Anybody MAKE their Christmas/Holiday Cards?

[CMTorie]

I'd love to make mine...but I'm such a perfectionist and flake at the same time that mine never seem to get out. If I'm going to do them this year, like I want to, I need to get started on them now. Any ideas?

[sublime311]

I would also like to make my own cards this year, but I just don't know if I'm crafty enough.. I always have visions of the perfect card, but I never quite figure out how to make my vision become reality. Anyway, I'm subscribing just in case I get brave this year! My aunts make really adorable hand made cards - I've been trying to talk them into starting a business.

Anyway, here are a couple links I found for you (us):

Better Homes and Garden Christmas Cards (http://www.bhg.com/home/Christmas-Cards.html) (this is nice - there are pictures and instructions)

Marking Christmas Cards (About.com) (http://parentingteens.about.com/od/homemadechristmascards/ss/christmascard1.htm) - pretty cute sample card.

Impress Idea Archive (http://www.impressrubberstamps.com/ideas/archive.html) - so many lovely ideas here (click on any of the "winter" links)

[Chimichanga]

Stampin Up has some really cute Christmas card themes. I think they had about 6-8 sets of stamps. They ranged in "difficulty" and extra embellishments. I got a more 'plain' set. I bought some stamps and plan to make our cards this year.

I need to get started soon because we have a LOT of cards we need to send out.

[isign]

I asked this in the stamp thread :) I am going to make mine, but am not really sure what I want them to look like yet.

[isign]

More card ideas
Stampin.com (http://www.stampin.com/cards/crdx.htm)
Too much Fun Stamps (http://www.toomuchfunrubberstamps.com/christmas1.htm)

I like I am going to go with something like this
http://www.stampinup.com/web2001/IdeaCenter/Nov2001/so-nov2.jpg
But a nativity scene instead of a tree.

[Sonicstef]

Every year I make Holidays CDs and send them out to our friends. I think this would be our 5th year so Im trying to think of something different that is just as fun. Maybe lotto tickets? But that doesnt seem as fun to me. Any suggestions?

Last year I sent them out in metal tins:
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b4cc38b3127cce9f348436cc4900000026108AZNG7Zs4aMs
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b4cc38b3127cce9f3484494d0600000016108AZNG7Zs4aMs

[sublime311]

Every year I make Holidays CDs and send them out to our friends. I think this would be our 5th year so Im trying to think of something different that is just as fun. Maybe lotto tickets? But that doesnt seem as fun to me. Any suggestions?

Wow! I want to get on your Christmas card list! :D That is SUCH an awesome, unique idea! It would be hard to follow that, I think!

How about a homemade magnet or bookmark? Or how about writing a little Christmas story and having it "bound" professionally? Those $2 Santa bills are fun, too!

http://www.ahs.com/Graphic/New$2bill.gif

[CMTorie]

steph I saw an idea recently where you take those same CD tins and you enclose an elaborate sugar cookie (they did a very detailed snowflake shape). I had really liked the idea but didn't know how expensive the tins were.

[Sonicstef]

Thanks.

I dont really bake so I dont want to send out anything edible (unless I can buy it).

What are the $2 santa bills? I dont have children on my list ..is it an adult thing?

CM, the tins are fairly reasonable. I ordered them in bulk on line.

[sublime311]

What are the $2 santa bills? I dont have children on my list ..is it an adult thing?


It's just a novelty, I guess. And actually, I just went back to the website where I found that pic and it was $19.95!! I guess it's real tender altered by the American Historic Society.

Anyway, I found this one million $ bill with santa on it for only $1 each or $25 for $10. http://www.joelscoins.com/millions.htm

[Sonicstef]

This thread got me thinking and I have an idea for this years mailing....am very excited (and its only JULY!!). Woo-hoo. If I can figure out how to do it, I'll come back and post it when I have a photo.

[CMTorie]

steph think quickly cause you have to get back here in time for us to duplicate it! LOL :p

[Sonicstef]

I tried describing it to my husband and he gave me this weird look. Its actually really simple but it probably soudns confusing. When I have photos (probably in Nov), I'll be back. :D

[boilermaker]

sonicstef,

I love those CD's! Were they pretty easy to do? Did you just pick out your favorite holiday songs? Can I ask in general how much they cost? I'm guessing about $2-3 each plus postage. Am I even close?

