Cards
Cards
Every year, I create a set of holiday cards for my close friends and family. Below, you will find lots of ideas for handmade cards. I also love to create individual cards for people who have had a special impact on my life.
2022
Armenian Cross
This Armenian Cross card was made for very dear family friends.
These friends have been so close for so long that my mother says they are “Honorary Armenians”.
The Inspiration
I based the design of the cross on historical Armenian crosses.
I based the frame design on a Medieval picture frame from France. It is very simple at first glance but on closer inspection, I saw a pattern of large and small blue stones and flowers. Visually, this reads as a simple ABAB pattern. In fact, it is an AbababA and an ABABaBABA pattern, which allows for a rectangular frame.
Below are several stages of production.
The Frame in Stages:
The FramE - Part 2
Sometimes, I have an idea for a handmade card that doesn’t work out the way I want it to. I had to talk myself into tearing off the gold strips around the flower and gem frame. What a relief when it was done!
I cleaned up and repainted the edges with an x-acto. After that, I added large gold and long gold beads to give the piece more dimension. I painted the inside of the card gold and reinforced the back with several layers of paper for balance.
Finally, I added seed beads to the frame to match the beads in the Armenian cross.
Holiday Cards 2019
In 2019, I created three variations of cards for my friends and families. I duplicated the Armenian cross card for my Armenian relatives. I created the beaded gold cross for my in-laws. And I made the Christmas tree for friends and family who celebrate a secular Christmas.
Holiday Cards 2018
In 2018, we welcomed a new addition to our family. To celebrate, I created simple prints of our little clan to and added them to spray painted backgrounds. My partner and my eldest son, contributed small prints as well. This was a great method of personalizing our cards with repeated elements.
