I've been trying NOT to send out Christmas cards anymore. Between the time involved with making my own Christmas cards, plus the cost of Postage and Handling, it just seems an unnecessary added stress to the holiday I don't need. On the receiving end, my Christmas cards have been getting less and less every year. I think this is due to the older generation dying off (those are the die-hard Christmas card people!), and the younger generation just doing the annual social media holiday post. I always feel obligated to return a Christmas card to aging relatives who are not on social media, and if you have any of those loved ones in your family, I highly recommend sending them a snail mail card. It will mean the world to them to get a warm holiday greeting in the mail, along with an updated family photo.
Nevertheless, despite my sad attempts to not send out Christmas cards, whenever I get a Christmas card in the mail, I still feel obligated to return one. Here are a couple of cards I made using some gingerbread men I had in my stash. The gingerbread men were die cuts I had made with the grandchildren on a previous project.
I cut the gingerbread men using a Circuit machine then just adhered him to a piece of coordinating designer paper. I then cut a sentiment banner, stamped a sentiment, and adhered it to the card using brads.
My next card is an example of how you can still use broken die cut pieces to create a card. For whatever reason, these gingerbread men didn't cut out well, so I used just a small portion of them on my card: just the undamaged pieces. I put them in film frames (also cut with a circuit) and added some fun sentiments stamped on black paper with white craft ink.
I adhered all the frames to a fun Christmas designer paper and added another sentiment to the bottom frame.
After a decade of seeing a declining amount of Christmas cards, last Christmas I received more Christmas Cards than ever...so much for me NOT sending out Christmas cards anymore. I ended up scrambling to make more Christmas cards, which I will show you next week.
This year, I am once again NOT planning on sending out Christmas cards. We will see how that goes. 😁
So what about you? Do you still send out Christmas cards? I'd love to hear from you.
Have A Great Day! Amy
Linking Up with these Fabulous Blogs HERE!
I stopped doing cards a while back, to me it adds more stress to how stressful Christmas is for me to begin with. Hubby doesn't care one way or the other. Cute cards you made. Thanks so much for linking up at the Unlimited Link Party 92. Shared.
ReplyDeleteYes, it's definitely more stressful. Thanks so much.
DeleteYour gingerbread cards are so cute!!
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteCute card! Your gingerbread man looks like he's doing a happy dance. Thank you for sharing this post in the Talent-Sharing Tuesdays Link-Up 44.
ReplyDeleteCarol
http://www.scribblingboomer.com
Thank you. Yes, it does!
DeleteAwww very cute idea darling
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteThese turned out so very cute and I love how creatively you used the broken gingerbread images on the second card!
ReplyDeleteI make plenty of Christmas cards (mainly due to Design Team work) but only really send to my closets family members/friends or those where I know they will also send one to me. Well, this year even though I had already made enough cards to send, I decided to make photo cards on Shutterfly because I know my family who lives far away would LOVE photo cards, so I selected some favorite pictures of the year and made tri fold cards so I could include several photos.
I do wonder sometimes why I make so many handmade cards anymore I may start selling them again just to make my card making hobby worth wile because I do enjoy making them!!
Thank you! I think Bible Journaling replaced my desire to make cards and has become my new creative outlet, so other than immediate family and closest friends, I don't make cards anymore. If you can sell your cards, great! I never had much luck with that.
DeleteCONGRATS Amy! Your post is FEATURED at the Unlimited Link Party 93!
ReplyDeleteThat's awesome Dee!
DeleteI'm getting a Cricut too! I know there's a learning curve but I'm looking forward to being able to make stickers.
ReplyDeleteMy cricut is super old, and still uses cartridges. I don't think I've ever mastered it and find it very frustrating. I would never buy another one. But it's still working, and I still use it. It works exceptionally well for mass producing, so I think a teacher or someone who could use it professionally would benefit the most from it.
DeleteI have an old Cricut, too, with the cartridges. I don't use it often enough to feel especially confident doing so. But have been forcing myself to use it more with my scrapbooking. My sister has the newer model that allows you download images to cut. She struggles using it so newer might not be any better.
DeleteIt doesn't sound like the new one is any better. I think I will just stick with my old Cuttlebug and dies. That has always worked the best for me.
DeleteI just addressed my Christmas cards earlier this evening. I feel much the same way about cards as you do. But if I am going to send them, I am going to make them to send. I love your joyful gingerbread cards. Just precious.
ReplyDeleteGood for you for hand making all your cards. I am standing firm and skipping it this year. Thanks so much.
DeleteSo thoughtful of you, Amy! The cards will certainly make them smile.
ReplyDelete-Soma
Thank you!
DeleteAmy, those cards are cute. I don't send cards out. But I enjoy sending snail mail as a just because, to a few people. I just got a Cricut 3 weeks ago, I'm working on getting the hang of it.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing these great cards with Sweet Tea & Friends this month.
Merry Christmas Sweet friend.
Thank you. I wish you better luck with your Circuit than I've had.
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