Use Scraps to Make Vintage Labels - Tip to Prevent Ink Beading

Use your cream and white scraps to create lots of labels in different colors. Grunge them up for a more vintage look. Add adhesive to the back using a Xyron Creative Station, Xyron Creative Station Lite, Xyron 250 Create-A-Sticker, or Xyron 150 Create-A-Sticker if you would like to make them into stickers. I listed these in order of price (high to low), which also corresponds to size. The largest Creative Station will accept paper/cardstock up to 9 inches wide (e.g. US letter) and may also be used with 5 inch cartridges. The Creative Station Lite will accept 5" and 3" cartridges. The 250 has a 2.5" opening, and the smallest 150 has a 1.5" opening. All are refillable, but the larger machines (former two) offer more and varied cartridges, such as lamination and magnet, whereas the latter two are just for making stickers. Note: the largest Vintage Labels will not fit in the smallest sticker maker.

Labels can be used in many ways. You can stamp on them with words or numbers for a more traditional look, or stamp them with images for something different. Use rub-ons or vellum stickers on them. Use them on cards, in scrapbooks, or junk journals. Write on them to label folders, storage bins, etc. Make tabs out of them by either folding one in half or putting two of the same size/type back to back on a page or other edge so that part sticks out.

Copyright Notice: ©Mary Dimercurio Prasad. All rights reserved. Any illegal reproduction of this content, including images, will result in immediate legal action.

Disclaimer:  Please help support my work in this small way - just use my links if you plan to purchase anything - there's no extra cost to you. Here's the official jargon: links, affiliate links, and cookies may be used in this post and on this site. Using this site implies your consent. I participate in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, Share a Sale, and other affiliate programs; these affiliate advertising programs provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to amazon.com and/or other affiliated sites. This helps offset a small portion of my crafting addiction... uh, hobby. I am truly thankful for your kind support! I also receive free products from companies, possibly monetary compensation, and sometimes free products for review. Regardless, all opinions are my own. Google and Blogger use cookies to provide and improve their services. See Notice at the bottom of this blog for a longer description and/or see the full Privacy Policy for even more details.

Making the Labels

1. Gather your white card stock and cream card stock scraps. Of course you may also use full sheets but this is a great way to use up your scraps! If pieces (or sheets) are too big for your die cutting plates, you may want to cut them down to fit first. This is especially important if using a Sidekick. Note: I show how to use scrap strips in a different post.

2. Before inking your Vintage Label dies, you need to condition them or the ink will bead up, giving you poor results. See photo below. The labels on the left were inked and die cut before conditioning the dies. The labels on the right were done after (same ink, same dies). To condition the dies, use toothpaste on a cotton swab to scrub well over the raised surface of each die where ink will go. I did this back and forth around each die about a dozen or more times. A little surface metal will come off - you should see this as you rub the toothpaste. This is how it conditions the surface; it roughs up the surface on a micro level, giving the ink a place to sit without beading up. This should only have to be done once, although if not enough of the surface is roughed up, this process may need to be repeated.

3. Have die cutting plates ready. One plate will be the cutting side; set this aside for the moment. Place the non-cutting side nearby so you can easily transfer inked dies to this plate when ready. Choose Vintage Label dies (or die) to fit a scrap piece of white or cream cardstock. Place these dies cutting side up on a sheet of scrap paper - I use scrap copy/cartridge/printer paper. Tap Ranger Archival Ink (or Distress Archival Ink) over surface until the flat raised areas are well covered. If the ink is still beading up too much, you may have to repeat conditioning. Be sure your ink pad is not too dry or you may not get enough ink to transfer on to the die. Once inked, carefully lift paper and slide dies onto plate, still cutting side up. You may need to slide them around in a configuration that will work with your piece of cardstock. Place cardstock carefully over dies then place cutting plate on top. Be sure nothing shifts. You may have to hold the plates in both hands as you start to feed them into your die cutting machine. If you find they move too much, you could try using washi or painters tape to temporarily tape paper to the bottom plate before placing the cutting plate on top.

Note: If you want to change ink colors, I recommend using isopropyl alcohol to clean dies. I don't recommend using stamp cleaner as any oil residue left behind may prevent ink from sticking.

4. Optional: after die cutting, ink edges of labels with Distress Ink or Distress Oxide Ink. I used Vintage Photo Distress Oxide Ink on an ink blender tool with domed foam. Note that if you do not ink the edges, some of the color of the Archival Ink that got on the blade may show a little. Adding inking around the edges helps hide this.

