Christmas Cards 2025

It's a little later than usual, but I finally got to my craft table to make some Christmas cards for this year.

Thanks to my lovely sisters, I received some new supplies for my birthday last month and put them to use!

The Christmas Greetings Mix & Match Specialty Cards & Envelopes are a great base to for some quick and easy cards, as well as some "stepped up" cards for avid crafters. They are currently on the "Last Chance" list at a discounted price, so grab some while you can!!

These two cards came together as the tree I cut from one card base, I used on the other card.

For both cards I have also used the Everyday Arches dies and Pine Tree Trimmings dies. 

The Sentiments are from the Pine Tree Trimmings Stamp Set.

You can get Pine Tree Trimmings Bundle (both the stamp set and dies) for a discounted price.

The second card is a Fun Fold created by folding the card so that the plaid pattern is on the INSIDE of the card, and then folding the front back onto itself.

Using an arch die one size bigger than the gold foil arch for the white insert, also creates a boarder when the card is closed.

If you have any questions about either card, feel free to message me.

More to come soon!

Fun Fold This or That

For our team Craft'n'Chat last month, we made a fun fold (as we have been for a number of months now), which I then made an alternate of straight away.

Which colour combination is your favourite? I've already sold the "THAT" card, so I may have to make another!

They both use paper from the Delightfully Eclectic 12" x 12" (30.5 x 30.5 cm) Designer Series Paper pack which has a huge 48 sheets of double sided paper!

The first is a Night of Navy card base with some Burlap Ribbon (from the Real Red & Burlap Ribbon Combo Pack). The flower image is cut from a piece of the Delightfully Eclectic DSP with some Night of Navy cardstock pieces which have been die cut using the Stylish Shapes dies.

The second has a Cajan Craze card base and uses a "Belly Band" of cardstock instead of ribbon, and I've "flipped" or reversed some of the paper for contrast. The Happy Birthday is from the Biggest Wish stamp set. The Sentiment is stamped on a piece of Basic White cardstock diecut with the Scalloped Contours Dies.

The inside of the cards can be decorated as much (or as little) as you like!

What do you think? Would you like to give this card a go?

Leave a comment (or email me) to let me know.

Team Fun Fold/Gift Card Holder

This month for our Paper Hugs team online craft together, we made this quick Fun Fold card that also holds a Gift Card inside.

All you need is have an A4 (or regular size in your region) piece of cardstock, cut lengthwise & scored/folded in half.

On the front of the card, cut from the bottom edge to the score line about 3cm (1 1/4 in) from the outside edge.

Glue the outside edge, top and bottom of the strip you just cut (make sure to leave the "pocket" unstuck).

Decorate the front as desired (ensuring not to adhere anything to the side strip).

If you'd like any more information or to see a video, please let me know.

Please Note: This idea was seen on another cardmakers Instagram account and altered to suit.

More Fun folds for Birthday Happiness

 Although it's been a month since my last blog post (oops), I've still been busy behind the scenes making cards.

One that has taken some time to come together, has been a Twist and Pop card.

It took a while as was playing with variations from a few different sources until I was happy with how it worked.

I wanted it to be an extra special card for my friend (and Fellow Demonstrator) Pauline Bennetts.

It mostly uses the Hues of Happiness Designer Series Paper, but has a few other bits and pieces in there too.

The flowers and leaves on the front and inside of the card (as well as on the envelope, which I forgot to include in the photo!) are all die cut from straight from the paper using the Blossoming Happiness Dies.

They could just as easily be fussy cut if you didn't have the dies. 

It gives a fun "explosion" as you open the card and it pops open.

More details with all the measurements to come.

Playing with more Fun Folds

On our monthly Paper Hugs Team zooms, apart from chatting and catching up, we usually make one card.

We have been on a roll of Fun Folds of all sorts for a little while now, and this month my downline Pauline demonstrated a card we saw US demonstrator Jackie Bolhuis make.

It is quite simple and can be adapted easily and made with any papers and stamps.

This is a regular size card, which is an A4 (in Australia) piece of cardstock cut in half LONGWAYS and scored/folded in half.