[Sonicstef]

boilermaker, the cost depends on what you want to do. you can definitely make them fairly inexpensively and easily by using bulk cds, slim line cases, simple cover, etc.. I tend to go a little overboard so the ones I made last year used cd tins, stickers on both inside and out with matching labels and shrink wrap. So it probably ended up being $4 each or so...maybe even less.

But that doenst factor in the time it took me to draw the cover, pick out the songs, burn all the cds, print everything, shrinkwrap and take them to the postoffice. Thats really the part that is making me want to do something different this year. It was a lot of work last year b/c our list has grown.

Here's to hoping this years project is less of a chore.

[mermccau]

subscribing :)

[CMTorie]

Anybody have any cute ideas yet???

[Lolly]

Here are few Christmas/Holiday cards that I made last year. They're kind of dark. Sorry.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b4cf38b3127cce9c63b2db09ca00000015108Cat2LJm4aA
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b4cf38b3127cce9c63b2c688e700000016108Cat2LJm4aA
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b4cf38b3127cce9c63b2c488e500000016108Cat2LJm4aA

This is a really dark picture but this is the card I chose to mass produce last year. I made and mailed out over 100. I'll try to take a better picture tonight (I still have one). This one is stamped, embossed, and glittered. I received a lot of compliments on them (this picture is of the prototype. I swear the others were much better).
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b4cf38b3127cce9c63b2c509d400000016108Cat2LJm4aA

These are money/giftcard holders
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b4cf38b3127cce9c63b2c709d600000016108Cat2LJm4aA

[Lolly]

This was my Thanksgiving Dinner invitiation last year:
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b4cf38b3127cce9c63b2d888f900000016108Cat2LJm4aA

[sdianems]

Every year I make Holidays CDs and send them out to our friends. I think this would be our 5th year so Im trying to think of something different that is just as fun. Maybe lotto tickets? But that doesnt seem as fun to me. Any suggestions?

Last year I sent them out in metal tins:
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b4cc38b3127cce9f348436cc4900000026108AZNG7Zs4aMs
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b4cc38b3127cce9f3484494d0600000016108AZNG7Zs4aMs

I don't know if this helps or not, but I have seen "scratch tickets" that you can design yourself, so the recepient would scratch to reveal your own personal message (invitation details, etc.).
BTW, I LOVE your artwork on those tins! Just gorgous :)

[jeepgirl]

SONICSTEF - I am SO impressed!!! Where do you buy the CD tins? When buying bulk blank CD's, how did you get the "top" of the CD to look like it does? How did you get your artwork turned into stickers??? Please forgive all the questions, but I'm so intrigued!!! ~j.

[Sonicstef]

Sdianems - Ive seen those custom scratch offs and I love that. I think they would be perfect for a baby announcement or something. And yes, I am crazy b/c I already have an idea for a baby announcement for a baby I don't have. Hahah

Jeepgirl - Bought the tins online. I don't remember the exact site but if you do a search for "CD Tins" you will find quite a few companies that will sell you them.

I printed up stickers for the CD label, top of the CD tin and the mailing labels. That was actually fairly simple. It took way longer for me to decide on the songs and burn all the cds. Thats why I'm revolting and doing something different this year.

[BryantRN]

There is also a card making thread in the Hobbies and Crafts section in which people have posted homemade cards for x-mas. If anyone is interested you should check it out :). Great cards Lolly!

~Renee~

[kissmytiara]

I'm *planning* on making mine this year, but we'll see how that goes.

[Kanga]

Sonicstef Maybe you could do a holiday card, and then on the back of it have your favorite holiday recipie(s)

[vjel]

I just finished our Christmas cards for this year. Fairly simple yet still a lot of work to do 50+ cards. (cross-posted on the cardmaking thread)

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b5ce33b3127cce94eed2334e4600000016108AbMWbJu2Zs0

I ran out of the little charms but had 6 of these Happy Holiday plaques to use up
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b5ce38b3127cce9488392c237800000015108AbMWbJu2Zs0

and did the last 10 or so like this
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b5ce38b3127cce94883944231000000015108AbMWbJu2Zs0

I'm not sure I love the last 2 designs but they will have to do b/c I'm so over making Christmas cards!!! :rolleyes:

[Sonicstef]

Sonicstef Maybe you could do a holiday card, and then on the back of it have your favorite holiday recipie(s)

Im already have this years idea but thats a really good one..keeping it in the vault for the future. :D

[hmdelf]

Sonicstef
What program do you like to make the labels, etc.? I am going to purchase one, but don't know what I should get. Any suggestions? (anyone?)
Your work is always so flawless! Please tell me you are going to start or have already started a business with your invites/cards, etc. You'd make a fortune!!!

