Happy Birthday by Anne Thompson

Birthday greetings using dies from the newest 2025 Birthday Wishes Collection!

to make this card

• start with a blank white top-fold note card
• die cut the HAPPY BIRTHDAY BACKGROUND PLATE 94857 from black card stock and adhere it to the front of the note card

 

• die cut BIRTHDAY PARTY CAKE 94862 from watercolor paper
• use watercolor pencils, water and a small brush to paint the image pieces
• assemble the cake when dry

 

• mount the cake on a 1 1/2" square of coordinating card stock using dimensional foam squares
• add that panel to a 2" square cut from white card stock
• attach the streamer pieces
• adhere the finished panel to the center of the note card at an angle

I thought this color combination would work well for a masculine birthday card.  Change up the colors of the background paper and the Birthday Party Cake pieces for a totally different look.  A fun card to send to anyone of any age!

Happy Crafting!

Happy Birthday Background Plate 94857

Birthday Party Cake 94862

Piney Woods Thanks by Anne Thompson

I need a few quick thank you notes to pop in the mail in the next day or so.  Because I live in the snowy piney woods of Maine, I made a card using the SLENDER PINE TREES 94796, PINE BRANCHES 94817, and the punched out snowflakes from DRIFTING SNOWFLAKES 94816 to create this first thank you card.

materials used:
    top fold white note card; white watercolor paper; tree paper from NUTMEG FOREST PP1034;

   slender pine trees 94796; PINE BRANCHES 94817; DRIFTING SNOWFLAKES 94816

    THANK YOU FOIL GREETINGS WHITE TABS SToo4; two shades of green card stock scraps
to make this card

Start with a top fold white note card and add a paper from Nutmeg Forest PP1034 cut 4 X 5 1/4.

Die cut the Slender Pine Trees 94796 from two shades of green card stock and glue the pieces together.  

Die cut the Pine Branches 94817 from the same dark green card stock.

Die cut the Drifting Snowflakes 94816 from white watercolor paper and punch out the two snowflakes to use on this card. (Save the other pieces for another project.)

Cut a piece of the white watercolor paper 2 X 3 1/4 and add this toward the right side of the card front.

Glue on three of the assembled trees.

Attach the two pieces of Pine Branches to the upper left corner of the panel.

Add one of the snowflakes on top of the Pine Branches and the other among the trees.  Add white pearls to the centers of the snowflakes.

Adhere the Thank You sentiment tab on the lower left card front.

One done!  This design may also work for the New Year's cards I intend to send as well with a handwritten sentiment on a die cut or punched out circle.

And here's a variation of this card using PINE TREE GROVE 94736 (from Christmas 2023) and a white circle greeting tab from my stash.

 

Happy Crafting!

 

 

Snow Flurries in the Piney Woods by Anne Thompson

I decided to use the SLENDER PINE TREES 94796, the PINECONE DUO 94802, and a few of the smaller SNOWFLAKE RUB ONS RUB105 to create a scene for this note card.

materials used:

 

• I started with a white note card and added a piece of plaid paper from NUTMEG PLAID PP1033 which I cut to 4 X 5 1/4.
• I die cut the Slender Pine Trees 94796 from a scrap of dark green paper  and glued them onto the plaid paper.  
• Next I looked at the sheet of Snowflake Rub Ons RUB105 and cut out the smallest ones to add to the front of the note card.  I used the enclosed stick to apply them individually or in pairs among the trees.
• Then I die cut and assembled the Pinecone Duo 94802.  I used dimensional foam dots to add them to the lower left corner.
• I chose one of the Merry Christmas tabs I had in my stash but as I look at it now I'm going to change it out for one of the CHRISTMAS LABELS FOIL GREETINGS WHITE TABS ST022 instead.  If I use the Let It Snow one I can send this card after the holidays any time this winter.  (I'm thinking that any card I mail on Monday isn't going to get where it's going before Christmas anyway.)

Here's the revised card.

 

Happy Crafting!