The front can be layered and decorated any way you choose, as it's the inside of the card that has the Fun Fold element.

On the inside of the card, there is simply a strip of cardstock (mine is about 2.5cm or 1 inch wide) the same length of the open card, along the centre, with four squares each the same size.

The strip is simply folded on half and then in half (back on itself) again to create a W.

The top and bottom of the strip line up with the top and bottom edges of the card, with the top section and bottom section being stuck/adhered to the card itself.

I have used the new Lovely Linen Designer Series Paper and Lovely & Lasting Stamp set with the Lasting Label punch.

Fun Fold with more folding fun!

Have I mentioned that I am drawn to origami and folding techniques? Maybe just once or twice?

So when I saw a card with some folding fun inside (made by fellow Demonstrator Julie Davidson), I knew I had to try it.

Click on the image below for a list of supplies.

From the outside, it looks fairly "normal". It does need a belly band (the piece around the card) to hold it closed, which just adds to the look of the card.

Once you take the band off, it starts to open on it's own....

And of course from there, once you open it further, the inside starts to "pop" toward you!

It isn't hard to make and is a great way to show off double sided papers. It also makes for a fun change to a regular card. 

The piece inside measures 8" x 4" or 20.3cm x 10.1cm. I found it easier to work in inches for this as it made it easier to work out where to score & fold. It is then scored at 2", 4" & 6" and diagonally from each corner to 4" (the middle). I will do a Facebook live and load it on YouTube soon (and add the links).

This card has already been given to my lovely friend (and another fellow demonstrator) Pauline Bennetts.

In these lockdown days, I was reminded again how much joy receiving a card can be. Last week it was a neighbours birthday, so my girls and I all made a card and dropped it in their mailbox.

I received a lovely text message thanking us for our cards, including a photo showing them on display. The birthday person commented that he had been receiving text messages, but these had been the only cards he had received - and how lovely it was. 

Never underestimate the joy a simple card can bring to someones day - especially at the moment!

Send someone some happy mail today ;)

A bit of Origami fun

Here in the Greater Sydney region of NSW, we are in the middle of another lockdown. It meant that we had to stay home during school holidays, and have spent this week with homeschool.

With our lockdown being extended for a second time in a few short weeks, it has become the new "norm".

My girls spent much of the holidays making cards, which meant I was able to do the same!

I stepped away from our Stampin' Up! products for just a moment (what?!) to make my neighbour a birthday card. She shares my love of Japanese things, so I dug out my lovely Japanese papers that have been tucked away for a time to make this.

I've used retired Not Quite Navy cardstock (so still using some SU products!) for the card base & some Shimmery White behind the lovely patterned paper. The butterfly is copper paper. Simple, but I love the result.

To follow in my origami folding, this months Cards to Go kit may have had a mostly Christmas in July theme, but one card that wasn't Christmas themed was a fun origami flower card.

The flower opens and has a sentiment in the centre. If you'd like to see a quick video of how to fold the flower, you can find it on my YouTube channel HERE.

The card itself is a 6" x 6" (or 15.2 cm x 15.2 cm) card (so, 6" x 12" piece folded into a square) and each of the smaller squares are 1 1/2" x 1 1/2" (3.8cm x 3.8cm).

I have used the 2021–2023 In Color 6" x 6" (15.2 x 15.2 cm) Designer Series Paper, on Basic White.

If you're interested in trying a Cards to Go kit, just me know. There is no commitment. You can let me know if you'd just like to do it once, or every now & then. There is full instructions emailed after each kit goes out. Local pick-up or choose to have it posted to you.

What have you been doing during lockdown?

Using your papers - to buy more! 15% off Selected DSP

There is a SALE on selected Designer Series Papers (DSP) from today for the month of July.

You will receive 15 % off the following DSP's:

• BEAUTY OF THE EARTH 12" X 12"
  
• BLOOM WHERE YOU’RE PLANTED 12" X 12"
• HAND-PENNED 12" X 12"
• IN GOOD TASTE 12" X 12"
• IN THE WILD 12" X 12"
• PANSY PETALS 12" X 12"
• SWEET SYMMETRY 12" X 12"
• TIDINGS OF CHRISTMAS 6" X 6"
• YOU’RE A PEACH 12" X 12"

Find them HERE.

