Christmas in July - card ideas

Christmas bear

Christmas stocking 

      It's Christmas in July this month, so I hope you have fun with me in getting things planned out and made through out this month!  Taken from our challenges yesterday - today we are going to talk about getting your Christmas cards rolling.  The first step in starting your cards is deciding how many you are going to need to send out in the first place.  Then you need to decide if you are making them or buying them!  Are there any that are going to have to be mailed?  If so, make sure you design appropriate for mailing - you don't want to have to pay extra postage if your card is too bulky to mail.  You can also take the cards up to the person at the post office directly and have them hand stamp it, or talk to them next time you are in there anyway to see what the current guidelines are in order to mail safely.  

Christmas presents

     If you don't make them, then start to decide how you want your cards to look, and start to look at various designs that are available to you.  Some of my family takes photos and then creates darling cards each year for people...great way to see how people look from year to year, especially if you don't live close to some of your close friends or family!   Consider your budget when you are making your list - you can purchase a lot of supplies with a little bit of money, especially if you use sales and coupons - in order to make one of a kind cards.  Make a personalized letter telling everyone how your year has gone, with a photo they can frame included.    

Christmas wreath

     Using die cuts for your creations really add's to your savings factor too - being able to use the gifts on just about any other type of event you would give presents for, along with the Christmas gifts here!  Use scraps of other projects, in order to make your cards more one of a kind!  With the stockings in the card above - the circles were made with Glue Dots 3D dots and embossing powder to match!  I think the look is wonderful - and cheap too!   You can always make a few other die cuts while you are at it, and add them to a layout, or a gift album you might decide to make for people.  

Seasons Greetings

     With the two cards here - the same 3D dot affect using embossing powder was used in this card, only a different shade of red to match the rest of the project.  A simple silver bow added to the top, a stamp which was embossed in white and colored on the back to give it the stained glass affect...adding a simple background paper to the background, and added it to the card.  The card base is a 12 x 12 sheet of cardstock that has a pattern in it - a simple dot - though you can't see it in the scan!    For the Seasons Greetings card - the same white embossed image, in simple Christmas colors made the card complete.  
     Make your own style of cards based on what you have seen here - and through out the month make sure you check in on the Facebook Fanpage and here for even more projects and shopping places for you to spend your time and money in as well!  It's all about making this Christmas the best, no matter what your budget is!  

Lynda Jeffs

Memories in Tyme