It is almost November!  Isn’t that just crazy?!  And, it’s definitely not too early to start making your Christmas cards.  The card pictured below is one of the designs that my husband, Bruce, and I will be sending to friends and family this year.

The focal point for this card is the amazing tiered winter village scene that is created with the Hometown Greetings Edgelits Dies.  They are fun to work with and were also used in another card that I recently posted.  You can see that post here.

After you get the pieces together for the Hearts Come Home Christmas card, you’ll find that it is a pretty easy card to finish and great for mass production.  It’s perfect to do when you’re watching TV with your family, Skyping with friends, or listening to the radio and crafting.  Here are the main pieces and basic steps for the card:

• Use Thick Whisper White cardstock to create your card base – 8 1/2″ x 5 1/2″, scored at 4 1/4″ on the 8 1/2″ side.  The Thick Whisper White cardstock will give a sturdy base for this card.
• Believe it or not, the “snow background” is from one of the patterns in the Delightful Daisy Designer Series Paper (DSP)!!  I think it is just perfect for this card.  Don’t you?  The “snow background” DSP is cut to 4 1/4″ x 3″.
• The three levels of the winter village scene are cut from Whisper White cardstock.  The effect is even more spectacular in person.  Trust me!
• To test where I needed to make the die cuts for the card, I started with three pieces of Whisper White cardstock cut to 4 1/4″ x 5 1/2″.  I die cut each piece using a different layer of the winter scene.  There are three dies in the set.  Then, I used my test pieces to determine how much room I needed between each and taped the three die cut pieces together.
• Next, take another piece of Whisper White cardstock (or a scrap piece of cardstock) cut to 4 1/4″ x 5 1/2″ as your model.  Put the taped pieces on top of your model piece and allow the left side of the model piece to show about 1/2″.  Draw pencil or pen marks on your model to show where each die should be cut.
• Adhere the DSP piece to the top of your card base, as pictured.
• Adhere the tallest die cut piece on top of the DSP and card base.  In the picture above, this is the die cut piece with the double trees and snowman.
• Use Mini Stampin’ Dimensionals to adhere the second die cut piece on top of the first die cut piece, as pictured.  The bottom and sides of this piece will be flush with the card base.  Cut some of the mini dimensionals to make sure you adhere the trees and church steeple.
• In the bottom right hand corner of the final die cut piece, stamp “All Hearts Come Home for Christmas” using Pool Party ink.  The stamp is from the Hearts Come Home stamp set.
• Use Mini Stampin’ Dimensionals to adhere the stamped, third die cut piece to the front of the card.
• And, there you have it!  A gorgeous Christmas card that you will be proud to send this season.  I hope you enjoy making this card!

The main products that I used to make the card are shown below.  If you click on any picture, you’ll go to my on-line store.  Enjoy getting started on your Christmas cards!!

Happy stamping!
Laurie