July 2000
Holiday Cards, Tags and Ornaments
Designed By Judi Kauffman

Getting a head start on the holidays is a great idea. Stamping cards well in advance gives you plenty of time to spend on each one. But even if you decide you need to make a card for a surprise visitor arriving in an hour, need more ornaments for the tree, or gift tags when you begin wrapping presents on December 24th, you won't have a problem if you follow a few easy hints.

• Cards, tags and ornaments can be as elaborate or as simple as you want. In each photo there are "quickie" projects right next to more elaborate ones.
• Whether you are making one-of-a-kind cards or dozens of the same design, experiment and try different inks and card stock to see what you like best. This is time well spent (it's like testing a recipe before serving a new food at a party) and part of the fun.
• If you have time and like to color and paint, use chalk, markers, watercolor and pencils to add detail to your card, ornament, or gift tag. Embellish with ribbon or buttons, punch decorative corners, layer with several different colors of card stock, and use dimensional foam dots to add dimension.
• If time is short, stamp with a rainbow pad, add a detail or two with a gel pen and declare the card complete.
• Emboss in a light color on a dark background and the card is finished in minutes. Simple and elegant (and EASY, but don't tell!).
• Work in a series. Stamp as many cards as you have space for on your table, or spill over onto kitchen counters and other surfaces so you can let the ink dry without stacking.
• Be portable. Stamp at home but take cards with you to color while you wait for the doctor or visit with friends.
• Ornaments and gift tags. Punch a hole at the top, add ribbon or cord, and a stamped image is instantly a gift tag or Christmas ornament. Write a message on the back, tuck one into an envelope stamped with a complementary motif and your creation will hang on someone's tree. A holiday card doesn't have to be a folded one!

  MATERIALS

  Christmas Plate 3 (see below)

  Christmas Plate 4 (see below)

  Emblems Plate 2 (see below)

  • Christmas Plate 3
  • Christmas Plate 4
  • Emblems Plate 2
  • Holiday stamps
  • Assorted rainbow and solid dye inks, pigment inks (shown -- Ranger Big & Juicy Rainbows Herb Garden, Spice and Sweet Pea; Ranger Archival Library Green and Sepia; and white pigment ink)
  • Embellishments (wire edge ribbon, buttons with shanks removed, cord, narrow ribbon, charms)
  • Gel Xtreme pens (Yasutomo)
  • Double stick foam dots
  • Markers, colored pencils
  • Dove blender
  • Glitter glue (shown -- Ranger Ice Stickles)
  • Faceted gems
  (Note: All stamps used for the cards and gift tags were from the Christmas Plate 3, Christmas Plate 4 sheets and Emblems Plate 2, Red Castle #42821, #42822 and #42711)

  A kite-shaped Santa ready to fly as a gift tag or ornament! Stamp in a rainbow dye ink, cut with plain or decorative scissors, layer with a contrasting border, color and embellish as desired. Decorate the fur on Santa's hat with a thick layer of glitter glue or a row of gems. Punch a hole for cord or ribbon.
  All of these cards began with the same reindeer stamped in a rainbow pad with shades of green. What makes each one different is the added layers and embellishments. The card at the bottom right has wide wire-edge ribbon pulled through holes punched at the corners. The ribbon holds the stamped image into an arc (like a bridge) for extra dimension. Use this "multiple choice" idea for any stamp. Change the shape, background layers, and embellishments and you'll never get bored!
  Stamps are truly "chameleons" with endless possibilities. This trio shows a simple image with minimal embellishment, careful coloring, and a direct-to-paper "antique" effect. Holiday postcards are lots of fun to make, too. Every card doesn't have to be sent in an envelope.
  A single color, embossed, or a rainbow ink pad with hand coloring. More options that can be used with this stamp or any other you choose.
  This elegant emblem stamp, plus gel pens and decorative scissors, shows another way to make ornaments or gift tags. Cut two slits at the top of a folded card and hang the ornament on the front for a removable gift that comes with your greeting. Instead of punching a hole, layer the emblem on a second color, leave a border, and layer onto a folded card.

  OPTIONS AND OTHER IDEAS

  • Use these techniques for birthday, anniversary, and other cards.
  • Add stamped and decorated images to paper bands and use instead of gift bows.
  • Stamp directly onto Fit It boxes and envelopes before you score and fold them.

  All brand names and product names are trademarks, registered trademarks or trade names of their respective holders.

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  (c) Copyright 2000 by Judi Kauffman and Red Castle, Inc. Red Castle, Inc. - P.O. Box 39-8001 - Edina, MN 55439-8001 All Rights Reserved.