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Post by karinec on Jun 19, 2024 21:18:17 GMT
I'm already seeing some designs pop up for this year.
I generally hold off until August or September before buying anything.
Do you buy something new every year, or just make cards from your stash?
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Shakti
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Post by Shakti on Jun 19, 2024 21:30:44 GMT
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 heard 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.
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Post by joblackford on Jun 19, 2024 21:43:27 GMT
I overthink, because that's who I am. I make a ton of holiday cards throughout the year for charity, but when it comes to family and friends it's too hard to choose who gets what if all the cards are different, I make several that are perfect for the same person and none that are quite right for some pother people, and I worry I'm going to give someone the same cards as last year... and I always debate whether some people would prefer a photo card rather than a crafty card. One year I created a flatlay photo featuring some photostrips of us, which I thought was kind of cool but I don't think anyone else agreed.
So my new rule for myself is to pick a product or design that I know I haven't used before, probably a newer item, and make slight variations of it for everyone. I am constitutionally incapable of making exact multiples. I haven't thought about this year's plan but I'm hoping I see something that speaks to me. Otherwise I will probably use a poinsettia embossing folder I have.
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Ryann
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Post by Ryann on Jun 19, 2024 21:46:20 GMT
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...
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Post by mbanda on Jun 19, 2024 22:19:53 GMT
I typically make all my cards different so I can play with *all* my holiday supplies! I might make 2 or 3 the same design but for the most part they are each unique. The past 2-3 years, I have bought new Christmas/Holiday supplies to build up my stash. Now that I have a pretty large holiday stash of stamps/dies/stencils I'd like to try to use what I have but of course if something catches my eye & it's unique enough I may get it.
I've already signed up for the Pinkfresh holiday cardmaking event so I will use whatever I make during those classes as well. Last year, I sent out 86 cards (including the 2Peas exchange) so I am planning around that same amount this year.
My problem is I really liked some of the designs I used last year but of course I don't remember what I sent to whom so I guess there could be a chance that someone gets a similar card this year...
My BFF who also makes cards tends to select 1-2 designs and makes all her cards off those designs. In some ways I can see that being easier but I also think I would get bored of making 80 of the same card design.
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Post by melanieg on Jun 19, 2024 22:24:15 GMT
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.
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MDscrapaholic
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Post by MDscrapaholic on Jun 19, 2024 23:09:20 GMT
I send out a lot of Christmas cards, including the 2Peas card swap, so I like to mix it up. I'll use whatever supplies I have on hand, and often do virtual event(s) in the fall that include new-to-me stamp sets for holiday cards. Last year, I purchased a stamp set from Taylored Expressions that simply said "A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices" and made about 25 of those for my church family. I did mix it up a little, using white and kraft cardstock, and layering on red or green cardstock. By the time I had them done, I was tired of doing that one LOL. I purchased, at the last Spellbinders sale, a few BetterPress plates for this year's cards. Other than those, I don't believe I've seen anything out yet for the holidays. I will make about 10-15 cards of one design, and then move onto something else. And I'm like mbanda , I can't remember what I sent to who, so if you're in the card swap, don't be surprised if you get the same card from me again. I usually start early fall after I get my Halloween cards for the grandkids done. I really enjoy making cards at that time of the year.
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Post by MichyM on Jun 20, 2024 18:01:24 GMT
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.
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Post by justjac on Jun 20, 2024 18:24:59 GMT
I’m doing this year quite a bit differently than usual. Usually I buy new stamps and dies that I want to try, a couple card kits, maybe a class and make up to four of a whole bunch of designs starting in September or so. This year, I bought a couple of non traditional coloured lines on sale after Christmas and I’m doing the sheetload of cards design every month. I have still pre-ordered a couple of embossing folder/ layered stencil sets. And signed up for the SCT July class.
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Shakti
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Post by Shakti on Jun 20, 2024 18:29:26 GMT
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.
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Post by marg on Jun 20, 2024 20:10:07 GMT
I love buying a new Christmas set every year in August/September/October to make my cards with. It inspires me. I make a bunch of prototypes and then my husband and son vote on which one they like the best. It makes it a fun process. Inevitably I don't get around to actually making the cards to send out until the first weekend in December, I've come to accept it as being the way I work best - I need a hard deadline.
This year I need to make a ton of cards for my husband's customers, so I signed up for SCT Christmas in July and I'm hoping I'll love one of those cards and can start making them in July/August. It's the first time I have to make client cards, we'll see how it goes.
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Post by craftmepink on Jun 20, 2024 22:15:50 GMT
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.
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Post by MichyM on Jun 21, 2024 16:19:08 GMT
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.Ha. One year, not too long ago, I got the exact same card from both my son as well as a good friend of mine. Clearly, I'm an easy read.