[Sonicstef]

I hand drew out the drawing on the label, scanned and then edited it in photoshop and illustrator. I printed them on sticker paper.


Thanks hmdelf...i already have a company but its sweet of you to say :)

[Kimberland30]

I think this year we are going to do a combined newsletter/Christmas card. I want it to be like our wedding STD's, done on Publisher as a pamphlet that I can mail out. That way we can include pictures about special events (our wedding, my DD starting to drive, our family vacation, etc). I'll do it on cardstock that way we can mail it as one piece. I need to get started on it so I can have DH take a look at it before I get copies made. If I get a template done this weekend, I'll post a picture of it.

[Asha]

i am so angry that i can't find the holiday cards that i have made. i have only made them twice, but i wil describe them.

-one was a nativity scene. i used different colors of florescent paper and cut them out into geometrical shapes to make the nativity scene.

-another one i made a line drawing of the virgin mary with baby jesus. i photocopied this onto ecru colored paper.

[greenbunny]

I am driving myself insane looking for the template I made in Word for cards last year. It's for a 8.5 x 11 sheet of paper folded into fours. The front has a picture and the inside is just words. Does anyone have a similar one I can use?

[BooeyJ2]

Here were our cards this year (last name blurred)........

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v716/Booey143598/More%20pics/Newest%20Pics/xmascard2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v716/Booey143598/More%20pics/Newest%20Pics/xmascard4edit.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v716/Booey143598/More%20pics/Newest%20Pics/xmascard5edit.jpg

[Rosebud]

I'm interested in making my own Christmas cards this year. I've been doing a little card making and enjoy it, but was thinking that if I'm going to do Christmas cards I should get started really early.

For those of you who make your own cards, how many do you normally make? I just looked at my card list from last year and there's 55 people on it. Am I going to go insane, broke or both making that many cards?

[snowzilla]

I make my own cards, R, and I do a couple of things to maintain my sanity and not break my budget:

I buy precut and prefolded cards with matching envelopes from a local retailer. They're blank and I don't pay much more for them than I would for uncut paper. That's for my sanity, not my pocketbook. ;)

I do two, maybe three designs at most. Sometimes I'll do a special one for a special person, but I try to stick to the same basic design. And basic is the key - the one that vjel posted on a previous page - I love that design, vjel! - is the kind of thing that looks fantastic but it won't take you hours to put together.

I start early. I do a few here, a few there, so when it comes time to mail them out, I'm not in a panic. :) I usually have about 50 to do, give or take. Depends on who I actually like around holiday time. j/k :p

[Tonysweetie]

I think I might make our cards this year. I probably should start looking at supplies, lol. Is it me or did this year just fly right by?!

[Lindsan]

I usually do our Christmas cards. I am an idiot and always do individual designs. Sometimes if I really love a design I'll do two or three variations of it but that is really stretching it. The thing I have found is that the people who recieve them are generally very excited about getting something no one else does. Once when I didn't do this my MIL phoned me up and asked me if there was something seriously wrong with me, lol.

I never use prefolded cards since it's cheaper to buy regular paper and it also doesn't limit me design wise.

I usually do around 20 cards and it takes me about two weeks if I work on them every night. The reason it takes so long is that both I and the recipiants have gotten increased expectations over the years so they are usually quite elaborate work wise. I usually start about a month before they need to go out which always stresses the hell out of me in the end. But the thing is that I usually just don't have the right Christmas-y feeling before then.

Last year I stressed like a fool to get them ready. But having just moved into our new house and everything being chaotic I never sent them out. This means I'll be able to send double the amount of cards out this year! :D

[littlelove8138]

this year really did fly by. i should really get started on our card if i'm going to make them...any other websites that you ladies go to?