5. Optional: if you want to create sticker labels, put labels through a Xyron Creative Station or Sticker Maker (see other models listed in supplies, below). If you are doing multiples, you may cut them apart or leave them on the larger sheet until you want to use them. Note: you may add the adhesive to the cardstock before die cutting but I find that this wastes more adhesive and makes one side of the cardstock really slick, possibly making it more difficult when feeding into the die cutting machine.

Supplies

• Tim Holtz Sizzix Vintage Labels 665929
• Toothpaste, Cotton Swabs
• Tim Holtz Distress Archival Ink
• Ranger Archival Ink
• Cardstock - Cream or White
• Tim Holtz Blending Tools, Domed Foam Applicator
• Brown Distress Oxide Ink (I used Vintage Photo) or Brown Distress Ink
• Sizzix Sidekick, Big Shot, or other die cutting machine
• Optional: Xyron Creative Station (9" and 5" cartridges), Xyron Creative Station Lite (5" and 3" cartridges), Xyron 250 Create-A-Sticker (2.5", refills), or Xyron 150 Create-A-Sticker (1.5", refills)

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Bunny Easter Card with Xyron Adhesive and Doodlebug

This is my first post for the Xyron Design Team! I love Xyron adhesives (and lamination!). I have a 9 inch Creative Station that also accepts 5 inch cartridges. I have an old 9 inch Xyron as well - still in working condition - my husband uses it a lot to make player aids and other stuff for board gaming. The new design is much more compact - great for a craft room!

I like to add permanent adhesive to cardstock and paper before die cutting, or add it to die cuts that I cut using my electronic cutters (Silhouette Cameo, Cricut Maker). Instant stickers! This makes it easier to assemble, especially when there are lots of pieces.

The theme for this card is Spring/Easter. I chose to use Doodlebug Design Bunnyville paper (6x6 pad). This formed the color palette for my card. I used Karen Burniston's Twist Panel Pop-up dies for the inside of the card - a fun surprise when opened!

Copyright Notice: ©Mary Dimercurio Prasad. All rights reserved. Any illegal reproduction of this content, including images, will result in immediate legal action.

Disclaimer:  Please help support my work in this small way - just use my links if you plan to purchase anything - there's no extra cost to you. Here's the official jargon: links, affiliate links, and cookies may be used in this post and on this site. Using this site implies your consent. I participate in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, Share a Sale, and other affiliate programs; these affiliate advertising programs provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to amazon.com and/or other affiliated sites. This helps offset a small portion of my crafting addiction... uh, hobby. I am truly thankful for your kind support! I also receive free products from companies, possibly monetary compensation, and sometimes free products for review. Regardless, all opinions are my own. Google and Blogger use cookies to provide and improve their services. See Notice at the bottom of this blog for a longer description and/or see the full Privacy Policy for even more details.

Making the Card

1. I looked through my library of SVG files to find a bunny that closely matched the one in the Doodlebug Design Bunnyville paper pad. I chose to use the Easter Bunny from Miss Kate Cutables. I didn't want the cheeks, mouth, or shading though. I also wanted to add a bow and outfit to more closely resemble one of the bunnies in the paper pad designs. I used the "easter bunny-apart" SVG file and cut it with my Silhouette Cameo.

Used the Silhouette software to edit the file. First resize the image (I think I used 3 inches in height - just use the grid to measure one of the bunnies as you drag one corner until you have the size you want), then ungroup the image to separate the images. I deleted all images I didn't want (i.e. remove all but the simple eggs and delete bunnies 3, 4, and 5 counting from the left). Note: in my screen shot further below, you will see an extra white bunny layer, without a face but with ears cut out, on the right - I didn't end up using it; my original intention was to use it for filling in the eyes and nose but the pink bunny layer worked well enough for this, as you will see. Just cut the white bunny (ears filled in) on the right with pink cardstock (you can change the fill to pink if you like).

To edit the points, first select the layer to edit then click the tool below the move tool - if you hover over it, it says "Edit Points." Now you can click on points and drag to move, remove them (delete), or change the curves (by moving attached handles). I deleted all points for mouth and cheeks. Holding the control key while clicking brings up a menu (I used a Mac; this is the same as a right click). In hindsight, I wish I had made the eye holes bigger and moved the face further down. The eyes are not as big as they look in the original image above. Note: the colors do not matter - the cardstock that you cut does. I changed the fill (color) to match what I wanted in the final cuts. Again, you really only need three bunnies, the one with the face, the outline, and the white one (which I made pink).

