Splitcoaststampers.com - the world's #1 papercrafting community
You're currently viewing Splitcoaststampers as a GUEST. We pride ourselves on being great hosts, but guests have limited access to some of our incredible artwork, our lively forums and other super cool features of the site! You can join our incredible papercrafting community at NO COST. So what are you waiting for?
What, if any, changes would you make to next year's Christmas Cards?
After weighing and mailing this year's Christmas cards, next years will be very different; fewer layers, less bulky embellishments and I'll stamp the inside and back after making a dozen or so instead of waiting until they are all done.
Too many of this year's cards required 2 and a few 3 stamps. I used Recollections 110 lb for the bases and frequently used double sided printed papers which made them very heavy; they looked great but I don't want to spend that much money on stamps except for a few special people.
This year I made all flat cards with gems as embellishments. This is a change I made this year as I am tired of paying over $2 in postage for just one card. I don't see any changes in next years cards. I can't even think about next Christmas. Can I get through this Christmas first??
We can discuses Christmas 2015 cards in or around September next year, OK?lol
__________________ The quickest way for a parent to get a child's attention is to sit down and look comfortable. Practice safe eating always use condiments
My cards were all the same; I too used Recollection 110# for the base. They had several layers and cost .70 each to mail. Ouch! But I only had 21 to mail, the cards made me happy and the feedback I am getting from my recipients made it worthwhile.
Location: along the bluffs of the Upper Mississippi River
Posts: 4,146
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Raising hand as another one who hasn't finished their cards yet! I wanted to take today off from work, but could only get this morning off. I'll be working on them like crazy here in a few minutes.
Mine are the most CAS like Christmas cards I've ever made. There is a bit of fussy cutting. Maybe that's why I'm behind.
So, I actually plan to start next summer instead of after Thanksgiving. I want them to go out Dec. 1st, 2015! I never, ever wanted to start cards in summer....never say never!
__________________ All I want is the chance to prove money won't make me happy!
Start earlier. This year I had a heck of a time figuring out what I wanted to do and then when I did, I didn't get started right away. I know what I want to do for next year, I would like to get going on them soon!
I started earlier than usual this year, but next year I want to FINISH earlier. I also plan to reduce the bulk (brads, rhinestones, bows). I had less this year, but I don't think I'll use any next year. I'll stick to enamel dots and Liquid Pearls.
Welllll I haven't finished them yet. I used masking fluid on mine which stinks like the devil so I might find a substitute for that.
Rubber cement might work - I notice Jennifer Mcguire uses it when she masks for distress ink backgrounds. I've bought some to play with.
As for the OP - Maybe make mine "more complicated" though my CAS ones this year were probably more complicated than they look because of the embossing, but it needed that little bit of "wow how did she do that?"
This year I made six (yes, six! Count 'em! ;) ) Christmas cards in April, and didn't really make any more after that. I don't like to get stressed out over cardmaking cos then it becomes a chore, so I just bought some printed charity cards to send to most people.
For next year I want to start early and, as someone up-thread mentioned, also finish early!
Especially for the international ones I keep them single layer to save on paying excess postage costs, so next year perhaps I can make the UK ones a bit fancier
This year I made six (yes, six! Count 'em! ;) ) Christmas cards in April, and didn't really make any more after that. I don't like to get stressed out over cardmaking cos then it becomes a chore, so I just bought some printed charity cards to send to most people.
For next year I want to start early and, as someone up-thread mentioned, also finish early!
Especially for the international ones I keep them single layer to save on paying excess postage costs, so next year perhaps I can make the UK ones a bit fancier
Don't feel bad! I made 6 & sent 5! LOL
I want to start sooner next year! I just couldn't find an image I liked & finally saw a die used over at SSS & cased their card, making a few changes! (I don't like to case cards for Christmas, but it was SO CUTE!) I WISH the stamp companies would come out with their Christmas line EARLIER!!!!! (ANYONE LISTENING????) LOL
I always say (to myself!) that I am going to participate in the Christmas Card Challenge and commit to making a certain number each month. Then I don't follow through. :(
My problem is that I see so many different cards that I want to CASE that I cannot decide on one single design for everyone. So I end up with a stash of different cards & I don't remember who got which card. I am not dedicated enough at home to maintain a spreadsheet with that info.
