More HOTP/Up-Cycling

Today I have three cards from another old HOTP Christmas card kit - along with some old Xmas cards I'm up-cycling.  I think after this, I'll put the rest away for awhile and start working on something else.

Card #1 (above): Above you can see how I cut down a card front & paired it with some of the HOTP paper to create this card.  I added a ribbon & Dazzles greeting and called it good.

Inside:

More scraps of the HOTP paper & another piece from the up-cycled card forms the inside.

Card #2:

Here I paired a piece of the striped paper with strips of the yellow & green to create the background.  The rest of the elements are cut outs - either from the set or from my stash (all HOTP materials).

Inside:

The tiny leftover strip of the striped paper forms a border for several of the remaining cut outs to sit on.

Card #3:

And finally - another piece of the striped paper forms a mat for this up-cycled card.  I simply embellished with little file fold cut outs (from the set) at the top & a bow (from my stash) on the deer.

Upcycling & Old HOTP

Once again, I'm using up old HOTP card sets & papers.  Here I have 4 more cards and 2 tags that I made using these materials.

Card #1(above): The focal was up-cycled from a card I received.  The patterned paper was from the kit, the plain ones are from my stash. The Joy to the World die was from Creative Expressions.

Card #2:

Once again, patterned paper pieces from the set form the background.  A fussy cut focal was upcycled from a card received.  The sentiment was die cut from a Happy Holidays Spellbinders die.

Card #3:

The third card uses just a piece of striped paper from the set - and an up-cycled piece for the focal.  A red glimmer paper from my stash serves as background.

Card #4:

This card uses pieces of papers from the kit & several cut outs.

Inside are more pieces & cut outs.

Tags:

Most of the remaining pieces were used to create these tags.

More HOTP Christmas Cards

Here are some more cards using up the old HOTP papers & cutouts - plus stuff from my stash.

Card #1 (above): This time I cut 3 pieces of background paper - 2 of the tan print & one of the red.  This allowed the look of a border of the same color as the card base.  On the red border piece, I added the "NOEL" ornament cut outs.  Then I used more of the red paper to cut out another ornament (3 Lacy Christmas Ornaments die set from Paper Artist).  I backed it with a gold linen card stock - and cut out the cap piece from the same.  After gluing it all together, I glued the ornament in place, then added a piece of border sticker to form an "ornament hanger".

Inside:

Inside I added a couple of strips of paper - and another cut out (actually cut from the pictures on the cover of the paper set).

Card #2:

I was left with smaller pieces of a variety of papers and a few cut outs.  You can see how I've added pieces of different paper - two striped pieces on either side of the lower part of the card, a larger piece of the 12 days of Christmas print on the lower part, and a dotted piece across the card top.  Then I added two strips of gold linen card stock for borders.  I cut a sentiment (Deck the Halls Moonstone mini) and glued it in place.  Finally, I added the 3 cut outs - with foam tape.

Inside:

Once again I used a variety of papers for borders on the inside - and then another cut out - this one once again from the cover of the paper pack.

Card #3:

For this one, I had just the striped paper & the red.  I wanted to have another color as well, so pulled the turquoise glimmer paper from my stash.  As you can see, I cut narrow strips from both of the colors for borders top and bottom.  I layered two cut outs for the tag you see in the upper right corner.  Then, I die cut the sentiment from both colors and layered them, slightly offset (Merry Christmas cutting die from Paper Artist).

Inside:

Inside is more of the same papers (one cut with Resplendent Rectangles from Spellbinders) - and a couple of die cut words (Tim Holtz Happy Holidays Script dies).

Card #4:

Layers of papers & a couple of cut out tags create the card front - that is enhanced with gold Thin Line Border Dazzles.

Inside:

 

On the inside, more papers & a couple more layered tag cut outs form the inside.  Two of the layers were die cut using Scalloped Rectangles dies from Spellbinders.

HOTP in Red & Gold

This first card started with the Twelve Days of Christmas ornaments & paper - from the set.  I fussy cut the ornament squares & matted them on red paper using foam tape.  I added a couple strips of tan paper - one with 12 Days of Christmas & one with stripes.  All of that came from the set.  Then, using the red paper, I die cut both the sentiment (Deck the Halls by Moonstone) & ornament (Spellbinders 2012 Holiday Tree).  I die cut the shadow for the sentiment from black paper & backed the ornament with green glimmer paper.  Finally, I added gold ribbon to "hang" the ornament.