Optional: to make a girl bunny, I found a file with a bow and edited/resized it. If you don't have one, just skip this and make a boy bunny with blue clothes. My file before cutting looks like the one below (you may want to save the file before proceeding to cut).

2. On your Silhouette cutting mat, arrange the cardstock and patterned papers. I cut each piece a little bigger than necessary to give me some wiggle room. Place each piece on the physical mat to match its corresponding image placement on the software mat grid. For example, the grass is between 4 and 5 1/2 inches vertically and between 0 and 3 inches horizontally. I added green patterned paper in this area. Your cursor should have lines going in each direction so you can read the positions on the rulers easily.

Cardstock and Papers Used

• White bunny: white cardstock
• Gray outline: light gray cardstock
• Pink bunny: pink cardstock
• Grass and ground: Gingham-Linen Rainbow Petite Prints
• Blue and orange eggs: Gingham-Linen Rainbow Petite Prints
• Yellow and pink eggs: Dot-grid-daisy-stripe Rainbow Petite Prints
• Girl bunny clothes: Dot-grid-daisy-stripe Rainbow Petite Prints

Silhouette mat with cardstock and patterned paper (don't need right white piece)

After cutting and removing most of the scrap parts

3. After cutting all the pieces, run them through the Xyron 9" Creative Station with Permanent Adhesive (you could use a 5" cartridge instead). If I have a lot of pieces, even small ones, I put them through my larger machine - I just use something like a bone folder to scoot them in so they touch the adhesive area before rolling them through. Alternatively, you may use the Xyron 1.5" Sticker Maker for small items.

Put pieces into Xyron 9" Creative Station

Use a bone folder or other tool to push small pieces further in

Die cuts after going through Xyron Creative Station plus Xyron Sticker Maker with blue egg

4. To make the card base, cut yellow cardstock 4 1/4 x 11 inches; fold in half to form a 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 inch top folding card base. Cut light blue cardstock 3 3/4 x 5 inches. Cut bunny/chick/sun patterned paper from Bunnyville 6x6 pad to 3 1/2 x 4 3/4 inches; adhere to light blue using Xyron Mega Runner. Adhere to front of card with Mega Runner.

5. Using rectangle die from Twist Panel Pop-up, die cut light blue cardstock; adhere to card front near center bottom as shown. Assemble Easter Bunny as follows:

Cut the body off the pink bunny at the chin, rounding from one side to the other with the shape of the head. You will use the body for the bunny clothes. On the white bunny, line up the light gray outline at the ears - only stick down the ears, leave the rest up. Line up the pink body with the feet and arms but do not press down. Gently put the gray outline over this and trace inside arms and legs (try not to get any pencil on the gray outline).

Pencil in lines as guides for cutting clothes

Remove the pink body and trim inside the lines to make clothes that fit over the bunny's belly. Check your cutting and retrim if necessary.

Trimmed down pink clothes

Line up ears of white bunny on pink head but do not press down yet. Use a pencil to lightly mark the eye locations (I marked it darker in the photo so it would show up). Use a brown alcohol marker (I used First Edition Graphic Markers 51 Chestnut; you could use Copic Sepia E37) to color where eyes will be. Be careful not to get any in the nose area. Adhere white layer over pink. Adhere bow where shown if desired.

Add brown marker behind eye area

Optional: once I had a template, I used it to cut the pink flowered pattern from Dot-grid-daisy-stripe Rainbow Petite Prints - you could leave it pink cardstock or trace it on blue if you want to make a boy bunny. Stick down the clothes then the outline.

Use template to cut flower pattern paper

Bunny with new clothes

6. Adhere grass ground (long oval) at bottom of blue frame on card front. Adhere grass where shown, then eggs and finally bunny.

7. Cut out "hippity, hoppity, Easter's on it's way!" label from Bunnyville 6x6 pad. Trim sides so dots are about 1/8 inch all the way around. Use 1/4 inch Corner Chomper to round the corners. Use foam tape to pop up label on card; see video below.

8. Create the inside card using Twist Panel Pop-up dies. Cut light blue cardstock 3 3/4 x 11 inches; fold in half. This will be the inside liner on which the pop-up mechanism (die cut) will go. Watch the video below before assembling. The cardstock and papers I used are listed below the video.

