Rubber Stamping -- Hanukkah Greeting Cards

For these cards I challenged myself to come up with various designs using nothing more than a single rubber stamp and some basic paper crafting supplies. The results are five simple yet stunning cards that anyone would love to receive on Hanukkah.

The ornate dreidel stamp I used for these projects is made by Ruth's Jewish Rubber Stamps, but you could use any appropriate central image you like instead. In fact, use different images for different holidays -- most of the designs will still work well.

The links below will take you to detailed directions on how to make the greeting cards in the photo.

• Spinning Dreidel Card
• Silver Embossed Hanukkah Card
• Embossed Vellum Hanukkah Card
• Vellum and Stripes Hanukkah Card
  
• Multi-Matted Embossed Hanukkah Card
  

Making Punch Art Christmas Cards & Gift Wrap

To make these gorgeous, intricate, three dimensional cards, I put a paper punch to a new and innovative use. The punch used was not a traditional Christmas tree, but rather a punch of a bare branched tree. Put lots of these punched elements together and you come up with the designs for the cards on this page. For the cards above we built paper wreath frames to set off some favorite photos. These are like little mini Christmas scrapbooks you can mail to friends and family, and give them a chance to visually catch up with your family.

If you don't have any photos you want to use in your cards, no problem. You can use the same punch to create elegant Christmas Tree cards like the ones at right. Whether your recipient is the old fashioned type or a hipster, you can use the same punch to create a unique card in either style.

Paper Punch Christmas Cards and Gift Wrap
For Detailed instructions on how to make the cards on this page, as well as a gift wrap using the same technique, click the links below.

• Wreath Photo Cards
• Hipster's Blue Tree Christmas Card
• Old Fashioned Christmas Tree Card
• Punch Art Christmas Tree Gift Wrap
• Paper Punch Tutorial with Tips and Techniques
  

Shop for Paper Punches at Amazon.com.

Autumn Leaves Greeting Card

This easy to make greeting card is perfect for Thanksgiving or any autumn occasion.

You Will Need:
green blank card to match your envelope size
coordinating green paper for mat
maple leaf rubber stamp and ink
ribbon scraps
small pop dots adhesives
glue stick or adhesive of choice
ribbon threading punch or craft knife
leaves background stamp (optional)

Instructions:
Cut and fold card blank.

Cut a piece of coordinating green paper for mat.

If desired, use a leafy background stamp and dark green ink to stamp a background pattern on the green papers (this is a subtle effect that is barely visible in the photo). Use the same dark green ink to ink the edges of the front of the card and the mat. You could, alternatively, leave the green paper blank.

Stamp 3 small maple leaves, color them with markers and cut out. Use pop dot adhesives to attach the leaves in a 3-dimensional form to the front of the card as shown.

Use a ribbon punch or a craft knife to cut small parallel slits in the paper through which to thread your ribbon. Tie top ribbon in a bow as shown in the photo above.