Inside:

Inside I used the same papers to create a background & mat for focal sentiment.  The focal sentiment is stamped on tan paper using black ink (stamp from HOTP Christmas Cheer).  Finally I added the little "stamp" cut out.  All of these were from the set.  The little red notes were from my stash - die cut with a Music Panels die from Paper Discovery.

Card #2:

I had a bunch of paper left over and needed to find something to go with it.  Here I used a diamond print paper with border - from the set.  I found the sleeping Santa picture in my stash - cut from a card I received in the past.  I cut it down until it would fit within the die cut mat.  The mat & greeting were cut from red suede paper.  The mat was cut with a Spellbinders Fleur De Lis Rectangles die set, the greeting from a Season's Greetings mini die by Moonstone.

Inside:

Inside I used the same Fleur De Lis Rectangles die set & red suede paper to create the mat, and cut another piece of the diamond paper to fit inside it.  The stamped message comes from one of my mom's stamps.

HOTP in Maroon & Gold

Today I have two cards from an old HOTP card kit.  

Card #1 (above): I used scraps of maroon to frame the scrap of starlight print and matted it on the striped paper.  I also used the maroon paper to die cut the nativity scene (Holy Night die from Divinity Designs). This I glued to a strip of plain golden paper and glued it toward the bottom as you see here.  The "CELEBRATE" was a cut out from the kit.

Inside:

Strips of scraps form a border near the top on the inside - where 3 cutouts were added.  A stamped message (Christmas Card Scriptures from Divinity Designs) completes the inside.

Card #2:

This simple card started with a background of the maroon patterned paper.  I then added a border cut out, as well as several other cut outs from the set.  Then I sprayed all with a Sparkle spray to accent the sentiment.

Inside:

Inside is another strip of the paper & more cut outs - as well as a stamped message (one of my mom's stamps).

HOTP Cards in Green & Gold

I again have used up materials from an old HOTP set of papers & cut outs.  This time I made 8 cards from the materials.  Here are the 8 cards and how I made them.  Note that I don't show the insides if they just have scraps from the front creating borders & such on the inside.

Card #1 (above): This is my favorite of these 8, I think.  It is loosely based on a sketch that had 3 elements in a row, but I definitely modified the sketch (as I usually do).  The smaller tag was actually one cut from the packaging.  All materials are papers & cut outs from the set.  As you can see, I used horizontal strips of several different papers to create the background.  Then I started adding the tags, deciding the smaller one needed a green mat to add weight to it.  Then I added the cut out greeting.

Card #2:

This first card is a very simple A2 card.  It uses a greeting cut out from the set, a scrap of paper from my stash, and a focal piece from my stash.

Card #3:

This, too, is an A2 sized card.  I embossed the front (Cuttlebug Swiss Dots folder) before adding the lower three cut outs - only one of which had a greeting printed on it.  I die cut the "Merry" (HOTP - Merry Christmas die set) from green paper, and the "with" and "love" (Piece by Piece die set - from a cardmaking magazine) from white.

Inside:

 

I added a transparency cut out greeting on the inside.

Card #4:

 

I had several gold colored printed papers, and new I'd need more focals, so found this one in my stash.  I matted it first on red and then a gold/green card stock (both from my stash & both cut with dies from Luscious Labels One by Spellbinders).  I used a bit of raffia to thread through the bells & tie them with a bow - making it look like they're hanging from the top of the mat.  I added a strip of the red paper near the top & then a cut out greeting.

Inside:

 

Inside, I have more of the papers & 3 more cut out greetings - all but the red border was from the set.

Card #5:

 

This card starts with strips of 3 different papers from the set to form the background.  I than added some of my favorite papers of all time - suede paper from HOTP - this time in red. As you can see, I cut it in the shape of the tags to give me a third element for this card.  To the red tag, I added a strip of another paper and a couple of cut out greetings - all from the set.  Below it, I layered two more cut outs from the set.

Inside:

More of the papers and another cut out complete the inside.

Card #6:

The background paper of this is from the set, but is matted with card stock from my stash.  You can see the arrangement of several cut outs from the set - including a greeting.  The red elements are leftover die cuts (Music Panels die from Paper Discovery).

Inside is more of the same with some extra cut outs from the set.

Card #7:

 

You can once again see the influence of the three element focal sketch.  Once again I have a background created using 3 strips of paper from the set.  I felt it needed something else, so found some green in my stash that would coordinate & cut narrow border strips from it.  The greeting is a cut out.  So are the focal elements, but I matted them on cream colored paper from my stash.

