larger white cardstock circle mats.
4.  Add faux pen stitching to some of the photo frames.
5.  Adhere some of the photos with Foam Squares.
6.  Add Merry Little Christmas Stickers and Embellishments with Foam Squares.

 

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For my second layout,  I was again inspired by CM’s Petal Frame Punch but this time to create packages with bows.  The present print paper is fun and playful and works well on this layout.  I also used the Present Border Punch that was a promo item from CM last year.  If you don’t have this punch, just substitute another punch such as the Dazzle Border Punch or the Lace Trim Border Punch that will create the look of bows across your layout.  To make my layout:

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1.  From black cardstock, cut 2 partial 1″ hollow frames.  See photo below.
2.  Cut a sheet of white cardstock into 2 pieces that measure 11-3/4″ x 6″ each.
3.  Cut a sheet of present paper into 2 pieces that measure 11-3/4″ x 6″ each.
4.  Adhere the pieces onto each other and the black frames to create your backgrounds.
5.  From black cardstock, use the Present Border Punch (or other punch) to punch 2 borders.  Adhere these pieces onto the center of your layout as shown in the photo above.
6. Add faux pen stitching to the white cardstock as shown.
7.  From red cardstock, cut four 4″ x 4″ squares and two 6″ x 4″ rectangles.  From black cardstock, cut four 4-1/4″ x 4-1/4″ squares and two 6-1/4″ x 4-1/4″ rectangles.  Adhere red and black pieces together to make double-photo mats.  Crop photos to 3-3/4″ x 3-3/4″ and 5-3/4″ x 3-3/4″.
8.  Cut variety mat to 4″ x 4″ and mat.
9.  Punch around 4″ x 4″ squares of black cardstock with the Petal Frame Punch.  Trim pieces with scissors to create bows for your packages.
10.  Cut small squares from red cardstock to stack and use as journaling boxes.
11.  Use the new 3-in-1 Scallop Tag Maker to make small 1″ tags to use as journaling boxes.
12.  Add Merry Little Christmas Stickers and Embellishments using Foam Squares on some.

 

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CM’s new 3-in-1 Scallop Tag Punch has been a popular seller.  It creates tags in a variety of sizes that can be used as journaling boxes, photo mats, or embellishments.  (For a fun activity with your kids and grandkids, use it to punch old Christmas cards to make tags for your presents next Christmas.)  This layout can easily be adapted into a double-page layout.  To make my page:

 


1.  Cut the white print paper to 11-1/2″ x 3-1/4″ and 11-1/2″ x 1-1/2″.  Cut green print paper to 11-1/2″ x 6-1/4″, and adhere the three pieces onto a sheet of 12″ x 12″ black cardstock.  (I really liked using black cardstock with this collection.)
2.  Use the 3-in-1 Scallop Tag Punch to punch two 2-1/2″ tags, and tuck them under the top edge of the green paper.
3.  Add photos, embellishments, and stickers as shown adhering some with Foam Squares.

 

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I really love the saying on the variety mat that I used on my layout above and knew that I had to use it with one of our annual family Christmas photos.  To get a better view of everyone, I always enlarge my  big group photos to 7″ x 5″.  It’s not often that we get a complete family photo, and this photo from a few years ago is no exception.  Quite a few family members are missing, but it still helps to commemorate our Christmas Day spent together.  To play with the saying on the variety mat, I created a Christmas Tree from paper squares.  To make my layout:

 

