Thursday, November 17, 2011

Scrap your Christmas cards!

Do you know that there are only 37 days left until Christmas?
This tutorial was up on the Pebbles blog back in September and I figured it was a good time to {finally}share it here too!
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It's time to get started on those holiday preparations!
For instance, do you know what you are going to do with all the Christmas cards you are going get once Christmas is over??
I finally took down the 2010 Christmas cards on the side of my refrigerator in September!
I hate taking them down.
They are so fun to look at through the year!
And I surely could never throw them away!
For the longest time I just kept all the Christmas cards I had collected over the years somewhat organized in a couple of shoeboxes.
Then a couple of years ago I discovered a way to scrapbook them.
And today I am going to show you how to do it!

What you will need:
cardstock
patterned paper
strong adhesive
embellishments
{I have used the "Welcome Christmas" line from Pebbles to create this layout}
OK let's get started!
Use a piece of cardstock as the base of your layout
Don't "waste" a piece of patterned paper when you are going to end up covering it up anyway!
For the first & top pocket on the layout, cut a piece of patterned paper or cardstock 12 inches wide x 4 inches tall.

Adhere this piece of paper across the cardstock about 3 inches down from the top of the layout.
Remember that we are making a pocket, so only apply your adhesive along the bottom and sides of the piece of paper.
No adhesive should go across the top!
And make sure to use strong adhesive!

This will let you slip your Christmas cards inside the "pocket" you have created.

For the second and middle pocket on the layout, cut another piece of patterned paper or cardstock 12 inches wide x 4 inches tall.
Once again, don't use your favorite piece of patterned paepr as a lot of this paper will end up being cover by cards.
Adhere this piece of paper across the layout about 6 inches down from the top of the layouts so you are creating another pocket under the first one.

Remember: adhesive only along the bottom & sides of the piece of paper.
No adhesive across the top so you create a pocket!
Tip: if you use cardstock for this pocket, embellish it by using a border sticker!

Now do use a pretty piece of patterned paper for the bottom pocket on your layout.
This piece will actually be seen!
Cut this piece of patterned paper so that it also measures 12 inches wide x 3 inches tall.
Adhere this piece of paper across the bottom of the layout.

Remember: adhesive only along the bottom & sides of the piece of paper.
No adhesive across the top!

Now embellish the bottom pocket!
I used another border sticker here, a fun dimensional sticker, and cute toothpick flags on my layout.
Don't forget to add a date to your layout so you can remember when you got all these cards!



Tuck your Christmas cards into the pockets and you are done!
{you could always turn this into a 2-page layout if you have more cards you can fit into a single-page layout}


I hope this gives you an idea for what to do with all those Christmas cards you are going to get this year!
And, hey, a layout like this would work for birthday cards, Mother's Day cards, or any cards you get for that matter!
And Merry (early) Christmas!
:)
gretchen

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