That brings me to my card. OK--I already broke the flat rule! Note--I did say most, not all!
Saturday, January 14, 2017
Noel & Plan for 2017
Last month I figured out ways to decrease my stress around mailing Christmas cards. I had plenty of cards made since I create them all year long. However, none of them had the inside greeting or the "created by Greta" stamped. This year my plan is to do the additional stamping once a month--a reasonable goal for me. I also realized that a lot of my stress was over deciding which card to send to each person. Making all one design is not an option for me, but making most of them A2 & flat enough for 1 stamp is possible. Each month when I stamp the greeting I will write the potential recipient on a sticky note. Since they will all fit in the same envelopes, I can address them at my leisure starting in the Fall. Then the first of December I will begin signing cards with enough time to even write a little note. Your stressors may be different, but maybe some of my ideas will help you, too.
That brings me to my card. OK--I already broke the flat rule! Note--I did say most, not all!
My last Winnie & Walter order included the wonderful noel die which I cut from self-adhesive fun foam so I could cover it in Elizabeth Craft Champagne glitter. I was inspired by The Gossip Column No. 6 to make a marble background. This is not something I've ever done, so here's my experiment. Watercolor paper, Distress Paints picket fence & antique linen & Adirondack Cranberry Dimensional Pearls. The design faded as it dried, but decided to go with it anyway. Hoping this looks like a modern, elegant design--you can decide. The little sprigs are from W&W Frenchy's Festive Florals which are stamped in Distress Ink pine needles & brushed with water. The panel is die cut with Lil' Inker stitched rectangle which I matted with a piece of cardstock for a bit more dimension.
The sequins seemed to compliment the design last night, but this morning they looked way too yellow. So, another experiment--add Platinum Liquid Pearls. Big improvement & it actually had the added bonus of looking like marble--to me, at least--haha! I'm also entering Merry Monday & HLS Christmas. Thanks so much for taking time to stop by.
That brings me to my card. OK--I already broke the flat rule! Note--I did say most, not all!
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I like that subtle marble effect a lot!I never tried it but it sure looks great. And that sentiment is lovely. Thanks for sharing your tips/plans to tackle the stress about mailing christmas cards. Have a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean about stressing over meeting the deadline for Christmas card-giving. None of my cards are alike--they're all unique w/their own DSP--and each one is designed with the person in mind. I set the goal of 125 cards, plus an add'l 10 to give as "extras" to certain friends who faithfully follow my FB posts on the cards I've made throughout the year.
ReplyDeleteI met both goals, but not w/out a little frustration as I realized that a few of the cards were either missing my "Made by..." or "innie" sentiment. Luckily for me, I am retired, and have extra "me" time to work those cards while Hubs is having his "me" time watching his fave TV channels. 😉
I think setting a goal to make those cards, a little at a time each month, makes more sense; trouble is, I don't always have the inspiration to make Christmas cards in Feb, May or Jun. But once I have the inspiration, I am a human automaton! Thanks for sharing what, I'm sure, is a common frustration.
Sorry--I meant "are identical", instead of "are alike".
Deletewonderful card, Greta - love the subtle marbling - have tried this before and it never turns out to my liking - great ideas for the christmas card stress.
ReplyDeleteLovely card, Greta, I love the marbled background. Addressing all the Christmas card envelopes is the job I dislike the most. Every year I plan to get all the names and address on the computer earlier in the year and then just print them straight onto labels in December. One year I might actually get round to doing it! xx
ReplyDeleteGreat way to use the fun foam to create the sentiment. I love the subtle marbled red in your background layer too! Thanks for playing Merry Monday this week!
ReplyDeletelovely card, greta!! the glittery noel is so pretty!! your plan for this year's cards sounds like a fantastic one to me!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful glittery Noel sentiment for your lovely Christmas card, Greta! Great tips for your cards to mail for Christmas. I always tell myself to start earlier for Christmas and then never do!:)
ReplyDeleteThe marbled background looks lovely Greta - that is something else I've not tried. It looks fab with the clean and simple lines of your card. Thanks for sharing the tips about de-stressing next Christmas. One of my scrappy friends does similar things and she also, adds the addresses and stamps at the end of each month, so that the cost of postage is spread throughout the year.
ReplyDeleteP.S. I have a Christmas address list which I amend each year - it's easy to print out the sticky labels and reduces the amount of hand writing which I find difficult with arthritic fingers. :D
ReplyDeleteNo Christmas stress...great way of thinking. And a lovely Christmas card. Well done, Greta!
ReplyDeleteI like your plan of action girlie!