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1.  From black cardstock, cut a 8-1/2″ x 8-1/2″ square, and then cut the square in half on the diagonal.
2.  Cut 1″ squares from the mistletoe and tree print papers and adhere to the black triangle.  Cut some pieces in half on the diagonal to fit on the ends of the rows.
3.  From black cardstock, use the Pine Cone Punch (also sold out) to punch 12 pine cones, layer pieces and adhere.
4  From red cardstock, use the Medallion Punch to punch 6 medallions and trim with your scissors.  See photo below.  Adhere top pieces with Foam Squares and add a black dot for the center.
5.  Use the Original Border Maker System with the Ornaments Border Maker Cartridge to punch a border from red cardstock.  (This cartridge sold out quickly when it was first introduced and is expected back in stock in mid-February.)
6.  Use the Original Border Maker System with the (retired) Frame Chain Border Maker Cartridge to punch a border from black cardstock and adhere the pieces behind the ornament border.  If you don’t have this cartridge, you may use CM’s old Small Circle Maker to punch 3/4″ circles to place behind the ornaments.
7.  Adhere the ornament border with Foam Squares.
8.  Cut the variety mat to 4″ x 5″ and adhere to a 4-1/4″ x 5-1/4″ black cardstock mat.
9.  Mat photo with a 7-1/4″ x 5-1/4″ black cardstock mat.
10.  Add Merry Little Christmas Embellishments with Foam Squares.

 

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I had created my little gnome as a Make-N-Take item for my annual Holiday Open House in November and knew that I wanted to use him on the darling gnome print paper – my second favorite sheet in the paper pack.  Although I created this as a single page, you can easily adapt into a double-page layout by duplicating the pieces onto a second sheet.  To make this layout:

 

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1.  Cut white cardstock to 10-1/4″ x 9-1/4″”.  (I cropped my photos to 5″ x 4″.  If you use 6″ x 4″ photos, you may wish to cut a larger piece of white cardstock.)
2.  Use the Dazzle Border Punch to punch the top edge of the white cardstock.
To create the gnome:
1.  Cut the hat by using the Green Blade on the inside edge of the Diamond Cutting Pattern.  Cut in half.  Embellish hat with narrow strip for the rim and a punched piece of greenery.
2.  Use Petal Frame Punch to punch three 4″ x 4″ pieces of grey cardstock.  Use dark and light grey cardstock, and use the Metallic Silver Dual-Tip Pen to add dimension.
3.  Cut the nose using the smallest oval pattern and the green blade on the inside edge, and chalk edge of nose with brown pen.
4.  Adhere gnome with Foam Squares and add Merry Little Christmas Embellishments.
I hope that I’ve given you a few ideas for your Christmas photos and for some of CM’s newest tools!  You may purchase most of the tools that I used through my personal CM link.  I’ll be back again next month with some winter layouts.  Take care until then!

Karyn

Winter Scrapbook Borders – Part 3 of 3

Hello, and welcome to my last post of my Winter Scrapbook Borders series!  These last borders are cheery and Christmas themed.  Again I relied upon some of the latest border punches and cartridges from Creative Memories.  They will also assemble a bit quicker than the last borders that I shared.

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Top Border:
1.  Use the new Dazzle Border Punch to punch one end of a 12″ strip of Red Cardstock.  Cut off of your paper at 2-1/4″.
2.  Use the Original Border Maker System with the new Crystal Chain Border Maker Cartridge to punch two borders from White Cardstock.
3.  Using scissors, cut one of the crystal chain borders in half.
4.  Assemble as shown.

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Middle Border:
1. Cut a 12″ x 2″ strip of Red Cardstock.
2.  Cut a 12″ x 1-3/4″ strip of White Cardstock.
3.  Use the Original Border Maker System and Crystal Chain Border Maker Cartridge to punch two borders from Bronze Shimmer Cardstock.
4.  Use the Medallion Punch to punch 5 medallions from Bronze Shimmer Cardstock.
5.  Use the Original Border Maker System with the Heart Duet Border Maker Cartridge to punch hearts from Red Cardstock.
6.  Assemble as shown.

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Bottom Border:
1.  Use the new Petal Frame Punch to punch both ends of a 12″ x 3″ strip of Red Cardstock.
2.  Use the Original Border Maker System with the new Ornaments Border Maker Cartridge to punch borders from White and Black Cardstock.
3.  Use the old Mini Circle Maker punch from Creative Memories to punch 3/4″ circles from Red, Goldenrod, and Leaf Green Cardstock.  Or you would use the Original Border Maker System with the old Frame Chain Border Cartridge to punch borders from Red, Goldenrod, and Leaf Green Cardstock.  This cartridge punches a border of small circle pieces that can be cut apart.  Adhere the colored circles behind the white border piece.
4.  Use scissors to cut black ornament border in half and adhere to the top and bottom of the ornament border to create an outline.
5.  Assemble border as shown.