Pop-up arms: light blue cardstock
Pop-up panels: yellow cardstock
Panels are all decorated with patterned paper from Bunnyville
1st Panel: sunshine paper cut with rectangle die, square house scene with 1/4 inch rounded corners
2nd Panel: Easter words cut with rectangle die
3rd Panel: animal stack with 1/2 inch rounded corners
4th Panel: jelly beans cut with rectangle die, square "Happy Easter" (trim excess)
Top decoration: bunny family with 1/2 inch rounded corners
Banner flags: triangle - flower, chick, girl bunny; fishtail - boy bunny, flowers, sunshines

I used my Mega Runner for most of the adhesive and liquid glue for the rest (e.g. to glue twine behind panels). To sting the banners, cut a small slit in the middle of the curves, top left 1st panel, top right 2nd panel, top left 3rd panel, top right 4th panel. String the banner flags along the pink/white twine before securing. Once you are happy with how it is strung, glue twine from behind and trim of any excess.

Supplies

• Xyron 9" Creative Station and Permanent Adhesive
• Optional: Xyron 1.5" Sticker Maker
• Xyron Mega Runner
• Silhouette Cameo Cutting Machine (or Cricut Cutting Machine)
• Karen Burniston in Cahoots with Riley and Company Dies: Twist Panel Pop-up (1009)
• Miss Kate Cuttables SVG: Easter Bunny
• Doodlebug Design 6x6 Paper Pads: Bunnyville, Gingham-Linen Rainbow Petite Prints, Dot-grid-daisy-stripe Rainbow Petite Prints
• Cardstock: White, Pink, Dark Pink, Light Gray, Yellow, Light Blue
• Brown Alcohol Marker: First Edition Graphic Markers 51 Chestnut (you could also use Copic Sepia E37)
• Bone Folder (Burnishing Bone)
• We R Memory Keepers 1/4" and 1/2" Corner Chomper
• Twine: Pink/White

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What is My Favorite Xyron Product and Why

What is my favorite Xyron product and why? This is the theme for the 2018 Xyron Design Team's last project. I would have to say my favorite is the 9" Creative Station, although it's really a toss up between the permanent adhesive and the double-sided lamination cartridges. I probably use permanent adhesive most often because it is an ideal tool for applying adhesive - it puts adhesive evenly all over whatever you run through it. Not only is it great for making stickers, it is perfect for background papers for cards and super useful for die cuts. I used to hate having to glue things like thin die cut letters/words because the glue would get all over the place. Now it is really easy - just run the cardstock through the the Creative Station with permanent adhesive, die cut, peel, and stick! You can even make your own dimensional tape. For a unique look, create your own designs on cardstock (such as a gradient effect with ink) before running it through and die cutting.

Cartridges are super simple to change, even mid-roll, which I do all the time! As an example of how I use lamination, check out my post on creating watercolor swatch sheets.

Disclaimer: Please help support my work in this small way - just use my links if you plan to purchase anything - there's no extra cost to you. Here's the official jargon: links, affiliate links, and cookies may be used in this post and on this site. Using this site implies your consent. I participate in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, Share a Sale, and other affiliate programs; these affiliate advertising programs provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to amazon.com and/or other affiliated sites. This helps offset a small portion of my crafting addiction... uh, hobby. I am truly thankful for your kind support! I also receive free products from my design team companies, possibly monetary compensation, and sometimes free products for review. Regardless, all opinions are my own. Google and Blogger use cookies to provide and improve their services. See Notice at bottom of blog for a longer description and/or see the full Privacy Policy for even more details.

Making the Card

1. Cut Neenah Solar White cardstock about 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 inches. Use a Stamp Platform to stamp large dog (Crazy Dogs), small dog (Mini Cats & Dogs), and bone (Mini Cats & Dogs) in Memento Tuxedo Black ink. Note: I didn't notice until I went to color the images that I had missed the large dog's foot in stamping - I just used a black Copic Multiliner SP to draw the edges then covered the paw with the bone to hide my mistake.

2. Color images with Copic markers (see Supplies for a list of colors I used).

3. Find the page in Puppy Love 6x6 pad with labels - the one with "love at FURst sight;" cut it away from the other labels. Cut a piece of blue cardstock about 1/8 inch bigger (so it will have 1/16" border around it). Use 1/4" Corner Chomper to round all corners on label and blue mat. On the label, go around edges from the back side with E55 Light Carmel.

4. From Puppy Love 6x6 pad find striped page, brown small hearts page, colorful hearts page, and border strips page ("adorable" words and paw prints). Trim colorful hearts to 4 1/2 x 4 3/4 inches. Trim stripes (vertical stripe orientation) to 1 1/2 x 4 3/4 inches. Cut "adorable" and paw strip from the page of strips but leave them connected; trim to 4 3/4 inches wide.

