Holiday Thank-You Cards with Everyday Embellishments

When I sit down to make cards, I like to make a few extra to have on hand for those last-minute occurrences - especially birthday and thank-you cards.  Sometimes I make complete cards, and sometimes I create extra backgrounds or card fronts to customize according to the occasion.    It's very easy to customize generic backgrounds and card fronts, even for fall and winter holidays. 

The backgrounds on these two fall-themed cards were created with Distress Inks (Spiced Marmalade, Wild Honey, and Mustard Seed), Dylusions Ink Sprays (Lemon Zest, Pure Sunshine, and Postbox Red), stamps, and a template by The Crafter's Workshop).  I punched the edges of the right background panel with an E.K. Success border punch.  Although I made them a few months ago, it took me only a few minutes last week to add some fabric flowers and leaves, a few sentiments, and a piece of raffia to turn them into thank-you cards that I can use during the fall season.

This pair of cards features embossed and inked backgrounds.  For the card on the left, I stamped the background with VersaMark ink and embossed it with clear embossing powder, adding brown ink to the edges.  I added a stamped sentiment, a few buttons from my vast collection, a strip of washi tape, and some baker's twine to fashion a very masculine-looking, fall-themed card. 

Although the card on the right might look like a Thanksgiving card, if you look carefully, you will see that I've added two strips of Christmas washi tape to it in order to make it a holiday-themed thank-you card.  This is another quick way to customize pre-made cards.  Simply add themed washi tape or ribbon, along with a coordinating sentiment.  I used a fleur-de-lis embossing folder, but these Imperial embossing folders by Spellbinders would work just as well to create the same effect.

These last two thank-you cards have more of a general theme and can be used for almost any occasion.  The card on the left has a Distress-Inked background on which I stamped a music motif in permanent black ink.  To finish this super-easy card, all I had to do was add a simple stamped sentiment and a layered paper flower that I had in my stash of supplies.  (These flowers are very similar to the ones I used.)

The card on the right was also an easy one.  I started with an embossed background that I had previously made with an embossing folder like these.  I added ink in diagonal stripes and around the edges.  To finish it off, I tied a ribbon around the card, dyed a paper flower to match my colors, and stamped a "Thank You" on a leftover circle of white cardstock.

The next time you sit down to make a card, try making a few extra backgrounds, or an extra card or two.  It will save you time, because you will already have all of your supplies out; and you will be glad that you have them for those times when you need a card - whether it be a thank-you, birthday, or other occasion - in a hurry.