A Joyful Christmas Card by Jan Hobbins

Hi everyone!  Jan here today, sharing a Christmas card using dies from the Tim Holtz Sizzix Chapter 4 release.  I usually like to create a vintage look in most of my projects, but once in awhile I try and create without any sanding, inking, or distressing.  Sounds simple for some, but for me, it's a bit of a challenge!  I think that's the beauty of die-cutting, you use the same die, and change it completely, just by the style, paper and embellishments.

 

Materials you will need:

Sizzix Big Shot Machine

Chrome Precision Cutting Plate - Not required, but will make your die-cutting so much easier when using intricate dies!

Deck the Halls Colorize Thinlits Die Set

Classic Upper Alphanumeric Die Set

Making Essentials Adhesive Sheets

Sticky Grid Sheets

Tim Holtz Idea-ology 8x8 Paper Stash Metallic 2 Kraft Stock TH93780

Tim Holtz Idea-ology 8x8 Paper Stash Metallic Confections Kraft Stock TH93784

Adhesive Foam dots, and your choice of adhesive

White Cardstock

 

Instructions:

 

A Joyful Christmas Card by Jan Hobbins

  1. Two of my favourite dies from the Chapter 4 release, are used in my card. The Classic Upper Alphanumeric Die set (there are 65 pieces in this set!) and the Deck the Halls Colorize set. Yes, there are lots of little pieces in the Colorize series, but when you use adhesive sheets on the back of your chosen paper, it makes it so much easier.

 

  1. I cut out a 5/12 x 5/12 piece of white cardstock. You will be using this piece with the negative cut out letters.  I took a Sticky Grid Sheet and laid it on my Precision Base Plate and placed my Alphanumeric letters, cutting side up and backwards, on top of the Grid Sheet.  When placing them down, use your cardstock measurements and where you want them on this sheet, using the grid measurements.  You get perfectly straight and spaced, cut out words with this grid, love it!

A Joyful Christmas Card by Jan Hobbins

  1. Place your cardstock on top. Instead of placing my paper on the edge of the grid paper, I went in 1/4", just remember this when you are placing your letters.  Place a cutting mat on top and run through your machine. Save those letters for another project, but I did use the letter 'A' on my card.  If you want, machine stitch around this mat.  I used foam pop dots and adhered this to a Metallic mat, slightly larger (about 1/8" around all edges).

 

  1. I used three monochromatic colours from Tim Holtz Metallic Kraft Stock; Rose Gold and Copper (Metallic 2) and a Copper that was slightly lighter, from the Confections Metallic Pad.

 

  1. I placed an adhesive sheet behind all three colours before die-cutting. I went ahead and cut out all the 10 dies from each colour.  I wasn't sure which colours I was using for each piece and where I was using them, you can always use the extras on something else!  I usually keep all the die-cut pieces on a piece of white cardstock, so none of them are lost.  If you have problems picking up the little pieces, I find using my Sizzix tweezers(663845) really help, even to hold the die-cut while you lift off the adhesive (I use a die pick for this).  Go ahead and build your pieces.  Did you know that if you go on the Sizzix product site, and look up your Colorize die, there's a video showing exactly how to put it together?

 

  1. Adhere your bow, leaves, berries to the corner of your card front. I used my die-cut 'A' and pop-dotted it above the bow.

 

  1. I then attached my garlands. I did not remove the adhesive from the middle of each, just the ends, as I wanted them to be more dimensional.  I did cut a few extra of these.  I think these are my favourite part of this die set!  Some of them I stuck through the cutout letters.

Adhere your pinecones, bow, and leaves just above the word Christmas.  Add in some of the tiny snowflakes.  I used the other pinecone cluster on the inside of my card.

 

  1. I love using lots of mats, so I added another thin one behind, and then adhered everything to my card base. You have a finished card!  I really liked how this die set looked in the metallic Kraft stock, and it's not even distressed!

For more Tim Holtz Sizzix project ideas, you can visit me at www.janhobbins.blogspot.ca

 

Thanks for stopping by,

 

Jan