Upcycled Calendar Christmas Cards

This was my very first attempt at upcycling a calendar to create some easy greeting cards.

I started with December from this calendar:

The weight is a bit heavier than envelope paper, but not it's not as heavy as card stock, so it worked out perfectly for both the envelope and the card fronts. Unfortunately I didn't take a picture before I cut up December's artwork, but here are my results:

I was able to get two cards, one quite large and one a smaller note card size out of one calendar month.

I was grateful that the artist's name showed up on the largest card.

I used an envelope board to make this envelope. Avery labels make it easy to write the addresses. I'm not crazy about how it looks in the front, but the back turned out well:

The large card, which I think turned out really well, is going to be mailed in a clear envelope:

Well, that's it for today! In January I hope to do a YouTube video showing more detail of how this is made and some different tips, but for now, this is what I've got. Showing off the artwork of this great artist is wonderful, and giving an old calendar a second chance is great too, but the fact that it's almost free is a big plus too!

Yellow Lab Christmas Digital Freebie

Who wouldn't want a sweet Yellow Lab wishing them a Merry Christmas. This guy is complete with peppermint candies and a Santa hat too.

If you, or someone you love, would love getting a card like this, feel free to download it and turn it into a holiday smile.

After printing mine out at FedEx, I trimmed it, mounted it on red card stock, then on two pieces of patterned. paper. The red stiped paper picked up the peppermints, and the swirly brown background was chosen because it looked good with the dog's fur. But you can mount it any way you want!

Here's the free digi. As always:

1. Snag it to your desktop or photos.
2. Put it in a Word or Page Document.
3. Resize it to the size card you want to make.
4. Print it out, either at home or at a copy center. 

I hope you enjoy the freebie! Thanks for stopping by my blog today and have a wonderful day!

Christmas Pug Digital Freebie

Once again a digital image is just what I need this Christmas. I have a friend who loves her pug Duke, and from what I see on Facebook, he's just adorable. I've always loved pugs too, and wanted to honor her fuzzy family member with a Christmas Card with a pug on it.

Rather than buying a rubber stamp with a pug, which would totally be adorable, I opted to create a digital card front, especially since she's the only person I know who has a pug. 

This one is really simply finished with a red card stock frame and then it's mounted on a green card stock base. The only embellishments are three green rhinestones from Michaels. Easy peasy!

Here's the free digi. As always:

1. Snag it to your desktop or photos.
2. Put it in a Word or Page Document.
3. Resize it to the size card you want to make.
4. Print it out, either at home or at a copy center. 

I hope you enjoy the freebie! Thanks for stopping by my blog today and have a wonderful day!

Retro Rubber #220

It's time to play over at Retro Rubber again! This round, #220 (#rrcb220) is a tic-tac-toe round. 

First of all I've got to say that the design team has the cutest cards with all the snowmen. I don't have any snowmen stamps and I really need to fix that. Of course I can't for this round, but I'm keeping my eyes peeled for that perfect snowman stamp. I think I struggle with them because they're white and in my mind, hard to color. Do I use a light blue, or a light gray, or just keep them uncolored and color the hat, scarf and carrot nose?

Anyway, being a snowman-less stamper, I opted for the right hand row and used Trees (just one tree, but I'm hoping that's okay) and Embossing (dry embossing on the Cherry Cobbler card stock) and Your Choice which is the silver thread.

My complete supply list is:

• True White Speckletone Card Stock
• Stampin' Up! Lovely As a Tree (2001)*
• Silver Card Stock
• Silver Embroidery Floss
• SU! Cherry Cobbler Card Stock & Ink
• Memento Green Ink
• Sizzix Embossing Folder
• Stickles Pearl Red and Diamond Dust 
• Silver Enamels
• Sentiment Unknown**

*I believe that Lovely As A Tree was the longest running stamp set in Stampin' Up!'s history! It was introduced in 2001 and ran through 2019.

**This stamp is in a basket waiting to go to a stamp class that I'm doing at my church and I have no idea where it's from. I'll take the time to track it down later, but wanted to get this entry in today.

So that's it for now. Thanks for stopping by my blog today and have a great day!

White Rocking Horse Christmas Freebie

Who doesn’t love a rocking horse for Christmas!? This guy in white really stands out against a white background. The sentiment is perfect for anyone too

I mounted him on dark red card stock then used some patterned palaver to partially cover the green card stock. Three inexpensive, clear rhinestones give this card a finished look. 

Feel free to use this and finish it for your own card or craft. 

Here's the free digi. As always:

1. Snag it to your desktop or photos.
2. Put it in a Word or Page Document.
3. Resize it to the size card you want to make.
4. Print it out, either at home or at a copy center. 

I hope you enjoy the freebie! Thanks for stopping by my blog today and have a wonderful day!

Rejoice! Christmas Card Digital Freebie

Here's a simple yet elegant way to send someone some Christmas cheer and to remind them of the true meaning of the season.

For this card I simply printed out the digital image and trimmed it. Then it got mounted on some gold card stock (available in packages at Michaels and priced great with a sale or coupon). Then it was mounted on a piece of dark red, cranberry-colored card stock. I put a white liner inside to complete it.

Here's the free digi. As always:

1. Snag it to your desktop or photos.
2. Put it in a Word or Page Document.
3. Resize it to the size card you want to make.
4. Print it out, either at home or at a copy center. 

I hope you enjoy the freebie! Thanks for stopping by my blog today and have a wonderful day!

Forest Joy Freebie

This sweet guy is having a playful moment with a little bird on his tail. The sentiment "sending joy" is perfect for any Christmas occasion.

I finished him in an A2 (4.25 x 5.5) size card by mounting him on dark forest green card stock. Then I taped a piece of patterned paper at the bottom of the red card base and taped the graphic on top. I put it just a little lower so I could include a twine bow on the top. Simple!

Here's the free digi. As always:

1. Snag it to your desktop or photos.
2. Put it in a Word or Page Document.
3. Resize it to the size card you want to make.
4. Print it out, either at home or at a copy center. 

I hope you enjoy the freebie! Thanks for stopping by my blog today and have a wonderful day!