5. Use Stacked Baroque - largest to cut blue cardstock, next largest to cut brown small hearts (vertical orientation, see card photo). On the brown hearts die cut, go around edges from the back side with E55 Light Carmel.

6. Instead of dimensional tape, cut a piece of craft foam a little smaller than "love at FURst sight" label (I used a larger piece - I keep the extra around for other projects). Cut a piece of Neenah Solar White cardstock large enough to die cut "happy" and "anniversary" (Celebration Words: Script) - do not die cut yet.

7. Run everything through the Xyron 9" Creative Station with permanent adhesive.

8. Use Crazy Dogs large dog die and Mini Crazy Cats & Dogs small dog die and bone die to die cut images. Hint: after cutting them out, go around edges with 110 Special Black to go around edges from back side plus fill in any extra white edge areas showing (e.g. if the cutting was a little off). Die cut "happy" and "anniversary" from adhesive backed Neenah Solar White cardstock.

9.  Cut blue cardstock 7x10 inches; fold in half to form a 5x7 inch card base. On inside of card, adhere "happy" and "anniversary" where shown in photo below. Use a Teflon bone folder to rub over the tops of all the letters - this helps adhere the words and removes any ejector hole indents, without adding shine to the cardstock.

10. After rubbing your fingers around all cellophane on top of papers (hint: use a die pick to also go around edges), remove cellophane. To remove backing from large pieces, flip and peel backing away - this reduces the amount of bending. Punch a small hole at the bottom right corner of striped piece where heart brad will go - peel backing partially away and insert heart brad, spreading tines. Adhere heart piece at top then striped piece at bottom, making sure spacing is equal around top/bottom and sides. Adhere "adorable"/paw strip in middle. Adhere brown heart baroque piece to blue baroque piece; adhere to card where shown. Adhere tall dog (I wrapped the tail around the back and used the Teflon bone folder to stick it down well), short dog, and bone as shown. Adhere "love at FURst sight" label to top of craft foam where the cellophane was. Peel off backing and stick to blue mat. Adhere to card front where shown.

Supplies

• Xyron: 9" Creative Station, Permanent Adhesive
• Neenah Solar White Classic Crest Cardstock
• Cardstock: Blue
• Stampers Anonymous/Tim Holtz: Crazy Dogs (CMS271), Mini Cats & Dogs (CMS272)
• Sizzix Framelits/Tim Holtz: Crazy Dogs (661593), Mini Crazy Cats & Dogs (661594), Celebration Words: Script (660223), Stacked Baroque (662693)
• Memento Tuxedo Black Ink
• Stamp Platform
• Optional: Black Copic Multiliner SP .3
• Doodlebug Design: Puppy Love 6x6 Pad
• Crop-A-Dile Corner Chomper 1/4" & 1/2"
• Teflon Bone Folder
• Die Pick
• Craft Foam
• Heart Brad
• Copic Sketch Markers: YR23, YR24, YR27, YR30, YR31, Y08, Y06, E53, E55, E57, E59, Y28, W1, W3, W4, W6, W8, W9, R27, R29, 110

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Doodlebug Design Here Comes Santa Claus Christmas Card

If you find Doodlebug Design papers super cute and quite irresistible (like me), then you will love these matching SVG cut files from Lori Whitlock and Doodlebug Design. You can buy them individually or get the whole set (again like me). Xyron adhesives make everything stick together easily. Follow along for some tips and tricks for putting together cut files.

Disclaimer: Please help support my work in this small way - just use my links if you plan to purchase anything - there's no extra cost to you. Here's the official jargon: links, affiliate links, and cookies may be used in this post and on this site. Using this site implies your consent. I participate in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, Share a Sale, and other affiliate programs; these affiliate advertising programs provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to amazon.com and/or other affiliated sites. This helps offset a small portion of my crafting addiction... uh, hobby. I am truly thankful for your kind support! I also receive free products from my design team companies, possibly monetary compensation, and sometimes free products for review. Regardless, all opinions are my own. Google and Blogger use cookies to provide and improve their services. See Notice at bottom of blog for a longer description and/or see the full Privacy Policy for even more details.

Making the Card

1. Download the Doodlebug Design Here Comes Santa Claus set SVG cut files from Lori Whitlock's site (you may also buy the individual files if you prefer).