Since here is the Sydney region we are in lockdown, it is a great time for crafting!

Here is a card I copied or CASEd from our catalogue that uses the Pansy Petals DSP.

The flowers and leaves are cut straight from the DSP. I used the coordinating Pansy dies, but you could easily fussy cut them. The stamp is from the Pansy Patch set. 

Another great way to use up & show off your favourite DSP is a Fun Fold card.

There are so many different types fun fold you can try, but here is a easy one to start with

This card uses the Pattern Party Host DSP (you can earn this with a qualifying order), but you could use your favourite DSP. 

The tag on the front is using the Tailor Made Tag dies and the stamp is from the Biggest Wish set.

To make this card, you simply fold the front of the card in half back on itself.

Try making this fun fold card yourself with your favourite DSP - I'd love to see the results!

Happy crafting.

A Stack of Christmas Joy

 Yesterday I held my first in-person stamping event since March. It was so nice to sit and chat in person whilst creating a stack of Christmas cards.

What made it even more special was that it was with some ladies that have been customers since the first year I joined SU back in 2006. I hadn't actually met in person with these particular ladies since last year! So we had a bit of catching up to do.

Since it's been so long, we did a catalogue walk-through as they had coffee/tea, before we got down to stamping and creating.

They got to make 10 cards each (2 designs) and used a bunch of new products.

Here is the first card, which had a slight variation to one for a bit of fun.

Supplies used were (Click on the above images to shop these supplies):

• Joyful Holly Stamp Set
• Real Red, Pretty Peacock, Pool Party & Old Olive inks
• Real Red, Pool Party, Pretty Peacock & Whisper White card-stock
• Label Me Fancy, Label Me Lovely & Everyday Label Punches
• Old Olive/Pretty Peacock Reversible Ribbon &  Real Red Double Stitched Satin Ribbon (I actually used a Retired ribbon as I had run out of the other!)
• Red Rhinestone Basic Jewels and Woven Threads Sequin Assortment
  

We used the Stamparatus to get these done. The leaf outline is stamped in Pretty Peacock ink and the inside of the leaf is Pool Party on one & Old Olive on the other.

This fun fold card uses and A4 piece of card-stock cut on the diagonal (left top corner to right bottom corner) and them scored at the halfway point to the center. I found it easiest to score the sheet of A4 first before cutting. They made just one each of the fun fold & then 4 of the other.

The next card was another fun fold and used a mix of stamp sets and dies....

(Click on the below image to shop the supplies)

I just love the cute little gnomes in the Gnome for the Holidays stamp set.

Here is the inside which has 2 "flaps" to open...

Supplies used in this card are:

• Gnome for the Holidays and Coming Home stamp sets
• Smoky Slate and Whisper White Card-stock
• Plaid Tidings Designer Series Paper
  
• Smoky Slate ink and Jet Black StazOn Pad
  
• Stitched Nested Labels and Stitched Shapes dies
• Stampin' Blends
  

It was fun to mix these 2 sets together. The image can be coloured with your preferred choice/method of colouring.

I had to leave (to pick my girls up from school) while they were still making these cards, so didn't get to see how they all turned out. But they have promised to send me some photos.... I always love seeing the variations as each person adds their own touch to each.

With these cards, they have made a good start to their Christmas cards and this will hopefully inspire them to continue to make some more.

Thanks for stopping by!

Natasha ox

Fun Fold Bright and Fun

Here is another card from this months "Cards to Go" kit.

This Fun Fold card features both the Flowers for Every Season and 2020-2022 In Colours DSP.

I am really loving the new In Colours, and if you haven't felt the 2020-2022 In Colours Ribbons, they are just so soft and beautiful - you need some!

CLICK HERE for a list of supplies used

Again, I love the POP of Magenta Madness in the card.

It's quite a simple card with not to much involved.

Contact me for all the details.

Thanks for looking!

Natasha