Susan R. Opel
You thought you were prepared. You made Christmas cards all year long humming festive tunes. You relished the creativity and giggled as you watched Elf. But then, when you verified your Christmas card stash with your recipient list, you realized that you are 3 cards short! What to do?
Never fear, I’m here to help. This happened to me in reality. How was my brother’s name not on the list? Ugh!
Instead of bemoaning my poor planning, I knew just what to do. When in doubt, go with your formulaic design and git ‘r done!
I made these sentiments in Word (here’s a little tutorial if you want to do the same thing). Then I printed them out on white cardstock and punched them out.
By creating these circles to be 1 1/2" in diameter, they coordinate perfectly with a 1 3/4" circle punch.
Next, I cut 4″ x 6″ card bases from a 12″ x 12″ piece of white cardstock (you can get three per sheet), and then I looked in my scrap stash for pieces that looked Christmasy enough. You see, you really don’t NEED Christmas product with this plan.
Sparkles, dots, and bright colors are good choices for Christmas cards.
Each scrap was cut to 3 3/4″ x 5 3/4″ and adhered to the card base. Then I chose ribbons to go with each. If you want to make things a little quicker, consider using all green or all red papers so that you can use the same ribbon. Smaller 6″ x 6″ paper pads work great for this, too.
Find coordinating ribbon for each card.
Haul out your cardstock scraps, punch coordinating scalloped circles, and adhere the sentiments to them. Then pop them up on foam tape, and we’re almost done!
When mass producing, do all of the punching at once to save time.
Finish your cards off with a touch of sparkle by adding rhinestones to underline the sentiment. Placing the rhinestones was a cinch to do with the help of my all-time favorite must-have tool, these amazing tweezers from Close To My Heart.
I actually made about 15 of these in the space of about an hour!
Now maybe you have a little more time on your hands or have fewer cards to make. Here is another take I did on the above theme:
Clean & Green Christmas Card by Susan R. Opel
This card is still a 4″ x 6″ card base, but there are two coordinating scrap pieces adhered to the front. Add a larger piece of trim across the seam, and then punch the scalloped circle from the patterned paper.
This gorgeous paper is from the Best Friends collection from Webster’s Pages. Are you dying over the beauty of that blue lace trim? I know I am!
Whew! Hopefully this gave you some tricks to make some cards FAST.
And of course, I want to help! I’ve prepared a PDF of my Christmas circle sentiments for you to use. Simply print and punch, and you’re on your way to quick and easy Christmas cards.
I also have the Best Friends collection from Webster’s Pages to share with one lucky winner! Simply leave a comment by Monday, December 3rd at 5 pm MST telling me about your Christmas cards this year, and one of you will win this collection!
Have you verified your stash and your list lately? 
I am 80% done with the cards themselves, but need to write up the little newsletter that goes inside and then I also write personal notes in the cards before mailing them, so still lots of work ahead of me….
Christmas cards – what Christmas cards? As usual for the last 4 years, I have waited until the last minute and will be devoting all of next week to a design I want to create. So, I’ll have to let you know how they turn out later
I am almost done with mine!! Have a few more to make and then just have to address and envelop them and I am DONE!! =) I also have Baby Announcements to make as I am due on the 28th of Dec.!! =) THANKS for the chance to win and have a FABULOUS WEEK!! =)
Christmas cards??? What Christmas cards??? No, I really have a plan this year. I have made so many beautiful designs in classes and card clubs, etc. I have “saved” them thinking that they were my samples— sooooooo— I am sending them out this year. Hooray!! Thanks so much for the chance to win, Susan. And good luck to everyone on their crafting.
P.S. Love, love, love, ALL WEBSTER’S PAGES!!!
Haven’t started on mine yet, but I usually have my daughter draw, paint, and color on homemade cards for family. She loves to craft.
I had big plans for my xmas cards this year. I was going to start really early – like January – and make super amazing cards. But I didn’t! I did start in October, but went away for a month, and then returned to them yesterday. My big, amazing plans went out the window, but I am happy with the mis-matched result
I think I have enough, although I haven’t actually counted. But yours are wonderful, so if I need more I will be sure to copy your formula!
Thanks for sharing, and for the chance to win.
Great idea for quick cards – I might have to do these for my “I don’t have time to make cards for everyone” list! Thanks for the how-to and for the chance at some great goodies!
I’m working on mine today. I did start planning and working in Oct. but my card is layered, stamped,die cut,fussy cut,popped up. May go for C&S next year. It’s lots of work but I enjoy the feedback I receive from some of those that get the cards.Thanks for a chance to win.
I’m doing photo cards…simple and digital!