What would I *like* to do different next year? Decide early on a design and make enough of them for the people that I mail cards to. That way, as it gets closer to Christmas and I start seeing all those fabulous cards that I want to CASE, I can do so at my leisure for my family members.
I say it every year, and it never happens,lol. Start Earlier! and keep going. This is the second year in the last few I haven't made my own, due to health problems getting in the way. Both years I'd started early, but dragged my feet because I had plenty of time. Which promptly got snatched away. This year I started back at the beggining of Sept, as I'd had surgery for a temporary colostomy- I've had a Rectal Cancer diagnosis earlier this year- and had to have this so I could have radiotherapy without it causing blockages. I knew the therapy would finish mid November, and as I had my cards half done, thought the couple of weeks after I'd finished would let me recover and I could get them put together. As I'd been absolutely fine all the way through the radio, I did not expect to fell like I'd been hit by a bus the day after it finished! Spent the last three weeks feeling sorry for myself, and either a) in pain, b) waiting for painkillers to kick in, or c) knowing pain killers are wearing off. Anyhow, I'm finally starting to feel ok again, but its bought cards this year, all round. The only upside is that I do have next years cards half made, lol.
I don't have to make a lot of cards so it's not really that difficult. This year I doubled the number of cards I made of each design- NEXT year those extra cards will be sold at my community craft fair in August!
Feel free to start in September, or later. I just can't handle that kind of stress. I started last night. Now if I get a bunch of cards this week, I have some to send to those people and can start again in January.
When I was a demo, I started in July, but my demo this year made Christmas cards only in November, so I was way behind and most my relatives got those charity cards. I could switch over to those, but what am I going to do with all those pretty papers?
[QUOTE=DianeinSparks;20841424I'll stamp the inside and back after making a dozen or so instead of waiting until they are all done.
[/QUOTE]
Diane, this is my goal for next year too. So often, I make the outside of the card and rush off to photograph it, then it ends in a pile of unfinished cards - and when I come back to it, I can't remember what ink colour I used on the front sentiment (I like to keep the ink colour the same on the inside). Or I grab it thinking it's ready to mail, only to discover there's no sentiment on the inside - that has happened a couple of times this week!
__________________ Susan
My SCS gallery is here should you care to look! Or please visit my blog, Cardmaker's Garret.
I say it every year, and it never happens,lol. Start Earlier! and keep going. This is the second year in the last few I haven't made my own, due to health problems getting in the way. Both years I'd started early, but dragged my feet because I had plenty of time. Which promptly got snatched away. This year I started back at the beggining of Sept, as I'd had surgery for a temporary colostomy- I've had a Rectal Cancer diagnosis earlier this year- and had to have this so I could have radiotherapy without it causing blockages. I knew the therapy would finish mid November, and as I had my cards half done, thought the couple of weeks after I'd finished would let me recover and I could get them put together. As I'd been absolutely fine all the way through the radio, I did not expect to fell like I'd been hit by a bus the day after it finished! Spent the last three weeks feeling sorry for myself, and either a) in pain, b) waiting for painkillers to kick in, or c) knowing pain killers are wearing off. Anyhow, I'm finally starting to feel ok again, but its bought cards this year, all round. The only upside is that I do have next years cards half made, lol.
I hope you are starting to feel better! I am sorry that you have being going through this, and I am pretty sure everyone will be happy to have you feeling better and beating cancer so don't worry about store bought cards xxx
I say this every year....and one of these years I am GOING TO DO IT.....I am going to make really FLAT cards....easy to mail. No bumps of a ribbon knot here, or an extra snowflake embellishment there. Just one or two layers, stamps and ink....
After spending time in the post office yesterday getting about half of my cards weighed, and measured to see if they fit through the little cardboard slot thingy....and at least a quarter of them needing extra postage because they turned out an odd size that I had to make envelopes for....*sigh*
Seriously...next year....flat cards. :-)
Shazsilverwolf: Woof. I am glad to hear you are on the mend. And absolutely, positively DO NOT feel bad about buying cards. I dont know that I would have done anything in your shoes. I very well might have just skipped it.