2. Load Santa Standing and Reindeer Papa files into Silhouette Studio (cut/copy them to the same mat if necessary). Resize to fit on a 5x7 card (I think I used heights of about 4.5 inches for Santa and about 3.3 inches for the reindeer). Ungroup each and separate the layers according to color. See photo below. I put the layers to be cut in white in the upper right corner - I use my Copic markers to color smaller areas to save time (e.g. having to cut pink or yellow cardstock). The black deer silhouette layer actually only shows under the eye, mouth, and nose areas so I only have to color those spots; the rest I'll leave white (see next step for coloring). I put all the browns together and will again use my markers to color the darker shades - choose the lightest brown shade for cutting. Save the file if desired. Cut appropriate pieces of cardstock to put in the corresponding areas of the mat. Hint: turn on the grid for this and note the sizes - add a bit to each dimension for wiggle room. Load mat and send file to Silhouette Cameo for cutting. Note: you can see the pieces in the photo after step 3. Hint: if you have varying thicknesses of cardstock, you can still put them all on the same mat. Cut all pieces at the thinnest cardstock setting first, then without unloading the mat, delete the thin pieces from the Silhouette Studio mat and send again - this will double cut the thicker pieces that are left.

3. Carefully pull up the brown deer from the mat and line it up with the white version. Use a pencil to mark eye, mouth, collar, and hoof locations. Use Copic markers color nose, eyes, hoofs, and collar/bell where marked. Outline the white deer silhouette in a similar brown color used for the deer, except in the nose and collar areas. Outline antlers in a darker brown shade. Color Santa's nose, deer antlers, and inside deer ear (medium brown shade). A list of the marker colors I used can be found in Supplies at the bottom of this post.

4. Carefully pull up pieces from mat (I remove the outside scraps first). Hint: once off the mat, put small pieces in a dish so they don't get lost; I use a porcelain petal watercolor palette (photo of dish two below) because it is convenient (since I use it often for watercolor) and has 7 areas, but any small dish will do.

5. Cut red cardstock 7x10 inches; fold in half to form a 5x7 inch card base. Cut Here Comes Santa Claus (5383) from 12x12 inch paper pack to 4 3/4 x 6 3/4 inches. Using largest die from Nested Circle Small Stitch Die pack, die cut green cardstock. Using the second largest stitched circle, die cut multi-colored hearts sheet from Here Comes Santa Claus 6x6 paper pad. In the same pad, find the label sheet with Santa and "Merry Christmas" sentiment; cut out. Cut a piece of green cardstock about 1/16 bigger around (I just put the label in the corner with the spacing I want and lightly mark where I want to cut the other two sides in pencil).

6. Run larger items through 9" Creative Station with permanent adhesive. Run the smaller items through 1.5" Sticker Maker (for the very smallest, just use liquid glue). See photo above.

7. Rub all around cellophane before removing; hint: I use a die pick to go around edges after rubbing with my fingers. Before removing the backing paper from the background patterned paper, after removing cellophane, flip over and peel backing away from paper - this helps keep the paper flat. Adhere to card base. Adhere heart circle to green circle then adhere to card base where shown. Adhere Santa with sentiment to green rectangle; stick inside card, bottom left corner (see above photo). Hint: if any adhesive is around edges, use Adhesive Remover.

8. Assemble Santa and reindeer (use images as guidelines). Adhere to card where shown. Optional: adhere red enamel dot where shown.

Supplies

• Xyron: 9" Creative Station, Permanent Adhesive, 1.5" Sticker Maker, 1.5" Permanent Adhesive Refill, Adhesive Remover
• Doodlebug Design: Here Comes Santa Claus 12x12 Paper Pack (5402), Here Comes Santa Claus 6x6 Paper Pad (5408)
• Lori Whitlock/Doodlebug Design Cut Files: Here Comes Santa Claus Collection
• Cardstock: White, Red, Green, Beige, Brown, Black
• Silhouette Cameo 3
• Silhouette Mat
• Rubber Necker Stamps: Nested Circle Small Stitch Die (5012D)
• Die Pick
• Optional: Red Enamel Dot
• Copic Markers: R30, 110, Y26, R27, E35, E37, E59

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Wild Whisper Fancy Label Accordion Card

This project is a collaboration between Xyron and Wild Whisper. Wild Whisper sent the Xyron Design Team members each a pack of 12x12 paper. I chose the Forever & Always pack. This pack includes pretty watercolored flowers and sketch doodles. The flowers were so pretty, I decided to feature them in this card. I fussy cut a couple pieces to give the front flower dimension.

