Cards

 Six years ago when I was in Florida for the winter I went to a Farmer's Market where there was a woman selling handmade cards. They were beautiful and I was intrigued. She told me that she gave workshops if I was interested, and I was. We made three cards using her stamps, inks and papers. I thought it was a lot of fun, so ordered a couple of stamp sets and a couple of packages of papers and a few inks. I was hooked!

And that was just the beginning. It has gone on to be a major hobby. I had to buy more storage units in my studio, which was already full of fabric and quilting supplies. I now have about 40 stamp sets, reams of papers, so many inks, a Big Shot machine for cutting dies, many embossing folders and an embossing machine, ribbons, Distress inks, etc. etc. 

I find it to be creative and fun. I make Birthday cards, Get Well cards, Sympathy cards, Thinking of You cards and Thank You cards. I try not to repeat myself. I really should get rid of some of my older sets because I rarely use them. BTW, the stamp sets come with no instructions or suggestions. You can use them in any way you like. You can get ideas on Pinterest to see how some other people have used them.

But this post is about Christmas cards. I send about 45 each year. I know, I know! Not that many people send Christmas cards anymore, but  do. I love to send them and love to receive them. And I love to make them.

I saw a very cute set of Tom Holtz dies last year on sale after Christmas and couldn't wait to use it for this year's cards. It turned out to be very labor intensive. I used seven different dies for each card. Some of them had to be cranked thru the Big Shot machine over and over, especially the Merry Christmas one because the gold paper was very thick.  They are bordered in navy. The other blue is my ironing board cover

I like the Santa and am trying to come up with a different idea for the remaining 40 cards without so many die cuts.. These cards are 5" x 7".

Lasr year's cards were so much easier, no dies, just watercolors, layered papers and a little bow. They were also smaller, 4" x 6". They had three layers for the front, white, red and white again. I like borders.

I do somethling different each year, sometimes several different designs. I can't believe I don't have pictures, but I don't.

I am linking up with Off the Wall Friday.