ReplyDeleteGreat plan and lovely card! I love to make cards but getting around to sending them is another thing altogether! I dither about what to send to whom too... I don't like making Christmas cards too early as my ideas change and I've 'gone off' the early ones haha! Have a good day my friend ... sending hugs
ReplyDeleteI am totally in need of a new way of organising my Christmas card sending! I ended-up having to send New Year greetings cards as well this year (but actually found that was fun). Your card is lovely and that sparkle is magical. BTW, the sign-up for the February CCC is open on the new site. It's hidden by Deborah's note about her health so you'll have to scroll back a post if you'd like to join in again. So pleased to see you in the January chain. Have a happy Sunday, Jo x
ReplyDeleteI love your plan for Christmas cards and it would work for me too if I only got started on the cards! I did find the part about not having an inside greeting true this year when I went to mail them. I do want to get started earlier this year. I love the subtle marbling and bright Noel. This is a pretty Christmas card and with the foam I wouldn't think it needed extra postage. I am so glad to see you posting. I had visions of you buried in snow and iced in. Your state is on the news everyday with your unusual weather. Stay warm.
ReplyDeleteLOVE your bold NOEL and your marbled background Greta...CAS and beautiful!! Love your tips and have to tell you my goal is to finish each inside as I make my cards this year too...it is very stressful to have to finish all those insides at once in December for me too! Thanks so much for sharing with us at Merry Monday this week!! :0)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful card with the fabulous Noel die cut (great idea on foam!) and the marbled background, it is elegant. You struggle with the same as I do when it comes to preparing cards to mail out... it's a 2 day project with all the stamping (on the back and inside) and figuring out which card goes to who. I've thought about the same thing, just make them flat and mostly the same, but that's too boring ! I like making one of kind and a lot of my cards are too thick to mail. The challenge of making cards by hand :) And just think how much money we save by making our own cards :) ha ha ... Happy Sunday xx
ReplyDeleteSuch a pretty card Greta! Love the shimmery gold sentiment!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful card. Thanks for the tips!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous card Greta, and your plan sounds like a winner. This year and for the last two years I have kept track of the received Christmas cards and next year I am culling my mail out list. That should alleviate some of my stress, along with making 4-5 Christmas Cards each month, 2-3 Valentines and Halloween cards and 1 Thanksgiving card. That's 10 cards a month for later in the year. I already have a special little lidded bin set for the cards too. Hmmm...maybe I better get started...lol the month is half over.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you, Greta - will plan to stamp the card insides ongoing, rather than waiting until November. I had done a few that way last year but I was sitting there in November with a large pile to stamp on the inside - not fun. Just love your Noel card - so fun with the glitter and the little sprigs!!
ReplyDeleteThat's a lovely card! I am like you, when I make a card, I never had any wordings on the inside including the holiday cards. What I did when comes to Christmas card, I make at least 4 to 6 at one go, and then by end of the year, I dig out all the Christmas cards and my list of people to sent to, and start stamping the inside. However, I am just to lazy to stamp "made by Kirsty", : (
ReplyDeleteBeautiful card Greta!
ReplyDeleteAnd a great idea for taking the stress off Christmas cards!
Love that marbled background and the glittery noel! Good plan on getting those cards ready. Deciding which card to go where always takes so long.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your ideas on how to make next Christmas season less stressful. I also underestimated the time it takes to finish the insides and sign them all so I have moved my deadline up a month. Since I make all the same cards (with a few exceptions) at least I don't have to spend time thinking about which card to send to whom. That would be too stressful for me.
ReplyDeleteFabulous card! I like the subtle effect of the marbling!
Some great ideas there for a stress free mailing. I must try and make my cards flatter this year too. Love the Noel on this card.
ReplyDeleteHugs Mrs A.
Sounds like you've got a plan! Great ideas to make Christmas cards a lot less stressful. Your Noel card is so pretty. Very pretty marbled background!
ReplyDeleteYou are so organized!
ReplyDeleteWay to go Greta!
Love your card with its yummy texture!
Hugs~
Sounds like the perfect strategy for your Christmas cards! Your background on this one is terrific. Wonderful card!!
ReplyDeleteI love the glittery NOEL and I really relate to the Christmas card issues -I, too, make them all year but I was struggling to get them sent out before the big day! Yes, no stamped insides, ages choosing who to send what and also for me , the addressing. Must be like you and get a better strategy into place.
ReplyDeleteYet again, I've fallen behind in commenting! My goal of 'keeping up' has already fallen by the wayside...but here I am now, oohing and ahhing over your gorgeous glittery Noel set atop the oh-so-pretty marble background! WOW! Yes, Christmas card making has its stresses; your strategies sound fabulous! I need to make Christmas cards year round...that would be a wise first step *grin*
ReplyDeleteHugs~c
This is so very pretty! Love how you did the background, too! Thanks so much for playing with us at Happy Little Stampers Christmas challenge!
ReplyDeleteBautifull card. Thanks for your participation in HLS christmas challange. Hope to se youb in outher next challande. //Zora
ReplyDeleteLove your subtle marbling. I'm still trying to figure out how to do this myself. Also found a video about marbling using acrylic paints and a salad spinner. No kidding! And the results were amazing once they had figured out how to get the best results. Will have to find a larger salad spinner for my craftroom lol. I know what you mean about trying to decide which card to send to whom. November's nightmare...
ReplyDeleteA very cool experiment, and loving your thoroughly modern marble! Thanks for spreading The Gossip on w&w's The Gossip Column!
ReplyDelete