Happy DIY Wednesday!!! Back this week with a brand new handmade Christmas card – this one is even bigger! I’m super excited to share because I snuck in a little Cricut action at the end.

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To follow my directions below, download either this blank template or the version with “Ho Ho Ho” already included and print from your home printer. Final card will measure 5×7 inches, the template comes with cropmarks to cut and also where to score in the middle.

Supplies and materials: 8.5×11 cardstock, extra cardboard for tree template, pencil, ruler and X-acto knife, scissors, scoring tool, hot glue gun, tacky glue.

Embellishments: Star stickers, snowflake sequins, rick rack ribbon, green glimmer felt, red craft paper, snowflake stamp and ink pad.

Start by making a tree template out of some extra cardboard or any piece of paper you may have. I free-handed my tree by drawing some triangles. Cut the paper and lay it over the felt to cut along the shape. Make sure to measure if it will fit on the card!

Grab your glue gun and apply a generous amount on the back of the felt – especially in the corners where it can easily stick out or peel off. Press gently to adhere to the template.

Add a star topper and proceed to glue snowflakes on the felt. Add a small drop for each snowflake or it will get all over the place – you know glue guns.

Slowly getting there! Measure rick rack ribbon for your tree and cut a bit more so the ends can be folded in. Glue the ends for a finished look, careful the ribbon may run!

Apply a dot of glue on each end of the ribbon pieces and press gently to your tree.

Final touches: dab the snowflake stamp in some metallic ink and embellish the background of your card. Tip: try first on a test sheet if you like the effect!

Cricut letters! Not everyone has a Cricut machine so the steps below are optional. If you’ve downloaded the 2nd template above you are all done! Feel free to apply store bought letter stickers instead and even add glitter. Can’t have too much glitter! ;)

I eye-balled the placement of my felt tree, there was a little bit of space on the bottom left over so I measured it and came up with the perfect size for my HO HO HO letters – 3/4″

Loading up the Cricut (using the Storybook cartridge) – set letter height to 3/4″ – I chose the “fat” versions of each letter by using the “Shorty/Holes” button.

I was able to find some sort of red craft paper- actually Color Theory paper sheets from school!! They were a little weird but worked just fine.

Since it was a very small cut, I typed in my phrase all at once so I wouldn’t have to reload the mat. Standard settings and letter height set to 3/4″

Once the cutting was done, I unloaded my mat and peeled off the letters. I then applied a generous amount of tacky glue to the back of each letter and applied to the bottom of the card. Wait to dry and you’re done!

I hope this DIY wasn’t too hard to follow, it’s definitely more involved and requires a bit more patience than the previous two projects. Looking forward to sharing more ideas and freebies for the season! December starts tomorrow!! Enjoy :)

Check out these previous DIYs:
DIY Christmas: Handmade holiday cards #1
DIY Christmas: Handmade holiday cards #2

It’s Wednesday again (finally)! Today’s X-mas DIY is right below featuring some more sequins, enjoy! More to come next week – right before Thanksgiving.

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To follow my directions below, download either this ornament or circle ornament templates to print at home. Final card will measure 5×7 inches, the template comes with cropmarks to cut and also where to score in the middle.

Supplies and materials: 8.5×11 cardstock, metallic ink pad ($2.99 at Hobby Lobby), “Merry Christmas” stamp, ruler and X-acto knife, scoring tool, hot glue gun, push-pin, needle, thread, sequins: round, snowflakes, small stars ($1.99 each at Hobby Lobby), beads, ribbon.

Feel free to substitute any of the above supplies to whatever you may have handy. You can use scissors instead of an X-acto knife, pen/marker instead of a stamp :)

Cut out your template, similar to the template in the first tutorial – score in the middle, cut at crops. Lay out your sequins on the template and mark holes with a push-pin for sewing.

Thread your needle (you’re free to use one color to save time, just grab a long piece of thread) – I used matching red, green and clear beads to top and secure my sequins.

Layer the sequin, then bead and loop back into the cardstock to secure.

The back should look something like this
*cover with another piece of colored cardstock when done!

Top your ornament with a ribbon bow, affix with a dot of hot glue.

Stamp and done!

Final piece :)

I also made a 2nd version with the circular ornament and gold sequins.

I may be a little obsessed with these little sequins, they are absolutely perfect for cards. I’m a sucker for 3D elements on cards! I think I’ll be mixing in some felt next week so stay tuned :)

Check out: DIY Christmas: Handmade holiday cards #1

Happy mid-week dear readers! Today I am sharing the first Christmas DIY of the season. I love the idea of creating unique gifts and cards are no exception. I hope you’ll follow along with me in the next few weeks before Christmas to create fun and whimsy cards for your loved ones.

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To follow my directions below, download this Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays templates to print at home. Final card will measure 5×7 inches, the template comes with cropmarks to cut and also where to score in the middle.

Supplies and materials: 8.5×11 cardstock, metallic Sharpie pens ($7.99 at Hobby Lobby), ruler and X-acto knife, scoring tool, needle, green/red thread, round red sequins, green holly leaf sequins ($1.99 each at Hobby Lobby), red beads.

Feel free to substitute any of the above supplies to whatever you may have handy. You can use scissors instead of an X-acto knife and hot glue instead of thread to save time :)

Start by printing out your template, score in the middle and cut on crops.

Use your metallic Sharpie marker to carefully trace over the light gray printout. The gray is so light it will cover completely. This is a handmade card so don’t worry if your lines aren’t perfect.

Time to embellish!

Start by laying out your sequins so they fit on the card. Use a needle or push pin to make the holes in cardstock so they line up with the sequins.

Thread your needle with the corresponding color and start sewing from the back. I layered and secured my sequins with tiny beads. Just thread everything at once and loop it back into the card. Tie a knot to fasten everything in place, cut off extra thread.

Re-thread your needle with green and repeat similar steps for the green sequins.

I decided to skip the green beads and used thread only instead.

All done, handmade for the holidays!

Here is the Happy Holidays version with gold paint instead of silver.

I may have mentioned before that I’ve been bitten by the Christmas bug super early this year. I’m excited to share a handful of ideas for handmade cards, early enough so they can be sent out and given out to someone you care about! I’m starting with a basic concept and will work my way up in difficulty (read: patience). Let me know what you think or if you have any ideas of your own cards to share, I’d love to see them :)