Travel Passport Card

Hey everyone! One of my goals for 2016 is to be able to put these lovely passport cards into kits! Now I know there are a lot of kits out there, but these cards have become so popular and can be altered for so many occasions, I thought I would share the knowledge and supplies to create these fun cards.

There are a lot of embellishments that go into making these cards, and that is what makes up the detail. You will see ephemera throughout, sentiments as well as Tim Holtz rub ons.

These are greeting cards, so you will also get journal cards to share a little hand written note. 

Each card has a pocket where you can add a matching tag, fun matching ephemera to go with the theme of the card, or even a gift card.

Now to really make this a passport card, you will need the post marks. I have all 4 So Suzy Stamps post mark stamps that always go in the back of these cards. I hope to release 4 kits next year and each kit will have one of the 4 stamps!

This card is available in my Etsy shop, as well as this fun fun little kit I put together. I found this Travel book kit at Tuesday Morning and decided to add to it to make a starter Passport kit.  The 6 travel stamps are perfect for passport cards, so I thought I would put 2 kits together. Now one is already sold, so I only have one left. 

You can find the kit in my etsy store and be on the lookout for future kits in 2016!

I would like to share my card with the following challenges:

• 613 Avenue Create - W - #154 Anything goes
• Amusing - W, 2E, no digi - Anything Goes
• Great Impressions - M, 3E, SIO - December Anything Goes
• Allsorts W,3E anything but Christmas 

Christmas Card kits are still handmade

As a crafter and card maker for many years, I have been able to add to my "tools of the trade" and collect all sorts of paper, embellishments and ribbons along the way. I am able to create the most extravagant cards using die cuts and various sorts of "bling" because I have these items readily available. But for card makers that are new to this hobby, or want to try something different and make handmade cards this Christmas season, the task may not be that easy, or may end up costing them a small fortune by purchasing all the tools and supplies to make these one of a kind cards. Not to forget the time necessary to come up with the layout and design.

Card kits have become increasingly popular with all age groups. They are great for a first time crafter who may be hesitant about what to do and how to do it. It is also a way for more seasoned crafters to perhaps try out a new skill or technique they may not have tried before. Time can also be a factor. Card kits save on time having everything pre cut, stamped with all supplies right at your finger tips. These card kits also make great Arts and Crafts ideas for teachers during the holidays as well as a thoughtful gift.

Store assembled craft kits many times come with instructions, but for me, they can sometimes feel like they were written in a foreign language. When preparing my card kits, I always include a finished product. I am a visual person, as many people are. Having the ability to visually dissect the making of a card always helps me to create a duplicate.

Now some people may equate handmade with homemade, which for some people equates to tacky or cheap. If you believe this, you have not been on Pinterest or Etsy recently. Many stores cannot duplicate some of these handmade cards that are being created by individuals just like you and me. The craft arena is in boom right now, and will continue to get busier as we approach the holiday months. So if you do decide handmade is the way to go this year, you will want to start thinking about this sooner rather than later.

So whatever path you decide to go down this year, making or giving a handmade card, know that your recipients will appreciate the extra mile and personalized sentiment. Choose what is right for you and give or make a handmade card with pride. It will single out your card from the crowd this year.

I entered my Holiday cards in the following challenges:

 

ABC Christmas Challenge - R is for Recipe

Christmas Stampin all year long- #32 Layers

CHNC challenge - #141 Layers

Merry Monday Christmas Card Club - #74 Green and White 

Weekly Christmas Card Challenges  - #41 Snowmen

CRAFT challenge - #223 Christmas

Cutie Pie challenge - #52 Cute Christmas in September

Crafty Creations - Lets Get Crafty

Cute Card Thursday - #286 Hip to be Square

365 Cards - #255 Bling Fling

The Glory of Christmas Challenge - #15 anything goes

Card Kits

I  started scrap booking when my son was born, which was 16 years ago. So the transition from scrap booking to card making was relatively easy. One of the big crazes now is card making kits. People are able to make their own handmade cards without dropping a fortune on supplies. What a fantastic idea! It is a way to "get your feet wet", so to speak. It seems you can find a kit for almost any occasion, Birthdays, holidays, or just simple note cards. I got my niece into card making. She LOVES to visit Aunt Monica because she always has such "cool stuff" in her craft room (aka guest bedroom). I put together a starter kit for her and add to it on birthdays and holidays. I thought some kits would be perfect for her for holiday cards. I put together this Halloween kit,

 and plan to put a kit together for her for Christmas as well. She loves these! And I think it is so cute when she give me one of her handmade cards. I truly cherish those.  So it seems you don't have to be a crafty or even creative person to make handmade cards anymore, just have to have a kit, some adhesive and you are ready to go! If my 9 year old niece can do it, so can you.