2019 Christmas Card Challenges

[CatNip_Ninja]

I'm going to say for this challenge I will shoot for 3-4 Christmas cards a month.

Enjoy!!

Christy

[Julie Gearinger]

Hi Ann! Thanks so much for hostessing this each year.

I did a miserable job on keeping up with my commitment this year and fell short on cards that I could mail. Most of my stamping friends, SCS friends, etc. did not receive one- I am so sorry.

Luckily I had enough for the ones that I can hand-deliver (from my stash over the years that had not been mailed) but I found that I tend to make too many elaborate cards that are too thick to mail. To avoid this in the future, I am going to try to focus on creating Christmas cards that can actually go in the mail easily.

I will need a minimum of 120 cards so I am going to try 10 per month.

Thanks again for all of your encouragement Ann- you are a blessing to us all!

[pvilbaum]

HI all,
Just realized I didn't come over and sign up for this year yet. I have already started making cards, but I see the themes now. I really like the themes you've come up with Ann, I haven't made a card yet that really matches any of them, I think, but I'll check out the list again. I am going to say 6 cards a month this year. I actually end up making that many anyway so I might as well set that as my goal. Let's see how many I actually get linked to the CCC this year. I didn't do too well with that last year.

[annsforte3]

Welcome to Christy, Pat, Julie, Lynn, and Suzy!!!

Julie, I did that one year and half my cards went out with double postage!! My spouse said to me "why"? Too many layers and ribbons!!

Remember, themes are only here to help you out each month!! Post whatever you do so all can see your work and be inspired by your cards!!

[ahlers5]

I have a quick question. Can I make various cards during the year and put them under the month that they correspond to? I like to vary my cards quite a bit, usually no two are the same. That way I don't get bored as easily. They may not all fit under the current month's theme, but will fit under another. Thanks

[muscrat]

Originally Posted by ahlers5

I have a quick question. Can I make various cards during the year and put them under the month that they correspond to? I like to vary my cards quite a bit, usually no two are the same. That way I don't get bored as easily. They may not all fit under the current month's theme, but will fit under another. Thanks

Yes you can! I did that last year.

[ahlers5]

Thanks, Kathy, I will do that. It helps keep things interesting!

[annsforte3]

Hi Diane!! Of course!!

So glad Kathy answered your question too!!

Make whatever you like and please post them to which ever month you like!! It's always nice to see all the cards that are made even if they do not fit a particular challenge!! It's just inspiration for the monthly themes!! Goal is to not be stressed in December!!

[ahlers5]

I'm a roll this year. I'm done with Jan & Feb and have a few cards spread through the other months. I am so glad I joined the challenge. It gived me the incentive to get these done.

[NisiNJ]

Thank you for hosting this event. Once again I am signing up, and although I did make cards in past years, I didn't post them here. (I actually have to learn how to upload images!)

My daughter and I sell gift card holders at craft fairs in November and December, and we would like to use this challenge to pace ourselves to complete 1000 of them. We found a new venue that was so crowded with customers (yay!) that we sold out and had to madly create more for the following week!

Our goal will be to complete 100 per month. And I must learn how to upload the images to a gallery. When I tried before, it said the image size was too large. Plan to use Paint to reduce it.

[card crazy]

I'm new at this, and it's a great idea. I don't send out many Christmas cards (under 20) so I'll get 1 or two done each month. It's nice to have the advanced themes. Thanks Ann!

[vikkijo]

https://www.whychristmas.com/customs...hristmas.shtml

I found this interesting

[vikkijo]

Oh I am so bad.....I haven't done any Christmas Cards yet. I have done my needed Birthday cards. oh, I purchased tutorials from Michelle Zindorf, so I have practiced her techniques a lot..... but no Christmas cards

[ahlers5]

This challenge has really gotten me motivated! Planned on 48 for the year. I'm more than hallway done. Finished 26. My problem is I'm supposed to be finishing some quilts that I am making for family members. I really do need to get busy on them.

[vikkijo]

WOW! Way to go Diane.
I haven't made any Christmas Cards yet

[vikkijo]

oh wait, I take that back...a little bit. LOL
I tried to to the Black Ice technique and CASE a Christmas card I found on Pinterest, it was a complete flop, I wasted so many pieces of Foil. It is so ugly.

