Cardstock Ornaments- week 11 of my 12 weeks of Christmas inspiration

 Every year for the last several years, I have made handmade ornaments for my nieces and nephews and my boys. I've tried several different kinds and try to incorporate papercrafting into each one. This year, I decided to do layered cardstock ornaments. You can do stamped layers, die cut layers or a shaker ornament. 

I made this shaker ornament on my Facebook live- Coffee and a Card or in this case Coffee and an Ornament. You can use various items as fillers. I used fake snow in one and some older silver sequins in the other. What do you have in your stash that you can use?

To make this ornament, I die cut several pieces of the same shape. I used the layering shape dies from the Branching Out Dies. Pick the size that works best for you. I used a larger size (3rd or 4th largest) and then went down two sizes. To make my frame layer, I put the dies on my cardstock as I wanted them to cut and taped them with temporary or low-tack tape. Then run them through the cut & emboss machine as the same time. This creates a frame. I cut two and adhered them together. This makes the layer stronger. 

Details:

1. Cut 3 shapes the full size you want your ornament to be. 

2. Cut a window sheet layer with the same shape or cut a rectangle to fit the size of your die cut. 

3. Cut 2 frames to layer on the front.

Instructions:

1. Adhere twine or ribbon between 2 of the full die cuts. I use tear & tape over the twine and then add liquid multipurpose glue to the whole die cut. Adhere these together. I like to make a knot toward the die cuts in my loop (see video). Set aside.

2. Brush color onto the third full die cut shape. I used Pool Party and Pretty Peacock classic inks with a large blending brush. After you've created a background and stamped words or images you want, adhere to the layers with twine. 

3. Die cut branches, pinecones and berries. I adhere two together to make the layers stronger. Color with Stampin' Blends markers.

4. Adhere branches, berries and pinecones onto background. 

5. Use your embossing buddy to take away any static or sticky parts on the background, branches, berries or pinecones. 

6. Adhere layers frame layers together.

7. Use tear & tape on back of frame. Adhere window sheet to frame. Press firmly adhering it completely to the frame. 

8. Use Foam adhesive along the back of the window sheet. Line the edges all around the shape creating a frame. Don't leave any space. This encloses your layer for your shaker filler. *See video.

9. Rub embossing buddy on window sheet side that will touch the shaker filler. This helps the filler to not stick to the window sheet. 

10. Place a small amount of filler on your background layer. Carefully place the top down after removing the backing from the foam adhesive. Press firmly ensuring it is all adhered. 

You can create shakers with any shape you like. I like to add extra cardstock layers to each element to make it stronger. 

Tips:

• Don't over fill. I used too much fake snow on this shaker. It doesn't move as well. It still works and definitely looks like a winter wonderland. 
• Make sure you press firmly and apply pressure to the layers that create your shaker. If not, the bits you put in can leak out and the frame may break open.
• layering several layers of cardstock makes this ornament stronger. 
• You can use different things to fill your shaker like fake snow (available at craft stores), sequins (some available through Stampin' Up!® or at craft stores) and small paper die cuts. There are little shapes available in several sets that you could use like the small gingerbread man, pumpkins, stars, hearts, letters- the list is endless. 
• Make shakers based on the recipient and not the season. 

Here's a few other shakers I made.

The other type of cardstock ornament I made was a layered ornament with a frame. This is like the shaker ornament without a window sheet and bits moving around.

This layered ornament actually has nine layers. I used the Textured Notes Dies. I cut eight layers with the second largest Textured Notes dies from Basic White cardstock. Cut five first. The last three will be frames. 

• I kept two for my background layers. The twine or ribbon hanger will be adhered between these layers.
• Then I cut one with the mountain die from Scenic Adventure dies. 
• I cut one with the tree die from Scenic Adventure dies. Adjust the height for each layer as you like. 
• I cut one with the land die from Light & Wonder dies. 
• And lastly I cut three frames. You'll want to layer the die that you used for your other layers with the next size down. I tape them with post-it tape (temporary) and run it through my cut & emboss machine. I did this three times. Then adhere the three frames together to make them stronger. 
• I used a scrap Basic White piece for my deer layer (Autumn Trees dies). This layer tucked under the top land piece so it didn't need to go the full length of the ornament. 