I’m still working on mine. I’m making flip cards with a photo that flips around to reveal the greeting.
well, hehe…believe it or not i was short by two cards this year. i do not know what happened but it did. i had some scraps left over and finished the cards. they are both different and different from the first batch too. they were my bil’s cards,
My Christmas cards haven’t quite happened yet. Must get in gear! Thanks for the inspiration!
Every year I make a whole bunch of holiday tags that I set out in a basket at work with a sign that encourages co-workers to donate a dollar or more and take a tag as my thank you– all the funds collected go to my profession’s (physician assistant) foundation for medical outreach in communities all over the world.
My Christmas card making would go alot faster if I didnt creat a card for each person/family I send them too LOL I do make multiples for gift sets, but I like making something special for each. Im about 75% done, the last 25% are mostly for people I will see in person after Christmas so kind of have a little more time. Thanks for the chance to win.
Beautiful! I need o get started on cards!
Making just a few Christmas cards… I have a grand total of one ready!! Planning to make the rest of them (another five or six, just for family) in the next week). I love the simple elegant style you use here but somehow I always try to make them fancy and they end up a bit confused. Scrap that idea and instead I will use your very elegant way of making them… winning the sweet prize would help too:-) (me, not the card making, at least not for Xmas!!)
I love your idea! TFS. I have about 60% of my Christmas Cards done, I need to finish the rest during next week and I’m planning to make some for a Charity organization. I love that paper, thanks for the chance to win.
What a great idea. I definitely need this kind of help since I’m way behind on my cards this year. I have only made 3 so far and need lots more. Thank You for the PDF file. It saves me tons of time. Merry Christmas to you!
Still debating about the card I want to make but am narrowing down my choices – now to get busy … or maybe I’ll go with the photo card idea this year!
I haven’t even made ONE card yet this year, but still hope to. Thanks for the printable Merry Christmas sentiment and the idea for the quick and easy cards. I needed that inspiration!
Thanks for the tips
I do need to get going and get my cards done!
NO, I haven’t started on my Christmas cards yet. I have a few ideas in mind but since I only need few it shouldn’t take to long.
Just started card making. Still learning and having fun. Would love to win!
Honestly, I’m not sure what I will do for my cards this year. I will make them, but not sure what I will do just yet. Thanks for the chance to win!
LOVE Webster’s Pages! Thanks for the fun chance to win!
almost done with mine! they are green and sparkly!
my christmas cards are always done early, but my problem is the insides. I have no idea how to tie the two together and they end up looking disconnected, any suggestion?
I’m just getting started. My daughter is an incredibly talented artist and she draws a picture for me each year, then I apply it to a Christmas card idea that includes enhancing it with other items like glitter, embellishments, etc. we’ve been making our Christmas cards with her artwork since she was about 3 or 4… Very excited since she is 13 now… Can’t wait to see what she comes up with…
Still haven’t figured out what we are doing yet!
I love those colorful Christmas cards. So far I’ve made a few with distress inking and a few more with embossing white on black. Still have some more to make.
I find myself in this very spot. In fact, I may not send any cards this year. If I do, however, they will have to be simple and I’m thankful for this idea.
I’m making many different Christmas cards this year. I am much more motivated when I’m creating and not mass-producing. I am using a lot of the card challenge blogs for my inspiration and entering my various cards in the challenges. Webster’s pages has wonderful products, thanks so much for the chance to win
As for me I took a break with card making due to maybe laziness with pregnancy. I’m concentrating my self attending my son and husband but I sometimes make digital scrapbook layouts. Maybe after birth I will come back to card making again.
Thanks so much for the chance to win.
These are such pretty cards! I think I’ll have to settle with store-bought cards this year… thanks for the chance to win!
I love your practical approach! My cards consist of stamping & embossing an image this year.
The cards are lovely! And I need to get working on mine!
I am a bit behind creating my Christmas cards…need to rush now. Thanks for the ideas.
OK, just finished my Martha Stewart glittering magnetic boxes advent calendar…can now move on to the Christmas cards. Doing a newsletter blast for the first time ever. I’m feeling pretty fabulous about it all – been meaning to get Christmas cards out for 10 years (our 10th wedding anniversary is in May), and finally getting it done!!
I’m going to dig through my stash of homemade Christmas cards and find some for people who would appreciate a homemade one. Just not going to get to any new cards this year.
I have been playing around with a couple of different designs – for me, the design is always the hardest part. Once I figure that out, production doesn’t take too long – I just blast the Christmas carols and get to work!
I’m doing it all very simple this year, some stamping, some gems and a sentiment.
Digital photo cards…simple, easy
Your blog was me EXACTLY–I was 4 short—so I followed your tutorial—-thanks–
got them done in about 2 hours–Merry Christmas
Diane