[Katie&Micah]

bump

[mattsweb]

Also consider a personalized embosser from Williams Sonoma. They have several plates to choose from including a 'Happy Holidays' one and it gives cards a very classy look.
Williams Sonoma Embosser (http://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/b176/index.cfm?cm%5Fsrc=PRODVIEW&showsku=7121452)

[Medako]

I'm looking for simple ideas. I don't have a ton of time to put cards together with a toddler, but I want to do something more original than a box of generic cards.

I'm looking for ideas that don't take a lot of materials or time, but still look like some thought went into it.

Anyone have insipration pictures to share?

[Chris~n~Jen]

Anyone making cards this year? I'm thinking about doing it for the first time and would like some more inspiration.

[jenjunum]

Scratch off cards were mentioned earlier in the thread. I just wanted to drop off this etsy seller. All the other google hits I got required a minimum of 500 or more (which I definitely don't need). These look really cool. I want to send these out with our holiday cards announcing the gender of our baby but I don't think we'll find out soon enough (maybe not until the 2nd week of december). So I think I'll do these for birth announcements instead. I have no personal experience with this etsy seller but her feedback is 100% positive.

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=10428

[alienhost]

The Dec/Jan 08 issue of Family Fun magzazine had some fun cards like these (http://familyfun.go.com/arts-and-crafts/season/specialfeature/holiday_cards_ms/).

I made some last year for DD's playgroup friends but for our general mailing there was no way I could hand make 75 cards.

[QPDoll]

I found a StampinUp! demonstrator in my area, and I will be attending a "stamp-a-stack" on Saturday! We will be making 20 cards for $25, all supplies (including envelopes) and everything is included.

I went to one last week about 1.5 hours from my house (by my family's home), and we did 8 cards. I will take a pic tonight and show you what we made. They turned out great and it was super easy...and I didn't have to buy anything (they had catalogs there, if I wanted to).

She said she gets a lot of her ideas from http://splitcoaststampers.com, which is a site for posting ideas using Stamping Up products. I checked it out, there are tons of great ideas there!

[alienhost]

I made these to look like a gift tag. It was fairly simple but I only made about 15.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2179/2017785026_675bb87dc8.jpg?v=0

Materials:
Cardstock
Wallet sized photos
eyelets
ribbon
glue dots or double sided tape
rubber stamp
paper cutter
1/8 inch hole punch
1/2 inch hole punch

I cut the cardstock into the tag shape and adhered the photo and a piece of white cardstock for the greeting. Punch a small hole in the top. Punch a larger hole for the "disc" at the top from scraps. Punch the small hole in the disc. Attach with an eyelet. I used a second "disc" to cover up the back of the eyelet (used a dab of glue). Thread ribbon through.

Some people said they hung them on their tree, which made me happy.

[purpleorchids]

alienhost - those are really cute gift tags! :)

[camberne]

I have made my cards every year for the last four or five years. I do Stampin' Up, and definately use the SplitCoastStampers (www.splitcoaststampers.com) website all the time to get ideas. My friends and I also do a "stamp camp" every month to share ideas. We each create a card and then bring all the supplies for our card to the Stamp Camp for everyone to make and take home. No charge, because everyone is contributing.

I like simple and/or elegant cards with little embellishment - a ribbon here, a bow there. I don't like cards that are too busy with a lot of stuff on them. I can post pictures of my last few years' cards this week when I get a chance.

[Blondie]

camberne I LOVE Stampin Up! I have a coworker that got me into it last year. We do a monthly workshop and it is so much fun. But it is hard on the pocketbook! I wish I had taken pictures of my Xmas gifts. I got my wrapping paper from them and also made all of my tags to match. It was so cute! I got so many compliments on how pretty my packages were. I would love to see some of the things you've done. I am about to attempt my first scrapbook, and I am a little overwhelmed but excited to get started.

These are the cards I made this year:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2246/2146013039_4c091d7a27.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2310/2146012297_0b177a000c.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2412/2146009477_a2e78962e3.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2100/2146004801_f37a010591.jpg

[Standrea]

Bump for this year!

[Lolly]

Yes, I make about 100 holiday cards. Probably a little more this year.

Haven't started making them yet, but I have an idea. Thinking I will use blue cardstock and use a snowman/snowflake theme.

I'll let you know what I come up with.