How To Tuesday :: Fun Christmas Cards PLUS Giveaway!!

**This is an older how-to, the product is not available on etsy any longer - but, please enjoy the tutorial!**
I made these fun Christmas cards for my etsy store today. I decided to add a series on my blog called "How To Tuesdays" and these cute cards are our first project! These are really quite easy to make, it's coming up with the design in the first place that can be tricky. Well, I've already done that for you here! So easy to follow step by step and make your own beautiful cards for the holidays. Of course, it you just don't want to bother, you can always find unique cards in my shop. (hint, hint)

Step One :: Choose your supplies

This part is fun because you get to go shopping! Or, use this as a great opportunity to use up some supplies you have laying around. You will need to pick a color theme, I used bright pastel pink and purples. I find once you find the patterned scrapbook paper, the other supplies are easier to choose. You will need.

• 1 piece patterned scrapbooking paper that has a design far enough spaced out to cut atleast a 2" diameter circle - I used a 12" x 12" piece


• A piece of coordinating cardstock - I used an 8" x 8" piece of heavy weight textured purple cardstock - this will make 2 cards


• A piece of felt - I used pink


• A spool of thread and needle - I used lime green


• Glue Stick Elmer's All-Purpose Glue Sticks, Large, 0.77 oz Each, 3 Sticks per Pack (E5022)

• Scissors, rotary cutter, exacto knife, etc. - whatever you have to cut paper with Olfa Deluxe Rotary Cutter (60mm)
  

• Ruler or rotary mat

Step Two :: Cut your cardstock to size
Our sample is going to be a 4" x 4" card. Simply cut your 8" x 8" in half. Next, score each card 4" up from the bottom, this is the middle. I use a dull exacto knife, but you can use any sort of razor, you may want to practice on a scrap piece of paper before doing it on your project. Scoring is when you are putting a cut in the paper to make it fold easily, but it is a very light, almost unnoticeable cut.
Line up your ruler so you have a level line at 4" up and run your knife very lightly over the surface of the paper. Remember, you can always push harder the next time, but if you push your knife to hard the first time, you may accidently cut your paper in half!
Step Three :: Cut your patterned scrapbook paper
Now we will cut the patterned scrapbook paper which is the first layer on our card. For this card, we will measure a 3.5" square piece of paper and cut it out. This will leave a 1/4" border of cardstock. Use a rotary cutter or scissors.


Next, trace a circle around one of the individual designs on your patterned scrapbook paper. My paper allows for a 2" diameter cut out. You can vary this size as needed. I went hunting around the house until I found something I could trace around my design. I found a spray paint can that worked perfectly. Sometimes I use ribbon spools, tupperware, drinking glasses, and glue bottles. Make sure your image is centered in your circle and cut out.

Step Four :: Cut your felt

The last piece to cut is the felt. I simply placed my image on the felt and cut a square around it. With a 2" round image, the felt is 2 1/4" square.

Step Five :: Stitch your paper image to your felt

We will be using a double strand of thread to stitch with and a fairly thin needle, so we aren't making huge holes in our paper. Simply thread your needle, and with the needle in the center of your thread, tie the two ends together. Pick a starting point and begin by bringing your needle from the back of your felt through the front of your image. This way your knot is hidden. Stitch about 1/4" stitches. It is only important that you are consistent with the length of your stitches, spaces in between, and how far you are from the edge.

Step Six :: Glue it all together!

Now is the fun part! Glue your 3.5" square cut patterned scrapbook paper to your cardstock. I use a glue stick that goes on purple and dries clear. Try to center you paper and leave a 1/4" border around it, it doesn't have to be perfect though!
Next, glue on your 2.25" square felt embellishment. The easiest way to use a glue stick on felt is to apply it with a twisting motion. Don't pull the glue stick around the felt like you would a piece of paper, it will stretch it and frustrate you! Just put your glue stick on the felt and twist it like you would a volume button on your car radio. Make sure you get a good amount of glue on it. Center the felt embellishment on your card and you are finished!!