Pinecone Duo 94802       Snowflake Rub Ons RUB105          Nutmeg Plaid PP1033

Slender Pine Trees 94796    Christmas Labels Foil Greetings White Tabs ST022

 

"...and a partridge in a pear tree" by Anne Thompson

The "Twelve Days of Christmas" has been rattling around in my head as I've been making cards and wrapping presents.  So of course I had to get out the LOVELY PARTRIDGE 94806 and the PRETTY PEAR BRANCH 94805 to create today's card.

materials used

• top fold A2 note card
• green plaid paper cut 4 X 5 1/4 from YULETIDE PLAID PP1031 paper pad
• LOVELY PARTRIDGE 94806
• PRETTY PEAR BRANCH 94805
• watercolor paper
• an assortment of brown, greens, yellows, orange, and gray inks applied with fingertip daubers
• MERRY CHRISTMAS FOIL BANNERS WHITE TABS ST014
• Glue Pen, double-sided tape, dimensional foam dots, black pen (to dot the eye)
  

to make this card

• I started by adhering the plaid paper to the front of the note card.
• I die cut all of the images together on one piece of textured watercolor paper.
• I used fingertip daubers to add color to all of the images and then glued the various layers together.
• I glued the branch down first onto the plaid paper with the end of the branch toward the upper left corner, leaving the leaves unglued.
• I added one single-layer pear in the lower right, glued flat to the paper under the stem piece.
• I used dimensional foam dots to tuck in the other two layered pears on the left side of the branch.
• I also used more dimensional foam dots to place the partridge on the branch.
• To finish the card I used double-sided tape to adhere the Merry Christmas banner.

I know the song is really about the twelve days after Christmas, but when you read this post on Monday I have to remind you that there are fewer than twelve days left before Christmas.  I'm in a rush to get things wrapped and mailed ASAP to those folks who live away that I won't see before the new year.  And I haven't mailed one Christmas card yet!  Hope you are doing better than I am with your preparations for however you celebrate this season.

Happy Crafting!

Pretty Pear Branch 94805                       Lovely Partridge 94806                                    Merry Christmas Foil Banners White Tabs ST014

Yuletide Plaid PP1031

Greenery and Berries Merry Christmas by Anne Thompson

To make today's card I went through the dies from the 2024 Yuletide Collection and pulled out BRILLIANT BERRIES 94830, PINECONE DUO 94802, PINE BRANCHES 94817, and FESTIVE HOLLY 94801 as well as  the YULETIDE PLAIDS PP1031 papers.  From the 2024 Winter Days Collection I chose WREATH SPRIGS 94814 and MERRY CHRISTMAS SWIRL 94803.  I didn't have a plan.  I just wanted to see how I might use all or most of these dies together to create a card.  And this is it!  (In the end I didn't use the Pinecone Duo.)

I used scraps of papers to die cut the images--two greens, brown, beige, red, and white watercolor paper. 

• I added the berries to the branches using Glue Dots and used a Glue Pen to adhere the two parts of the Merry Christmas Swirl together and the Pinecone Duo. 
• I chose a horizontal side fold white note card and added a piece of Yuletide Plaid 5 1/4 X 4 to the front. 
• Then I auditioned the various die cuts around the Merry Christmas Swirl. 
• I used Glue Dots to attach the white berries to the upper right of the sentiment and the smaller cluster of greenery and red berries to the lower left. 
• I placed the other greenery and red berries tucked behind the sentiment and glued to the card front. 
• I used dimensional foam squares to add Merry Christmas with the greenery and berries to the note card.
  

What I learned is that sometimes you don't need a plan.   Just experiment, see how things look together, and then add adhesives!

It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas here in Maine--two snowstorms already with a light one forecast for overnight; two holiday concerts this past week; and the annual Holiday Stroll in my little village where my house was one of the vendor locations over the weekend.  Wherever you are and however you celebrate this month I hope that you are enjoying this season.

Happy Crafting!

Yuletide Plaid PP1031                               Festive Holly 94801                                Pine Branches 94817

Wreath Sprigs 94814                                   Brilliant Berries 94830                      Merry Christmas Swirl 94803

Pinecone Duo 94802

 

Snowy Merry Christmas with Pine Cones by Anne Thompson

Because I live in the Pine Tree State, and because it almost always snows before Christmas, that was my inspiration to combine the SNOW FLAKE RUB ONS RUB105 with the PINECONE DUO 94802 and the MERRY CHRISTMAS SWIRL 94803 to create today's holiday card.

I began with a side fold A2 card.  I cut a piece of red card stock 4 X 5 1/4 and added it to the front of the note card.

I cut a piece of the SNOW FLAKE RUB ONS RUB105 4 X 5 1/4, placed it on top of the red panel, and used the enclosed stick to transfer the snowflakes to the red paper.

I cut a small circle from white card stock.

I used the MERRY CHRISTMAS SWIRL 94803 die to cut the background shape from white card stock and the detailed lettering from a scrap of the same red card stock I used before.  I layered those together using a glue pen and glued it onto the white circle.