As I mentioned in another thread-it will be to start early and be done by TG drop dead time. I used to think people are crazy. Well this year I knew my design, and talked about doing it, and a friend made me a lovely card-I had sent her a bought one b/c I ran out of time. I felt totally ashamed. I dont plan to feel that way again.
One reason it takes me a long time to come up with a design is the keeping the weight down aspect. Right now-I am in love with inlay. Single layer in the end, looks fabu. And why I have lighter weight stock...so I dont pile heavy CS on top of each other in layers. Thinner stock and DP help. Keeping in mind 90% of the people getting them are not going to know the difference and will toss it anyway. Helps keep costs down too.
TBH I think sending store bought cards when people know you are a card maker sort of makes people wake up and appreciate it when you do make them a card. It is ALL good!
No worries about getting Christmas cards out before the holiday. If those 3 Wise Men could wait to deliver their gifts until January 6th, then so can I! The 12 Days of Christmas start Dec 25 and end on Jan 6th...another justification. So, no worries! I seem to be more inspired after the 25th than before. Love it!
I'm going to finish mine next year. Decided this year will be Digital and will mail some New Years instead. Have started about 60 and need to do the insides yet. No time, vertigo has struck and craft room is in basement unfortunatley. Oh well, next year! lol Have a great day all!
I would start much earlier. I started the year with a dislocated finger and complications from that, so I couldn't really stamp in January and early February and that sort of broke any early momentum and it took quite awhile for me to get started. I made a cute snowman card recently that didn't get sent, so I am hoping that I will make a few more of them in January and that might get me started right for the year.
The other thing I HOPE to do different is to make all my cards with stamps (and digis) that I already own. Cannot tell you how many Christmas images I have that haven't been inked up. So I am going to try to shop my own stash to find images for my cards next year. No promises, but going to try to resist temptation.
I make a sample card before I do anything else. Its just a piece of card stock and on the back I write the recipe along with suggestions for changing what I should do to make the card better. I will make about 4-6 cards based on my sample.....cut and fold the cardstock first....make panels...get embellishments ready.....stamp, etc.....finish all 4-6 cards and stamp the greeting in the inside of the card......TA DA I'm done! I will repeat this process through out the year until I have about 65-70 cards.
I lurk on pinterest and save holiday cards in a folder. I found one easy to make. Only made 6. I do think it is a grand idea to make 3-4 a month so there will enough to send Operation Write Home next summer.
I will not make anymore cards using actual sweater material. I had an old beautiful deep red cashmere sweater set with moth holes on the arm, so I couldn't give it away. I ironed it to Pellon, and cut out my design using My Favorite Things zipper die. Used silver paper for the zipper. It's very cute, but the fabric is still flexible after adding the Pellon, so it's been hard to handle. I only made 6 of those, and made my others using MFT's knit background stamp on paper. They are still time consuming, but not as much as real sweaters!
I just can't get in the mood to make Christmas cards while it's warm weather, so I start deciding about Thanksgiving what I will do.
I want to find one or two designs and stick with them opposed to coming up with new and cool things to try--when I *SHOULD* be working on the cards. I went to a couple "Card in a shoebox" exchange workshops this past year and we worked on cards--thankfully, Christmas cards were one of the styles. I experiment and get distracted way too easily. SQUIRREL!
I made the changes this year and I will use these ideas next year.
In years past I made a few styles and then I had to keep track of who I sent which style. This year I made one style I pared down my list to just 12 very special people . My cards must go in a bubble envelope and cost me $2.34 each just for postage . $28.08 just for postage . I think they cost me at total of at least $75 because just the die I used was $30 .
Years ago we didn't need to plan the cost of postage for cards into the Christmas budget. :
Years ago IF it fit in an envelope it could be mail for 1 stamp. They didn't measure the thickness or charge extra because it was an over sized envelope; had embellishments or if it did not easily bend . The Post Office Officials whine because we mail less . I'd love to tell them people buy less of anything when a company gets too greedy and that includes them.
__________________ "I have not failed . I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work" --Thomas A. Edison
Just wanted to chime in that the post office doesn't do what they do because they're greedy - they do it because they HAVE to. They are trying desperately to stay afloat. You can read about it here: http://deliveringforamerica.com/reso...heet_final.pdf
To the OP's question: I will make sure that I have a stash (instead of just thinking that I do) and/or do cards that don't require extensive coloring or fussy cutting. This year's card required both, and I didn't know that I needed as many as I do until this past weekend. They're getting mailed today...
