A stack of Christmas cards bundled for a gift to give to someone to send
This post may help if you are still trying to get a handmade card out in the mail for this holiday season. These are very quick, down-to-the-wire, last-minute, easy to make Christmas cards.
1st - Choose an embossing folder that works with whatever stamp or die-cut you are going to use
Another bundle of easy to make Christmas cards to give or sell
2nd - Embossing a regular 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 card front.
Mailable card
3rd - Adhere a die-cut or stamped sentiment or image to the front. Write a greeting inside and sign the card.
4th - Address an envelope, affix a regular postage stamp and pop it in the mail.
Lastly, here is another quick craft project I made from a gingerbread house mold. It is melted hard candy.
Cricut CTMH Art Philosophy Cartridge Advent Calendar
This cute Countdown to Christmas board was made using 4 pieces of 12 x 12 cardstock for the french fry boxes. A couple of extra pieces were used for the enclosure cards, the letters and the circles. It is a fairly inexpensive project but is really cute when finished. Here is a video to show how to make it:
All the other information is listed below. I used a paper bag from a shopping trip to cover the board pictured below.
Kraft brown paper was used to cover a cake board
If a smaller project is desired, smaller boxes can be cut. That is one of the awesome things about the Cricut! You can modify things to your own needs. Here are the cut sizes that I used for this project:
Cut sizes using Cricut Art Philosophy Cartridge:
French Fry Boxes: 4 ½” Six fit on a page using the Autofill feature.
While mat was still loaded I cut out 6 2” scallops from the red cardstock and 6 2” scallops from one of the B & T papers. These were cut in half, which gave me all the pieces necessary for adding the scalloped edge to each box/pocket.
If small enclosure cards are desired, then while the second piece of red cardstock is still loaded 3 - 2” cards can be cut from it after the boxes are done.
The 2” cards that fit into these pockets are the rectangular ones. For example, the gift, the trees1, the ornament, etc. 15 cards can be cut from one piece of 12 x 12 cardstock. I used Autofill for this as well.
The stocking was cut at 3 ½”
The letters (Christmas) were cut at 1 ¾”
Stamped the letters with an image from CTMH's Christmas Cheer while still on the mat
Stamping onto the components before assembling is easiest and will give the best results. Using Holiday Red ink on Holiday Red cardstock is a nice effect. The black scallop border image stamped on the cut scallop looks great layered on the french fry box.
It is easiest to stamp the circular images and then use a 1 1/4" punch to line them up perfectly. However, the Cricut will cut circles to fit the image used on the Countdown numbers, if preferred.
Advent Calendar with Candy
This Advent calendar is easy enough to make that each child in the family could have their own to enjoy. The following list of activities can be modified for individual needs. There are more than 24 items, so feel free to pick the ones that will make the holiday special in your home.
Advent Calendar with Enclosure Cards and Activities
Countdown to Christmas Activities:
Check out the weather at the North Pole
Play Christmas Tic Tac Toe or Checkers
Track Santa’s flight with NORAD (on Christmas Eve)
Prepare milk, cookies and carrots for Santa and the Reindeer tonight!
Listen to Christmas music while making a Christmas treat
Go to Zoo Lights and see Christmas lights
Take an evening stroll to look at holiday lights
Write a letter to Santa Claus
Visit Santa Claus at Daddy’s work
Go to Las Noches de las Luminarias at the Botanical Garden
Make an ornament
Help decorate the Christmas tree
Buy a new ornament for the Christmas tree
Cuddle by the fireplace or Christmas tree and listen to Christmas music or read holiday stories
Decorate the house
Put up Christmas lights
Make Christmas M & M Pretzels
Set up the Nativity creche
String popcorn and cranberries
Make gift tags
Make a handcrafted gift
Watch a holiday movie, and eat popcorn
Sing along with holiday music or the karaoke
Read a holiday book
Research holiday customs in a country where you have an interest
Buy and deliver Toys For Tots
Bake and decorate sugar cookies
Decorate a gingerbread house
Read the Christmas story
Share Christmas memories over hot cocoa with marshmallows
Make Peanut Butter Blossoms
Take cookies to the neighbors
Go caroling
Take a drive to find snow
Play in the snow
Make and address Christmas cards
Make a Christmas craft
Get a plain stocking and decorate it
Make a paper Christmas chain
Cut out paper snowflakes
Make edible ornaments for birds
Wear your new Christmas pajamas
Take a family photo
Visit someone who needs cheering up
Volunteer where there is a need in your community
Wrap presents
Go Christmas shopping for a shut-in
Shop for stocking stuffers
Donate food to a local food bank
Play a board game
Make a special meal
York Peppermint Patties fit perfectly in the pockets
If you have other suggestions for activities, please let me know so that I can edit the list for other people to enjoy.
Thank you for stopping by today.
Beverly
Supplies:
Paper: CTMH Believe B & T, Holiday Red, Topiary Green, Daisy White
Flip Flap on top of the rest of the recipe. (Above picture) Open Flip Flap (above) and the back side of where it is attached (below.) I put this project away shortly after starting it a few months ago because I had a long recipe that wouldn't easily fit on a 6 x 6 page. It stumped me until I realized last week that if it was to be sent out to my sister anytime before Christmas, I'd better get moving! All of a sudden I realized that I could use a Flip Flap to list the ingredients for the Cinnamon Pecan Rolls. These rolls are easy to make with any bread machine and according to my dh, "Better than the State Fair's." He assures me that is a compliment. :-) Here is the recipe from the Oster bread machine's owner's manual (several years and machines ago.)
Dough:
1 cup water
1 egg
2 tablespoons butter, softened
3 ¼ cups bread flour
¼ cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt
3 teaspoons regular active dry yeast
Topping:
1/3 cup butter, melted
½ cup packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon corn syrup
2/3 cup pecan halves
½ cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
2 tablespoons butter, softened
Place all dough ingredients in bread pan in order listed.
Press Dough Cycle and start machine.
Grease 13x9x2-inch pan.
Mix 1/3 cup butter, brown sugar, corn syrup and pecan halves. Spread mixture in pan.
Mix ½ cup white sugar and the cinnamon.Flatten dough with hands or rolling pin into 15x10-inch rectangle.Spread with 2 tablespoons butter; sprinkle with sugar-cinnamon mixture.Roll up tightly, beginning at 15-inch side.
Pinch edge of dough into roll to seal.Cut roll into 1-inch slices.Place in pan.
Cover; let rise in warm place about 1 hour or until double.
Heat oven to 375. Bake 22 to 27 minutes or until golden brown.Immediately invert pan onto heat proof serving plate or tray.Let pan remain a minute so caramel can drizzle over rolls.15 rolls.
