Christmas Bus

F4A854 - Nursery Rhymes / Children's Songs - I chose The Wheels On the Bus

It has become a cherished tradition for me to create a new Bus Christmas Card for my sister each year. She is a bus mechanic, so designing something special and bus themed has turned into one of my favorite holiday projects. This year’s card features a bright school bus die cut from Echo Park. I cut all the layers, assembled them, and added a thin black liner around the windows to give them a crisp, finished look.

Two years ago I ordered a custom Pike stamp from Magnuson Custom Stamps, since Pike is the school district where she works. I used that stamp again this year and white heat embossed it onto the bumper. It is a small detail, but it adds such a personal touch.

For the tires, I used a fun find from last year. My mom discovered a tire tread stamp, and I clear embossed the tires with it to give them a realistic textured shine. The School Bus sentiment comes from Trinity Stamps. The challenge with that stamp is that it is a full bus image, so I have to ink only the sentiment and carefully trim it out. I finally ordered a dedicated School Bus sentiment stamp from Magnuson Custom Stamps for next year’s cards, which will make that step much easier.

To add dimension, I separated the top and bottom portions of the bus die cut and popped the front section up on dimensionals. It gives the bus a nice layered look without overwhelming the design.

This year’s card also includes a die cut Christmas present with a glittery bow for a festive touch. To finish everything off, I added a stamped Merry Christmas sentiment and popped it up on dimensionals as well. It is always a joy to create these cards, and I love how this year’s design turned out.

Thank you for stopping by to see my card today. Your thoughtful comments are always appreciated. If you leave a note, a visit to your blog will follow.

Christmas Bus