Brightest Christmas Card

Good morning! We’re having a glorious start to the day with clear blue skies punctuated by the odd wispy cloud. The washing is already on the line, and fluttering in the gentle breeze coming in off the bay. With that chore done it was time for me to create today’s simple Sunday project. So with summer outside, why did I end up with this simply stunning Christmas Card? It’s all the fault of the Brightest Glow Stamp Set that I’d left lying on my desk. Well that’s my excuse anyway…

Create this simple Christmas card using the Brightest Glow Stamp Set, Very Best Trio Punch and Boughs of Holly paper, all from Stampin' Up! #simplestamping #papercraftwithme

PRETTY POINSETTIAS

Actually I think the Boughs of Holly 12″ x 12″ Designer Series Paper (DSP) had a hand in it too. This gorgeous paper had been ‘not orderable’ for a while but it’s back now. The small poinsettia pattern was what originally prompted me to order this paper pack. Today I was going to use it to the max.

I began by using my Paper Trimmer to cut a 5-1/2″ x 8-1/2″ piece of Shaded Spruce Card. Then with the long side of the card at the top I used the scoring blade to score the card at 4-1/4″. After that I folded the card along the scored line and sharpened the crease with a Bone Folder to create my card base.

Now I was ready for the poinsettia paper and started by cutting a piece 4-1/4″ x 5-1/2″. Using Multipurpose Liquid Glue (Tombow) I glued the paper over the front of the card base.

Next I cut a 2-1/4″ x 6″” piece of the DSP and glued it to the flap of a Basic White Medium Envelope. Then I cut off the excess paper with my Paper Snips using the edge of the flap as a guide.

Finally I cut a 3/4″ x 5-1/4″ strip of the DSP along with a 4″ x 5-1/4″ layer of Basic White Card. I glued the DSP along one long edge of the card, before fixing it inside the card base (with the DSP strip towards the bottom).

Now I need some layers to go across the middle of the card front. First I found a gold coloured sheet from the Glimmer 12″ x 12″ Specialty Paper and cut a strip at 2-3/4″ x 5-1/2″. Then using liquid glue I fixed the Glimmer Paper across the centre of the card. Next I cut a 1-1/4″ x 5-1/2″ strip of Shaded Spruce Card and mounted that on top of the Glimmer Paper using Stampin’ Dimensionals.

BRIGHTEST GLOW

That just left the sentiment to do, and for that I reached for the Brightest Glow Stamp Set.

I started by cutting a 2″ x 3-1/2″ piece of Basic White Card. Then using Shaded Spruce ink I stamped the “Merry Christmas” sentiment in the centre.

Of course the words were too large for a standard punch, and being a simple Sunday project I wasn’t going to use dies. So instead I reached for the Very Best Trio Punch. As the name suggests this punch actually features 3 different cutting options. I use the slot a long on tags and bookmarks, and I’ve used the straight corner option a couple of times too. Today however I wanted the fancy corner option…

Before punching the sentiment I just needed to pay attention to the fancy shape shown on the top of the punch. This is because it’s not symmetrical. One one side of the corner will have a rounded finish, while the other end will have more of a point.

So to make the corners look even I slid the top right corner of the sentiment into the punch under the patterned corner design (with the sentiment facing up). Then making sure the corner of the card was tight up against the guides I punched. I removed the card and with the sentiment still facing up I punched the bottom left corner of the sentiment. Now came the important part. I flipped the card over so now the sentiment was facing the table. Then I punched the other two corners.

With that done I just had to add Stampin’ Dimensionals to the back of the sentiment and attach it to the card front. In next to no time this week’s simple stamping project was finally complete.

I have to say that I love this card. That pretty paper and stunning sentiment from the Brightest Glow Stamp Set really create a striking Christmas card don’t you think?

For more projects using the Brightest Glow Stamp Set see these earlier blog posts:

PRODUCT LIST

BUNDLE BONUS – I bought the Brightest Glow Stamp Set and coordinating Labels Aglow Dies (not used today) as a “bundle”. Using the single “bundle” item number meant I saved 10% off the cost of buying the same two items separately. Also bought as part of a discounted bundle was the Very Best Trio Punch (with the Very Best Occasions Stamp Set – not used today either). I’ve included links for both bundles below in case you want to explore these further.