By Melanie Smith, Artistic Guide

Every year a wonderful lady that I used to work with would dress her dogs in reindeer antlers and take a photo of them for her Christmas cards.  These photos were basically glued to the card and posted out.  This was before I started paper crafting, and was my first experience with homemade cards that didn't come from pre-school.  Now, of course, I like (understatement) to make my own Christmas cards, too.  This card combines my love of stamping with her idea of photos on cards.   My old cat is too grumpy to dress up, and her claws are waaayyy too sharp, so I have used a photo of my wee family all dressed up and looking pretty.  This card will go to my mother-in-law, who never gets enough photos of the family, and she can keep the photo for her purse or a bedside frame.

Supplies:
Stamps:
Classic Santa (Rubbadubbadoo)
Papers
Dark green cardstock - 8.25" x 5.375"
White cardstock - 4.125" x 5.375"
Inks
Black Archival ink pad (Ranger)
Other:
Craft knife and cutting mat
Edge distresser (Tonic) or scissors
Photo of your family or pet dressed for Christmas

Directions:

1. Stamp the Santa stamp onto the white card.  (Slightly above centre)
2. Trim so that it sits nicely on the folded card.  Distress the edges with a distressing tool or scissors (or finger nail).
3. On the cutting mat, cut a cross into the centre of the circle (each cut is approx. 0.5 - 1").  Repeat so that there are eight segments.
4. Very gently... start ripping each cut out to the edge of the circle.  Do a little on each cut, working around the circle so that the segments stay somewhat even.  You may choose to do some rips forward and some back to get a little variety.
5. Work each segment back and forward between your fingers to curl each piece.
6. Lay the photo onto the card and lay the white cardstock over it so you can play with the placement of the photo.
7. Attach the photo to the green cardstock.
8. Attach the cream overlay to the card.
9. Voila you're done.

There are so many ways to jazz this up if you have the time or inclination.  Here are a few ideas:

1. Trim the cream card smaller and add a mat behind in a colour to bring out a colour in the photo.
2. Colour the branches and leaves with your favourite colouring medium.
3. Use a coloured ink to stamp the image.
4. Sponge colours around the outside of the top layer.
5. Use a picture recycled from a store bought card someone sent you last year.
6. Cut the circle out for a clean crisp card.
7. Add a Peelcraft or gold gel pen border.
8. Add Stickles or Kindyglitz to the outer circle and tiny red gems to the berries.