Next I die cut the PINECONE DUO 94802 from scraps of brown card stock in two shades (the darker for the solid shapes and the lighter for the detailed cones) and scraps of green card stock for the pine branches.  I assembled the cones using a glue pen.  I attached the pine branches behind the cones with Glue Dots.

I used double-sided tape to attach the lettered circle to the top part of the note card.

I used dimensional foam dots to add the pine cones and branches underneath the "Merry Christmas".

This is one of those cards that could easily be made in multiples.  Not enough rub ons for the background panel?  Substitute any of the papers from the holiday 6X6 paper pads--Yuletide Plaid PP1031, Yuletide Cheer PP1032, Nutmeg Plaid PP1033, or Nutmeg Forest PP1034.  Then choose a coordinating card stock for the detailed lettering on the Merry Christmas Swirl.   

Happy Crafting!

 

Stitchable Mitten Gatefold Card by Anne Thompson

I went back into the Yuletide Collection for today's project as I hadn't done anything yet with the Stitchable Mitten.  I had some blank white pre-made gatefold cards so I decided to use the STITCHABLE MITTEN 94824 as the focal image on one.

to make this card

I started with the blank white gatefold card.  I cut a piece of sweater print paper from YULETIDE CHEER PP1032 to 4 X 5 1/4 and cut it in half to 2" wide.  I added those two pieces to the two front flaps.  On the inside I added a piece of a subtle red print from the same paper pad cut 4 X 5 1/4 and then a piece of white card stock 3 X 4 1/4 on top of that.  I set the card aside while making the mitten.

I die cut all of the STITCHABLE MITTEN 94824 pieces and assembled them.  I used a plaid paper from YULETIDE PLAID PP1031, and scraps of white watercolor paper, green and yellow and red card stock.  I attached the cuff to the mitten with tape on the back. This allowed me to flip up the cuff edge to sew it.

        

I used a wide-eyed needle and some white thick thread/thin yarn to sew first across the bottom of the cuff and then up around the cuff and down and around the mitten.  I used tape on the back to secure the ends of the thread/yarn.  I glued the stocking/cuff to a scrap of red card stock and cut around it to hide the tape and threads on the back.  Then I added the flowers to the cuff and one of the MERRY CHRISTMAS FOIL GREETINGS WHITE CIRCLE TABS ST012.  I attached the stocking to the left gatefold panel using dimensional foam pieces.  In the photo below you can get a glimpse of the back of the stocking when the card opens.

This is a fun card form and works great with a large focal image as the opening tab.

We'll make this card in my next holiday cards class--sewing optional!  

Happy Crafting!

Yuletide Plaid PP1031                                 Yuletide Cheer PP1032

Merry Christmas Foil Greeting Tabs             Stitchable Mitten 94824

ST012

Merry Christmas Yule Log by Anne Thompson

You may have guessed by now that the SNOWY LOG 94821 is one of my favorites from the Winter Days 2024 Collection.  Today I combined the SNOWY LOG 94821, FESTIVE HOLLY 94801, greenery from HOLIDAY SNOWGLOBE 94804, the smallest candle from MERRY AND BRIGHT CANDLES 94812, and the SNOWFLAKE RUB ON TRANSFERS RUB105 along with one of the GREETING TABS ST014 to create this card.

I started with a panel 5 1/4 X 4 cut from a sheet of the POWDER BLUE card stock SH44011.  I cut a piece of the SNOWFLAKE RUB ON TRANSFERS RUB105 the same size and used the enclosed stick to transfer the snowflakes onto the Powder Blue Paper.

I then die cut all of the other pieces that I thought I might use for the card.

SNOWY LOG 94821:  brown card stock scraps, white watercolor paper

FESTIVE HOLLY 94801:  CILANTRO CARD STOCK SH44007

the greenery from HOLIDAY SNOWGLOBE 94808:  CILANTRO CARD STOCK SH44007

MERRY AND BRIGHT CANDLES 94812:  scraps of red and yellow card stock

to assemble the card

I decided to audition everything on the snowflake paper before gluing anything down. 

I began by assembling the Snowy Log, using dimensional foam in the center to round out the log a bit as I added it to the snowy paper.  I then tucked the Festive Holly branches in place behind the log on the left edge using Glue Dots.  I chose the smaller holly pieces from the Holiday Snowglobe dies and added them on top of the snow on the left.  I then added some sparkle with the red gemstones to represent holly berries.  I used more dimensional foam behind the smallest candle which I placed on the right end of the log.  To finish the panel I used one of the Merry Christmas Banners centered near the top of the snowflake paper.  I secured the panel to the top of a side-fold A2 note card using double-sided tape.

