It’s coming close to the time when cardmakers around the world are starting to think about making Christmas cards.  Some of us have already started while others are busy gathering their supplies.  One thing I’ve noticed is that while cardmakers love to send out handmade Christmas cards, they also want to make them ‘time efficient’ in order to be able to make lots of cards and spread the love around.  So here are my Top 10 Tips to make your Christmas cards faster.

1. Use a scrapbooking kit

Scrapbooking Kits are great for cardmaking because everything comes coordinated in one neat package.  Choose a Christmas themed scrapbooking kit such as Stampin’ Up!’s “I Wish” kit and whip up 30 cards from the one kit in no time. (see photo at the end of this post)

2. Start with a card sketch

Like to make your cards individually rather than production line?  You can start with a card sketch or two and base all your Christmas cards around that sketch while changing the colours of your cardstock and using a variety of rubber stamps.  Having a couple of sketches to base all your Christmas cards on will speed up the process while still enjoying the creative process.  Not great at making your own sketches? just find a card you like the look of from a magazine or a blog (like mine!) and copy the layout of the card to make your own.

3. Add Glitter

Even a simple Christmas card will attract attention with a bit of sparkle & shine.  Use a glue pen to add glue to appropriate spots on your Christmas card then sprinkle on some sparkly glitter for extra pizazz in a hurry with no drying time.

4. Use punches

You can make a quick Christmas Tree for your card using punches.  Try punching out some small star shapes out of some scrap patterned paper or metallic cardstock then arrange them into a triangle shape onto your card to form a Christmas tree.  A bow made from some scrap ribbon can be placed at the bottom of the tree in place of a pot.

5. Use a Wheel Stamp

Wheel stamps are awesome for creating quick cards.  A wheel stamp such as “Soft Holly” by Stampin’ Up! (page 33 of the catalogue) will give you a lovely quick background or secondary image for your Christmas cards.  If you don’t mind doing production line, you can speed up the stamping by laying out all the cardstock pieces or card bases on your table and wheeling each one in turn.  Use an ink cartridge in your wheel handle to stamp all your cards without reinking!

6. Use stamps with solid images.

Unless you enjoy the relaxation of colouring in images, save those stamps that require lots of colouring for making Christmas cards for those select special people in your life.  To make quick cards for everyone else that you’d like to share some Christmas spirit with, use stamps with solid images that do not require colouring.

7 . Use patterned paper

While making interesting backgrounds with a variety of techniques is huge fun, it does take some time.  To speed up your Christmas card making, use patterned paper to add backgrounds or strips of scrap patterned paper for a fun background.

8.  Go monochromatic

Gather your supplies in one colour that you’d like to use and add a neutral colour to make your Christmas cards elegant yet fast.  Choose cardstock, ribbon and an inkpad in one colour, add white/vanilla/kraft plus some metal brads.  Going monochromatic means you won’t have to keep cleaning your stamp to change ink colours and you will have all your supplies ready to go without having to think about colour schemes.

9. Wide Ribbons

Choose a wide ribbon and tie it around your card into a big bow.  Wide ribbons add a bit of lavishness to your card and make a great focal point.  And because they take up a lot of space, you only need to add a Christmas sentiment to complete your card.

10. Enlist some help

Have your children help you punch out some simple shapes that they can add to your card using Dimensionals (foam dots).  Crafting with children is an excellent activity to share some special time together.  If you don’t have children or they are much too young to help, then get together with a friend for a relaxing and social day of stamping.  Making Christmas cards with a friend or a group of friends is a great way to socialise while sharing ideas and tools and gets those Christmas cards made in no time.

These 16 Christmas cards and 9 gift cards/tags were made with half a Christmas scrapbooking kit.  Kraft cardstock plus scraps of ribbon and several gold brads added.

I hope you’ve found this post helpful, I’d love to hear your ideas and tips on creating Christmas Cards fast.  Of course, if you have any questions about my Christmas cards or anything in this post, please feel free to post your comment or email me.