PAPER Christmas: DIY Collaged Christmas Tree Greeting Card

We're a bit overdue in celebrating Christmas in July, but the dog days of August are just as good a time to get a jump on holiday crafting. Luckily, British paper crafter Emily Dawe's brand new book for Search Press, Paper Christmas, was recently released on this side of the Pond and it's chock full of stylishly simple ways to do just that.

 

You'll find a round up of sixteen popular paper projects that include garlands, a tiny houses Advent calendar, folded book angel, origami star, holly wreath, winter trees bell jar, snowflakes, diamond ornament, greeting cards and gift tags, marbled wrapping paper, and more.

 

 

 

 

Each on-trend project uses basic paper crafting supplies and includes accompanying templates. The use of a Cricut cutting machine is advised for some of the gift tag designs, although you can also use a craft knife and cutting mat.

 

  

 

The book begins with an introduction followed by essential information about papers, materials and tools, techniques, and basic tips. The projects are divided into categories - Gift-Giving, Decorations, and Festive Fun. You'll be cutting, gluing, heat embossing, glittering, and humming Christmas carols in no time!

 

 

Many of the projects are ideal for beginners and most can be enjoyed by children. I suspect teachers, after school minders, and scout leaders will happily turn to Emily's ideas come autumn.

 

The 122 page book is available in paperback and Kindle formats.

 

Just for All Things Paper readers, here's a complete project from Paper Christmas! 

The Collaged Christmas Tree Card (light blue card below) is a great way to make use of paper scraps, both solids and patterns. The rolled paper tree is a neat idea too, and would be another fun one to make, although it's best given in person or mailed in a box.

 

Here are the instructions as shown on the book page. They are also typed below so you can see them clearly.

 

 

You will need

 

135 x 135mm (5 1/4 x 5 1/4in) pale blue card blank

• Selection of five different patterned and plain papers
• Tracing paper and pencil
• Scissors
• Glue stick
• Click the link and then the arrow to the right of the template to download original size and print  
  

Step 1 Trace off the template.

Step 2 Take the tracing and place it onto the back of your first piece of paper. Transfer the relevant tree sections onto the paper by drawing over them in pencil [as shown].

Step 3 Cut out the individual parts of the tree from the patterned paper. Continue tracing and cutting out sections of the tree from different papers until you have all the pieces.

Step 4 Starting with the trunk and lowest sections, arrange the papers as you would like them to appear on the front of your card, working your way up to the top of the tree.

Step 5 Once you are happy with how your arrangement looks, stick all the pieces in place on your card blank. Start from the trunk and work up.

 

And now a U.S. and Canada giveaway! (edit: it has ended; scroll down to see who won) To enter to win a copy of Paper Christmas: Sign up for the Search Press email list (green bar, top left of page) and leave a comment on this post.

 

 

Note that Blogger does not allow me to see the email address you type into the comment form, so you must include an email address within your comment in order to be contacted if you win. If spam is a concern, type it this way: janedoe at gmail dot com

 

An identical giveaway is underway on the All Things Paper Instagram feed. You may enter one or both places by the end of Saturday, August 18, 2018, but can only win one book.

Three winners from combined entries will be chosen via a random number generator, contacted, and announced at the bottom of this post and on the Instagram giveaway photo.

 

I hope you've enjoyed this sneak peek at Paper Christmas and that you're feeling inspired to pull out your papers and tools. Oh! And here's the Collaged Christmas Tree Card (along with some other little projects) that I made using Emily's template. It features an assortment of beautiful decorative papers from Mulberry Paper and More on woodgrain card stock from LCI Paper.

 

 
 

Congratulations to the winners: wintergreen, Annette Bushman, and tammy_tellmetrue!

This giveaway is sponsored by Search Press.