[annsforte3]

Oh you ladies are doing fantastic! Diane, wow you have gotten a lot done! So has Susan!

Come on Vikki Jo you can do it!!

I am so far ahead on Christmas cards for the next two years!! I love making them so I just continue to do so!! LOL!! Christmas cards and floral cards are my favorite cards to do!

[ahlers5]

I just watched a video on the black foil method. I have never seen it before. I may give it a try. Looks interesting.

[susanbri]

I love the way this challenge keeps me motivated to get my quota of 10 made each month. So far I'm on track!

[vikkijo]

So Diane, did you try it? Show us...

[muscrat]

Originally Posted by ahlers5

I just watched a video on the black foil method. I have never seen it before. I may give it a try. Looks interesting.

Black foil or black ice? If its black foil, link me up because that's new to me! I love new techniques. I have done black ice, but mine don't come out as well as the samples!

[ahlers5]

I didn't try it yet. Maybe, I'll try tonight.

[ahlers5]

Here is my Black Ice card. I put too much black along the top edge. Also, it's very hard to photograph and see the streaks, but they are there.


Black Ice
Black Ice Close Up

[vikkijo]

Black Ice.
3 attempts....yep all three just as ugly as the first

[vikkijo]

St. Nicholas, Santa Claus and Father Christmas -- Christmas Customs and Traditions -- whychristmas?com

I thought this was neat to read

[annsforte3]

Those are not ugly, Vikki Jo! Can you use them on some kind of bg?

[ahlers5]

Oh, vikkijo, now I can see them enlarged. I'm glad I came back. I like them! I think I will try one in gold for the gold and red card challenge.

[Stamperak]

This looks like awesome way to see everyone's cards and to get a head if the holidays
Thanks Ann!!!

I'm lacking creativity on lot if things, so I think this will be fun and good for me!

[Stamperak]

Oh, forgot my monthly goal is going to be a 2 a month.

[berlycece]

It's been a while since I have attempted the CCC
I hope to do 12 cards of one design each month, but not necessarily with the themes.

I literally have designs from last year that I did not finish. Posted Jan & Feb today, and I have designs for March & April too. That's half the battle!

[Stamperak]

GOOD morning ladies,
I wanted to everyone to come a joint in on my new swap..
Colir combo swap.

It's going to be a fun swap
Thank you

[ahlers5]

Finally caught up on everyone's cards. I haven't been making Christmas cards for a while. I got so far ahead. I only need ten more for the year.

[ahlers5]

Can't believe I only have eight more still to go! I just caught up on my commenting, too. Feeling motivated. I have never gotten this far in a Christmas challenge before. I usually fizz out around February It's such a wonderful supportive group.
!

[muscrat]

Last year I met my quota by the end of February! This year I'm so far behind!

[princessp1971]

Great list of challenges, I may jump in this month and for the remainder of the year.

[stampindoe]

Originally Posted by princessp1971

Great list of challenges, I may jump in this month and for the remainder of the year.

Welcome; and yes, please join. This is a no stress challenge with no deadlines.
Look forward to your creations.

[FMcrafter]

I have been such a bad girl this year! Anne does a wonderful job each year with this challenge! Usually I am right in there, not this year, though the fact that this is here got me going in October. I found a bit of a kit and got them made. Thank you Anne for all you do!

Big hugs

[ahlers5]

I am so glad I did this challenge this year. I didn't quite finish it, but I made about ten cards more than I needed anyways. I fractured my spine in early August and had a knee replacement in September. The spine still is not healed. If it were not for this challenge no one would be getting handmade cards this year. As it is, they are all in envelopes, addressed, stamps on and ready to be mailed tomorrow. Thank you, Anne. Bring on next year's challenge!

[FMcrafter]

Diane! Oh my! How did you manage? I had part of my spine fused and it had me down for the count for months! Big hugs!

[ahlers5]

They may fuse it. I have three vertebrae that keep moving out of position.
I am supposed to be x-rayed in mid-December to see if I can come out of the back-brace. The knee replacement was nothing compared to the spine.