I have several holiday card workshops planned for this month and next with friends.  I think at least one of my Snowy Log cards will have to be included.   

Happy Crafting!

Snowy Log 94821                                            Festive Holly 94801                           Holiday Snowglobe 94808

Merry and Bright Candles 94812             Snowflake Rub On Transfers RUB105       White Greeting Tabs ST014

Powder Blue Card Stock SH44011

Cilantro Card Stock SH44007

A Decorated Yule Log by Anne Thompson

I have another SNOWY LOG 94821 card, this one decorated sort of like a Yule Log using the MYSTERIOUS MUSHROOMS 94818 and WREATH SPRIGS 94814.

to make this card

I started with a side fold A2 white note card and added a piece of plaid paper from NUTMEG PLAID PP1033 trimmed to 5 1/4 X 4.

Then I die cut all of the images I wanted to use.  I cut the WREATH SPRIGS 94814 twice from the new CILANTRO CARD STOCK SH44007.

I cut the MYSTERIOUS MUSHROOMS 94818 from watercolor paper, from one of the NUTMEG PLAID PP1033 papers, and from the gold-dotted paper in the NUTMEG FOREST PP1034 paper pad.

I cut the SNOWY LOG 94821 from a scrap of brown card stock and cut it again using watercolor paper for the snowy piece.

I added the log to the note card front, adhering the bottom layer flat to the card first.  I used narrow double-sided tape on the top and bottom edges of the top piece of the log and two large dimensional foam squares in the middle.  When I added that piece on top it gave me the curved log I wanted.  I then used more of the double-sided tape to add the snowy layer.

Next I assembled the mushrooms.  I used VersaFine Clair Morning Mist (gray) ink to add to the underside mushroom pieces and the stems.  I chose to use the gold-dotted pieces for the mushroom caps.

To decorate the Yule Log, I added the mushrooms first, then tucked in a few of the Wreath Sprigs before adding some red CHRISTMAS FAIRY CRYSTALS CRY102 for berries.

To finish the card I chose one of the sentiment strips--HAPPY HOLIDAYS--from GREETING TABS ST018.

And here's a closeup of the finished card front.

Happy Crafting!

Wreath Sprigs 94814                          Mysterious Mushrooms 94818                  Snowy Log 94821

Nutmeg Forest PP1034                   Nutmeg Plaid PP1033                                      Cilantro SH44007

Christmas Fairy Crystals                     Greeting Tabs ST018

CRY102

 

Buds and Blooms on a Snowy Log by Anne Thompson

Have you seen the latest from Memory Box?  2024 WINTER DAYS is the newest collection with great products for all of your holiday making!  I have an unlikely combination--flowers and snow.  This is my wacky take on a yule log.  I think this design makes an interesting card but could also be inspiration for a lovely centerpiece--or a decorative cake!

to make this card

I started with a white side fold horizontal card and added a piece of NUTMEG PLAID PP1033 trimmed to 5 1/4 X 4.  

I die cut the SNOWY LOG 94821 from a scrap of dark brown card stock.  I used a highly textured piece of watercolor paper to cut the wedge of snow.   I set this aside.

Next I used white card stock to cut a double layer each of BLUSHING BLOOM 94844, DELICATE BLOOM 94840, and SMALL ANEMONE BUD DUO 94843.  (I wanted thick, substantial flowers.)

Next I used fingertip daubers and Hero Arts Fresh Peach ink to add some color to the blooms and VersaFine Clair Shady Lane for the stems and leafy parts.  I used Glue Dots to secure the two layers of each part together and then assembled the flowers.

Here's how I put it all together.  I auditioned the placement of all the pieces before gluing anything down.  Once I knew where the log would go, I added the Small Anemone Bud Duo first on top of the plaid paper.  Then I used a piece of Scor-Tape to secure the bottom edge of the log over the buds.  I added a thick foam square under the center of the log and another strip of Scor-Tape across the top.  That helped to round out the log a bit.  I used smaller dimensional foam dots to add the Delicate Bloom and then the Blushing Bloom, perching them on top of the log.  

For the sentiment I chose one of the OPEN STUDIO CHRISTMAS LABELS FOIL GREETING WHITE TABS ST022.  (These were in the Yuletide collection.)

And here's another look at the card.

Happy Crafting!

Snowy Log 94821                          Blushing Bloom 94844           Delicate Bloom 94840            Small Anemone Bud Duo 94843

Nutmeg Plaid PP1033                   ST022 Christmas Labels Foil Greetings White Tabs