Wednesday, November 16, 2016

My Tips for Making Quick Cards

Hello, everyone! Today I'm sharing some quick cards!  Before I get started, I would like to welcome three new followers - Wynn Walton and Miranda (on Google Friend Connect) and Barbara (on Bloglovin') - thank you for joining me!

Yesterday I wanted to make a lot of cards but didn't have a lot of time. I like to support charities, especially this time of year, so I wanted to make a bunch of cards and get them into the mail. I surprised myself and made 13 cards! I've never made that many cards in one day before! They're quick but I still wanted them to be cute!

With Christmas coming and everyone short on time, I thought it might be helpful if I shared some of my tips for making quick cards.



Tip #1 - Recycling/Upcycling

I like to save old Christmas cards and tags received in previous years so I can upcycle them. This chilly penguin was the front of a tag in its former life, and I thought it was such a fun image! Note: When making cards for children, it's best not to use many embellishments. If you do add them, ensure you use permanent adhesive so they won't come off.


  • Embossing folder: Taylored Expressions Snowfall (sanded to reveal white core of cardstock)
  • Die:  Poppystamps Stitched Landscapes
  • Stamp: Sentiment (Poppystamps You Melt My Heart)
  • Other: Snowflake sequin, upcycled image from old tag


Tip #2 - Use Stickers

I have a ton of stickers in my Dollarama stash and I've been wanting to use them up! 3-D and puffy stickers are great for quick cards! Some of these snowman stickers are shakers - so fun!




  • Stamps:  Snowfall (Stampin' Up Itty Bitty Backgrounds), sentiments (Poppystamps You Melt My Heart, Kolette Hall Joy)
  • Ink: Simon Says Stamp Audrey Blue, Avery Elle Pure White, Versafine Onyx Black
  • Dies:  Memory Box Curved Happy Holidays, Poppystamps Stitched Landscapes, Scalloped Stitched Window (unmarked brand from China)
  • Embossing folder:  Taylored Expressions Winter Flurry
  • Other:  Dollarama stickers

Tip #3 - Use Tags

You can get a lot of tags in a package for a dollar, or better yet, buy them after Christmas at 50 to 75 percent off, which is what I do. I tend to go for the shaped tags as they are already pre-cut, so no fussy-cutting is required! This little penguin's scarf is already a velvet-like texture and I simply added Diamond Stickles to his hat and popped him up on foam tape. Note there is usually a small hole in tags to tie them onto gifts. Most of the time the bit is still in place in the hole, so I like to tape the back of the tag so it will not fall out.

  • Stamp: Sentiment (Poppystamps You Melt My Heart)
  • Ink:  Your Next Stamp Holly Berry Red
  • Embossing folder:  Cuttlebug Christmas Set
  • Other: Holly leaves and penguin tag from dollar store, Diamond Stickles

Tip #4 - Keep it Clean and Simple

When I am pressed for time, I like to make a clean and simple card. Embossing folders can add texture and interest.

  • Sentiment (Poppystamps You Melt My Heart)
  • Ink: Stampin' Up Tempting Turquoise
  • Embossing folder: Darice Snowflake Background
  • Other: Image (tag from dollar store), Nuvo Crystal Drops - Caribbean Ocean (won these in a Simon card kit - thank you, Deedee!)

Tip #5 - Make Multiples

I already had my supplies out and card design planned, so I made multiples. Sometimes I vary the embossing folder and embellishments.



There are a number of worthwhile organizations collecting handmade cards right now, and here are a few that I like to support (click the links for all the details):
  • Hug a Heart for children who will be spending their holiday in the intensive care and inpatient wings at Nationwide Children's Hospital Heart Center (U.S.)
  • Send a Smile for Kids for children who are inpatient at Children's Hospitals (U.S. and Canada)
  • Caring Hearts Card Drive for the elderly who live in nursing homes (U.S., Canada, and U.K.)

