Confessions of a Christmas Stamper

Just one Christmas stamp set.  That was all I was going to buy this year.  I already owned retired Christmas stamps sets, not to mention the fact that I generally send Costco photo cards because Costco cards include a photo, they are inexpensive, and I send out over 100 cards.  Therefore, I was only going to treat myself to ONE new stamp set and that would be it.  (Insert non-stop laughing here!)

My one stamp set was going to be Among the Branches because I could use it for Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.  Perfect! What more would I need? So, I bought the bundle that included the embossing folder and had fun making cards which you can see HERE.

Well...I decided that wasn't just a Christmas stamp set, so I could get one more.  I fell in love with the the Cozy Christmas set and vintage Home for Christmas paper and HAD to get those items too.  I made loads of cards with that set and paper which you can see HERE.

So...then there was this awesome Christmas shaker card kit, and Christmas tag kit, and Wondrous Wreath bundle, and....you can probably see where this is going.  In the end, I bought Christmas set after Christmas set and have loved using every last one of them!

My Holiday stamp sets plus a few accessories

Some of what I made, already gave some away.

So with at least fifty handmade cards under my belt, what did I end up sending to all my family and friends this season?  

Here comes the ultimate confession:  I sent Costco photo cards!

Say what?!

Yes.  I went with the streamlined, fast, photo-included experience that I know so well.  I was going to send my handmade cards with a photo included, but Costco doesn't even have a 3 x 5 printing option anymore and I wasn't going to trim down 150 4 x 6 prints. So, what happened to all the cards I made?  They didn't go to waste.  I gave them with teacher gifts; I gave them with homemade goodies; I gave them to friends, and I'm giving most of them to the residents of a nursing home when I take my piano students to perform there in a couple of days.  There are a few favorites that I just can't part with yet, so I'm keeping them in my box to look at, and smile at, until I'm ready to part with them next year!

This leads me to something I think about quite often.  Why do I stamp?  Why do I go through the trouble of making handmade cards and gifts when I could buy some pretty cute cards at the store and it would cost me significantly less?  Well, I stamp because it makes me happy.  I stamp because I love it and I get a thrill from the creative process.  I stamp because it gives me a chance to get together with friends and make beautiful things.  I have made some of my closest friends through stamping.  I often say, "It's my golf."  Some people go golfing for thrills; some people visit antique stores; some people collect bears; some people write; I stamp.  Even if everything I make ends up in the trash (it is paper-crafting so I realize that is most likely it's inevitable end), I will still keep doing it because it brings me joy and I love it!.

At OnStage with my good friend, Lorinda.

Cozy Christmas Stamp Camp

I had so much fun stamping with friends last Saturday at my Cozy Christmas Stamp Camp.  We made 5 cards and 3 tags with the adorable Cozy Christmas stamp set, the Home for Christmas designer paper, and the Home for Christmas buttons.

These are the 5 cards and tags we made.  I copied the tags and Reindeer card straight out of the Holiday Catalog.  The other cards were inspired by friends or Pinterest!

I absolutely loved making cards with this stamp set and didn't want to stop!  These are some of the other cards I made with either the stamp set, the designer paper, or both.

The first card is a simple, yet lovely, design by Angie Kennedy Juda.  She has a youtube video showing how she made 10 of these cards and a cute gift bag out of one sheet of this paper.  Great card for mass producing!

I really wanted to make a card with the cute Santa and reindeer flying through the sky. If I was to make this card again,  I would try having him fly in front of the moon away from the house, but for now, this works.

These cards showcase the fun designs on the Home For Christmas paper.  How easy to cut it up and turn it into a stack of gifts.  I have used this idea for birthday cards with birthday paper as well.

Now comes the "fussy" cutting.  This designer paper just begged to be fussy cut with all the cute images of reindeer and Santa!  I generally avoid fussy cutting, but I just couldn't help myself with this paper.  I only scratched the surface re-creating all the cards I found on Pinterest!  (No, I really don't design much of my own.  Thank you to all the talented stampers out there who DO design and post your creations).

The card above and below use the Softly Falling embossing folder.

The ice in the card above was punched out of silver glimmer paper with the extra-large oval punch.

The tag on the card above was made with the scalloped tag topper.  I really love that punch!

I will be making the card above again when my new Holly Jolly Greetings bundle comes in.  I'll replace the "Jolly" with a thinlits "jolly" and I won't have to hand write the words!

The poinsettia was fussy cut from the designer paper.  I used red glimmer paper and rhinestones to add sparkle.

I'm posting this last card even though I can't make it turn the right direction for anything!  It is the right direction on my computer, but every time I try to add it, it flips!  Oh well, I still wanted to share the idea.  I love that music paper!

Is your wish list growing?  Mine always is!  Consider placing an order at my online store.  Use the hostess code given here and receive a free card kit with a $30 order.  

Have fun stamping!