Stretch Your Stash: Everyday Cards with Holiday Products | Kathleen Schmelz

Hey friends, happy Monday! Kathleen here, and I’ve got a fun twist for you today. One of my favorite creative challenges is finding new ways to stretch my stash—taking products that were designed for a specific season or theme and giving them fresh life year-round. For this post, I reached for a holiday-themed product and used it to create two everyday cards that work well beyond the holiday season.

If you caught my YouTube Live last week, you might remember I shared how the very same product can easily transition into fall with a warm, seasonal card design. Today, I’m keeping that momentum going with two step-by-step tutorials so you can see how versatile your supplies can be. 

By the way, we go live every Tuesday at noon CT for a fun, 60-minute cardmaking session—complete with amazing inspiration, lively chat, and of course, giveaways! So don't miss out!

*Disclaimer: All products used are linked below as clickable images. If a product isn’t listed, it’s been discontinued.

Here's how you can recreate the cards. First up, the wreath card:

1. Cut and score an A2 card base (top or side-folding) from light gray/cream/off-white cardstock. (I used a ready-made card base from light gray cardstock with rose gold speckles.)
2. Die cut the (3) wreaths with the Tied with Cheer die from white cardstock.
3. Ink blend one with Persimmon, one with Ballet Slipper, and one with Peach Fuzz.
4. Adhere them centered onto the card base using liquid adhesive. Start with Persimmon on the bottom, then Ballet Slipper, then Peach Fuzz on top.
5. Embellish with Jewels in Glacier.
6. Add a sentiment of your choice to the wreath. I used a hot-foiled "Thank you, friend" made with the Plumeria press plate and gold foil.

1. Cut and score an A2 card base (top or side-folding) from white cardstock.
2. Dry emboss the card front with the Interlaced Quatrefoil press plate.
3. Ink blend the bow from the Tied with Cheer stencil & die set (3) times.
   1. Bow 1: Use Ballet Slipper for all layers, with varying intensity.
   2. Bow 2: Use Peach Fuzz for all layers, with varying intensity.
   3. Bow 3: Use Peach Fuzz, Ballet Slipper, and Persimmon (light hand) for one layer each.
      
4. Die cut using the coordinating die. Die cut a 4th bow from Glacier glitter cardstock.
5. Adhere sentiment of your choice in centered on the dry-embossed card front. (I used a gold heat-embossed "congrats" made with the Basic Banners: Everyday Stamp, and coordinating die)
6. Adhere the bows in a grid above and below the sentiment.
7. Embellish with Metallic Pearls in Matte Gold.

And here is the replay of last week's YouTube Live, where I used the Tied with Cheer stencil & die set to create a fun autumnal shaker wreath:

I hope you enjoyed these ideas for getting more out of your seasonal products! 😊

We always love seeing what you create, so please make sure to tag us on social media when you post a project inspired by this!

Have a wonderful rest of the week!

-Kathleen