Christmas can’t get here fast enough this year! 2020 has been a rough ride. I hope you are all hanging on to your hats. Even though it’s only September, I just had to do some Christmas cards because they cheer me up. These are easy enough for anyone to make. I hope you enjoy watching the video below and try to make some yourself!

Affiliate Links (I receive a portion of the sale on any purchase you make using the links below):
Echo Park Here Comes Santa Clause collection:

12 x 12 Cardstock Stickers:

https://shrsl.com/2itmm

https://amzn.to/32YMVi8

Chipboard Stickers:

https://shrsl.com/2itmq

12 x 12 Paper Pack:

https://shrsl.com/2itms

https://amzn.to/3mPWnwh

Wink of Stella Glitter Brush Pen Clear

https://shrsl.com/2itmx

https://amzn.to/309HSK6

American Crafts Knock Out Border Punches:

https://amzn.to/331aCGQ

Unibal Signo Gel Pen in Gold, Silver, and White:

https://amzn.to/367m59I

If you’ve got twenty minutes to kill, here is a super easy and quick papercraft project you’ll love.

Affiliate Links (I receive a portion of the sale on any purchase you make using some of the links below):

6 x 6 paper pad Fall Market by Carta Bella: https://shrsl.com/2hzyr
Ephemera Fall Market by Carta Bella: https://shrsl.com/2iati
Pin Stripe peel-off border tape: https://www.lovefromlizi.com/wonderland-pin-stripe-peel-off-pack.html

If you’re looking for something to quiet your mind, making cards is a great way to relax and enjoy yourself. Not feeling creative, you say? Let me give you hand. It’s quick and easy and FUN to use patterned paper to make a handmade greeting card. Check out the video below for instructions. If you don’t have the paper in the video, I have included links below so you can purchase it ( I am an affiliate for Amazon and Scrapbook.com). Or, use what you have on hand. For example, pick a larger print from what you have (like the pumpkin print paper you see in the video). Next, choose a solid, dotted or pin-striped pattern (like the orange paper you see in the video). Then, choose a decorative element like a ribbon, glitter paper, glitter washi-tape (like the gold washi-tape beneath the blue tag in the video). Finally, use another solid paper and clip the edges with a circle punch or cut with decorative edge scissors to create a tag for your card (like the blue tag in the video). That’s all there is to it!

Affiliate Links (I receive a portion of the sale on any purchase you make using the links below):

Gold glitter washi tape: https://amzn.to/2RfAY0K

Glossy accents: https://shrsl.com/2hzzh

Pin Stripe peel-off border tape 6 x 6 paper pad:

https://www.lovefromlizi.com/wonderland-pin-stripe-peel-off-pack.html

With Fall around the corner, it’s time to make some Fall cards! The two I have for you today are made with the patterned paper collection called, “Fall Market” by Carta Bella. It’s beautiful, textured paper that comes in the size 12″ x 12″ or a pad of 6″ x 6″, but the small one isn’t textured.

I chose to make a very traditional looking card along with one that’s a bit more fancy. Enjoy the video below and don’t forget to use your imagination and creativity to come up with other ideas for these papers. Examples include home decor projects, gift tags or bags, and much more.

You can purchase the papers with the links below. These are my affiliate links, which means I will receive a small percentage of any sales that occur with the use of these links:

https://shrsl.com/2h5vf

https://amzn.to/3lKK0Rz

During these unprecedented times, I’d like to share some ideas for things to do to keep your mind occupied and healthy. I’ve used most of the resources below and I listed next to each one free or paid. Some of the free ones do require a registration. Please use at your own risk and always preserve your privacy online. I hope these ideas help you and encourage you.  Here are some encouraging verses from the bible:

Psalm 67 God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us; Selah. That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations. Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee. O let the nations be glad and sing for joy: for thou shalt judge the people righteously, and govern the nations upon earth. Selah. Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee. Then shall the earth yield her increase; and God, even our own God, shall bless us. God shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear him.

Read the bible/Study the bible/Pray 

(Romans 10:13 or “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.)

Blueletterbible.org (free)

Biblegateway.com (free)

Youversion.com(free)

Make handmade greeting cards

Greetingstar.org (free)

Learn a new skill

Skillshare.com (paid)

Udemy.com (paid)

Youtube.com (search for the topic such as cardmaking, drawing, painting,  cooking, calligraphy, or any other hobby or skill you’re interested in)

mybluprint.com (paid)

Play a game online

https://skribbl.io/

http://horsepaste.com/

https://store.steampowered.com/ check out Kind Words

Research your family history

Ancestry.com (paid)

https://www.ngsgenealogy.org/free-resources/ (free)

familysearch.org(free)

Learn a language

https://www.duolingo.com/ (free)

Take a virtual tour online

https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2020/03/9576127/free-virtual-tours-online

Online school resources

https://answersingenesis.org/education/online-courses/ (paid)

https://answersingenesis.org/kids/videos/ (free)

https://www.icr.org/thatsafact (free videos)

k12.com (free online virtual school for k-12 students)

https://www.k12.com/coronavirus.html (free online resources)

Yesterday was World Cardmaking Day!  Hooray!  I had a lot of fun the past week making Christmas cards with some patterned paper I designed myself on my computer using Inkscape. It is a free digital graphics program like Adobe Illustrator. Did I mention it is free? Just head on over to Inkscape.org to get yours. I like it because it’s free! You can create SVG files that can be cut in electronic cutting machines like the Silhouette Cameo. There are tons of videos on YouTube showing how to use the program and there are tutorials at their website too.

