Father Christmas

Would you like to experiment with a design like this? You'll find a supply list below, including a link to the stencil I used from A Colorful Life Designs. Follow the link and use discount code ChrisFan10 to save 10% on your entire order! (Master Creator Bundles are excluded as they already have a 20% discount built in.)

Let’s get Started

4.25 x 11, scored and folded at 5.5

Kraft Border: 4.25 x 5.5

Kraft Card Face: 4 x 4.25

Card Face:

• After laying the card face on my Grip Mat, I positioned the stencil and applied red ink across the entire surface. I didn’t use a lot of pressure: between that and the Kraft cardstock the ink took on a faded look, perfect for a vintage-looking card.

• I placed the card face into my stamp positioner and stamped Father Christmas and his bag of toys with black ink.

• I added red ink around all four edges of the card, allowing it to move in towards the center a bit.

• I carefully added black ink to the edges, keeping it minimal.

• I returned the card face to the stamp positioner and added the sentiment. I cut this out with a square die.

• I added several strands of copper metallic thread, winding it around the left hand side as shown and securing the ends with scotch tape on the back of the card face.

• I used the same metallic thread to tie a knot around the strands, pulling them together tightly towards the bottom. I added a tiny dot of liquid glue to the knot, to be certain it was permanent.

Other:

• I cut a square slightly larger than the sentiment from Kraft cardstock.

Assembly

• I glued the Kraft border layer to the card base.

• I centered and glued the card face to the border layer.

• I glued the two squares together and then glued them in place over the die-cut opening.

• I added four small metallic embellishments to the sentiment, one on each corner.

• I added a larger one over the knot on the copper thread.

Final Thoughts:

This Father Christmas image works so well with the vintage-looking background, and the metallic embellishments add nicely to that.

By stamping the sentiment on the stencilled card face and then die cutting, I had a continuation of the pattern on this piece which worked well for the finished look.

If I were to recreate this card, I would make the red border somewhat narrower.

Supplies: (and links where possible)

I have listed which products I have used, and where they may be purchased. It's a huge marketplace and in most instances, there are multiple sources and many alternatives to choose from.

Stencil: Dot Mat, A Colorful Life Designs

Waffle Flower Grip Mat, 8.5 x 6.5, Scrapbook.com

Stamps: Father Christmas, Stampin’ Up! (retired)

Dies: Everlasting Square Dies , Spellbinders

Red Ink: Stampin’ Up!

Blending Brushes: Stampin’ Up!

Versafine Onyx, Simon Says Stamp

Adhesive: Tombow Aqua, Michaels

Kraft Cardstock: ** Dollarama

Card Base & Card Face: Accent 100 lb., Amazon

** See Supplies under Stretch Your Pennies in the header

Do you have comments or thoughts to share on this design? Drop me a line in the Contact section in the header - I’d love to hear from you!

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Sending a handmade card is the perfect way to say “You’re special.”