I would like to support the following challenges: 613 Avenue Create AG 3/8; Allsorts Feature a Creature 3/3; Artistic Inspirations AG UE; Beccy's Place A Month of Holiday Cards UE; Blessings Ink Amusing Challenges AG No Digis 1/2; Cardz TV AG 3/3; Clique Kits AG 3/3; Craft Your Passion Always AG 1/3; CRAFT Winter 2/5; Crafter's Cafe Christmas Comes Early 1/3; Crafting by Designs Little Animals 1/3; Crafty Catz AG 3/3; Crafty Creations Animals 3/3; Crafty Friends For Someone Special 3/3; Crafty Gals Corner Any Holiday 1/2; Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Extra November UE; Creative Fingers AG 3/3; DL.ART November Linky AG UE 1/day; Fabrika Fantasy Christmas is Coming 2/3; Glitter N Sparkle AG 3/3; Imagine That Creative Playground Christmas is Coming 3/3; Inky Chicks Winter Wonderland UE; Inspiration Destination AG UE; Just Keep on Creating November Linky AG UE; Lil Patch of Crafty Friends AG 3/3; Not Just Cards November AG UE; Open-Minded Crafting Fun Christmas 2/3; Paper Creator's Crafts AG 3/3; Penny's Paper-crafty Christmas 1/3; Scrap and Craft Christmas Time 2/3; Send a Smile 4 Kids Happy Holidays 4 Kids 2/3; Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Christmas Critters 1/5; Sweet Stampin' Christmas AG 2/3; The Outlawz Saturday PAM Baby It's Cold Outside 1E; Word Art Wednesday AG w Uplifting Sentiment wk1 3/5

Thank you for looking at my cards! Wishing you a joyful day!

46 comments:

Nancy Soetaert said...

seems a very creative day! you've made great cards!
Nancy

Swissie said...

Thank you for lots og good ideas!
Liv

Lisa Lynn said...

Lots of great ideas and lots of adorable cards. Perfect for donations- you are such a wonderful person!

Donna said...

Fabulous cards Kitty and great tips, I especially like making multiples when I have a design I like and like your motorcycling tip!

Princess Judy Palmer said...

Lots of nice ideas to whip out some quick cards.

cotnob said...

Fabulous cards Kitty, such cute images and I love the happy holidays die.
Pauline
x

carol said...

wow thanks for the ideas...they are great, all of them look fantastic. Thanks for playing along with us at CRAFTY CATZ x carol

Lisa said...

Your cards are all amazing!! I can't believe how many you made at once!! All of your tips are so fabulous...I'm so behind in Christmas cards, I'll definitely use some!! Love these my friend!! Thanks so much for playing along at DL.ART!! Have a great day!! Big hugs :)

Lisa
A Mermaid's Crafts

Carole J said...

Brilliant selection of cards, Kitty! Who would know they were quick to make? Thanks so much for the tips. x

Fikreta said...

those cards are so pretty!
thank you for tips!
have a nice day
hugs

Christina said...

Oh these are adorable Kitty! I can't stop smiling! You've really outdone yourself with these many cards in one day! Thanks for the awesome tips and for helping with the cards drive Kitty. Not just for Hug A Heart, but for other charities as well. You're an angel! Many hugs to you!

Alice (scrAPpamondo) said...

Lovely and fun all your cards, Kitty! The penguins with the velvet scarfs are adorable! I must buy these Diamond Stickles, they are just perfect to add sparking details!
Thanks for all the tips! I really need to learn making quick cards! (Usually I can't stop to add elements because I don't balance very well them immediately...)
:)

Olga Fink said...

Gorgeous cards Kitty! and such great ideas for mass producing them! you are so generous!
xoxo olga

Beccy said...

Wow, 13 cards in one sitting, well done Kitty! You ended up with a fabulous and fun collection that I'm certain will be appreciated by the people who receive them. Thanks for sharing all your great tips for making multiple cards, they will definitely come in handy.
Cheers,
Beccy

Andrea W said...

Thanks for the tips to make quick cards. I love the shaker stickers you used and all the wonderful embossing.

terrie said...

Great looking quick cards...well done and thanks for sharing
I also use tags for some of my cards...I buy them at the end of the season too....

Verna Angerhofer said...

Your cards all look so fun and festive. Great tips on making quick cards too!

Richa Maurya said...

Such fun cards..and 13..that is a big number...Thank you for sharing dear.
Love
Richa

Barbara Godden said...

Cute cards, and wow 13 wtg.

New Creations said...

Thirteen! Amazing! Soooo cute and lovable! Gr8 tips, thanks for sharing Kitty!

