I don't know about you, but I'm always behind when it comes to making Christmas cards...and I have a very l-o-o-o-o-ng Christmas card list. You know how it is...people expect handmade cards so you can't get away with sending store-bought cards. Let's tackle this problem by doing some smart speed stamping! We can't let our biggest fans down! You could always stamp a whole sheet OSW style and divide it into quarters. But what if you could make yourself
25% more efficient? Stamping
5 at a time instead of 4 at a time will do that for you. (I checked that figure out with my mathy-headed DH and it's accurate.) Here's how...
We've probably all done One Sheet Wonders (OSW) before. They are fun and addicting, but the problem with the usual templates is they end up requiring a different layout/design for each card since the resulting pieces are all different, and design = time-consuming.
We have a need for speed at this time of year, so we need a super
Edgy Wonder. LeeAnn Greff is the master of the One Sheet Wonder and she has made several templates for cutting FIVE cards from one sheet of card stock. The cards are elegantly stamped along the edges. (I call this technique Edgy.) She calls them '5 at a Time' templates.
I decided to take it a step further and made a template for TEN ATC-sized cards. You can put an ATC on an A2 card as the focal point OR they fit perfectly on a 4 Bar card (4 7/8" x 3 1/2") for thank you notes or a quick little gift set. [Edited to add] Or as Tootsy says below, they make great gift tags!
I drew up both templates for you to choose from. (See attachments.) Keep in mind that if you choose the 10 card ATC-sized pieces, you will probably want to do something to the card base or add DSP to make it look finished on an A2 card. I didn't think of that when I started out and had to scramble to find something non-time-consuming in the end.
DIRECTIONS:
- Use the template of your choice to score the lines. Other options would be lightly marking them with a pencil or printing the template in light gray.
- The trick to the way these are done is stamping along the score lines. You don't have to completely cover the score lines, but the elegance and the EDGY part comes from stamping variety along the borders.
- Cut the template apart along your score lines.
- Mount on your card fronts--layering and embellishment always makes it look better, but do what you have time for. I layered my fronts, but left the embellishments off. They really came together quickly.
SOME TIPS (i.e. don't make the same mistakes I made):
- Choose a splashy watercolor stamp for your base or sponge on some random color along the borders.
- Don't choose directional (right side up) stamps, since you will be turning the stamps every which way as you stamp along the borders.
- Solid stamps help fill in the area quickly so you don't have to do any coloring. If you choose to color open stamps, it will be beautiful, but will take time to color.
- Vary your colors--light and dark, contrasting, neutrals, etc.
- Something large and something small in similar patterns make for an eye-pleasing variety. Many stamp sets are designed with this idea in mind.
- Ferny/greenery stamps fill the area quickly with no coloring--take a swipe at the stems with your rag so they don't stick out at odd angles.
- Sticks or flourishes are great fillers when you get close to the finish.
- Berries and splatter are also great fillers.
- If you use heat embossing, do it first (or you will have to wait for drying time). If you have time to wait for the drying time embossing is also a great finisher.
- Metallic paints or stickles are elegant finishing touches and can be your embellishment.
There are some great tips for Assembly Line Stamping here:
TLC720--Assembly Line Stamping Tutorial:
Assembly Line Stamping Tutorials at Splitcoaststampers
I have one tip for Assembly Line Stamping that wasn't mentioned:
Score FIRST! Cut SECOND. By doing this you are setting up the scoring tool once for every two cards.
Here, Jean gave us a quick technique to add some color to a One Sheet Wonder--then all you need to add is a sentiment. TLC881--DIY One Sheet Wonder:
TLC881 ~ DIY One Sheet Wonder ~ 01/10/2022 by jkanack at Splitcoaststampers
Sorry to be so wordy today. Being efficient takes some time to set up.
Have fun! Include your stack in your photo of your card front. It makes you feel so accomplished!
Here is a link to the TLC927 Edgy Wonder
Gallery at Splitcoaststampers
Here is my project:
Edgy Wonder Blizzard by ruby-heartedmom at Splitcoaststampers
(If you have time and want some more tips, I made notes about my choices on my cards in today's gallery.)
Happy Stamping! and remember...Christmas is the only time you can sit next to a dead tree in your house and eat candy out of your socks and nobody thinks you're weird. Enjoy the holidays!
Beverly
Remember to use the keyword TLC927 (no space) when you are uploading. It's helpful if you come back and leave a link on this thread, especially in case you made a typo and people may not find your card.
If you're not sure how to link your card on the thread here, here's how:
1. Open 2 windows or tabs: one window for your card and one for this thread.
2. In this thread, click on reply and type anything you want to show before the link.
3. Go to your card window. Highlight the address for your card. (It says www. splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/show photo..... and so on)
4. Click EDIT. Click COPY
5. Go back to this thread. Click PASTE.
TLC927 Edgy Wonder 11/28/22
