Can you believe Christmas is just a few days away?😲 It totally snuck up on us this year! If you’re in a last-minute scramble to get your Christmas cards out but still want them to feel personal and beautiful, don’t worry—we’ve got you covered. This fun tutorial shows you how to whip up gorgeous gilded Christmas cards with the Tinsel Gilded Transfer. Not to mention, it only took 10 minutes, so it’s a perfect handmade option for those last few moments before the holiday hustle really kicks in. Oh and by the way, you could make a zillion cards with one Tinsel pad, a handmade card for everyone on your list!

We’re sharing three festive designs to get you started, but we encourage you to get creative with it! There are tons of compilations to create with the Tinsel Gilded Transfer. You’ll find something to match whatever holiday aesthetic you’re going for. So, grab your supplies, pour yourself a cozy drink, and let's get to it! ✨🎄

Grab your IOD products and supplies by using the store locator and finding a stockist near you.

IOD Products Needed: 

• Tinsel Gilded Transfer

Other Supplies: 

• 5” x 7” Black Cards

“PEACE ON EARTH” GILDED CHRISTMAS CARD

STEP ONE: PREP & APPLY A BORDER

We chose a crisp, black A7 (5x7) foldable card to offset the gold motifs in the Tinsel Gilded Transfer. For the first, we picked the largest of the borders, which fits very nicely, with minimal off-cutting, on the 5" x 7" card. If you have extra product, you can trim it or fold it along the back for a little extra sparkle.

Remember, gilded transfers don’t have a clear backing, so this is when you’ll rely on the grid lines more than ever to keep your project straight! Follow the lines and smooth down your transfer, then use firm pressure with your applicator tool.

Quick Tip: It can help to pick up one corner of your transfer as you go so you can tell when the transfer applies to your card. Don’t shift around! Hold it ever so slightly up, and continue working the applicator until the entire image transfers to your card.     

STEP TWO: APPLY A CHRISTMAS MESSAGE

Next, we cut out “Peace on Earth” and set it inside the border. Line it up as straight as you can, and apply. Smooth down any bits with your finger or the edge of your backing paper for complete adhesion.   

“ALL IS CALM, ALL IS BRIGHT” GILDED CHRISTMAS CARD 

For our angel card, position the angel in the bottom left corner, cutting the angel wing off beforehand or wrapping it to the back of the card. Next, add “All is Calm” to the upper right, then “All is Bright” to the bottom left, making sure everything is firmly applied to the card. 

“JOY” GILDED CHRISTMAS CARD 

For our last card, we did a string of trees along the bottom, cutting off the excess to use for another project. Next, we applied a swirly gilded border. Now for our snowflakes. We wanted it to feel like they were falling from the top, but we didn’t want it interfering with our border. So, to keep everything clean, we trimmed the carrier sheet of the border piece close to the size, making a “mask” for the snowflake to go up against, letting us have the placement we wanted without fiddling with trimming and placement. Lastly, we placed “Joy” in the middle of our border.

There you have it! If you plan to place photo cards inside, or maybe a printed Christmas letter, just tuck it inside and call it a day. Or, if you want to add a handwritten note, cut a white or cream piece of paper to size and glue it into place along the crease. Add a few embellishments to your envelope for a little extra pizzazz! 

If you're just kicking off your creative journey, have no fear — our Product 101 pages are packed with straightforward techniques to set you up for success. We're thrilled to accompany you as you explore and create. For more how-tos and creative inspo, make sure to browse through the rest of our blog.

Once you've crafted your final piece, share it with our Facebook Creative Tribe! This community is not just a showcase but also a supportive hub for when you hit those creative roadblocks. And remember, your local stockist is always ready to assist with IOD supplies and expert advice. We're excited to see what you'll bring to life!