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Post by joblackford on Jun 22, 2024 1:08:36 GMT
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.Ha. One year, not too long ago, I got the exact same card from both my son as well as a good friend of mine. Clearly, I'm an easy read. 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.
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Post by joblackford on Jun 22, 2024 1:14:48 GMT
Actually this convo intersected in my brain with a few videos I watched today - one about using little used stash supplies and another couple about pearly shimmer - and I think I have a plan for how I can do something different but also use some of my favorite products. I think I'm going to challenge myself to use solar pastes on my cards. I think it's one of those things that looks fancy but isn't especially difficult. I'd love to use my fav ornament die set again ![:)](//storage.proboards.com/5645536/images/MNrJDkDuSwqIMVw33MdD.jpg)
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lokismom
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Post by lokismom on Jun 23, 2024 16:32:45 GMT
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.
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hockeyspaz62
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Post by hockeyspaz62 on Jun 24, 2024 14:51:27 GMT
I have a huge portion of my cards cut out already. I just need to do coloring and embossing on the pieces. I make the same card for everyone, so it’s 40 cards of everything repeated. I really need to start making cards with less pieces though. It gets tediious.
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peaculiar
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Post by peaculiar on Jun 25, 2024 21:10:25 GMT
I have a handful done.
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Post by grammadee on Jun 25, 2024 21:17:34 GMT
I typically make all my cards different so I can play with *all* my holiday supplies! Yes! This is me, too. Or I may put together a set of 4 or 5 using one set of supplies or one technique, then move on to something different.
And most of my cards are constructed in October and November.
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kitbop
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Post by kitbop on Jun 26, 2024 0:16:26 GMT
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 ![](http://i1168.photobucket.com/albums/r481/2peasrefugees/Smilies/crying.jpg.gif)
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Shakti
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Post by Shakti on Jun 26, 2024 0:23:33 GMT
I did the EXACT SAME THING with their Celebrations Delivered event! They started sending me update emails and I replied and said that surely they were mistaken....
These little one-day ones are a little cheaper and easier to register for without it seeming like a BIG DEAL, I think.
I'm planning to consider that day my gateway into the Christmas card making season! Even if the next Christmas project up is remaking Pea card exchange cards from last Chirstmas for BSTS.
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Post by kmage on Jun 26, 2024 17:43:38 GMT
I'm already seeing some designs pop up for this year. I generally hold off until August or September before buying anything. Do you buy something new every year, or just make cards from your stash? 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.htmlSo 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.
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Shakti
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Post by Shakti on Jun 26, 2024 18:15:50 GMT
That set looks like a total bear necessity!
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Post by kiwikate on Jun 28, 2024 0:36:30 GMT
You are all my crafty people. I love that I am not crazy for planning my Christmas cards in June.
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Shakti
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Post by Shakti on Jun 28, 2024 0:51:18 GMT
One of us! One of us! ![](http://i1168.photobucket.com/albums/r481/2peasrefugees/Smilies/wink.jpg.gif)
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Post by grammadee on Jun 28, 2024 3:38:42 GMT
Do you buy something new every year, or just make cards from your stash? 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.
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Post by jill8909 on Jun 28, 2024 12:25:04 GMT
this year I am going to buy a large poinsettia stencil from Alex Byria Designs and make most of my cards with that. Then I'll use my stash to make maybe 10 -15 unique. I am also thinking of doing the C9 Holiday event if it is early enough in the year.
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Post by infochick on Jul 3, 2024 17:15:45 GMT
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.
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Post by MichyM on Jul 3, 2024 17:28:07 GMT
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. Have you ever joined the card exchange here? Tons of fun, and the opportunity to make a LOT of cards ![;)](//storage.proboards.com/5645536/images/Q_m8lDOvc_3Le3r1GKdf.jpg)
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Post by joblackford on Jul 15, 2024 1:39:50 GMT
I’ve been obsessing about Christmas cards for the past few days. And of course I was thinking about totally different things than what I said above! As I’ve mentioned in a couple of other threads I have been watching too many videos of new releases that are VERY cool but not suitable for making for 40-60 people. Too many steps and too much stenciling, which hurts my hands. So I’m telling you here (to hold myself accountable) that I’m going to buy some Paper Rose Christmas collections. Using Sheetloads, die cuts and cut-aparts is far more realistic for me. Bonus points for not having to worry about repeats, although the downside is my overthinking brain trying to decide which card I give to which person. I’m excited to use some pretty Australian Christmas supplies for my summer Christmas family and friends. Look how pretty: www.scrapbook.com/store/pr-31172.html![](https://www.scrapbook.com/products/cache/SBC_pr-31172_584689_0.jpg)
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