American Crafts Studio Blog: Christmas Cards Guest Designer: Courtney Kelley

Our Christmas Cards Guest Designer is the fabulously talented card maker, Courtney Kelley!

Short bio: My name is Courtney Kelley and card making has been my go-to hobby for the past 9 years. I spend most of my evenings in one of three places - in my craft room working on cards or scrapbooking, in my sewing room learning how to quilt, or finishing up a cross stitch project while watching a bit of TV.

How did you get started cardmaking? Way back in 2000 I inherited a bunch of photos. I wanted to record some of the memories that went with them, and living in Utah at the time, making a scrapbook seemed like the logical project choice. Four years later, and four years of grad school behind me, I decided it was a good time to reacquaint myself with a hobby or two - so I picked up a paper crafting magazine and began my card making adventure.

What is your favorite American Crafts product? Just about everything by Amy Tangerine - especially the 6x6 paper pads and stamp sets!

GINGERBREAD MAN CARD by Courtney Kelley

Dress up large stickers with markers, small stickers, and fussy cut designs.

Supplies: Chocolate (71047) - Cardstock, Candy Cane Forest Paper (35854) - Kringle and Co, Knittery Paper (35868) - Kringle and Co, Border, Accent & Phrase Stickers (42274) - Remarks, Mini Matte Puffy Stickers (42275) - Remarks, Slick Writer (62016) - Marker

HAPPY HOLIDAYS CARD by Courtney Kelley

Patterned paper with large images can be fussy cut to create card embellishments.

Supplies: Leaf (71052) - Cardstock, Candy Cane Forest Paper (35854) - Kringle and Co, Dimensional Stickers (42278) - Remarks, Kringle and Co Value Ribbon Pack (89430 - Premium Ribbon

JOY CARD by Courtney Kelley

Combine leftover stickers from different packages to create colorful sentiments.

Supplies: Black (71082) - Cardstock, Puffy Stickers (42276) - Remarks, Border, Accent & Phrase Stickers (42274) - Remarks, Jingle Crimson (53439) - Thickers, Jingle Moss (53440) - Thickers

WISHING YOU A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS CARD by Courtney Kelley

Don’t be afraid to trim large embellishments and stickers to fit on a card front.

Supplies: Vanilla (71041) - Cardstock, Border, Accent & Phrase Stickers (42274) - Remarks, Die Cut Shapes (85611) - Bits

THE STOCKINGS WERE HUNG BU THE CHIMNEY WITH CARE... CARD by Courtney Kelley

To create the ribbon die cut tree, adhere strips of ribbon to a piece of lightweight paper before die cutting.

Supplies: Elf Quarters Paper (35861) - Kringle adn Co, Kringle Garden Paper (35846) - Kringle and Co, Peppermint Parlor Paper (35863) - Kringle and Co, Woodshop Paper (35865) - Kringle and Co, Border, Accent & Phrase Stickers (42274) - Remarks, Mini Matte Puffy Stickers (42275) - Remarks, Jingle Silver (53441) - Thickers, Kringle and Co Value Ribbon Pack (89430) - Premium Ribbon

Visit Courtney's blog and Pinterest boards to see more of her fabulous creations and what inspires her!