This week we are celebrating the new 2020 Christmas release. You can view all the new products here. There will be samples and a chance to win a prize each day. We hope you will stop by from Monday, August 3rd- Friday, August 7th to see the new products and enter to win some of the latest release.
Because I live in the Pine Tree State, when I saw the pine-themed dies in the 2020 Christmas Collection I had to have them all! I love the pinecone and tassel (Maine's state flower) Merry Christmas card I made for this post.
Materials used
- Juniper notecard
- pretty plaid papers from CHRISTMAS PLAIDS 6X6 PP1009
- brown and green striped and dotted papers from GARLAND STRIPES AND DOTS 6X6 PP1011
- three shades of brown cardstock
- PINECONE STACKERS 94486
- FOREST PINE BRANCH 94481
- POINTY PINE NEEDLE SPRIGS 94487
- SPECIAL MERRY CHRISTMAS 94499
- gold foil paper from POLISHED FOIL PAD 6X6 FP1001
- Scor-Tape
I started this card by die cutting everything multiple times, placing the pieces in each envelope with the die.
My biggest challenge was assembling the pinecones after cutting all of them from three shades of brown cardstock. Throwing them all together in the envelope was not the best idea.
What I ended up doing was placing each of the pieces from one shade of brown back onto the die and attaching a narrow piece of Scor-Tape down the center to hold the pieces in size order.
I then put another piece of Scor-Tape sticky side up on my work surface and chose pieces from each color to create the different pine cones, working from the smallest at the bottom to the top.
Once I had my pinecones assembled, I took the branch that I had die cut from the brown striped paper and attached just the pine needle clusters snipped from the branch that I had cut using one of the green plaid papers, laying them right on top of the brown ones.
I had already chosen another plaid paper, cut it to 4 X 5 1/4, and adhered it to a top-folded Juniper notecard. I added the branch and tucked in a small pinecone.
For the sentiment on the card front, I chose gold foil paper which I backed with a large rectangle of Scor-Tape (I purchased some in sheets) and used the Special Merry Christmas die. That adhered easily in the lower right corner.
Inside the card I added the leftover piece of plaid paper from the front, a larger pine cone, and two Pointy Pine Needle Sprigs.
I think this card will have to go to a native Mainer living in another part of the country as a reminder of home. This will be a busy month for me as I use the new Memory Box 2020 Holiday Collection to get most of my holiday cards made. Friends have challenged me to make a card every day in August. We'll see. I'm already behind!
Be sure to share your holiday cards with us for this month's Challenge which is posted here. We love to see what you create!
Would you like a chance to win the new Pinecone Stackers die? Leave a comment to this post by Sunday, August 9th at 11:59pm EST. One comment will be chosen at random to win the die. Winners from the blitz will be posted on the Outside the Box blog on Monday, August 10th at 6pm EST. Good luck! One comment/entry per person per day.
Great die to decorate on Cristmas cards.
Posted by: Guri | 08/03/2020 at 03:09 AM
Great way to get in the Christmas card making mood.
Posted by: Tess Dunkley | 08/03/2020 at 06:04 AM
Beautiful card. I love the layered look of the pinecone!
Posted by: Sheila Palm | 08/03/2020 at 06:35 AM
Pretty plaid paper paired with this pinecone design.
Posted by: Andre M. | 08/03/2020 at 08:50 AM
Love this beautiful card! The pinecone die is amazing.
Posted by: Joy | 08/03/2020 at 09:37 AM
Love this new die and your card! Thanks for the tips!
Posted by: Martha | 08/03/2020 at 10:02 AM
I love your card, and thank you for the assembly thoughts. This is definitely a plan-ahead kind of die, but well worth doing.
Posted by: Ann D | 08/03/2020 at 10:26 AM
I really love your card. I just ordered the pine cones die and this is a clean looking card. I thank you for the heads up about taping all the pieces together. Good job.
Posted by: Mabel Hudson | 08/03/2020 at 10:54 AM
Beautiful card. Love the dies. (Had to laugh at having all the sizes in one envelope. Great tips about assembling.) Thanks for sharing
Posted by: Jo Anna | 08/03/2020 at 11:00 AM
Such a simple design but it has so much impact. Love the new plaid paper and that amazing pinecone really steals the show. Thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Michele W | 08/03/2020 at 11:30 AM
Even though I am not from Maine I love this pine cone die and the festive card you made.
Posted by: Sue D | 08/03/2020 at 12:22 PM
a fantastic card design for recipients who love a country christmas!
Posted by: Debbie G | 08/03/2020 at 12:25 PM
Great card for a New Englander! I have friends in Maine, and relatives in New Hampshire who would like that, too. It also makes me feel cool during this hot weather! Thanks!
Posted by: Barbara-Jean | 08/03/2020 at 12:43 PM
Love your card and the pine
cone sits nicely on the branch and plaid paper!
Posted by: Sharon Brand | 08/03/2020 at 12:51 PM
Fabulous card, I love the effect of the layered pine cone. xx
Posted by: LIZ CAVILL | 08/03/2020 at 02:43 PM
Nice card makes me wish for some cooler temps.
Posted by: Mimi r | 08/03/2020 at 07:53 PM
Great card. It was totally worth it to do the pinecone in multiple brown shades. Liked your creative solution for doing the layering. Terrific idea to do the pine needles out of plaid paper.
Posted by: Vivian C. | 08/03/2020 at 08:26 PM
Beautiful, I love the layering and great detail in the pinecone and like how you used the pattern papers too!
Posted by: Connie Griffin | 08/03/2020 at 08:28 PM
Love the texture and design of the pinecone! Beautiful card, and an awesome die!
Posted by: Denise Bryant | 08/03/2020 at 09:07 PM
Very pretty card. I have pinecone dies but this Pinecone Stacker die is awesome! Love that you can vary your colors of cardstock.
Posted by: Beth Canary-Lee | 08/04/2020 at 04:12 AM
lovely card Anne - those plaid papers are fantastic and made a wonderful background for the pinecones.
Posted by: Betty | 08/04/2020 at 06:08 AM
The natural elements and the plaid paper is a lovely combination, Anne - I'd love to have those pinecone dies in my arsenal!!
Posted by: Lin Brandyberry | 08/04/2020 at 06:15 AM
The pinecones really make a statement on the card. I love them.
Posted by: Kathy H | 08/04/2020 at 07:31 AM
I have been looking for a pine cone die and this one is perfect! Love your trick on how to easily assemble it
Posted by: Lori | 08/04/2020 at 08:26 AM
Wow! What a pretty card! Love the papers used, the color cardstock for the pine cone, and the way it’s layered is also fantastic! Loving this die set! Looks so realistic when put together and with all the layering pieces the possibilities are endless!
Posted by: Charity Chamberlain | 08/04/2020 at 10:45 AM