Anyhoo, on to my crafts.  I made a video showing how I made the cards. If you’d like a copy of the images and paper, just

1. Click the YouTube video below
2. Subscribe to my YouTube channel
3. Send an email to greetingstar@greetingstar.org to request the file. Don’t forget to give me your email so I can send it to you :0)

 

 

 

Products I used on these cards are listed below. I am an Amazon.com and Scrabook.com affiliate. The links are free for you to use. If you click on them and make a purchase, I will receive a small percentage of the sale. Thank you for your support :0)

My patterned paper design (see above to get your free copy)

 

Tonic Studios Festive Lights Cardstock:  http://shrsl.com/1v0nd

Tonic Studios Moonlight Rose:  http://shrsl.com/1v0ns

Spellbinders Nestabilities Circle Dies:  https://amzn.to/30PgBdl

Spellbinders Nestabilities Oval Dies:  https://amzn.to/31LuwlX

Spellbinders Nestabilities Scalloped Oval Dies: https://amzn.to/2LNduhM

Spellbinders Nestabilities Square Dies: https://amzn.to/2IrBGUS

Scrapbook.com Nested Tag Dies:  http://shrsl.com/1v143

Nuvo Confetti Crystal Cloud:  https://amzn.to/2LPPwmc

Wow Christmas Glitter Shapes:  https://amzn.to/2IrJzJO

Poppystamps Festival Tags Dies:  https://www.poppystamps.com/1589-Festival-Tags-craft-die_p_662.html

Avery Elle Ele-ments Dotted Borders Dies:  https://amzn.to/2olPpWr

Nuvo Drops-Black:  https://amzn.to/2pHEO8q

Stickles-Glam Pink:  https://amzn.to/2OnjUWD

Hero Arts Color Layering Christmas Tree Stamp Set:  http://shrsl.com/1v13p

Similar Christmas Stamp Set at Amazon:  https://amzn.to/2VdSi7M

Uni ball Signo Gel Pen in White, Silver, and Gold:  https://amzn.to/2pHAUwj

Darice Adhesive Pearls:  https://amzn.to/2IpRDej

 

Watercolor and Brush Lettering are two things that I love! Both are intimidating to me, but I tried them anyway. You should too! It is exhilarating to create something beautiful with them, and you CAN do it. For me the key is play. Before you put the pressure on to make something with watercolor or brush lettering, take some time to play with them. Just have fun. See what you can do. You will learn a lot from it. What works, what doesn’t…and that isn’t always the same for everyone. You will develop your own style and preferences through play…and you’ll have fun doing it.

Enough preaching :0) Here is how I did this card.

I used some Canson mixed media paper and trimmed it to 4.25 X 5.5 inches. You can use any watercolor or mixed media paper you have.

To color the gradient, I used three colors in each row. I used was the Gansai Tambi set by Kuretake.

TOP ROW:
Red No.32
Rose Madder No.34
Cobalt Violet No. 46

SECOND ROW:
Lemon Yellow No.40
Red No. 32
Cadmium Scarlet No.31

THRID ROW:
Lemon Yellow No. 40
Yellow Ochre No. 44
Burnt Sienna No.46

Use a mixture of about half watercolor with half water to mix your colors on a palette (any piece of plastic, glass, or ceramic will do for a palette).

Apply the colors in the row one at a time, overlapping each one as you go.

Rinse your brush between each row but not while in the same row.

Allow it to dry and then use a brush marker/pen to write a greeting. See my YouTube video below for a demonstration of the hand lettering. Also see the supplies below for a brush lettering workbook to learn brush lettering by Kelly Creates. She also has brushes, but I just used what I already had on hand, which I link below as well :0)

SUPPLIES:

I am an Amazon.com and Scrabook.com affiliate. The links are free for you to use. If you click on them and make a purchase, I will receive a small percentage of the sale. Thank you for your support :0)

Kuretake Gansai Tambi Watercolors: https://amzn.to/2VFJcPE
Colors I used:
TOP ROW:
Red No.32
Rose Madder No.34
Cobalt Violet No. 46

SECOND ROW:
Lemon Yellow No.40
Red No. 32
Cadmium Scarlet No.31

THRID ROW:
Lemon Yellow No. 40
Yellow Ochre No. 44
Burnt Sienna No.46
Canson Mix Media paper 98lb: https://amzn.to/2JS8847
Sakura Micron Pen: https://amzn.to/2YFLr7C
Zig Memory System Scroll and Brush Markers: https://amzn.to/2M8eeA2
(Alternative) Zig Brushables: https://amzn.to/2YBtPd1
Tombow Mono Liquid Adhesive: https://amzn.to/2M9Hkzo

Kuretake Gansai Tambi Watercolors: https://amzn.to/2VFJcPE

Canson Mix Media paper 98lb: https://amzn.to/2JS8847

Sakura Micron Pen: https://amzn.to/2YFLr7C

For the brush pens: there are so many on the market to choose from. I really like the Zig memory System I have, but they are expensive. I have the big set which I will link for you below, but I also link the newer brushables which come in a smaller quantity, and cost less.
Zig Memory System Scroll and Brush Markers: https://amzn.to/2M8eeA2

Zig Brushables: https://amzn.to/2YBtPd1

Tombow Mono Liquid Adhesive: https://amzn.to/2M9Hkzo

Kelly Creates Learn Brush Lettering Workbook: https://amzn.to/2Yzh2rw

or here: http://shrsl.com/1m82o