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You may purchase the cardstock and tools that I used on my CM website.  Please note that the Ornaments Border Maker Cartridge is currently on backorder.

Thanks so much for visiting with me!  I hope to share some Christmas layouts made with the Merry Little Christmas collection soon.

Karyn

Winter Scrapbook Borders – Part 2 of 3

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Hello!  Today I’m sharing a series of scrapbook borders that I created as a display at my recent Holiday Open House.  I always say that Creative Memories has the best paper crafting tools on the market, and I believe that these borders are excellent proof.  The one tool that I used in all of these borders was our new rotary 12″ Trimmer.  In my over 20 years of scrapbooking, this trimmer is the best that I’ve seen.  It is larger and more sturdy than most and has some handy and unique features.  If you haven’t seen it yet, click here to view a video demonstration.

The borders below offer combinations of some of my more recent favorite stand alone and border punches.

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Top Border:
1.  Cut a 12″ x 3-3/4″ strip from White Cardstock and punch both sides with the Lace Trim Border Punch.
2.  Cut a 12″ x 3″ strip from Dark Green Cardstock.
3.  Cut a 12″ x 3″ strip from White Cardstock and punch both ends with the Petal Frame Punch.  Cut a 12″ x 3″ strip from Bronze Shimmer Cardstock and punch both ends with the Petal Frame Punch.  Layer the pieces.
4.  Punch a row of birds from Crimson Cardstock using the Songbirds Border Punch.
5.  Cut a 12″ x 1/4″ strip from Brown Cardstock and layer over the birds.
6.  From White and Brown Cardstock, use the Pine Cone Punch to punch pine cones and layer.
7.  Use the Winter Vine Punch to punch a border from Dark Green Cardstock and cut apart with scissors.
8.  Adhere the pieces as shown.

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Middle Border:
1.  Cut a 12″ x 3″ strip from Red Cardstock.
2.  Cut 12″ x 3-1/4″ strip from White Cardstock.
3.  From Brown Cardstock, use the Branch Border Punch to punch a border.
4.  From Dark Green Cardstock, use the Winter Vine Border Punch to punch a border and cut apart with scissors.
5.  From Bronze Shimmer and Brown Cardstock, use the Pine Cone Punch to punch pine cones and layer.
6.  Use the Songbirds Border Punch to punch a bird from Red Cardstock.
7.  Use the Original Border Maker System with the Bubble Border Cartridge to punch dots from Red Cardstock.
8.  Assemble pieces as shown using a Foam Square to attach the bird.

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Bottom Border:
1.  Cut a 12″ x 2-1/2″ strip from Dark Green Cardstock.
2.  Cut a 12″ x 2-1/4″ strip from Bronze Shimmer Cardstock.
3.  From White and Brown Cardstock, use the Branch Border Punch to punch two branch pieces and layer.
4.  From Dark Green Cardstock, use the Winter Vine Border Punch to punch a border and cut apart with scissors.
5.  From Brown and Bronze Shimmer Cardstock, use the Pine Cone Punch to punch pine cones.  Layer and cut into bird nest shapes.
6.  Use the Songbirds Border Punch to punch birds from White, Gray, Red and Black Cardstock.  Cut apart the bird pieces and assemble as shown.
7.  Assemble border as shown.

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Tags:
1.  Use the new 3 in 1 Scallop Tag Punch to punch 2-1/2″ x 4″ tags.
2.  Arrange a variety of pieces punched with the Branch Border Punch, Pine Cone Punch, and Songbirds Border Punch onto the tags.
3.  The pine needles are the relief pieces punched with the Original Border Maker System and Simple Leaf Border Cartridge.

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You may purchase the cardstock, 12″ Trimmer and most of the punches used on my Creative Memories website.  For my customers in the Champaign/Urbana area, I have a limited number of Branch Border and Pine Cone Punches available for purchase.

Thanks much for visiting with me today, and check back as I’ll be sharing more border ideas soon.

Karyn