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  By Sara Naumann

Quick & Easy Christmas Cards

Handmade holiday greetings don’t have to take tons of time! Just look at these three festive Christmas cards designed by Susan Cobb. Each one can be made quickly and easily—perfect for beating the holiday rush. Even better: Susan shares her top tricks for giving quick cards an extra special dash of holiday flair!

Celebrate

Susan’s Quick Tip: Using faux ribbon (in this case, a cardstock paper ribbon) is faster and easier to glue than the real thing!

Supplies:

Instructions:

  1. Place the card with the fold on the side. Measure 1" in each direction from the top right corner of the card and mark with a pencil. Cut away the corner between the marks, then repeat for the top left corner.
  2. Cover the top 1 3/4" and the bottom 3/4" of the card front with holly paper. Trim the sides of "Celebrate" punch-out and ink the edges. Add brads to the “c”, “b” and “t”, then mat the punch-out on red textured paper, leaving a 1/2" border at top and bottom. Ink the edges, then glue across the center of the card. Tip: Use an emery board or sandpaper to smooth away any nibs on the punch-out.
  3. Use the template and black pen to add faux stitched lines along the white areas of the card and the red matting.
  4. Ink the edges of the red punch-out paper ribbon and attach the large ivory flower to it with a green brad. Glue across the top of the card over the holly paper, trimming edges evenly.

Warm Winter Wishes

Susan’s Quick Tip: Add white ink along the edges of your paper for a snowy effect. For inking on vellum and glimmer, use a StazOn ink pad—it will dry much faster than a pigment or dye pad.

Supplies:

Instructions:

  1. Cut a 5"x6 1/2" red glimmer rectangle. Cut a 1"-wide strip of white vellum and ink one long edge with white ink. Glue about 4" from the top of the red glimmer piece.
  2. Cover the bottom 3 1/2" of the red glimmer piece with the green Christmas words paper.
  3. Attach decorated mug brads alternating with the white snowflake mini brad buddies evenly spaced centered across the top edge of the vellum.
  4. Write "Cold hands", "Warm hearts", and "Hey, it's cold outside!" on vellum with the black pen, trim, and ink the edges. Attach “it’s cold outside” across the upper left corner of the red glimmer paper using a small dab of glue stick and a green brad. Attach the other two pieces for the bottom right of the green words, using a dab of glue stick. Add a red flower and green brad.
  5. Flatten all brad legs, then glue the rectangle to the card front. Ink the edges of card white.

Noel

Susan’s Quick Tip: Only have leftover paper scraps? Put three patterned papers together in a color-blocked effect.

Supplies:

Instructions:

  1. Place the fold of the card at the top. Glue a 2 1/2"-wide strip of red poinsettias paper on the left side of the card. Cover the right 4 1/2" with green striped paper.
  2. Cover the lower half of the striped paper with green/red holly paper. Glue a 4 1/2"x1/2" strip of red glimmer paper across the seam of the two green papers.
  3. Add the star embellishment at the point where all the papers meet. Add the "noel" embellishment to the holly paper. Tip: Place the embellishment onto the paper and mark the holes with a pencil. Remove the embellishment, open the card and use a craft knife to make incisions for the brads.
  4. Hide the brad legs on the inside of the card front with a matching patterned or solid paper. This adds a finishing touch to the card while hiding the brad legs!