Merry Christmas in July, Holly Wreath Card and Tutorial

Salutations of the season to all!  And just like that, it’s the end of July!  Let’s get a head start on Christmas cards! 

My card today is from the NEW Birch Press Design Festive Floral release!

I’m using the NEW Holly Wreath Plate die set. Keep reading for a tutorial how I made the wreath without layering!  First the finished card pictures…

 

Close up showing the NEW Handwritten Merry Christmas and Outline die set… so beautiful! I love how he included the dot of the ‘i’ onto the ‘t’!  No gluing tiny dots this time!  (well except on the wreath hohoho)

A shot from the side…

Sentiment from Birch Press Design Kind Hearts clear stamp set. (gorgeous sentiments in this one)

Here’s how I made this card in pictures…hope it works!  Let me know what you think!  Was it worth it?

I started by die cutting Layer C in Hammermill 100# Color Copy Cover cardstock.  Keep both pieces.

Now, using Layer A (the plate with all the detail), lay the plain wreath you die cut with Layer C into layer A die, right side into the die.

Next we are going to emboss the plain wreath die cut by running it through the die cut machine. From the bottom up you’ll need the standard platform, clear cutting plate, tan (squishy) mat, die cut in the die with cutting blades facing into the mat and on top a clear cutting plate.

(If you have the older multi purpose platform, use it like you would a regular embossing folder. Fold the top layer back.)

Look how cool this is… it’s embossed!

Now we’re going to ink the wreath with Distress ink.  In my picture I grabbed regular Distress ink but when I was making my card, I used Distress Oxide Rustic Wilderness.  ugh.  My regular are out in plain view and my oxide are in a drawer now. Change is hard! lol  I used my oxide brush with regular ink.  There go my eyes rolling at myself again!

Back to layer C – die cut scraps of red cardstock for the berries.

Here you see the back of the inked, embossed wreath…I placed pieces of thin mounting tape over the berry holes.  Link below… I love this mounting tape!

Then turn the wreath over and using a pickup tool of your choice add the berries to the holes and they will stick in place!  Easy!

Ink scraps of white cardstock with Rustic Wilderness Distress ink, cut into pieces to lay over the holly leaves on layer A and run it through the machine.

Turn wreath back over and line it up to layer A to match up your Holly. Then turn it right side up and glue on the Holly.

Remember it’s opposite…

No earthly idea why in this picture the green is a funky color! lol

I wanted to show that the wreath is super fun just inking the solid wreath without embossing too.  At the last minute I thought to splatter it with some white spray ink.  I didn’t go back and splatter my card though.

So I’m showing three variations using these dies differently than they were intended!  Let’s make Christmas cardmaking fun! lol

Holler if you have any questions.  I have some old videos showing how to do embossing with dies too.

Linking to some challenges…

ABC Christmas Challenge – N is for NEW,  O is for OLD (mine is new)

Addicted to Stamps and More – any occasion

Crafty Gals Corner – Christmas in July #233

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge – Anything Goes

Thank you for stopping by!

Here’s what I used to make this card…

Birch Press Design – 57478… [ STR | SSS ] Birch Press Design – 57450 Holly… [ STR | SSS ] Birch Press Design – CL8162 Kind… [ STR | SSS ] Tombow Mono Multi Liquid Glue [ STR | SBC | SSS ] W 023 Spellbinders WIZARD TAN… [ SSS ] Sizzix MULTIPURPOSE PLATFORM STANDARD… [ SSS ] Sizzix – White and Gray – Big Shot… [ SBC ] Sizzix – Big Shot Accessory – Tool… [ SBC ] Sizzix Cutting Pads – standard [ STR | SBC ] Ranger Ink – Tim Holtz – Distress… [ SBC | SSS ] Ranger Ink – Tim Holtz – Distress Ink… [ SBC | SSS ] TE Blender Brushes [ TE ] Ranger Ink Jet Black Archival Ink Pad [ SBC | SSS ] Gingham Red 3/8″ [ RSN ] Scrapbook Adhesives Crafty Foam Tape… [ STR ]