Open House Collection – Holiday Card Inspiration With Michelle Short

Hello there, Michelle Short here and I am delighted to be sharing three cards with you today using the new Open House Collection. This die cutting collection features four sets that you can mix and match to create wonderful front door scenes. These are perfect for Christmas/winter cards, like I have used them today, but these would work equally well for non-holiday cards too.

FROM OUR HOME TO YOURS CARD

My first card is a card that would be lovely to send to holiday guests inviting them to stay, or simply as a holiday card in general. It could even be used as a non-holiday card! I started off by die cutting the Open House Door Base elements from Spellbinders Cardstock. I used Onyx for the main door and Snowdrift and Glacier for the windows. The hardware was cut from Brushed Gold Cardstock.

I took an A2 white card base and added a strip of Silver Fox Cardstock at the bottom for the ground. I adhered the elements to the door with Bearly Art Glue and adhered the door to the card base with thin foam squares. The window piece was added above, adhered flat. I then die cut the Open House Topiary elements from Fern, Rainforest, Pomegranate and Poppy Field Cardstock. The plant stems were cut from Timber Cardstock.

These were so fun to build! I simply adhered the layers with Bearly Art Glue and adhered them to the card with Foam Squares. I die cut foliage for above the door and embellished with a gold bow. To finish off, I foiled a sentiment from Mini Christmas Sentiment Strips on to white cardstock with Gold Foil. It was cut in to a strip and added to the card with thin foam tape. To finish off, I added Gold Mix Color Essentials Gems.

Other supplies

Scrapbook Adhesive Thin Foam Squares.

CHRISTMAS GREETINGS CARD

For my next card, I thought I would create a mini slimline card and combine the door elements with Dancin’ Gnome from the Be Merry Collection. I started off by die cutting the door elements the same as the first card - using Onyx, Snowdrift and Glacier Cardstock. I used Brushed Silver Cardstock for the door handle. I used Graphite for the top door piece, Fern for the foliage and Snowdrift for the flowers.

I die cut the Open House Sentiment Steps from Alabaster and Graphite Cardstock and adhered them together with Bearly Art Glue. There are sentiments in the set that you can die cut words from the steps, but I did not use them on my card today. They were adhered to a 6.5” x 3.5” white card base with Bearly Art Glue. I adhered the door above. I cut the railings from Graphite and Blue Spruce Cardstock and adhered them on top. I then stamped the sentiment from Mini Christmas Greetings on to the middle step.

I die cut the Dancin’ Gnome from Barely Peach, Silver Fox, Snowdrift, Teal Topaz and Lagoon Cardstock. The pieces were adhered together and then adhered to the card with Foam Squares. To finish off, I die cut the snowflakes from Chill Bear from Snowdrift Cardstock. I adhered the small one to the gnome’s hat and the two larger ones to the steps. To finish off, I added a few Silver Mix Color Essential Gems.

HELLO CARD

My last card for today could also be used for any occasion, I think. If you take the poinsettia off, I think it could be a non-holiday card too. I started off by die cutting the Open House Door Base like the first card and second card. For the hardware, I used Brushed Silver Cardstock. I created a 6.5” x 3.5” white card base and added a strip of Silver Fox Cardstock at the bottom for the ground.

I die cut the door mat from Poppy Field and Pomegranate Cardstock and added a panel of Snowdrift to the back. The door mat was added to the card on top of the ground and then the door and elements adhered above with Bearly Art Glue. The foliage above the door was cut from Rainforest Cardstock and I die cut a bow from Open House Topiary from Pomegranate.

I wanted to embellish the door with something Christmassy, so I die cut the poinsettia from Christmas Blooms and adhered it to the front of the door, like you would a wreath, with a foam square. To finish off, I embellished with Silver Mix Color Essential Gems. This collection is so fun, and I love that it can be used for holidays and non-holidays! I kept my cards clean and simple, but you could definitely create texture and colour on the wall for the houses, as well as add lots more embellishments to go all out decorating for Christmas! If you want to find more from me, you can visit me over on my blog at The Card Grotto. Thank you so much for joining me today, I hope you have a wonderful day!