Disclaimer: Please help support my work in this small way - just use my links if you plan to purchase anything - there's no extra cost to you. Here's the official jargon: links, affiliate links, and cookies may be used in this post and on this site. Using this site implies your consent. I participate in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, Share a Sale, and other affiliate programs; these affiliate advertising programs provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to amazon.com and/or other affiliated sites. This helps offset a small portion of my crafting addiction... uh, hobby. I am truly thankful for your kind support! I also receive free products from my design team companies, possibly monetary compensation, and sometimes free products for review. Regardless, all opinions are my own. Google and Blogger use cookies to provide and improve their services. See Notice at bottom of blog for a longer description and/or see the full Privacy Policy for even more details.

Making the Card

1. Watch the following video so you will know how to assemble the card but don't do it just yet.

2. Die cut pink wavy paper twice with main Fancy Label Accordion die - cut one on each side of the paper. Line them up so the left is the gray flowered side and the right is the pink side - flaps to the right. Train folds and trim flap and tabs on the pink as shown in the video. Use liquid glue (I recommend using Fine Tip Applicator) to glue gray flap to back left side of pink frame.

3. Cut both watercolor flower squares from page of labels then use main Fancy Label Accordion die to cut out flower with gray background (see photo above). Use detail scissors to cut away just the fancy label, then along where folds would be - it should fit flush on gray flowered side of frame. Use the largest (separate) fancy label die to cut out watercolor flower with pink background (see photo at top of post, right side). Cut a square of craft foam a little larger than it.

4. Cut a piece of turquoise cardstock big enough to cut both Fancy Flourish Frames twice (but do not die cut yet). Put turquoise cardstock, craft foam square, and framed flower with grey background through Xyron 9" Creative Station with Permanent Adhesive. Die cut each Fancy Flourish Frames twice from the now adhesive-backed turquoise cardstock (peel cellophane off first). Note: you may need to run them through the die cutting machine a couple times - they do not need to cut through the backing paper but they do need to be cut completely through cardstock.

5. Peel backing off die cut Fancy Flourish Frames and adhere to card front and left inside as shown. Hint: use a Teflon bone folder to rub tops to be sure they really stick. Adhere gray background flower to gray flowered side, lining it up perfectly. Keep backing paper. Use detail scissors to fussy cut one of the matching flowers from flowered paper, as well as a center from another similar flower. Use a ball stylus to rub backs of petals of flower then flip and rub in center. Rub back of separately cut center. Use liquid glue to glue flower to gray background flower, offset. Glue center on top. See photo below.

6. In pencil, trace pink background flower label on adhesive backed craft foam (pull cellophane off first); cut inside of traced line. Use Tape Runner to put adhesive on other side of craft foam, stick to back of pink background flower. Adhere to pink (right) side as shown in above photo. Cut out "LIVE FOR THE" and "moments" (fussy cut around moments). Put words face down on saved backing sheet then use Tape Runner to put adhesive on them. Adhere where shown making sure the card will swing over "moments" without catching. Clean up any stray adhesive with Adhesive Remover. Optional: Add Nuvo Aqua Shimmer to flowers and Glossy Accents to flower centers. Once dry, attach tabs as shown in video using liquid blue.

Supplies

• Xyron: 9" Creative Station, Permanent Adhesive, Tape Runner, Adhesive Remover
• Wild Whisper: Forever & Always 12x12 Paper Pack
• Karen Burniston in Cahoots with Riley and Company Dies: Fancy Label Accordion (1043), Fancy Flourish Frames (1044)
• Cardstock: Turquoise
• Detail Scissors
• Teflon Bone Folder
• Liquid Glue
• Fine Tip Applicator
• Craft Foam
• Glossy Accents
• Nuvo Aqua Shimmer

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Acrylic Winter Sky Christmas Holiday Cards

This is a collaboration post between Xyron and Derwent Academy. Derwent Academy sent the Xyron Design Team members a wonderful acrylic paint package, including brushes, pack of 24 tubes of acrylic paint, canvas pack of two, heavyweight acrylic paper, and a metal mixing palette. I knew I
wanted to make Christmas/holiday cards, which got me thinking of winter scenes, particularly landscapes. I had some Penny Black stamps that would be perfect with a painted wintery background.

