Christmas in July 2011 – Cards for SOAR

My creative crew and I got together again this year to make some holiday cards for SOAR to use for 2011.  Each person made one goodie bag and at least one holiday card.  My crew got to take home instructions of how to make the goodie bag (that I found here) and had the opportunity to learn paper quilling.

For the cards, I used two sketches from Clean and Simple “Fall To Layouts”.  The reason I love their sketches is that they are simple.  The sketches start as the base model and you can keep them that way or ritz them up!  For example, you can replace a strip with a ribbon, or add a background mat, buttons, anything you want!

Each person was free to do their own thing or to use the sketches as inspiration.  I made these two samples based on the sketches to help them spark ideas.  I left mine simple so that they could be mass produced if one so desired.  One included a simple paper quilled angel if anyone wanted to learn the technique.

Here are the goodie bags.  I had 4 particpants, so they made four bags and I made two.  One particapnt took home 5 more baggie kits.  I will also make some more for SOAR to give out at their Howliday party hosted in November.  I kept them very simple (bare “bones” you could say!) so that making many wouldn’t be so tremendously time consuming.

Now for the cards my particpants made!  Claire made one based on the quilled angel model.  The gold glitter really stands out against the neutral grey-ish colours.

Debbie made one by layering some ribbons and using a Martha Stewart "Joy" punch.  The layered pointsettias look like a natural extension of the mistletoe design.

My sister, Lara, made hers with Debbie's Creative Memories snowflake punch, a dimensional dog sticker and a snowflake button with a stamped sentiment.  I like how it looks like the doggie is chasing the snowflakes.

Norma was on a roll!  She tried a few new techniques.  She tried the "Joy" punch and the snowflake punch, dimensional ornaments and also a paper crimper that Debbie brought.  She also used buttons, ribbon and some Die Cuts with a View card bases.  I especially like how the one in the middle is proportioned.  The papers match beautifully and the sentiment stands out well against even a busy background.

I actually got to particpate in this workshop instead of only teaching.  I used the quilled angel model again and made a card with a Stampin' Up! Christmas Tree stamp.

We have a total of 9 cards.  It's not much but it's not the end!  I'm sure more cards will trickle in between now and November and I plan to make a few more myself too!