Unknown said...

Great tips and great cards! Thanks for sharing. Thanks for playing along with the Clique Kits anything goes challenge!

Tinka's paper wonderlland said...

Wooow, that is realy a lott!! Great work and great looking cards to!!
Thank you for the tips, they go realy handyy!!
♥Hugs Valentina♥

Ginny Maxam said...

Wow, what a delightful set of cards, and Sooo well made! Everyone made me smile!! I enjoyed your post very much! Have a great day and thank you for sharing your Talents with us at Word Art Wednesday! Ginny M DT

Unknown said...

Aww I love these. You are so talented at winter cards!! Thank you for entering the Clique Kits Challenge! :)

NickScrapShack said...

So many great ideas! Thanks for sharing. I liked those stickers that was shaker elements. Super cool.
Thank you for playing along with us at Crafty Catz! Good luck! Nick

creationsnz said...

A lot of hard work there and some cuties. Thanks for joining us at the Crafters Café, CarolG

brenda said...

A super cute collection of Christmas cards Kitte and great for our Allsorts theme, many thanks for joining in.

B x

Unknown said...

These are all so cute and fun :) Well done and thanks for the tips :) I love recycling old Christmas cards too.
Thank you for joining us at Crafty Friends and good luck xx

Lin said...

Adorable critter cards, Kitty, my fave is that penguin! Thanks for sharing these with us at the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge!

Catnip and Kitty Whiskers said...

Great bunch of cards!!! Thanks for the tips on making multiples! Thank you also for your kind words on my blog! Your prayers have meant so much! :)

La Papera Gialla said...

Great cards!
Thanks for joining us at CraftyHazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra for November!
Monica - DT

KraftyKoolKat said...

A gorgeous array of cards Kitty. Thanks for your tips.
Hugs
Cathy
xxxx

Creative world said...

Awesome idea and beautiful set of cards, love your texture backgrounds...and thank you for the tips...Thank you for joining us at Craft Your Passion challenge this week
Zeljka DT xo

Hetty said...

Well done, Karen, making so many cards in a short time. And they are all lovely.Great tips! Thank you.

Diane Louise J said...

Hello…. Thanks for entering your lovely set of cards into our ‘Someone Special’ challenge. Hope you will join us again.
[Diane Louise, Team Leader for Crafty Friends Challenge Blog]

Creaine said...

very nice!!! Thanks for joining us at Inspiration Destination. Good luck.
Bye, Groetjes van Ine (DT)
http://creaine-cards.blogspot.nl/

Snowflakes and Lilies said...

Fabulous ideas to create many cards in a short span of time - without having to compromise on the look. Beautiful and fun cards. Thanks for sharing at Inspiration Destination and hope to see you again. Good luck.
- Khushboo Gandhi, DT
http://snowflakesandlilies.blogspot.in

crafty-stamper said...

Great productive day love all the cute cards and great recycling for a good cause
Carol x

marion said...

that is definately a record, so many cards in one day, so sweet of you to donate them to charity.Thank you for sharing your tips on how to make quick cards. Lots of hugs and love to you and cuddles to Kiwi, Honeydew and Snowie, Marion

Carla's Cards said...

Lovely cards, thanks for sharing with Fabrika Fantasy!

Eekers said...

Loving the top tips! It's a super idea for a christmassy blog post. Once again tho, I wish I had a dollarama stash, lol!

Annabel - Knitty Kitty Digis

Lisa said...

omg... see... these are all adorable and pretty and I agree... the embossing folder texture really makes quite an impact on a simple card... gosh I love all of these... maybe i'll give it a try.. lol... at least I'll start out that way!... thanks for the tips!!

Suzi Mac said...

A wonderful selection of Christmas cards. Thank you for joining us over at Scrap & Craft Inspiration. Good luck!
Hugs Suzi

Sheryl said...

Great upcycling projects.
Glad you dropped it onto the front porch at 613 Avenue Create.
Hugs Sheryl DT member xx

Margot-craftcorner said...

Addorable cards ... thank you for playing along with us at Scrap & craft - Margot xx

Unknown said...

These are just adorable!!! What great tips and ideas you have here!!! Beautifullly done!!!
Thanks for playing with us at Crafty Gals Corner!!