All that's left is to finish addressing and sending Christmas cards.
Whew.
On the Christmas card issue...my son was watching me work on them this morning, and he noticed that I was sending both store-bought and hand-made cards. "Why not do all of one or the other?" he asked. "Well, I don't make enough to send to everyone on the list, so I fill in with store-bought," I replied.
"If I were you, I'd just do store-bought. It'd be easier. I mean, how do you decide who gets which?"
He has a point. It feels like Christmas cards are the most complicated of holiday projects; I end up sending about 120-130 each year. That's a lot of Madonna and Child stamps.
We've also received WAY fewer cards this year...a trend that has been going on for a while now. That makes me sad.
Whatever. I like making Christmas cards too much to quit anytime soon, and what's the point of making them if you don't send them?
I knew you'd understand.
Today's card isn't a Christmas card; it's birthday...with bling.
Papertrey's Beautiful Blooms II has this stylized flower with a large center that is great for the Mega Mixed Messages set. I fussy cut the flower and put it up on dimensionals after stamping the leaves.
Sadly, the design looked so...boring.
Bling to the rescue.
The asymmetry is very deliberate and adds interest to the design. And sparkle. Love the sparkle.
Once again, and I cannot emphasize this enough, bling.
Bling, bling, blingity, bling, bling.
That is all.
So, please share how many Christmas cards you send, if you send them at all. Also, do you automate the process and send printed photo cards?
Hope, peace, joy, and love,
Susan
Supplies
stamps: Papertrey Beautiful Blooms II, Mega Mixed Messages
ink: can't remember exactly, but probably Archival tiger lily, Hero Arts green hills and cup o' joe
paper: Papertrey white
accessories: rhinestones, dimensionals, Cutter-Bee scissors
I make all the cards I send, but I don't need as many, probably just 30 or so. Some of my close friends really appreciate my cards, so I keep it going every year. As long as the number doesn't go up, it's still fun for me.
ReplyDeleteYours was one of the first I received, and I thank you so much for such a beautiful card! Merry Christmas!
DeleteI like to keep people guessing. I struggle to get Christmas cards out each year. Sometimes I send them at Christmas, sometimes I send New Years and sometimes it's Valentines. I always send a card at least once a year to everyone but I refuse to stress over a self-imposed deadline. This way, I can always send homemade cards and include a personalized letter with each one.
ReplyDeleteI have a friend who has always sent New Year's cards. It's her joy in the week after Christmas. Great idea!
DeleteHappy weekend,
ReplyDeleteVery lovely post. Thanks for sharing.
New post
http://www.melodyjacob.com/
Hi Susan, I do make my cards, about 60 total. I belong to two of groups of card makers and we swap every month at one of the groups. I will use the swap cards for some people on my list, because they ARE hand made, just not by me. But I always add a note saying that I didn't actually make that particular card, a friend did. I like using my Christmas stamps and have sort of a problem because I only send religious Christmas cards, yet I have stamps with secular images that I would like to use. Such a problem, huh? The list of recipients of my cards has changed over the years and I do send fewer, but that is partially because some have passed on or we have lost touch for various reasons. The number of cards we receive has decreased by a large number, but I will continue to send my usual amount just because the people I send to are either friends, relatives, or elderly.
ReplyDeleteI respect your dilemma! I mix religious and secular images on Christmas cards, mostly because I feel if it says Christmas, peace, hope, love, or joy...that makes it religious. Those four fruits of the spirit that guide our anticipation of Jesus' birth are, for me, faith-filled, regardless of the image accompanying them. I do send explicitly religious images to a few of my conservative Baptist relatives, though, knowing how they always purchase cards with religious scenes on them.
DeleteIsn't it wonderful we have so many to choose from!?!?
