Christmas cards using Nitwit Collections All is Calm free digikit from Simply Cards & Papercraft #181

Today's post features four cards I created for September's Simply Cards & Papercraft issue #181 (available for purchase on newsstands now) using Nitwit Collections All is Calm free digikit. Click HERE to download. Except for the basic cardstock used, all papers and images are from the kit. The kit's large variety of images and papers will give you endless options for quick, easily mailed Christmas cards.

For this circular Christmas Bells card, I digitally manipulated and layered elements from the kit, using my digital image processing application's shadow tool to give the images depth. The sentiment was mounted on 3D foam tape to make it stand out.

Ribbons and pearls top off  this Joy at Christmas card.

3D foam tape highlights the circular sentiment and snowflake button on this Peace on Earth card. Doesn't the tag look like it's separate from the background paper? Using the shadow tool with your digital images gives the impression of layers without the bulk.

I digitally manipulated several individual images in the kit to create this Merry Christmas card, adjusting sizes, layering and adding shadows. The church, trees, snow banks, street lamps, sentiment, background paper and buttons are all separate items on a single layer. The buttons really prove how realistic the shadow tool can make your images look. At first glance you'd swear those were real buttons, wouldn't you?

In addition to the free downloadable digikit, issue #181 is packed with freebie goodness! There is an awesome paper pack (can't wait to get creating with that one), traditional stamp kit and cute as a button pickup cutting die!!! There's a video (HERE) showing the freebies. Simply Cards & Papercraft is easily found on newsstands across the UK and at  Barnes and Noble, Jo-Ann’s, Michael's, Books-a-Million and AC Moore stores in the US. In Canada you can find it at Indigo Chapters.

I'm linking up with: Little Red Wagon #461 – Old or New Trends (it would be 'new' with this one), Watercooler Wednesday Challenge #185 – ATG, Jingle Belles 24/08 – Shape-up for the Holidays, Winter Wonderland 31/08 – Christmas Joy, and The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge #35 – ATG.