Amelia’s Magazine | Craft: Make your own Christmas cards

Printed cards Ebeneezer by Hannah Bullivant

Illustration by Emma Block

You may think that Christmas cards are harmless tokens of festive cheer, sale but there is more to them than well wishing tacky Santa’s. When done well, with thought, they have the potential to convey festive cheer, bring good news and even re-kindle relationships. They can also, however, be completely pointless (dear Dave from Sam. Why bother) cause large levels of guilt, highlight your own lack of organization, and generate sit-com levels of gossip and rumour (“Drunken Unkle Nigel is SO off the list”). Manufacturing and sending Christmas cards wastes thousands of tonnes of carbon every year, and most of the cards end up in landfill anyway.


Illustration by Daria Hlazatova

In fact, you might very well decide simply not to send them, and I really don’t blame you. (Full of Christmas cheer, I am.) Alternatively, to be slightly less of a scrooge, you could join me in making just a few cards, to accompany presents or perhaps as presents.


Illustration by Ellie Sutton

Here are a few ideas for some very simple and quick home-made cards that anybody could make, (even if they don’t consider themselves to be very crafty.) They are made with materials that most people will have lying around or within easy reach, and are designed to be very simple to make. A home- made card will be received much more warmly than a selection from an Asda multi pack, it will save lots of money, and making them is bound to make you feel festive. So stick some cheesy Christmas music on, pour yourself a glass of mulled wine and get stuck in.


Illustration by Ellie Sutton

Firstly, the easiest of them all, the potato stamp. Oh how I love the humble potato stamp! (I have written about the joys of potato stamping before ) A great craft to do with kids, its also fun for a big kids (ahem) and you can produce loads of cards very quickly.

Carefully carve your potato with a knife into the shape you desire. Get your card ready first then stamp away. Decorate with sequins, doodles, pressed flowers, or buttons, as above. You can buy recycled card here.

Save your wrapping paper and cards, cut them into little triangles then stick them across pre folded card with glue to make festive mini bunting. I saved the gold paper above from a birthday present and it has come in very handy for my Christmas cards. If you don’t fancy your chances at fancy handwriting, print your Christmas message out in a nice font.

I googled origami Christmas trees and found these easy to follow instructions. I recycled newspaper, the pages of an old book and some old maps and folded them into these Christmas cards/decorations. I used a few dabs of glue to secure the folds then strung each tree with a bit of thread and wrote my Christmas message on the back.

Here I have used up some of my tiny fabric scraps (which I keep) to cut out triangles to make into mini trees.

And if you REALLY don’t fancy your creative chances, then just print your cards. I have shamelessly stolen this idea from my friend, but he doesn’t’ mind my plagiarism (I checked). Pick your words, pick a nice font (you can get some great ones online, like here ), then play with the margins on a word document to position the words in the bottom right quarter of the page. Put some appropriately festive card in the printer and your done. If you don’t have a printer at home- you could borrow a friends (or sneakily use the one in the office. Shh)

• For envelopes, how about recycling magazine pages? My doorstep is currently full of Christmas catalogues. Tutorial here
• Remember also that you could also send an E Card if the mood takes you. Use the designs from the clever people at 10:10, or if you are a decent drawer (hello illustrators) then you can draw something amazing and send it as an e-card. Or how about a video card with a stop frame animation? Lots of effort but WAY COOL.
• Recycle any cards you do receive for gift tags and other decorations next Christmas
• Keep decent wrapping paper too, it comes in very useful for a number of crafty purposes, including the projects above.

I’ll be back later this week with some more ideas for home made Christmas fare, and a wee bit of a rant.

Happy festive season to you, dear readers.

