During my latest trip to the UK, I had an interesting and very educational discussion with some of the local crafters about the use of the phrase “Happy Christmas” versus “Merry Christmas”. I learned a lot. If you are in the UK (or any other part of the world, really) do you prefer your Christmas cards to say “Happy” or “Merry” Christmas? Or does it depend on who you are mailing the card to?
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CARD DETAILS
The card I’m sharing today features a “Happy Christmas” sentiment as well as a nice and sweet sub sentiment reading “From our family to yours”. I started by stamping the sentiment in the bottom center of the Sea Glass cardstock panel and once that was in place I stamped greenery and berry branches. All images come from the Inside Christmas Greetings stamp set from Simon Says Stamp. Funny, but I didn’t actually stamp anything on the inside of the card (not due to the lack of options).
Next, I pulled out my pens and markers and colored these. I used G99, G93, and YG03 to color the large leaves, a white Sakura pen to color the small leaves and a combination of both white Sakura pen and red Jane Davenport pen to color the berry clusters.
With the coloring finished I adhered the panel to the A2 white card base and to add a bit of something extra to this card I coated select berries and leaves with Glossy Accents. I love the simplicity of this card and, of course, I love to stamp my own backgrounds and this card is simply a perfect example of that.
SUPPLIES
I’m listing the products I used below. Click on the link to go directly to the product. Where available I use compensated affiliate links which means if you make a purchase I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you so much for your support!
 Simon Says Clear Stamps Inside Christmas Greetings Shop at: SSS |
 Simon Says Stamp Sea Glass Cardstock Shop at: SSS |
 Neenah 110 Lb Solar White Cardstock Shop at: SSS |
 Ranger Glossy Accents Glue Dimensional Adhesive Shop at: SSS |
 Simon Says Stamp Intense Black Ink Shop at: SSS |
 Mini Misti Stamping Tool Shop at: SSS |
 Sakura Classic White Bold Line 10 Pen Shop at: SSS |
 Sakura Classic White Gelly Roll Pens Set of 3 Shop at: SSS |
 Copic Sketch Marker YG03 Yellow Green Shop at: SSS |
 Copic Sketch Marker YG93 Grayish Yellow Shop at: SSS |
 Copic Sketch Marker G99 Olive Green Shop at: SSS |
 Scor-tape 2 1/2 Inch Crafting Tape Shop at: SSS |
 Spellbinders Thriller Jacket Waterproof Brush Pen Shop at: SSS |
Glad you enjoyed your last trip to the UK. As for merry v happy xmas, to me it depends upon who is receiving the card as to which I use. Your card pattern is awesome, love the bright colours with the pop of outlined images, very inspiring x
Beautiful stamped pattern and coloring! And I would like to know the difference between happy and merry Christmas please.. We don’t celebrate it but it would be great to make cards for friends who celebrate!
Thank you for showing that we can use all those smaller images included in a wonderful sentiment stamp set. I went and put that stamp set into my cart at S.S.S.
I really like the simplicity of the card and the traditional colors. It’s been really interesting and exciting to see how — at least in the U.S. — many other colors have been making their way into the holiday season over more recent years. I use merry on all of my cards simply because I send cards to people in the U.S. If I were going to send a card to someone in the U.K., hopefully I’d remember to use “happy”. What do you all say in Ukraine? Happy? Or Merry? Or something else? I would like to have been a fly on the wall during your conversation about this. I’m always curious what other people do in their country. In Canada (where my relatives are) there is much more to-do about Boxing Day. When I lived in Germany … so much about their traditions that I really liked and miss. I follow a card maker in Australia and down there it’s summer on Dec. 25th!!!! Thanks, Yana. I’ll check back ’cause I’d like to hear what other people say in response to your question.
Love your card Yana. I especially like the use of traditional colours. As for the sentiments, I like to use both depending on the design of the card. If I’m giving greetings for both Christmas and New Year, then I will use Merry Christmas and Happy New Year just so that it isn’t repetitive. Loved having you her in the UK. Please come back again soon❤️
Gorgeous card, Yana. I love the intermittent coloured foliage. 🙂
In Canada we prefer “Merry Christmas”
Love your beautiful card :o)
Gorgeous card! I rarely stamp on the inside of my cards either. I use both Merry and Happy Christmas! Happy Christmas always reminds me of Winnie the Pooh! 🙂