Yes, Christmas Cards!

[koshka56]

I need some assistance from the experienced! I'm seriously thinking about creating some of our christmas cards this year.. but I've never, ever created cards before. I love both paper and digital scrapbooking, done both for years & never ventured into card making. I haven't a clue what to do or where to start.

Does anyone know of a tutorial, website or blog that talks basics? For instance what do folks usually use for the base paper.. cardstock? or do hybrid card makers print all their digital papers then start from there.. or is nearly everything printed ..see I am clueless. Then there is a whole question about envelopes.

Any help would be wonderful!

Nicki

[Amber1279]

for the last 3 years I have created my cards digitally.
2005 - I printed them on standard photo paper then glued them onto a 5x7 card.
2006 - I created a 5x7 and had them printed at Walgreen's and found cheap 5x7 cards and tossed them and used the envelopes LOL
2007 - I creadted both mine & my mom's digitally and had them printed thru Shutterfly

[stayawake]

If you are talking mix of digital and traditional paper projects, then I would use a standard cardstock for your base - you can buy packages of 'blank' cards and matching envelopes. This makes it really easy to start. Then you can print a backgound paper from your digital stock, adhere it to the front, and go from there. Simple can look really nice, too, so don't stress about it! What are you drawn to most? A simple background paper with a photo in a small paper frame you've painted gold and a few little elements like stars, snowflakes, holly etc. can look really sweet! You could make lots of those pretty quickly. Or go nuts with ribbon and printed digital elements! Dani's new kit has lots of things that could be printed out and cut (the reindeer, christmas tree, etc.) and Melissa has a pile of Christmas kits that are AWESOME that way. Melissa also has a lot of Christmas 'stamps' out. Those could be soo sweet on the front of a very simple Christmas card. Like a star or mitten or stocking or snowman, placed on a pretty background paper, with your sentiment below it. Print that out just a little smaller than your base card, and glue! Maybe matt it with another colour behind?

[mpatry]

I'm working on a basic tutorial that should be posted on my blog sometime next week. But basically I buy the blank cards at Walmart with matching envelopes, I get 50 for about $8 which I think is a great bargain. Then I make my background digitally and print on 4x6 mat photo paper at Walmart. I trim that down just a smidge to fit the front of the card base, then add ribbon, brads and flowers as needed. I've stopped printing a greeting on the cards and have been using rubons, I love the look and love how I can customize what the greeting is for last minute. So I can make up a bunch of pretty cards with no sentiment on them until I need them, then I rubon the greeting/sentiment that I need the card for. Good luck! And have fun!

[Laura_A]

I have done both paper cards and digital cards, while the paper cards are very cute and quite personal.. they are A LOT of work. SO, for the last 3 years I've done digital photo cards and they've turned out really nice... plus they're MUCH quicker. lol 2006 & 2007 I printed them myself but last year I had them printed at Shutterfly and I was SO happy with the outcome. They were rediculously fast and the quality was amazing.

[lizzyfizzy]

Originally Posted by mpatry

I'm working on a basic tutorial that should be posted on my blog sometime next week.

you'll have to update us on this tut! that would be fabo!

[Laura_A]

Can't wait to see those Monique.

[ColleenSwerb]

2 years ago, I lost my mind, and I made my own cards. I made like 125 cards and I used my cricut to die-cut festive holiday shapes. I will NEVER EVER DO THAT AGAIN!

Last year I made 4x8 photo cards through shutterfly. I loved them, but I missed having a place to write little messages on.

So this year, I'm making 5x7 greeting cards and printing through shutterfly.

[misskittty]

Originally Posted by BrodoNY0123

2 years ago, I lost my mind, and I made my own cards. I made like 125 cards and I used my cricut to die-cut festive holiday shapes. I will NEVER EVER DO THAT AGAIN!

Last year I made 4x8 photo cards through shutterfly. I loved them, but I missed having a place to write little messages on.

So this year, I'm making 5x7 greeting cards and printing through shutterfly.

Why not do with cricut? Too much work? Didn´t turned out ok?

[ColleenSwerb]

Because 125 cards is insane. And I cut out each piece of the festive shape in different colors or patterned papers. And then I had to glue them all together. And then I had to assemble the card. It was way too much for me, and now I've got digi and don't have to worry about it. My cards are finished and sitting on my desk.

[SamaraGugler]

One thing I'd recommend is finding your envelopes BEFORE you get started. Trust me on that one.

[mpatry]

I totally forgot about this thread! Here's the tutorial link I promised!

Hybird Card making tutorial

and a coordinating article: Hybrid Card making - Getting Started

[my4boys]

I did mine in a 5 x 7 format last year and just bought cheap cards (for the envelopes) I also have bought the cards & envelopes from Michaels and pasted them on the front too!!! Either way I totally agree with La...but your envelopes first!!!

[Nonna2Dreja]

Originally Posted by mpatry

I totally forgot about this thread! Here's the tutorial link I promised!

Hybird Card making tutorial

and a coordinating article: Hybrid Card making - Getting Started

Monique, THANK YOU so much for sharing this with us! I can't wait to try your tutorial!

[Missys3lilbugs]

I print mine at Winkflash every year and they send the envelopes with the cards. They are just a flat digital image 5 x 7. Not a folded card.