My list of Christmas Cards keeps getting smaller and smaller. So sad, not just because many people aren't here any more but because sending cards seems to be fading tradition. This year for the first time I made 6 cards, involved tri-fold cards. The rest are store-bought. What makes me happiest is when "kids", my children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews send cards--even if they are the printed photo cards. (OK, it might have been nice if my grandson and his wife had at least signed it!) Altogether, I sent about 20 cards. There is an old-fashioned graciousness to sending and receiving cards to hold in my hand.
ReplyDeleteWe have noticed the recent fading tradition of card sending. Several have begun to send Christmas letters via email but I prefer a card. I have to make about 45 each year. In the past I've done cards that require many steps and then go buy cards to send to family and very dear friends who are like family. Next year I've decided that I will make very, very simple cards for most of the recipients and make the time intensive ones instead of purchasing them for family. Most of them will be thrown away after the holiday so I think less time consuming will be better. So very glad that I discovered this blog and sorry you won't be continuing but I know how time intensive that must have been. After the holidays I will have time to visit the archived cards and get caught up.
ReplyDeleteOh, dear! What makes you think I'm stopping this blog? I will certainly be continuing Simplicity, although the OLS challenge blog has ended.
DeleteThank you for explaining this. I guess I just didn't understand that the OLS challenge was separate from your blog. But I'm glad to hear that your blog will continue but I know they are somewhat time consuming.
DeleteI wish you and you family a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful new year ahead.
Lucy Kemp -- my real name -- (I have never quite figured out how to change the iluvdogs that always comes up when I reply to another person's website.)
Merry Christmas to you and yours, Lucy!
DeleteI'very sent cards out every year without fail, but last year it didn't happen because I was just overwhelmed with life in general. Looks like the same thing will be happening this year, which bums me out. I'd hate for anyone to think they got dropped from my list (around 70 names on that list).
ReplyDeleteNicole, I won't drop you from my list...just know mine are definitely going out late this year!
DeleteI love making my Christmas cards...especially when they turn out the way I'd hope! Sending about 50 and try to only send to close friends and those people far away...I get such nice compliments which is a great feeling! I still receive about as many as I send. Should be a discount on Christmas stamps though...it's getting pricey!
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas, Marilyn!
DeleteI make about 50 cards every year, though I may be dropping some people because they have never even sent an email or text thank-you (much less a card). I love making the cards, but I also love knowing that the recipients realize how much they mean to me because I make the cards especially for them. It makes me sad when they don't.
ReplyDeleteMy list is shrinking just a bit this year for the same reason...lots of years without a card or even email.
DeleteIn a funny (to me) turn of events, I send about 85 family and friends the preprinted photo Christmas card, but teachers, coaches, pastors, etc...get handmade cards. I used to design a stamped card/letter around the photo card but now only those whom I don't know as well get the effort. Hum. Maybe I need to rethink my card giving tactics.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like a great system if it works for you. I'm a big fan of "do what works for you."
DeleteI have made all my Christmas cards (about 80) since I began cardmaking, except for last year. I got overwhelmed with life and decided a photo card would have to do. It's amazing how guilty I felt about that, but I figure as long as I'm remembering people that is what is important. I too have been getting fewer cards as the years go by and I miss hearing from people. Thank heavens for Facebook or I might never keep in contact. Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteNo guilt!!!! If you do anything at all, you're doing better than most people! I don't mind receiving photo cards at all. Merry Christmas!
DeleteI make almost all of my Christmas cards. That said, I always have a few ready made ones, just in case I need one at the last minute. I've been working on mine off and on for the last week - and still had only enough for friends at church - so now I have to make a dozen or two more to send out. Hope they'll still arrive before Christmas!
ReplyDeleteI doubt mine will arrive to most destinations before Christmas.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteYour bright card was a happy surprise after so much talk of Christmas cards... a breathe of fresh air!
ReplyDeleteI've seen a decline of homemade cards over the years, even from my die hard card making friends. This year takes the (stale) cake though. I've gotten several emails from people, "Thank you for your homemade card. I'm not sending any cards this year." That's got my undies in a wad.