Color was added to the layers with Stampin' Blends markers in Old Olive, Mossy Meadow, Gray Granite, Cloud Cover, Natural Tones Medium and Medium Deep. Use the Color Lifter to soften and lighten the edges of lines.  Merry Christmas is from the November 2025 paper pumpkin stamp set and stamped in Cloud Cover classic ink. 

This layered ornament was created with the Everyday Arches Dies. I used less layers. You can see how many you like if you recreate it. I adhere my ribbon hanger between the stamped layer and the frame layer. It shows and I'm not fond of that. That's why I added two layers to the background so I could sandwich the twine or ribbon between it. 

Products:

• Everyday Arches Dies
• Outdoor Adventure stamp set *available as a bundle
• Lost Lagoon Classic ink pad
• Early Espresso Classic ink pad
• Gray Granite Stampin' Blend marker (light)
• Wink of Stella glitter brush
• Linen Thread
• retired pecan pie ribbon from my stash

After I stamped my layer, I splattered wink of stella all over it. Note: this will react with the classic inks (water-based). I used a paint pen to cover the dots that turned red on my elk.

The last type of cardstock ornament I made was a simple stamped layered die cut. These can be really simple and are just as pretty. I like to use three of the same die cut adhered together to make it stronger. 

You can use any shape. I have added the twine hangers between the bottom and middle layers and also punched a hole at the top. Do what you prefer. I like both. When you make ornaments, you don't have to make them for the winter season. You can tailor them to the recipient and their likes. I did various sizes with current products as well as some retired favorites. 

For my circle ornaments, I used the retired Deckled Circles dies.  One is quite large. I used the fourth largest circle die. For these I layered six pieces of cardstock. You could use colored cardstocks for the middle layers. I adhered my twine hangers toward the middle of my stack. The smaller circle has a hole punched and is covered with ribbon.  The images are from retired sets- house and trees (Yuletide Village), snowmen (Spirited Snowmen) and triangle trees (Coming Home). I colored my images with Stampin' Blends markers. 

Here's a tip for lining up the deckled circles die cuts:

I lined them up before I started adhering or stamping. Pick a spot and make a mark with a pencil. Without taking your stack apart, mark each one in the same place. Then when you go to adhere the layers, line up the marks each time you glue a layer onto the back. 

This ornament is made from three layers of Basic White cardstock. I cut three layers using the Branching Out Dies second largest die. The top layer is stamped with images from Yuletide Village stamp set (retired) and colored with Stampin' Blends markers. I adhered the layers together. I used a small retired circle die I found in my stash (country birdhouse dies) and cut the hole for the twine hanger. Use whatever small circle die you have or a hole punch. I used a retired polka dot ribbon from my stash to make a bow and adhered it over the top of the hole with a glue dot.                                                                                                                        Color Scheme: browns- Pecan Pie, Early Espresso, Crumb Cake, Natural Tones 300 (Medium Deep) and Gray Granite.

It's fun to add a personal touch to the ornaments. Use images that the recipient likes or what represents them. Winter themes are fun, but the magic happens when you make something that connects with the person receiving it. I've used tons of different images over the years like animals, snowmen, initials, trees and even summer images like this sailboat. 

The ornament is made with the second largest die from Perennial Postage Dies. I used three layers. Two are cut from Basic White cardstock and the middle layer is cut from a retired blue cardstock. This helps save my white cardstock for the back and top layers. The top layer was stamped with the sailboat and filler stamps from Sunrise Sailing. Then I put the stamped layer in the coordinating hybrid embossing folder to add some texture. Then I used Pool Party classic ink and a small blending brush to add color to the water. I traced the birds with a gray marker so they would be more visible. I adhered all the layers together. Then I used a hole punch to make a spot for my ribbon hanger (retired pool party ribbon). I tied a piece of Linen Thread around the bottom of my ribbon. This ornament would be great for anyone who loves the ocean, sailing or has a warm Christmas. 

Here are some photos of my ornaments hanging. See the video below on how to make a shaker ornament. 

I know this was a long post with loads of information. Thank you for checking out my ideas. I hope you're inspired to try some cardstock ornaments. These could also be used on gift bags. 

I appreciate the support when you shop in my online store. Thanks for stopping by!

~ Beth