Christmas Cards

We all get them every year.

Sometimes we don't know what to do with them.

Do you put them in a basket?

Hang them up around the doorframes?

Attach them to your Kitchen cupboards?

I've done ALL of the above.

A couple years ago, I made this embroidery frame card holder that I modeled after a Martha Stewart one.

I like it, and still use it, but I also created something else last year.

After Christmas was over, I used to scrapbook the cards we got every year, but that took up a lot of pages in my scrapbooks, so I decided to do something that was more compact, and that I could flip through every year if I wanted to.

I saw the idea on either Pinterest or in an Etsy shop, I can't even remember, but once I saw it, I was on a mission.

First, I needed a Christmas golden book.

You remember those golden books we had growing up...well, I needed one, so I headed to Goodwill where I knew they would be the cheapest if I could find one.

I did.

I took off the binding, and punched holes (with my crocodile punch) through both covers and all the pages.  I wanted to keep the pages intact as well, to mix in with the cards I would be getting.

I made a title page first...

Then interspersed the cards we got from friends and family.

It's not too bulky, and it is great to sit on the coffee table from year to year.

The kids like to go through it, and I like to see the changes in our friends and their families from year to year.

I even picked up another golden book for this year...

It serves my love of vintage books and my love of friends and family to a T.

Easy as pie.

Homemade? Or Store bought?

It's always a dilemma for me when it comes to Christmas cards.

Do I make my own, or order online, or buy a box at the store?

For the last 4 years, I've made my own, save for one lapse.  Just one.

I don't pride myself on the fact that I make "homemade" cards, it's just something I like to do...IF I have the time.  That is a big IF.

Back in 2008, I made my first one.

(disclaimer...horrible camera phone picture...the original is a sepia tone picture, mounted on a card with festive scrapbook paper and the  title:  Shepherds watched their flocks by night.

Because we have our own sheep, the title suited us!

The next year, I tried something different.

I made individual tags, covered with scrapbook paper, and with a stamped message on the back.  I put each one into a small bag made out of part of a lunch sack.  Rudy posed perfectly!

In 2010, I entered a contest through my very new blog, that won me 50 free Christmas cards from Shutterfly.com.  It was AWESOME.  I LOVED the cards.

In 2011, I tried homemade again, and got kinda fancy with my Cricut machine.

Each one was unique, color-wise.    They were alot of work!

This year...I'm up in the air.  I've yet to take a picture of the kids, and wonder when I'll even have the time to get one of them together!  Not to mention how lately they don't like their picture to even be taken.

BUT, I was surfing on Pinterest the other day, looking for card ideas.  I found several, and I like something from each of them...so ideas are forming in my mind as I write this.

If you're weighing the options...what would you do?  What should I do?
You're thoughts are much appreciated!

I'm sorry

I'm sorry.  My content hasn't been the greatest lately.

I've been struggling with what to write, dealing with the new van issues on what we thought was a bad deal, but which has now been fixed, and all the Christmas last minute stuff which you all are dealing with as well.  I'm trying to get through the last couple weeks of school with the kids acting like crazy circus animals cause they are just as ready to get out as we are.

The kids did allow me, one day on the way to the library after school, to stop at the local apple orchard and take their picture for our Christmas cards.

This place has the best old truck sitting outside.  I've used it for pictures when the kids pick their pumpkins, as a back drop for their yearly pictures when they were little, and now for this.  It's a GREAT truck.

They weren't crazy about the scarves.  Oh well...it's Christmas, it's cold, WEAR THEM!

I think they turned out pretty well.  They've already been sent out.  At least that is done.

So, today, I'll be following my "LAST MINUTE CRAZY LIST" to the "T".  I'll be finishing up the gifts I make for all the kindergartners every year.  I'll finish up my mom's gift, and write the "family" story that we need to write for the family Christmas we have tomorrow.  I'll make my layered jello salad, and get my freezer corn ready to eat.  I'll pick up Grace from a sleepover, take Evan to a birthday party, and take all the stuff back to the Library.  I'll probably have to do several loads of laundry, and get supper ready to.

I'm eagerly anticipating the fact that there are only 3 more days left of school this week before break.  And I have high hopes for Christmas break that I will get many more things accomplished.

My last wish, though, before Christmas, that we at least get SOME snow.  It feels more like Christmas that way.  Up until yesterday, our temps soared back up to the mid 50's and we were getting rain every day.  It's December, it probably should feel like it.

So, I'll stop complaining and listing all that I have to do.
Have a happy Saturday.  I know I will.

Christmas Card Organizer

Many years ago when my kids were little, and I was heavily into Martha Stewart magazines (I still am...just don't get the subscription anymore) I made one of these Christmas card organizers.

I have no idea what happened to it over the 3 moves since then, but I figured it was time for another.

This summer I picked up a sewing/cross stitch/quilting loop at Goodwill with high hopes of putting material in it and hanging it on the wall....but it hasn't happened yet, so I thought it was time to use it for something else.

I got out some wooden clothespins too.

First, before you hot glue any one, place them around the circle (or in this case...oval...) to make sure of the placement.  I alternated the way the pins were going so all my cards weren't on top of each other.

Then hot glue in place, but NOT on the hinge.

I thought it was a little plain, so I added some material roses and some old scrabble tiles I had.

I put some green ribbon on the top, and just tied it around a nail, topped with one of my old vintage doorknobs.

Finished product...

Ready and waiting for more Christmas cards.  One down, many to go!

Christmas Card Deal from Shutterfly!

You don't want to miss this. You see, I came across this in one of my sidebar links. Farmgirl Paints posted about this incredible deal from Shutterfly, and I had to get on board!



Bloggers get 50 free holiday cards from Shutterfly if you just follow some simple rules set by them. Easy. Really. If I can do it, so can you! All you have to do to apply is go here and register and do exactly as they say.




I usually make my own holiday cards. Its takes FOREVER. I've always looked at Shutterfly's website, but just never committed because by then, I had already started mine. Each year it gets harder and harder for me to make 80+ cards, so this year, I'm doin' this deal for half of my list at least. If you go here you can see some really cute cards, and if you click here you can see some more.




Here are some that I really like and can't decide which one I like the best (comment below and give me an idea...of course, some of you will actually be getting the card, so act surprised!)





I really like this one, called Sweet and Retro Christmas Card because it's very vintagey (is that a word?)

I like this one too....called Frosted Frame Christmas Card because it's the colors I'm going with in my picture.

The third option is called Shimmering Stars Christmas Card. I love it just because it's pretty!

Fourth option is called Retro Kaleidoscope Holiday Card. I like the multi-colored wording and the vintagey snowflakes.






This fifth option is called Family Frame Christmas Card. A very classic look with some frills.
And lastly, this one is called Perfect Present Christmas Card. I love that your picture is "framed" for lack of a better term.



But Shutterfly isn't just all about cards. They also make wall art out of any picture you have. Check it out here.

I hope this will save me time this year. I always am making cards up till the last minute! Thanks Shutterfly for this terrific option!