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Mix and match embossed Christmas cards

August 12, 2017 by Stefanie Girard

If you make your own cards you know how it can be addictive. Which, when it comes to card making can come in handy since we all love to send out lots of cards at the holidays. It makes sense to start now in the summer.

For this set I used some of the positive and negative parts of my die cut embossed images to make two different cards. For the holly card I used a recycled cracker box. It embossed like a dream!

For the top card I embossed a manger scene twice. Once on shiny red cardstock and once on red glitter cardstock.

Then I rubbed some gold gilding wax on it to bring out the image.

I die cut a heart shape out of the red glitter with guiding piece.

Then I overlapped it onto the red shiny cardstock.

I die cut the letters to spell “NOEL” and glued them down along the side of the card.

For the card on the left I took the die cut heart from the first card and clued it down to another piece of red shiny cardstock that I embossed using the Crafter’s Companion poinsettia 3-D embossing folder.

Then assembled it onto a gold piece of cardstock.

The third card on the right I embossed a piece of a Triscut box using a Holly embossing folder.

I colored the berries and leaves using Spectrum Noir markers and then added some gold guiding wax on top of the coloring.

I stamped and embossed the phrase Joy and Piece from the Crafter’s Companion Noel stamp set onto a scrap of red glitter paper and die cut a star shape.

To top off the star I ran a small scrap of red organza ribbon through a little star button and glued it all together.

I highly recommend making lots of coordinating elements using the inside and outside shapes from your die cuts to whip up a whole bunch of cards!

 

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Have you read?

DIY Paper Bag Mushrooms – A Creative Upcycled Craft for Kids and Nature Lovers

There’s something magical about mushrooms — maybe it’s the fairy-tale vibes or their cozy woodland charm. Either way, turning ordinary brown paper bags into mushrooms is a fun, hands-on craft project that kids (and adults) will enjoy. The best part? You’re reusing materials that might otherwise go to waste. Win-win!

This easy tutorial walks you through making your very own forest of recycled mushrooms using simple supplies you likely already have around the house.

What You’ll Need:

  • Brown paper lunch bags (you can even use grocery bags cut to size)

  • Scrap paper or newspaper for stuffing

  • String, yarn, or twine

  • Scissors

  • Paints (acrylic or tempera work best)

  • Paintbrushes or sponges

  • Optional extras: markers, stickers, googly eyes, craft glue

Step-by-Step: How to Make Your Mushrooms

Step 1: Create the Mushroom Top
Start by opening your paper bag and gently crumpling up some newspaper or scrap paper. Stuff it into the bottom of the bag — not too tight, just enough to give it a rounded shape that will form the mushroom cap.

Step 2: Form the Stem
Once the top is nice and puffy, hold the bag just underneath the stuffed section and twist it lightly to shape the stem. Tie a piece of twine or string around this part to hold the form. You’ll now have a mushroom top with a long paper bag hanging down — that’s your stem.

Step 3: Trim to Size
If the stem looks too long or uneven, grab your scissors and snip it down to your preferred height. You can even experiment with making some taller and some short and chubby for a little mushroom variety.

Step 4: Paint and Decorate
Time for the fun part — painting! Flip the mushroom cap upright and paint it any way you like. Classic red with white spots? Go for it. Bright blue with glitter? Why not! Use brushes or dabbers to add spots, swirls, or patterns. Let kids express their creativity — there’s no wrong way to decorate a magic mushroom!

Step 5: Let It Dry
Place your mushrooms somewhere safe to dry. You can use a sheet of newspaper or cardboard to avoid mess. Once dry, they’ll stiffen a little and hold their shape nicely.

Step 6: Display Your Mushroom Garden
Line them up on a windowsill, add them to a play area, or build a fairy village in the corner of a room. You can even glue them to a cardboard base and add moss, pebbles, and tiny paper critters for a full scene.

Extra Ideas:

  • Add flags or tiny doors to make mushroom homes.

  • Draw faces or names on the stems to turn them into characters.

  • Use cotton balls or pom-poms for fluffy mushroom spots.

Why This Project Rocks:

This is one of those crafts that doesn’t need a trip to the store or fancy tools — just a little time, a few basic supplies, and a bit of imagination. Plus, it encourages kids to see the creative potential in everyday materials — a great step toward more mindful, eco-conscious crafting.

So go ahead, raid the recycling bin and bring a mini mushroom forest to life.

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