Christmas cards series: Holiday Romance

I have been planning to publish this page earlier, but time around the holidays felt more scarce than I expected. Although, I had help at home, still less time for Internet. Gosh, time do fly! Christmas used to be running around the house, TV and fun, and now it seems to be running around the shops and fun in the kitchen :), although I have to say it is still fun, just different kind of fun.

But now, topic related. Here comes the second part of the Christmas cards I have done. This part I have named: Holiday Romance, as I think the cards here have a romantic spirit, or at least I have tried achieving one when making them. Most cards are made with paper from either Sinelli or Tiimari and some additional decoration. As in the last post I will write some explanations, if there is some special technique used. 

So here they come: 

1. Ribbon Affair

A card for a relative, who likes ribbons and accessories, so in my opinion fits perfectly. Correct guessing-  a female relative and her family :). I have used the 3D decoupage technique on some of the Christmas tree balls, and to avoid giving in to the kitsch, I did not placed ribbons on each ball.  Other than that, very easy card to make. Right hand side bottom, the discrete sign 'Hyvää Joulua' is accompanied by a small adhesive green gem. I have to admit, one of my favorite cards, from this section, although modestly I need to share, there will be very many  favorite cards in this post :). 

2. Romantic Purple

This card I made first this Christmas. I was just back from the store with some inspiring new materials, so it took less than half an hour making it. 

Technique: embossed edges, 3D decoupage (the mistletoe patterned paper is placed above the simple snowflakes one), the congratulatory sign is decorated with brads, and the thread is from an old price tag - I keep all those threads, from clothing price tags, as they are usually very nice colors and good quality to recycle. 

3. Vintage Stories

Used materials: clear stamps by Papermania, heart shaped brad, lace ribbon. I am not a big fan of straight lines, I find them too trivial, so I intentionally left the upper lines of the white squares as they are.

 4. Tilda's Dream

Simple, yet very classy card. I love it! A card for my American professor, back from the university. Technique: embossed corners, 'Hyvää Joulua' sign from Sinooperi, background paper from Paparpack by Tiimari and....... the Chritmas balls, ah the Chritmas balls are from Tilda's World Collection. 

Who is Tilda? You have not heard about Tilda? That needs to be corrected immediately! 

Tilda is a reserved trade mark by the Norweagian designer Tone Finnanger and Panduro Hobby.  Distinctive characteristics of the Tilda products are the pink-red-white color combination and the vintage design of the products. Tilda range of product is vast, but probably the most popular ones are the crafts books and the adorable fabric dolls, which I dream to make  one myself someday. In case someone is keeping notes, I do accept Tilda's craft books and doll materials for gifts :). 

5. Angel of mine

'Hyvää Joulua' or Merry Christmas in Finnish

Technique: the white heart shapes for the angel's wings and the brad for the halo are by Tiimari, the 'Hyvää Joulua' sign and hand-crocheted flowers are by Sinooperi. Other than that, just my imagination playing around. And again - It's a favorite!

6. The Scent of Christmas 

'Hyvää Joulua' or Merry Christmas in Finnish

And....again, one of my favorite Christmas cards. I did warn you there will be many favorite cards in this post.  

I love the concept a lot! The transparent silk bag contains cardamon, cinnamon, clove and aniseed spices, so when you receive the card you will receive the scent of Christmas with it as well. I also put few tiny heart shaped confettis, as 'good love' :) wishes. 

7. Lace Snowflakes 

Ready snowflake die cut paper card base by Papermania, the additional small flakes I did myself with a snowflakes punch, and the heart in the middle is by Vivi Gade's Helsinki collection.

8. English Diamonds 

Technique: hand-decorated after stamping clear stamps by Papermania, lace ribbon, heart shaped brad and heart shaped embossed motive on the light red square, around the brad. As my husband pointed out the background color of the card base is English red and this card did leave for England.

9. Noel 

Noel or Christmas in French. Just a nice, happy and asymmetrical combination of colors and shapes. As I did mentioned before, I am not a big fan of straight lines, unconventionality is soooo much more fun! 

10. Season Greetings

With the glitter snowflakes I tried a new technique here; border rub-on. Might sounds complicated, but surprisingly easy. You need to buy a ready made package of rub-on shapes, which are practically two sided  transparent adhesive tapes; one of the sides is placed on the paper and the other is sprinkled with glitter. After that experiment, I did try to do my own glitter snowflakes, and I succeeded quite well - in the card number 10, under I have used that technique. I will devote a whole post about that, as it is very easy to make and the effect is nice. 

For the rest of the materials, you might be curious to know that I did recycle a plastic tag from a clothing. 

11. Glitter Snowflakes 

This is the card, with which I tried to make my own glitter snow flakes. You can see them on the dark background.

12. Miss Elisabeth 

'Hyvää Joulua' or Merry Christmas in Finnish

The same concept as the number six car- the Scent of Christmas, just a bit different background. A card for our beloved and dear friend, whom I have disguised with the name Miss Elizabeth. The "most wonderful creature" in the world as we call her at home :) .

13. Mini dreams part two

As in the previous post, there was a smaller card, this one is small too. It is 10 x 7 cm. In addition: a cross close envelope.

14.Rusetti (or Ribbon in Finnish) 

'Весела Коледа' or Merry Christmas in Bulgarian

The name says it all. There is a huge paper ribbon on that card :). The card is in Bulgarian and I wrote the sign myself. I have to admit, I am not very skillful with written signs. I need to work on that, if that is possible to improve, at all. 

15. Last Story

'Hyvää Joulua' Merry Christmas in Finnish

Or literary the last Christmas card, I made this year. For our lovely neighbours.

Well, this is it. All the Christmas cards I made this year in the last two post. Although, late I do hope that the reader can find some inspiration for any future projects here.

Till the next time!

By then, please accept my warmest wishes for a holiday romance :).