Vintage Christmas Cards…Round 1

Good afternoon, everyone!  It has been quite a while since I have shared a project of my own, so I thought I would break that streak.  With Christmas quickly approaching, I’ve been frantically trying to get cards made for some very special people.  So…I figure why not share them with you?  Today, I’ll be sharing five different cards with you 🙂

Last year, I ended up purchasing 2 stacks of 4 ½” x 6 ½” Christmas cardstock, which I used to wallpaper all of my cards.  I absolutely love these stacks…they are absolutely the perfect size for creating 5″ x 7″ cards.

All of my cards are double matted to make that design paper pop.  I did distress all the edges of the wallpapers…both inside and out.  I have to tell you, I have owned a distrezz-it-all for a few years, but have almost never used it.  Well, that all changed while making these cards and I now find myself wondering why that little gadget doesn’t live on my desk…it saved me soooo much time!

I do typically start by creating a large sentiment that I use as the focal point on all of my cards and then add a few embellishments around the sentiment to create a little more interest.  All of the sentiments on my cards were attached using foam tape to add dimension, and were embossed using Lindy’s Stamp Gang “Twilight Bronze” embossing powder using Paper Trey Ink stamps.  I then die cut the sentiments using a variety of Spellbinders labels dies.

Without further adieu…let’s get to the eye candy 😉

Card #1

On this card, I first added two bronze filigrees (#678-B) to frame the sentiment.  On the lower left corner of the sentiment, I then layered a couple of doilies, die cuts from Tim Holtz’s “Holiday Greens” thinlits, small paper poinsettia blooms from Wild Orchid Crafts, and a bronze flower bead cap (#CAP040-B).  I also added a smaller cluster of the same on the upper right.  To finish the card, I added some flat back rhinestones in the corners (SS16, SS12, and SS10 clear) and flower centers (SS8 bronze and SS20 clear), and added a couple of bronze corner filigrees (#730-B) in two opposite corners of the card.

Now, I figure there’s no point in creating a beautiful card front if you’re going to fall flat on the inside.  I always wallpaper both sides, add another sentiment and label die cut for a hand-written message.  I then typically add a few metal corners (in this case, #731-B), as well.  Here’s a look at the inside of my card:

Card #2

I did tone down the amount of embellishments on this second card.  I started by framing the sentiment with two more bronze filigrees (#540-B).  To add a little more texture, I then added a few paper poinsettia blooms and “Holiday Greens”.  I finished the center of each poinsettia using three SS8 flat back rhinestones that are a beautiful bronze color.  Finally, I added a few more bronze rhinestones in two of the corners.

Card #3

I decided to keep this next card a little more on the simple side, as well.  As per usual, I used a large sentiment as the focal point and framed it using two bronze filigrees (#316-B).  This time, I chose to turn the filigrees so that they were peeking out from four corners of the sentiment rather than just the ends 🙂  I then just had to add more “Holiday Greens” and paper poinsettia blooms with rhinestone centers.  I also decided to change things up a bit and tucked some miniature silver gears behind the blooms…and you’re probably wondering where I got these gears, right?  Well, they are not in the ButterBeeScraps shop…yet.  Don’t worry though…they will be added soon, as I am currently working on revamping all the gear charm sets 🙂  Trust me…you will not be disappointed 😉

To finish this card, I added more of the bronze colored rhinestones (which will also be added to the shop soon) in two corners of the card front, and in the lower right corner of the sentiment die cut.

Card #4

My fourth card has a little more going on.  The sentiment forms the main focal point again and is framed with two bronze filigrees (#540-B).  This time, I decided to shift the sentiment toward the top of the card and center a cluster of doilies, “Holiday Greens”, paper poinsettia blooms, and bronze flower bead caps (#CAP040-B) underneath.  I then added SS20 clear flat back crystal rhinestones in the center of the bead caps and a few SS8 bronze flat backs in the center of the poinsettia.  Finally, I finished the corners of the card using a few clear crystal rhinestones (SS16, SS12, and SS10) and bronze corner filigrees (#730-B).

Card #5

Well, this is the last card I will be sharing with you today.  I started by adding two evergreen tree die cuts from Tim Holtz’s “Woodlands” thinlits dies on the left hand side of the card before attaching my wallpaper to the card base.  Next, I wrapped some twine around the wallpaper towards the bottom of the card.  At this point, I attached the wallpaper to the card base.  Then came the sentiment complete with two bronze filigrees (#540-B).  I then chose to add a third evergreen tree die cut in a darker green right over top of the twine and sentiment.  I did trim the die cuts along the bottom of the card base, as well.  Finally, I broke out those bronze flat back rhinestones again and added a few in the corners of the card, and on the sentiment.

Whew!  That was alot of cards in one go, don’t you think?  I hope they help give you some ideas for your own cards, especially if you’re frantically trying to get some made like me 😉  Thanks for taking the time to have a “look see”.  I will be back with my last tutorial of the year on Thursday, followed by another batch of Christmas cards on Friday 🙂  Cheers!

ButterBeeScraps Supplies:

Card #1

• SS10 Clear Flat Back Crystal Rhinestones
• SS12 Clear Flat Back Crystal Rhinestones
• SS16 Clear Flat Back Crystal Rhinestones
• SS20 Clear Flat Back Crystal Rhinestones
• Bronze Corner Metal Filigree Embellishments (#730-B)
• Bronze Corner Metal Filigree Embellishments (#731-B)
• Bronze Metal Filigree Embellishments (#678-B)
• Bronze Filigree Bead Caps (#CAP040-B)

Card #2

• Bronze Metal Filigree Embellishments (#540-B)

Card #3

• Bronze Metal Filigree Embellishments (#316-B)

Card #4

• SS12 Clear Flat Back Crystal Rhinestones
• SS16 Clear Flat Back Crystal Rhinestones
• SS20 Clear Flat Back Crystal Rhinestones
• Bronze Metal Filigree Embellishments (#540-B)
• Bronze Corner Metal Filigree Embellishments (#730-B)
• Bronze Filigree Bead Caps (#CAP040-B)

Card #5

• Bronze Metal Filigree Embellishments (#540-B)