Saturday, October 1, 2011

Red and Green Ten-Dot Christmas Card

A simple Christmas card using a ten-dot design - two offset rows with ten half-inch circles. (Or nine plus two halves, to be precise.) Created for Operation Write Home's World Cardmaking Day "Holiday Cards" blog hop. I love making cards that can help our troops connect with their family and friends across many miles.

For a holiday theme, I drew little loops and stripes on three of the dots to look like Christmas tree ornaments. I colored all the dots with red, green, and gold Copic markers. Then I added shiny domed stickers on top of the "ornaments", a red marker stripe below the sentiment, and a red ribbon bow. I made some with a deep green card base (above) and some with red (below). For all the details, scroll to the end of the post.

To continue hopping with Operation Write Home, click on the blog hop badge below!

Card details:
  • The dots are colored with Copic markers G14, G17, R29, R59, and Y26.
  • My card stock is Neenah solar white, layered on Paper Source spruce (deep green: top card) and PaperTrey Ink pure poppy (red: bottom card).
  • I used Seongsook's helpful ribbon trick for my bow knot.
  • My shiny clear EK Success epoxy dome stickers came from PaperTrey Ink (72 for $3). The diameter is just a bit over 1/2". Press down hard to adhere them, or they won't look really clear. They are very mailable - flexible, and less than 1/16" thick. Not to be confused with "bottle cap" tops, which are (in my experience) larger, thicker, more rigid, and pricier.
  • The Merry Christmas sentiment is computer-printed in dark green with "Lucida Handwriting" font (expanded spacing).
  • The ten-dot pattern can be hand-drawn with a plastic circles template (1/2") and a black 0.3 Copic multiliner. But it needs careful spacing and "perfect" circles to look nice. After a few times of drawing it, I made a PowerPoint file that prints my (uncolored) circles. Much easier.
  • For a few more of my cards based on this pattern, you can click on the ten-dot label, below or in the labels list on the right of my blog.
Created for Operation Write Home, "supporting our nation's armed forces by sending blank handmade greeting cards to write home on, as well as cards of gratitude to encourage them." (24)

35 comments:

Cindy's Card Co said...

I LOVE these cards, such a simple idea and they turned out excellent. Thanks for the idea!

Theresa said...

LOVE the crisp & clean design! The excellent coloring really sets it off! Going into the idea file. :)

Lori B said...

The red line you put below the sentiment was a great idea. I like the simple design of your card!

MelissaS said...

This is so clever! I love the ornaments, especially the way you put the shine on them :)

Jen M said...

Very clever! Love your cas design!

andrea said...

Bold and Bright and Simple. Makes for a genius, versatile design. Like the tip you passed on about making bows, will have to try it out.

Paper Love said...

Very cute! Love your little ornaments. ;)

Lauren, Paper Love
readysetlove@me.com
www.readysetlove.me

AJsArts said...

Very simple and cute card. Thank you for sharing :)

Manda :)
ajsarts at gmail dot com
www.ajsartsanddesigns.com
www.ajsdigishoppe.com

Fab said...

So cute and modern, love it ! :)

Jan Hunnicutt said...

How cute, it's simply sweet!

Erin @ Simply Frugal Mom said...

I love the neat, clean look of this card. Simple and cute.

My Need 2 Craft said...

This is a great card. I like how you used the shiny dots to make them pop. :)

Paper Therapy Ponderings said...

so fun - simple idea but great card

Barb Housner

Paula S. said...

Clean and simple, and striking design! The glossy stickers are great. I'm going to have add those to my wish list since I seem to always mess up anything I try to use glossy effects on these seem perfect for me. Thanks for joining in the hop and supporting Operation Write Home!

Lynn said...

So terrifically simple! I love the domed dots, great effect!

Bridget Larsen said...

Love the idea of the dots, makes a quick and easy card to make up

Rufus said...

I like all of your Ten Dot designs!! (yup, I went and looked) CAS yet extremely effective. Now those glossy domes are on my want list! They really make 'em POP! Thank you for supporting OWH and all our Heroes.
R/

Kathy V. said...

Love the clean graphic feel to your cards. The added pop from the little domes is just the right something special to finish your delightful design. I really like these!

Cora said...

I have never seen a design like this . I am very impressed. The dome stickers are a nice touch

Kathryn said...

Love that circle design. I, too, would computer generate it. Knowing my pen skills, I'd mess up the ninth or tenth one every time! I have some of these clear stickers and now know what I could do with them. Thanks for sharing this great idea.

Nancy M said...

I like CAS and these are very well done; TFS!

Rhonda Miller said...

I just love these. TFS.

adele holcomb said...

Wow! You made a great card with just dots! Very creative!

Lee Mae said...

Very cute hybrid card - the ornaments and dots came out great. I use Photoshop myself to help out when my drawing/coloring skills don't quite cut it. :)

Laurie said...

That's cool! I can see doing this with paper too! Thanks for sharing with OWH!

Tracey said...

Great card - love the little ornaments, :)

Zingaro Skoolie said...

So simple and so nice! I am going to have to case this one.

KellyRae said...

Love the graphic crispness to your cards. Thanks for the inspiration - your 10 dot design is fabulous!

Anonymous said...

I love your card. So clean and simple.

Ann said...

Very cute!! great design! I love the little ornaments you made!

Linda said...

Uber CAS! I never think of putting the bow at the top! T may need to try this! TFS!!!

CARO said...

Lovely card; less is often "more" :)

Cheryl said...

Great card! I love the design.

Shelly Schmidt said...

Cute card design- great CAS card for the troops! Great OWH blog hop!

Julie said...

Awesome CAS card, I love the little ornaments! Thanks for sharing the details with us!