Categories ,Christmas, ,Christmas cards, ,craft, ,Daria Hlazatova, ,earth, ,Eco-friendly, ,Ellie Sutton, ,Emma Block, ,Hannah Bullivant, ,Mass consumerism, ,origami, ,Potato Stamp, ,recycle

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Amelia’s Magazine | Craft: Make your own Christmas cards

Printed cards Ebeneezer by Hannah Bullivant

Illustration by Emma Block

You may think that Christmas cards are harmless tokens of festive cheer, sale but there is more to them than well wishing tacky Santa’s. When done well, with thought, they have the potential to convey festive cheer, bring good news and even re-kindle relationships. They can also, however, be completely pointless (dear Dave from Sam. Why bother) cause large levels of guilt, highlight your own lack of organization, and generate sit-com levels of gossip and rumour (“Drunken Unkle Nigel is SO off the list”). Manufacturing and sending Christmas cards wastes thousands of tonnes of carbon every year, and most of the cards end up in landfill anyway.


Illustration by Daria Hlazatova

In fact, you might very well decide simply not to send them, and I really don’t blame you. (Full of Christmas cheer, I am.) Alternatively, to be slightly less of a scrooge, you could join me in making just a few cards, to accompany presents or perhaps as presents.


Illustration by Ellie Sutton

Here are a few ideas for some very simple and quick home-made cards that anybody could make, (even if they don’t consider themselves to be very crafty.) They are made with materials that most people will have lying around or within easy reach, and are designed to be very simple to make. A home- made card will be received much more warmly than a selection from an Asda multi pack, it will save lots of money, and making them is bound to make you feel festive. So stick some cheesy Christmas music on, pour yourself a glass of mulled wine and get stuck in.


Illustration by Ellie Sutton

Firstly, the easiest of them all, the potato stamp. Oh how I love the humble potato stamp! (I have written about the joys of potato stamping before ) A great craft to do with kids, its also fun for a big kids (ahem) and you can produce loads of cards very quickly.

Carefully carve your potato with a knife into the shape you desire. Get your card ready first then stamp away. Decorate with sequins, doodles, pressed flowers, or buttons, as above. You can buy recycled card here.

Save your wrapping paper and cards, cut them into little triangles then stick them across pre folded card with glue to make festive mini bunting. I saved the gold paper above from a birthday present and it has come in very handy for my Christmas cards. If you don’t fancy your chances at fancy handwriting, print your Christmas message out in a nice font.

I googled origami Christmas trees and found these easy to follow instructions. I recycled newspaper, the pages of an old book and some old maps and folded them into these Christmas cards/decorations. I used a few dabs of glue to secure the folds then strung each tree with a bit of thread and wrote my Christmas message on the back.

Here I have used up some of my tiny fabric scraps (which I keep) to cut out triangles to make into mini trees.

And if you REALLY don’t fancy your creative chances, then just print your cards. I have shamelessly stolen this idea from my friend, but he doesn’t’ mind my plagiarism (I checked). Pick your words, pick a nice font (you can get some great ones online, like here ), then play with the margins on a word document to position the words in the bottom right quarter of the page. Put some appropriately festive card in the printer and your done. If you don’t have a printer at home- you could borrow a friends (or sneakily use the one in the office. Shh)

• For envelopes, how about recycling magazine pages? My doorstep is currently full of Christmas catalogues. Tutorial here
• Remember also that you could also send an E Card if the mood takes you. Use the designs from the clever people at 10:10, or if you are a decent drawer (hello illustrators) then you can draw something amazing and send it as an e-card. Or how about a video card with a stop frame animation? Lots of effort but WAY COOL.
• Recycle any cards you do receive for gift tags and other decorations next Christmas
• Keep decent wrapping paper too, it comes in very useful for a number of crafty purposes, including the projects above.

I’ll be back later this week with some more ideas for home made Christmas fare, and a wee bit of a rant.

Happy festive season to you, dear readers.

Categories ,Christmas, ,Christmas cards, ,craft, ,Daria Hlazatova, ,earth, ,Eco-friendly, ,Ellie Sutton, ,Emma Block, ,Hannah Bullivant, ,Mass consumerism, ,origami, ,Potato Stamp, ,recycle

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Amelia’s Magazine | Christmas Guide 2012: Artist & Designer Christmas Cards

Matthew Land Christmas Cards
Christmas card by Matthew Land.

