Because it's just "that time of year," I thought I'd share a few tips on quick card-making. (Note: this is more for one-off cards than for mass-produced holiday cards. If you want some helpful hints on creating your holiday cards, please read Celeste Smith's awesome article, Quick Christmas Cards.)

Stick with me here... follow along, step by step, and you too can amaze your friends and wow your enemies with four hand-crafted cards in twenty minutes!

Step One: 3 Minutes: Gather Your Supplies


(2) sheets 12x12 cardstock
(1) sheet coordinating patterned paper (scraps are fine... you'll see two sheets in the photo because I wasn't sure which I was going to use yet)
Assorted embellishments
Basics: trimmer, adhesive, glue dots, etc.

Step Two: 1 Minute: Trim

Cut each sheet of 12x12 cardstock to 8.5 x 11, and then in half to 5.5 x 4.25 (this is standard card size). SAVE THE SCRAPS.

Step Three: 2 Minutes: Choose a Format
I like to peruse online galleries and sites like Card Positioning Systems to find a good template. This is also a great time to leaf through any magazines or idea books you've created or purchased. Warning: DO NOT GET SIDETRACKED! Find the first "do-able" design and go with it. The point here is speed, not perfection. :) Also, remember that these cards are not all going to the same person, so you can repeat the card design.

Here is the one I chose (from CPS):


This was designed by Tami Mayberry.

Step Four: 1 Minute: Fold Cards.

I like to vary the edging a little, trimming some with my pinking shears, rounding the corners on others. But you could easily leave them all the same (and save yourself, oh, 30 seconds!)

Step Five: 3 Minutes: Trim Elements.
This is where it's really easy to get lost in the possibilities. DON'T SUCCUMB TO TEMPTATION! Stay the course. For instance, I decided to do three horizontal orientation cards and one vertical, so I trimmed three scraps of patterned paper (or cardstock) to 5.5", and one to 4.25" (actually a tad less because I trimmed the edge).

Then I cut four coordinating squares, at 1.5 x 1.5". Don't worry -- you'll have time to embellish in a later step.

Step Six: 2 Minute: Adhere Basic Elements.

Go to it. Don't measure unless you'll freak if I tell you that you can't. See how I varied the placement of the elements a tad? You can mix it up or stay true to the original design.

Step Seven: 10 Minutes: Embellish!

Now you've got a full ten minutes to play! Pull out that stash of odds and ends you have lying around your scrap space, get your inks and stamps, whatever. But remember: You have an average of 2.5 minutes per card, that's it! (Note: My cards are purposely blank for the Scrappers Give Thanks challenge. This is where you'd add sentiments with stamps, stickers, or rub-ons.) I could go absolutely nuts at this stage, but I specifically kept it simple. I would say I spent maybe five minutes digging through my stash and adding a few rub-ons and some really cute Details dimensional stickers from American Crafts.

Step Eight: With Any Leftover Time: Admire Your Handiwork!
Aren't you proud of yourself? I'm proud of you!

Do you have any card-making tips? Do tell!