Card #8:

 

This last card was a bit challenging.  I had set aside a set of 4 die cuts for this card.  They were from another HOTP book that I thought would go well with these papers.  I had no trouble laying out the background - 2 strips of green, a strip of tree transparency, and narrow gold strips for borders.  I added the greeting to the upper left corner and then felt stumped.  

 

I had thought it would be a simple thing of adding the remaining elements, but I realized that I didn't know how to tie in the "Happiness is meant to be shared" message - along with the "Hoping" message on one of the other pieces.  After some thought, I decided that what was to be shared was the joy of the true Christmas message.  I die cut another greeting from the green using A Christmas Miracle die (Moonstone Minis).  Then it was a simple matter of adding the word "Trusting" to the tag that had nothing written on it. and adhering all to the card front.

Inside:

Inside, I added border elements like on the front - then added the remaining die cut.  The stamp used on this die cut was from a set that a friend gave me - Bask in the Son by May May Made It.

Rudolph and More

Today I have several cards (ten) and tags (eight) - all started with a set of HOTP papers & cut outs.  To these I added a variety of materials from my stash.  

Card #1 (above):  Here I added a tag from my stash - along with red ribbon.  The dots in the lower right corner were made by a standard paper punch.

Inside:

 

Inside I have scrap borders & die cut deer (Crafter's Companion - Santa's Sleigh) - along with a stamped image (one of my mom's stamps).

Card #2:

 

Here I again use a base of the HOTP papers & a border made from scraps of another.  The label is from a separate set that I got from HOTP a long time ago, and the die cut sentiment is a Spellbinder's die called Happy Holidays.

Inside:

 

Inside I once again have border scraps.  A red mat cut with a Spellbinder's Labels One die, backed with a black square mat, holds a tag from my stash.

Card #3:

 

Here a light green paper serves as background for a darker green print. A red sentiment piece (Debbi Moore freebie) forms the focal.  Cut squares from another green print & matted with dark green from my stash add interest in the corners.

Inside:

 

Inside I have scraps of what was used for the card front - and another Debbi Moore freebie print.

 

Card #4:

 

The dotted paper is from the set, matted with scraps of another paper from the same set.  A variety of cutouts - some matted with the same paper scraps - form most of the embellishments & focal.  The star was another cut out from my stash - probably from some other HOTP set.

 

Inside:

 

More scraps & cutouts from the set form the lower border, and another of the star cutouts embellishes the upper left corner.  The stamped sentiment is one of my mom's stamps.  The smaller sentiments below were stamped from a HOTP bulk Christmas set.

Card #5:

 

The print at the top and the striped piece below are both scraps from the set - as are the free-hand cut trees in the bottom right corner. The red & label are from my stash.  The greeting is a Hunkydory scrap.

Inside:

 

Inside are more scraps of the same - and a stamped sentiment (one of mom's stamps).

 

Card #6:

 

The striped paper & red used for die cuts (Paper Discovery - Music Panels) are from the HOTP set.  The focal music is from my stash - as is the light green background paper.

Inside:

 

Inside I started with a Christmas tree sticker from my stash.  To that I added small border scraps & a stamped sentiment (one of my mom's stamps).

Card #7:

 

Once again I used scraps to mat the main background paper.  The dots in the corners were once again from a regular paper punch.

Inside:

 

More scraps and a stamped sentiment (again one of mom's stamps) complete the inside.

 

Card #8:

 

This card used the same paper as the previous for the background - but I matted it in black from my stash.  The focal die cut (Holy Night die from Divinity Designs) is from paper from the set - as is the border paper.  I added a couple ribbons from my stash, another of the star cut outs, and a sentiment from my stash.

Inside:

 

Inside are more of the papers from the front - and a stamped message (mom's stamp).

Card #9:

 

Here all but the ribbon border & focal are from the set.  The focal is a Debbi Moore freebie.

Inside:

Inside is more of the same - with sentiment stamped with another of muy Mom's stamps.

 

Card #10:

 

I had small scraps left over, so I made this an A2 card.  The focal is a cut out freebie print from HOTP - with a die cut greeting (from my stash - die is one called Season's Greetings from Creative Expressions).

 

Inside:

 

Inside I have scraps and another cut out from the same HOTP freebie download.  I stamped it using several stamps I got in a HOTP bulk Christmas set.

 

Tags:

 

I still had quite a few scraps left over, so made several tags to use them up.