Christmas is nearly upon us, yes really. And to start my lengthy round up of gift recommendations for the entire family I firstly give you a fab selection of artist cards: available to buy (more or less) direct from the artist.

Matthew Land Christmas Cards
First up, it was hard to choose which of Matthew Land‘s cards to include as thy are all so pretty but I settled on this one (and the opener) as the family scene resonates with me these days. Matthew was indeed inspired by ‘the joy, innocence and excitement of the festivities we recall from childhood.‘ In his designs he has ignored the tawdry trappings of a modern Christmas, simplifying things and concentrating on the best bits of Christmas in a traditional way. Here here!

madi illustration bahhumbug
Madi Illustration has gone for a cute yet contemporary look, incorporating hand-created typography. Her Bah Humbug card was created for those who don’t really enjoy Christmas; something that might appeal to them a little more than the usual card, and putting a smile on their face.

Livi Gosling foodie christmas cards
Livi Gosling has created a stunning collection of 6 cards themed around edible Christmas treats.

Nicholas Darby Holly Card
Nicholas Darby combines bold shape and detailed line work with hand produced textures. The cards themselves are then printed using 100% recycled Mohawk stock. I particularly like this dashing set of Holly leaves and berries, but he also does a fine line in the ever popular Matryoshka dolls.

JoanneHawker-RedBirdHouse
Forget santa and his reindeers, send something a little different this Christmas! Joanne Hawker‘s Pack of 6 Bird House Christmas Cards show little birds with perfectly decorated little homes, patiently waiting for their stockings to be filled full of presents! She has also produced a range of line art cards, designed for bespoke kiddie colouring in.

stacie swift xmas cards
Christmas cards by Stacie Swift were inspired by traditional motifs and imagery; hand drawn illustration combined with a simple colour palette give them modern appeal.

elisa mac christmas card
Elisa Mac was inspired by seasonal imagery and festive colour schemes to produce a collection of traditional cards with a contemporary twist.

rebecca rawlings
Rebecca Rawlings‘ bright cards have been finished off by hand with glitter to add a bit of extra Christmas sparkle.

Emma Cowlam Anna at the Rink
Emma Cowlam‘s illustrated Christmas cards are currently stocked at the Rizzoli Bookshop, Somerset House where she is showing her original stitched illustrations as well as prints. The Somerset House Christmas Arcade pop-up shop also stocks her illustrated ceramic tableware which was a result of her successful application to a Handmade in Britain open call out.
 
louise jenkins artic animals
Illustrations of the mystical Arctic Fox and Polar Bear by Louise Jenkins have been hand painted in beautiful decorative style using water colour and Gouache.

Jenny Robins xmas cards
Jenny Robins has created a collection of colourful Christmas cards inspired by Christmas carol lyrics.

Chloe Bonfield christmas cards
Chloe Bonfield is offering a range of tasteful watercolour Christmas cards, and a personalised service for that special someone.

Why not pick your favourite cards and shop straight from your artist of choice this year? Just think how much your friends and family will appreciate such an individual choice.

Categories ,Arctic Fox, ,Bah Humbug, ,birds, ,ceramics, ,Chloe Bonfield, ,Christmas, ,Christmas cards, ,Elisa Mac, ,Elisa MacDougall, ,Emma Cowlam, ,etsy, ,Guide, ,Handmade in Britain, ,Holly, ,illustration, ,Jenny Robins, ,Joanne Hawker, ,Livi Gosling, ,Louise Jenkins, ,Madi Illustration, ,Matryoshka dolls, ,Matthew Land, ,Nicholas Darby, ,polar bear, ,Rebecca Rawlings, ,Rizzoli Bookshop, ,Somerset House, ,Somerset House Christmas Arcade, ,Stacie Swift

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