Polkadoodles Winnie North Pole Gingerbread Basket [Step by Step Card Making Tutorial]

I’m sharing my step by step instructions for how to make this vintage style Christmas card using the Winnie North Pole range of digital stamps from Polkadoodles. Including all my best tips and tricks to get the best out of your card making projects.

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Printing Digital Stamps

The digital stamp I have used is from Polkadoodles, from their Winnie North Pole Collection. Isn’t she just the cutest!? Click on the image to get her for yourself. The images are availible individually or you can save money by buying the whole set like I did – I can never choose just one!! Once you’ve got your own copy of the digital stamp print it out using a normal printer onto high quality paper or thin card. It’s best if you can leave the image to dry overnight as this reduces the chances of the ink smudging.

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Colouring the Digital Stamp

I’ve used the following ProMarkers and ProMarker Brush pens to colour my digital stamp:

Skin and Hair

Gold

Browns

Greys

Reds

Greens

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Preparing the Layers of the Card

This card is made up of four layers of mounted papers plus the digital stamp and a Kraft tag. I always start by cutting the largest layer first and then work my way down to the smallest. This way I can make use of the scraps leftover from cutting the bigger pieces of paper and card.

Each layer of paper is mounted onto a piece of Kraft cardstock that measures 3mm larger than the paper. This gives a lovely little border around the papers. Kraft card is great for this because it subtly goes with everything leaving the lovely designer papers to take centre stage.

For this card the layers measure:
Base Layer: 14cm square
Squares: 9cm square
Strip: 13cm x 5cm

The card blanks come scored but unfolded. It’s simple to fold them along the crease line and press the crease really sharp with a bone folder.

I use double sided tape to stick my designer papers onto their backing mount. I cut the double sided tape to length and lay it onto the back of my paper. One strip at the top and another at the bottom is usually plenty for a card making project.

Then I use a pokey tool to lift up a corner of the double sided tape and remove the rest of the backing strip.

Next I place my paper onto the backing mount, starting with one corner and then I gently lower it into place so that the visible border of the backing mount is nice and even.

The two square panels are prepared in exactly the same way.

The pokey tool makes it so easy to remove the backing from the double sided tape. You can use your finger nail of course but that can get fiddley.

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Applying the Ribbon

Ribbon can be tricky to stick onto cards. This is my favourite technique for neatly hiding the raw ends and stopping them from fraying.

I start by sticking the strip of paper to the Kraft card mount using double sided tape. It’s quick and easy to use and it always leaves a neat finish.

For this card I’m making my ribbon stand out by adding an extra strip of Kraft card behind it.

Once that’s stuck in place, I lay my strip of mounted paper flat on my craft mat and stick a length of double sided tape where I want my ribbon. I make sure that the ends of the tape extend over the ends of the paper and let them stick lightly to the mat.

Then I place my length of ribbon to the exposed tape and press it onto the paper.

I gently lift the paper off the craft mat and turn it over. It’s easy to press the ribbon and the extra tape to the back of the paper so that the ends are neatly hidden from the front of the card.

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Covering the Wooden Heart

I’ve got these cute little wooden hearts. To make them match the rest of my project perfectly I’m covering them with some scraps of my designer papers. I start by covering the heart in PVA glue (which I totally nicked from my kid’s craft box!).

Then I pop the heart onto a scrap of paper that co-ordinates with my card making project. Then I set it to one side to dry overnight.

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Assembling the Card

I start by sticking the base layer to the card blank with double sided tape.

I love adding dimension to my cards with 3D foam pads. They make it so quick and easy. You don’t need a lot of them, just one in each corner and one along each edge if it’s a bigger piece of card.

Bent tweezers are fantastic for perfectly positioning all the layers.

The ribbon panel comes next.

And then the second square panel.

Sometimes I want to add an element that needs to stick to the base of the card and also to the raised panels. I’ve found it both sticks and looks better if I use 3D foam pads on the part that will stick to the base of the card and double sided tape on the part of the element that sticks to the raised panels.

Then the tag can be carefully positioned and securely stuck in place without bending.

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Making the Embellishments

I love adding these little gems to the corners of my cards.

When my little wooden hearts are dry I cut away the excess backing paper with a craft knife.

And then stick the heart onto my card using 3D foam pads.

I typically use silicone glue for bulkier embellishments like this bow that I’ve tied from the ribbon.

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Inside the Card

The inside of the card is also decorated with matching papers along with a blank square for a personal message.

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Products I’ve Used

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I do hope you have enjoyed having a peak at my latest card making project.

Please feel free to use my handmade cards to inspire your own creations, pin it to your Pinterest for later.

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