This is a super easy project - the key is to do it in layers, mixing a little water along the way to get the paint to flow across the textured paper. Normally you do not want to add water to acrylics (or very little) when painting on non-porous surfaces, but because the paper soaks up the paint, there is no problem with the binder being spread too thin (i.e. the paint won't flake off over time as it might on a canvas if too much water is added).

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Making the Card

1. Remove one sheet of Derwent Academy Heavyweight Acrylic Paper from the pad. In the paint palette, squeeze acrylic paints into wells, blues and purples plus a couple white (one for mixing with blues/purples and one to stay white).

2. Going from bottom to top in horizontal strokes with a flat brush, paint pale blue (mix blue with white), light blue, blue, blue-purple, and purple but also mix the colors a bit as you go. Add a bit of water to the brush as needed to keep the paint flowing smoothly across the page. Cover enough of the page to make two cards. See photo.

3. While still wet, add white in areas leaving streaks. While still wet, use a fan brush to pick up white paint and add thin vertical streaks and dry brush strokes as the paint runs out of the brush. Repeat across the painting. Let dry. Add a little water to the white so it is slightly thinner. Either dip Splatter Brush into the white or paint white onto the bristle ends then use your finger to spatter white all over the page (you could also use an old toothbrush for this). Let dry completely.

4. Using Stamp Platform and StazOn Jet Black ink, stamp Wintery Trail on one side of the painted image. Due to the heavy texture in the paper, you will likely need to press hard and stamp 2 or 3 times. You may also want to re-ink your pad if it is getting dry. Don't worry if there are a few dots in the solid area - you can fill them in with black paint using a small brush if necessary (note: if you used paint and the shine is noticeably different when dry, try coating entire surface with Mod Podge). Repeat with Hidden Lane on the other side. I flipped my image to stamp the other side, but you could just cut the paper before stamping. StazOn ink can be challenging to remove. I recommend using StazOn All Purpose Cleaner with a stamp scrubber to clean off the big stuff, then follow up with a Stamp Shammy and water to remove any residue. Once dry, trim images to edges of stamped area.

5. Cut 2 sheets light blue cardstock 7x10 inches; fold in half to form two side-folding 5x7 inch card bases. Note: I made my cards look slightly different from each other - the following are the dimensions I used for my mats. Cut dark blue cardstock 4 1/2 x 6 1/2 inches. Cut dark purple cardstock just slightly larger than the Hidden Lane painted/stamped image - I used a pencil and eyeballed it but you could measure the image then add 1/4 inch to each dimension (for 1/8 inch border around). Cut blue cardstock 4 3/4 x 6 3/4 inches. Cut light purple cardstock just slightly larger than the Wintery Trail painted/stamped image. Stamp two "Peace • Joy" messages on light blue cardstock strips with VersaFine Clair Nocturne ink (I recommend using a powder tool first). Quickly sprinkle with black embossing powder and heat. Trim to sizes shown, adding tails with detail scissors to left side of one.

6. Put images and mat pieces from step 5 through 9" Creative Station with Permanent Adhesive. See photo above. Having the adhesive uniformly over the back will allow the images to stick even if they curled slightly while painting. Rub with your fingers all around edges on cellophane before removing cellophane. Important: use a bone folder or something hard and flat (e.g. spoon edge) to rub the backing sheet behind the images so the adhesive will stick to the textured areas. To help keep items flat, pull backing sheets off away from back sides. Adhere images to their respective mats then adhere to larger mats, then finally to card fronts - see photos for placement. Use Tape Runner to add adhesive to backs of sentiments and adhere where shown.

7. Adhere flat back crystals where shown (I use Swarovski crystals - they are gorgeous). I recommend using a Crystal Katana or Tanto for easy placement (dip toothpick in glue and put dots where desired, as you hold up rhinestones).

Supplies

• Xyron: 9" Creative Station, Permanent Adhesive, Tape Runner
• Derwent Academy: Heavyweight Acrylic Paper, Acrylic Paints - 24 Pack, Paint Palette, Artist Brush Set of 8
• Cardstock: Light Blue, Blue, Dark Blue, Purple, Dark Purple
• Splatter Brush
• StazOn Jet Black Ink
• Penny Black Stamps: Wintery Trail (40-407), Hidden Lane (40-416), Nature's Friends (30-261)
• Stamp Platform
• StazOn All Purpose Cleaner
• Stamp Shammy
• Powder Tool
• VersaFine Clair Nocturne Ink
• Black Embossing Powder
• Heat Tool
• Detail Scissors
• Bone Folder
• Flat Back Crystals
• Crystal Katana or Tanto

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