__________________ ~ Sue Happy for no reason...
Last edited by gregzgurl; 12-19-2014 at 07:59 AM..
This year, I did not participate in the Christmas Card Challenge...because the 3 previous years when I signed up I didn't follow though
So... I want to start in Feb, and make 10-12 cards each month. Not 8 designs all in Nov/Dec
I make many different designs, anywhere from 4-12 of each, depending on how complicated the card is. But I have never worried about keeping track of who gets which card. My designs are varied enough, I think. If someone happens to get a card made with "Miracle of Christmas" 3 out of 4 years, I don't think they'd notice. Well, maybe my mom would. ;)
__________________ Kim in Illinois, Dirty Dozen Alum, QFTD#207, FS798, VSN Moderator "Famous Last Words" Spring Virtual Stamp Night, April 19 & 20
Probably nothing. I did start in June because I knew I would mail out about 60. But I like the way they all turned out, even if some of them had to have two stamps.
I'll start earlier since I'm still not done :-) I did go pretty CAS this year but I need to finish assembling them tonight and get them mailed out tomorrow.
__________________ Kathy
Proud Mama to Mason 4/3/99, Miles 5/25/02, and Maya 8/26/04
I wanted to start early this year, didn't, but got started after Thanksgiving. I made about 60 cards & each one was entirely different. I use different stamps, etc. so I don't keep track of what I've mailed each year. If someone gets one that's somewhat like last years, I doubt if they'd notice. I enjoy making them so much that it's fun doing something unusual on each card. And, I'm retired so time isn't a problem.
__________________ Keep what is worth keeping
and with the breath of kindness
blow the rest away.
I say it every year, and it never happens,lol. Start Earlier! and keep going. This is the second year in the last few I haven't made my own, due to health problems getting in the way. Both years I'd started early, but dragged my feet because I had plenty of time. Which promptly got snatched away. This year I started back at the beggining of Sept, as I'd had surgery for a temporary colostomy- I've had a Rectal Cancer diagnosis earlier this year- and had to have this so I could have radiotherapy without it causing blockages. I knew the therapy would finish mid November, and as I had my cards half done, thought the couple of weeks after I'd finished would let me recover and I could get them put together. As I'd been absolutely fine all the way through the radio, I did not expect to fell like I'd been hit by a bus the day after it finished! Spent the last three weeks feeling sorry for myself, and either a) in pain, b) waiting for painkillers to kick in, or c) knowing pain killers are wearing off. Anyhow, I'm finally starting to feel ok again, but its bought cards this year, all round. The only upside is that I do have next years cards half made, lol.
If we had known I bet others here and myself could have sent you a few cards to make things easier for you. Hugs for you and I pray you feel like your old self soon and get a 100% leg up on the cancer.
Blessings.
I say it every year, and it never happens,lol. Start Earlier! and keep going. This is the second year in the last few I haven't made my own, due to health problems getting in the way. Both years I'd started early, but dragged my feet because I had plenty of time. Which promptly got snatched away. This year I started back at the beggining of Sept, as I'd had surgery for a temporary colostomy- I've had a Rectal Cancer diagnosis earlier this year- and had to have this so I could have radiotherapy without it causing blockages. I knew the therapy would finish mid November, and as I had my cards half done, thought the couple of weeks after I'd finished would let me recover and I could get them put together. As I'd been absolutely fine all the way through the radio, I did not expect to fell like I'd been hit by a bus the day after it finished! Spent the last three weeks feeling sorry for myself, and either a) in pain, b) waiting for painkillers to kick in, or c) knowing pain killers are wearing off. Anyhow, I'm finally starting to feel ok again, but its bought cards this year, all round. The only upside is that I do have next years cards half made, lol.
It looks like you need to GET some cards to cheer you up rather than worrying about making them to send to others.
After what you have gone through anyone would feel sorry for themselves !
I hope you are on the mend enough to enjoy Christmas .
Barbara Jay
__________________ "I have not failed . I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work" --Thomas A. Edison
What, if any, changes would you make to next year's Christmas Cards?
Start now
