Each November, I like to kick off the holiday season by making my
own holiday greeting cards. It has become a ritual that I enjoy
tremendously. It gets me in a creative holiday mood. Making greeting
cards is a personal way to express yourself and send heartfelt
holiday wishes.

Greeting cards are fun to make because they combine different
types of craft forms like stamping, embossing, writing, drawing,
decoupage and photography. They can be artistically crafted using
treasured photos, a variety of colorful acid-free paper products and
embellishments. Only a minimal amount of skill and materials are
required to begin. Cards can be enhanced with stickers, decorative
punches, picture corners, eyelets, charming ornaments, assorted
papers cut with decorative edged scissors or simply hand ripped.
Your finished cards can range from simple to sophisticated, with a
stylish theme such as retro, modern, antique, art-deco, exotic,
shabby chic, whimsical or Victorian.

Start by going through remnants from previous holidays, such as
papers, ribbons and assorted tiny treasures to rediscover and
recycle into unique keepsake cards. Each year, I like to treat myself
to a couple of new tools of the trade, to combine with my findings.
For a simple and yet elegant card, cut a basic tree shape using
double-faced film adhesive. Place it on a card and apply tiny beads.
Paint a snowman using a decorative snow medium, glue shaped
sequence and add a background scene with a multi-colored pencil.
You can also make several cards using recycled greeting cards,
trimmed with decorative scissors, embellished with hand-ripped
papers. Add white rub-on lettering and then decorate with a gold
pen. I used a leaf design stamp to make a poinsettia grouping design
and embellished the centers with beads.

I ornamented other cards with glitter, copper foil embossed shapes,
mesh, snowflake cut-outs and punches. Decorative letters were used
to spell the words "Joy" and "Peace".

Making a tree ornament and placing it on a card is also a great
way to decorate holiday greetings you can send to loved ones.
Putting paper snowflakes and glitter snow into a clear envelop
applied to the front of a card with a picture of the kids is ideal to send
to those who don't have snow for the holidays.

















To use photos
Simply choose your favorite digital photos from the ones you have
gathered over the last year. Print your photos onto acid-free photo
paper in the size needed. Pictures can also be printed onto specially
formulated canvas and vellum papers. To preserve the appearance
of your pictures and greeting cards protect them with a light coat of
Preserve-It by Krylon.

Decorative paper cards
For the base, start with acid-free card stock or
pre-packaged blank greeting cards. There are so
many scrumptious colors and themes to choose from.
Many of the paper products come in mix-and-match color
assortments which are reversible. Some are textured or
patterned, while others are transparent.

Cutting tools
The latest cutting tools really make cutting simple. A steel ruler, an
X-acto knife and a cutting mat are the basic and most essential
cutting tools to own. Paper cutters are great to achieve straight
precision cuts. To cut papers and photos into different shapes use a
template with various designs. Try making fun pop-up windows.
Decorative-edged scissors are ideal to cut bands and borders.
Circular rotary scissors cut perfect circles in just seconds. Decorative
punches are wonderful novelty tools that punch out silhouette
shapes.

Putting it all together
For a dynamic layout, try placing the pictures in interesting positions,
such as on a slant. Place all your items on the cards and once you
are pleased with the composition, you're ready to fasten everything
into place.

Adhesives
There are different types of glues for different surfaces. The basics
are glue sticks, white glue, glue gun and rubber glue. Metal glue is
used to bond metal decorative items to paper surfaces. Foam
double-faced adhesives provide three-dimensional effects. Glue dots
and adhesive sheets are easy to use and require no drying time.
Double-faced tape, especially the Terrifically Tacky brand (my
favorite) is very practical and can be applied to a variety of surfaces.
It's great for gluing tiny beads.

Finishing touches
The finishing details truly add style and color to cards. Ribbons, fun
yarns and raffia are great for accent bows or to attach accessories.
Specialty gel pens and metallic markers add interesting effects.
Personalized wishes and text can be applied to a card easily with
rub-on lettering and letter stickers available in a variety of font styles
and colors. Metal letters make stunning card headings. Rubber
stamping words and letters also produce great results.

Decorating to showcase the greeting cards you receive can
make quite an elegant statement in a front hall or foyer. I like to
display cards on an old louvered door panel that I revamped. Cards
can trim the edges of a mirror, a wire wreath, or for a modern look,
simply pin them to a painted canvas and display it in a key area of
your home.
Miy Holiday Greetings
C r e a t i o n s  & I n s p i r a t i o n s
"f o r   t h e   p u r e   j o y   o f   m a k i n g   t h i n g s"
Holiday Greetings With All The Trimmings
miy
Christmas
miy
Decor
miy
Kids Crafts
miy
Teens
miy
Faux-Finish
miy
Fashion
Crafting
miy
Wall Art
miy
Garden
miy
Special
Holiday
miy
Fall
miy
Halloween

miy Photo
Gallery

We all know that making over the look of your home can get expensive! Sometimes we need to borrow a little money to get the project done! Getting a cash advance can certainly help you purchase things you need when it comes to making over your home! Find a perfect, affordable, and time sensitive payday loan1 Get a wide range of proven cash advances program that can help you get the cash you need when you need it! Visit Nationwide Cash!

Miycreations Project article and photographs
by  Madeleine M Langlois   MaddyLane Designs
© All Rights Reserved 2008
Photos and miycreations projects are copyrighted
~by MaddyLane Designs~
Donate!
Show your appreciation for
miycreations.com and support
future development by Donating
Copyright, All rights reserved Maddylane Designs /  Miy Creations.com 2008
Miy Decor     Miy Garden      Miy Christmas     Miy Halloween     Miy Fall      Miy Faux-Finish      Miy Wall Art      Miy Kids      Miy Teens   
MIy Store
Creations
by
MaddyLane
“Miy Books"


Miy Gift Collection
by MaddyLane Designs








Visit Miy Store
Miy Greetings Cards
Miy Wall Art & More

Contact
miy
#MIYHGAT827
MIY Holiday Greetings with All
The Trimmings
To Purchase this MIY
content article for your
Newspapers or Website.
by MaddyLane Designs
Simply Click on the
BUY NOW Button
A festive way to display
greeting cards...is to
hang them on shutters
MIY Outdoor Holiday
Decor on Ice