This is the sixth card in the Fireplace Christmas Card series.

Fireplaces have a bit of magic in them on Christmas eve. This easel card plays into the magic complete with an elf sitting on the mantel shelf.

Hero Arts made the Stamp & Cut XL Fireplace set that was used to make this card along with Graphic 45 patterned paper Lets Get Cozy.

Cardbase: Starting with a purchased A7 cardbase, I cut it along its fold to have two pieces of 5×7 inch rectangles. Next, I cut a piece of the heavy weight pink cardstock 7.5-inches by 4.25-inches and folded at 2-inches and at 5.5-inches. (You may need to change the fold in the easel arm as I did, but you can cover the extra fold line with decorative paper.)

One tab was glued to the top of a cardbase panel and the other tab will be glued to the base of the other panel once it is decorated as the card front. Cover the bottom card base panel with a carpet like patterned paper. Also cover the back side of the case base with patterned paper. (I choose a wallpaper-like floral print and put a house border along the bottom edge to ground the back of the card.)

Fireplace: While designed to be a single layer die-cut, the fireplace can be cut multiple times to create a more 3D effect. The dies need to be clipped to separate the main outline of the fireplace from the mantel piece and the stocking from the rest of the piece. Cut one outline piece and one mantel piece from heavy blush pink cardstock. You will have to cut the mantel piece from the cardstock at its connecting points with a kraft knife. Cut another mantel piece to fussy cut the scalloped inner opening that frames the firebox. (I like to cut this piece to include some of the columns.)

On the outline piece, trace the firebox opening with a light pencil using the mantel piece die.

Using the layering stamps with two shades of brown ink for the logs and yellow and orange ink for the flames, create the burning logs within the penciled firebox. Using a blending brush, ink up the firebox to make sooty walls. Glue the inner firebox frame around the inked firebox. Use foam squares on the back of the mantel piece to adhere it to the outline piece. Blend some color onto the mantel piece.

Decorations: There are a number of decoration stamps in Fireplace Stamp & Cut set. I stamped both candles, the elf, tallest tree and the pinecones in greenery onto white heavy cardstock and heated embossed them before coloring with watercolor pencils. Next, I fussy cut them out leaving a long tab at the bottom of each to attach them to the fireplace I glued the tabs to the backside of the mantel piece and place foam squares on the backs of the pieces. The stockings were also stamped, heat embossed and watercolored. They are glued to the front of the mantel piece.

Sentiments: All of the sentiments were stamped, and heat embossed onto cardstock. The “ho ho ho” was stamped on pink cardstock to go at the base of the fireplace as if the sounds were coming down the chimney into the firebox. Crosshatch dies were used to cut out the larger sentiments of “Warm wishes” on a rug and “Merry Christmas” on a wall plaque. A second white rug was added for a personal message. The first rug is popped up on foam squares to act as an easel stop while the second rug is glued down for the ease of writing a message.

Envelope: The back flap of the envelope is stamped with a green elf to hint at the magic to come.

CRX Sheet:  With many interactive cards, the recipient needs instructions on how to open and set-up the card. I create CRX sheets (card recipient experience) to include in the envelope. You can download for free the easel/double easel CRX sheet.

Thank you for reading this blog post. I hope this inspires you and makes you smile. Please like and leave comments 😊

Other Fireplace Cards by designer/brand

• Anna Griffin – Holiday Hearth
• Altenew – A Modern Holiday Hearth
• Crafter’s Companion – Pop-Up Fireplace
• Elizabeth Craft Designs – Warm and Cozy Hearth
• Hero Arts – A Magical Fireplace
• Hero Arts – Burning Logs TV
• Karen Burniston – Santa Coming Down the Chimney
• Karen Burniston – Tired Santa
• Karen Burniston – Holiday Card for A Bookworm
• Paper Discovery – Gatefold Fireplace
• Sue Small – Vintage Christmas Cards – Fireplace
• Sue Small – Vintage Christmas Cards – Room Scene
• Multiple designers –An Old-Time Christmas

Materials Used:

Dies

• Hero Arts – Stamp & Cut XL – Metal Dies – Fireplace – DC295
• Karen Burniston in cahoots with Riley and Company – Rectangles and Labels – Crosshatch – 1233

Stamps

• Hero Arts – Stamp & Cut XL – Clear Stamps – Fireplace – DC295

Papers

• Graphic 45 – 8×8 Double-Sided Paper Pack – Let’s Get Cozy
• Recollections – 8.5×11 Cardstock 110 lb – Rose Petals
• White Cardstock
• Park Lane Paperie – A7 Cardbase and Envelope – White

Pigments: Ink, Watercolors & Embossing Powder

• Simon Says Stamp – Pawsitively Saturated Ink – Aegean
• VersaMark – Watermark Stamp Pad
• Ranger – Tim Holtz – Distress Ink- Black Soot and Saltwater Taffy
• Hero Arts – My Monthly Hero Mini Stamp Cubes – Cup O’Joe, Lemon Drop and Creamsicle
• My Favorite Things – Premium Dye Ink – Milk Chocolate
• Sharpie – Permanent Marker – Ultra Fine Tip – Red
• Crafter’s Square – Metallic Marker – .05 In Point – Gold
• Nuvo – Highly Pigmented Watercolor Pencils – Elementary Tones and Brilliantly Vibrant
• Recollections – Detail Embossing Powder – Ebony

Adhesives

• Neutral PH Adhesive by LINECO
• Fine-Tip Glue Bottle
• Foam Squares

Tools

• Die Cutting Machine
• We R Memories – QuickStick
• Stamping Platform
• LDRS – Stampendable Stamping Tool
• Stamping Cloth
• Sponge Dauber
• Ink blending Brush
• Craft Mat
• Scissors
• Heat Tool
• Kat Scrappiness – Anti-Static Tool
• Water Brush
• Kraft Knife