Christmas Cards 2024

I think I'm a strange duck. The first year I was back into crafting, I made two batches of Christmas cards. One from a SU kit for colleagues, one for family and friends using minimal new durable supplies. It was a patterned-paper-based projects, so a single sentiment stamp set and a punch were all I needed. I started the project in August.

And then bought some Christmas stuff that year...for next year, of course. Not too much, I don't think.

Then next year I did a couple of the virtual events and ended up with more stuff, but I think I managed to use some of the prior year's purchases as well.

This year I'm doing S&CT's Christmas in July, but THAT'S IT for events.

I will plan this year's cards around what I have.

And probably fall in love with at least one set, somewhere, maybe when it's on after-holiday sale if I'm lucky. I am only marginally likely to resist.

But I have gotten better at taking a hard look at seasonal products (not just Christmas, but other clearly seasonal themes) that I buy late like the next time the season rolls around to consider selling them on FB if I'm still not reaching for them.

I'm typically not one that picks out a specific design (or even a couple/few) to make cards out of each year. I tend to do one-off cards using whatever supplies look fun to play with. However, I may try something different this year.

I have 2 different online holiday card making events that I paid for but haven't done yet. I would like to do these (maybe making 3-5 of each card design). If I enjoy the process, I may lean into doing stamping/die cutting/stencil focused cards this year, instead of my usual which is to use scrapbooking supplies (patterned paper/ephemera).

I don't mind seeing christmas supplies early in the year - it's typically my favorite supplies to shop for and create with. I enjoy participating in "christmas in july" and look forward to it each summer.

I'm curious to see how other approach their holiday card making...

I like to get my cards done July and August. That way I can send them out in Sept/Oct for the troops along with having them ready before busy season at work and I am unable to take the time. I have so much Christmas stuff to use, that I try to come up with an idea using them....but usually find something new to buy and use by being enabled by pictures online.

I am hoping NOT to succumb to buying new holiday stuff this year (except I'm going to do C9's holiday event). I have so much, I could make 100 unique cards easily with what I have!

I have started making cards for this year. I donate quite a few, then do the card exchange here (50 people), and send out an additional 20 or so to friends and family.

Oh, gosh, i'd forgotten that the Pea Christmas card exchange is twice the size of the regular quarterly ones! I made SO MANY cards last year! I think it was over 100 when all was said and done.

I do enjoy an assembly-line/batch process project for cards and I generally do a couple SLoCs for Pea exchanges and at Christmas for colleagues and more distant family/folks who I don't think will completely appreciate a higher effort, one-of-a-kind sort of creation.

EtA: I know of at least instance where the same relative has given one of my kids the same (Hallmark) birthday card two years in a row. My mom may have done so with me, too. Of course no one ever complains. You just sort are silently amused. I'm sure getting two similar but not identical handmade cards is even less likely to cause anyone to fuss.

Every year I say I won't be buying anything new since I already have so many Christmas themed dies, stamps, and stencils. And then I end up buying new stuff.

I'm sure it'll be the same this year. All of my cards are usually different. The most I'll make is 5 of the same cards. I like making different cards.

I've definitely gotten duplicates from different people as well as duplicates of what they sent last year. I notice because I'm me, it's kind of my job, and also because I remake the cards afterwards so I pay more attention when I'm cutting them down. Of course I don't mind in the slightest! but I still don't like the idea of sending out the same card again myself. 
ETA: I guess I haven't had it happen with b'day cards, only Xmas, which is more of a bulk mailing situation.

Christmas cards are my absolute most favorite thing to make, and I tend to make anywhere between 50-100 cards. I send out every holiday card I make so I never have leftovers. I know many people no longer mail out holiday cards and see it as old fashioned, but it is something I truly enjoy. This year I decided to have a theme. My theme is poinsettia, so anything goes as long as there is a poinsettia on it somewhere. Turns out I have three poinsettia embossing folders alone plus many stamps and dies. I have quite the variety to work with. I don't have an exact count, but I probably already have close to 50 cards made if not more. So this year all my cards have been made from stuff in my stash. I am signed up for the PF Holiday event , so I'll have new holiday products headed my way, and I would not be surprised if I found an additional product or two to purchase.

I have a handful done.

Most of the time I make all the same Christmas card design, inspired by a card I've seen (pinterest/Jennifer McGuire/Gina K) - but I never completely copy, I like to make it my own. Two years, I watercoloured my cards, and while they were honestly some of my favourites, it felt sad to not use any of my Christmas supplies.

So the past 2 years, I have pulled out SUPPLIES I want to use, and make designs around them. Then I let my family choose a few of their favourite designs and I keep making more of those. I've felt better that some of my Christmas stamps and dies have been used.

quote author="Shakti " source="/post/4129328/thread" timestamp="1667173350"]This year I'm doing S&CT's Christmas in July, but THAT'S IT for events.[/quote]

Funny story: I was on the fence about signing up for this when they announced a couple of weeks ago that they had some spots open up. But I was strong and didn't sign up. However, I kept getting e-mails about this event...so checked my account at scrapbook&cards, and I had already signed up back in February! *total* amnesia about this. So I'm in! Except I'm at a wedding that day and can't participate live which makes me

Great question! I generally try to make cards from my stash since the Christmas stash is crazy large. However. 
Last year I did some really traditional cards and liked them but was browsing the clearnace on SB.com and found these darling Picket Fence polar bears for 6.99! (was a 19.99 stamp set) 


www.scrapbook.com/store/pif-c-134.html

So I think I will be going with a cute polar bear theme this year, with my new stamp set! I also think this could work for anything winter and even some "cozy" cards becase of the cute bear images drinking coffee/tea/cocoa and cuddled up together. Normally I don't go for cutesy, but these bears are just darling. I also watched a youtube video where someone colored them with brown, making them look more like a brown bear than a polar bear, which was super cute too. 

You are all my crafty people. I love that I am not crazy for planning my Christmas cards in June.

I usually buy something "new" in January on sale. Before I seal away my Christmas crafty supplies in a corner cabinet, I tuck the new stuff just inside the door. Then that is where I start when I open my Christmas cabinet in October/November.

I'm glad I popped in on this thread. I don't send a ton of Christmas cards, but would like to send more.

Last year I bought a kit of cards/class that was ridiculously complicated and I ended up spending about $8 and 45 minutes per card, and then had to be VERY selective about who got a card. They also cost about $10 to mail per card. And I put them off until November. Not doing that again.

I have already picked a stamp and some mixed media supplies to make a card I fell in love with online. I think I can mass produce this one fairly easily by doing a few pages of the background, and then making variations on the same theme. This is my more "modern" option that I think I will use for some friends and coworkers. I also need to make some new Christmas tags, so plan to use this technique as well.

I also have a goal of making some "paper forward" cards with some of my older Christmas collections that I don't love enough to make layouts with, or don't seem to suit my photos. I have some very traditional collections that have been lurking in my stash for nearing a decade so it is time to use them or get rid of them. I'm hoping to mix them with some stamping and cut some elements with my Silhouette to make more traditional cards to send to family and some friends.

I'm hoping to book a couple of days off work to dedicate to this so that I can knock it out before the end of summer.