DIY Australian Themed Christmas Cards Tutorial

Do you send any Christmas Cards Overseas?  Have you ever bought Australian Themed Christmas Cards or made any of your own? I have a few special Overseas friends and family members I like to send Christmas cards to.  A quick search on Google doesn’t bring up a huge selection of hand made Australian Themed Christmas Cards.  I searched the archives of my blog and found some Australian Themed cards from several years ago.  I have a fond spot for the Aussie Christmas Card, but not many people seem to make them.

Kaisercraft Australian Themed Christmas Cards by Alicia McNamara

This week I have been shopping and wrapping along with everyone else in this mad rush of Christmas preparations.  So Christmas has certainly been on my mind, and while I was deciding what to make for my Tutorial today, I thought of the possibility of combining the very Australian, Open Road Collection with a Christmas Card Theme.

Kaisercraft Australian Themed Christmas Cards by Alicia McNamara

When I make a set of cards I like to try and make ten cards.  This is a nice round number and gives you a good stash of cards to send out to family and friends and also is a nice number to sell if you decide to sell your cards.  Sometimes it is hard to create such a large number and I stop at four or five or six.  Today I managed the full ten set.  I tried to keep the cards fairly simple because I know people often prefer to make Christmas Cards in bulk.  These took me about a day to make, but could be quicker for you if you follow this tutorial.  I have included a Video Tutorial for you as well if you are more of a Visual person.

Kaisercraft Australian Themed Christmas Cards by Alicia McNamara

 

Tutorial to make a Set of Ten Australian Themed Christmas Cards

Step One – Gather Your Supplies

I like to collect all my Kaisercraft Supplies that I think I might use in my project and have them on my desk ready to go.  This saves me having to rummage through my craft room looking for things and it reminds me what I have.  Even if I don’t use all the supplies that is ok…it is just handy to have them within reach and for inspiration.

Step Two – Prepare the Base Cards

For these card I worked from the Base up.  I chose ten papers from the Paper Pad to decorate the base of each card and I inked everything with Bark Ink.  Once the base was ready I could concentrate on the design elements.

Step Three – Decide on Focal Point

I love the Australian Map Decorative Die and I really wanted to use this in the card set.  I decided to cut it from Corrugated Card to give a Rustic effect.  I also wanted the Sentiment – Merry Christmas, to be a part of the Focal Point.  First I cut all of these sentiments out in Orange paper from the Paper Pad, but once I had them on the card I realised the orange was not a strong enough colour so I cut them all again from red card stock.  The red made the sentiment pop out more and added a touch of red for a more Christmassy feel to the cards.

Step Four – Layer the Background

I felt the Australian Map die needed something to anchor onto so I decided to create a 9cm x 9cm square.  I didn’t want the square to be completely plain so I stamped it with some gum leaves and Australian flowers.  Then I fussy-cut leaves from two 12×12 Papers P2447 Bushwalk and P2442 Roaming.  I arranged these with some Collectables in a diagonal fashion from corner to corner of the square.

Step Five – Embellish

Next I decorated my cards with Wooden Flourishes, Natural Twine and Mini Paper Blooms to add some texture to the cards.  Finally I finished with a few splashes of brown misting spray.

Kaisercraft Australian Themed Christmas Cards by Alicia McNamara

Video Tutorial

Here is the Process Video I made while making my Australian Themed Christmas Cards:

Kaisercraft Supplies: P2442 Roaming | P2447 Bushwalk | CS317 Clear Stamps | PP1034 Paper Pd | CT896 Collectables | FL615 Flourish Pack – Australiana | CD512 C6 Card Pack – Kraft | IP724 Ink Pad – Bark | CD113 12 x 12 Card Stock – Vanilla | CD133 12 x 12 Card Stock – Cherry | CB153 Corrugated Cardboard | LDB1059 Natural Twine | F650 Mini Paper Blooms – Olive |


Kaisercraft Australian Themed Christmas Cards by Alicia McNamara

Kaisercraft Australian Themed Christmas Cards by Alicia McNamara

Don’t make Christmas Cards? Check out my Kaisercraft Mini Album and Advent Calendar from another Christmas here.

I have decided to give these cards away.  Comment on my Facebook page here to go into the draw!

Happy Crafting,

You can purchase bits and pieces from the Open Road Collection at Scrapbook.com

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