October 1, 2008
Christmas Card Alert
Don’t look now, but Christmas is just around the corner!
WHAT!!! I hear you cry. It can’t be nearly Christmas. We’ve still got a whole bunch of holidays to get through before Christmas gets here.
Well of course, that’s perfectly true. But Christmas seems to take just that bit more planning and preparation so you really do have to start thinking about it a fair while in advance.
And one of the important planning things for Christmas is your cards.
Now I don’t know about you, but I like to make my own Christmas cards. I enjoy the special buzz from giving something I have made myself and frankly, having done it for a few years, it’s pretty much expected from my family and friends now that I’ll be sending them a personally made card.
This can be a whole heap of pressure if you don’t get started making them really early. And to be honest, I often used to find that the excitement and enthusiasm tended to flag well before I’d completed all the cards I needed to send. Somewhere around the 20th card you start to wonder “What was I thinking?”
That’s why I make my Christmas cards on the computer now.
Let’s face it, a Christmas Card is basically a miniature scrapbook layout.
I can print two cards per sheet of photo paper. And I can easily tweak each card to make it more personal if I want to. And then If I want to give them a bit of lumpy-bumpiness I usually add some brads, a bit of ribbon or a Christmas embellishment to the front. And job done. A great looking Christmas card that I can print as many copies as I want.
In fact the bow in the Christmas card illustration above is not on the original card that I made. I actually used a real ribbon bow on the cards that I sent out. It was such a quick and easy embellishment but it just added that special touch to the card.
Plus it’s the work of a moment to put together that last minute card for the person who sends you one but who you accidentally forgot to make one for.
So if you’re looking at a hectic lead up to Christmas this year (and who isn’t) then maybe digital or hybrid Christmas cards are the way to go.
And if you don’t already do digital scrapbooking then maybe now is the perfect time to learn.
There are plenty of tips and techniques in the archives of Scraps of Mind. Just click on the Articles link at the top of this page. Or even better, click over to Step by Step Digital Scrapbook which is a site designed especially to help beginners get started in digital scrapbooking.
Stumble it!
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13 Responses to “Christmas Card Alert”
No time for Christmas cards for me yet, I’m too busy making Christmas graphics - I’ve decided to do “Sparky’s Christmas Freebies” this year again
And yes, listening to Christmas Carols while drawing is a must, I’m already in the mood!
Love your Christmas card - I’ll send you one by snail mail this year, maybe even handmade
Antoinettes last blog post..Meet Herman
By Antoinette on Oct 2, 2008
You did a fantastic series of Christmas freebies last year Antoinette. Let me know when you start putting them on your blog so I can promote them in the Friday round up.
By karooch on Oct 2, 2008
Come on now I’m only just getting my head wrapped around the idea of Halloween - no talk of Christmas yet allowed!
By john on Oct 2, 2008
You better not let us down this festive season, I’ve decided to do something different this year and with your cards, I can create a great buzz for a whole bunch of my clientele, especially with this credit crunch hitting everyone. Something to put a smile back on their faces and encourage them to start savings. Will be watching this space!
Monicas last blog post..Seventeen and in debt
By Monica on Oct 2, 2008
Oh No! You didnt have to point that out you know Karen!
KylieMs last blog post..Life Story Part V
By KylieM on Oct 2, 2008
I’m sorry to have to draw your attention to the cruel facts of life Kylie and John. But no matter which way you look at it, Christmas is going to happen before you know it.
Let me know what you decide to do with your Christmas Cards this year Monica.
By karooch on Oct 2, 2008
I must confess that I haven’t done Christmas cards in a couple of years, although one year I did New Year’s cards because I was late!
This is a great way to turn a chore into a fun activity.
By Maria | Never the Same River Twice on Oct 3, 2008
I like the New Year’s Cards maria. Nice touch.
Yes it does keep the fun in the activity. I always used to start out full of enthusiasm and energy when I mad all my cards by hand. Of course I usually was doing it in a rush, having left it until the last possible minute (not like the awesomely organized Antoinette in the comment above). And then by the time i was half way through it just became hard slog and I was just glad to be finished.
Well that’s not the way a Christmas activity is supposed to be! So now I have a digital/hybrid approach to making cards it’s all so much easier and I can really enjoy the process.
By karooch on Oct 3, 2008
Oh yikes, you’re right! Fortunately I don’t have lots of Xmas cards I need to send, but I’d better start working on something for my mom now… I’m always late. Hmm, actually I’d better start on her birthday card first. The whole idea of a card being a mini-scrapbook is great though. My mom will love that. I live 5,000 miles away and she never gets to see me, but she loves to get postcards and photos - so there you go - scrapbooking cards will be the perfect thing! Thank you!
Donna | The Healthy Eating Sites last blog post..Crockpot Apple Crumble
By Donna | The Healthy Eating Site on Oct 7, 2008
Well I’m very glad I prompted you Donna. you can tell your Mum that she owes me one
By karooch on Oct 7, 2008