But it's not up to me. Since I'm a bossy old bird that likes other people to do what I do, I conduct card making workshops...so for this reason, and this reason only, I am making Christmas Cards. Yes, each card sample that I make for workshopeers to copy will end up in my possession, so in theory, I am creating my stock. But I'm not. I don't use them because frankly, by December, when the demand for Christmas card workshops finishes, I'm sick of the sight of them. And all my Christmas stash. I always intend to make more and indeed, sometimes I manage it. But I can't say that they are created in a grotto of cinnamon bathed well meaning. More about that in other whiney posts as Christmas approaches, be in no doubt. The best time for me, is January. I'm full of ideas and raring to get started on Christmas by then. Of course, I'm also lacking motivation and deadline, so I don't actually do anything then either. And let's face it, if I did work eleven months in advance, I wouldn't be able to find them at Christmas anyway.
So there, gentle reader, is the bare naked truth about my preparedness. It doesn't feel better to share. But it is real!
Oh and PS: if you're in the UK and interested in the ATG gun (see here) that I use, it's on offer at
3mselect.co.uk at the moment. This is not a paid advert, just thought you may like to know! I feel like Princess Judy when I make small print.
You always crack me up, Julia! :^) i almost never make Christmas cards but I sometimes make gifts. Always last minute, that's me! Patsy
ReplyDeleteI'm a last minute girl too but with the increase in postage for this year I'm not sure I can afford to send all that I used to send :-(
ReplyDeleteHugs,
A x
I noticed piles of Christmas stock in the supermarket today and was about to start my usual mental rant about bloody Christmas, slready, then realised, actually it's really not that far off...
ReplyDeleteKudos to you anyway! The card is darling, by the way!
ReplyDeleteI love this card! I fully intend, every year without fail, to start early (i.e before now!) but can't get into the C spirit whilst it's sunny - so you'd think, with the summer we've had, I'd be done... ha ha ha. I have bought my stamps though, as I got them in April before the price increase. so there! Ok, off to prep now for a job interview tomorrow!!
ReplyDeleteOhh Julia I was feeling so behind in the christmas card making. I actually organised a card making weekend now I'm laughing at your very honest post. I am sure when December rolls around I won't be able to find what I made.
ReplyDeleteSandra
I had good intentions to make all the cards this year ... not until December though ....but DD marched in with a bundle of bought cards ... so cheap in the sale ...but nice ...and stated 'no stressing and last minute making this year ...I have sorted it' ...so thats my secret ...but i will probably make for nearest and dearest....sorry I missed woyww this week ....I woke up today and realized wednesday had just disappeared. xx
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing that with us, Julia. My name's Kirsty and I'm a Christmasholic, but i don't allow myself to start Christmas unitl after my birthday, which is conveniently in mid-October and by then I feel really keen
ReplyDeleteOh what a relief - now I don't feel so bad about leaving everything so last minute!
ReplyDeleteBernice
Welcome to the preparation of C Julia! You can join Sandra's (Stamping for Pleasure) Rudolph Day now! Hee Hee!
ReplyDeleteP.S. 3m are actually out of stock of atg guns! Shocking seeing as i got an e-mail to say they are on offer yesterday! I did take advantage of the 3 for 2 on the tape though!
x
So funny Julia - you crack me up! You can always be The Grinch at Christmas and not send cards at all, or even (sssshh) go and buy those mahoosive selection boxes of cards with yellowy envelopes and rubbish glue in all different sizes what you'd hesitate to even use in the out house if you get my drift.
ReplyDeleteBut, it's the thought that counts :)
Di xx
wonderful card Julia! Like this look!
ReplyDeleteSame feelings here! We need a global movement with all of us confessing our true feelings, we might actually get the holidays back to where we can happily manage it all and enjoy the moments! My fav time is between Christmas and New Years - it's quiet, I can cozy up and enjoy the tree and decorations, eat leftovers and contemplate the year behind and ahead!
ReplyDeleteI sent Christmas cards (homemade and stamped, even) to about 50 people one year. Now I can't afford the postage. But I plan to make a few for people right here in town, just so I get the experience. I'm not good at card making, but I like the simplicity of yours. Over the top and elegant may be wonderful, but I like quick and easy. Thanks for sharing your reality.
ReplyDeleteOh you arre too funny...honest but funny anyways!
ReplyDeleteGiggling quietly to myself (because I'm at work, peeking in on my break). "a grotto of cinnamon bathed well meaning" -- hahahahahahaha You've really cut to the chase of the whole make-your-own-cards thing. We almost feel guilty if we don't (because after all, aren't we papercrafters?), but also guilty if we make them and it's a chore (because shouldn't we be filled with the spirit of the season?) My husband likes to do the photo cards of all us -- just the 4x8 photo and no writing required -- and that totally works for me. If I want to make a few special ones I can . . . but never do. Happy Thursday and thanks for the laugh. ~ Laura
ReplyDeleteHa ha ha! Love it - I do almost the same, I make stuff for a craft fair I try and do each year, and then what doesn't sell I use for my personal stuff. But this year, I have made quite a few things but I know I'll either be making cards mid Dec or I'll cheat and tell people other than close friends/family that I'm not sending them and am donating to charities I support. Least it makes me feel less guilty I haven't sent them! Zo xx
ReplyDeleteROTHFLOL! What a great post! I am as guilty as everyone else about getting Christmas cards finished. I make them for challenges then they disappear into a box. I have gotten down to doing a post card style at the last minute. I don't send cards like I used to, an neither do most people, postage is just too much and the internet has taken the place of snail mail. So sad always LOVED getting Christmas cards in the mail. ~Krisha
ReplyDeleteI love making Christmas cards although I can't do them too early as I like to drink sherry and listen to my Christmas CDs. I kid you not!
ReplyDeleteMy house smells really CHristmassy from about the end of October as I start making cakes and things.
Don't hate me
Jakix
Thank goodness Julia for some common sense about Christmas cards. For years I have sweated over mine, getting more and more elaborate each year - but this year hasn't been the easiest and I am actually going to buy some (is that bad?) and for once I don't feel too guilty about it! Love your card though, I could make a lot like that........Crafty hugs, Anne x
ReplyDeleteHA! In 2011 I participated in the Jingle Belles weekly challenges and had 48 cards by the end of November. But I must admit: I was Christmas'd out. This year the JB challenges are every other week, and I still can't get motivated. This might take years.
ReplyDeletePS: I don't even SEND holiday cards.
Hip hip horray the truth comes out, I'm with you girl.
ReplyDeleteEliza
It doesn't matter when I make cards-I never get around to posting them!!
ReplyDelete"Imagine, I'll buy stamps and papers probably, from brand new ranges and make them whilst immersed in the spirit of goodwill and fun that the Season creates. It would be obvious from the beauty of each card that it carried with it warmth and love and genuine wishes for a peaceful and happy Christmas."
ReplyDeleteWhatever it is you are smoking, I want some.
And yeah, any Christmas card I make now is part of a workshop or a blatant attempt to get you to buy that stamp set from me.
You do make me giggle! I always plan to make my Christmas cards in advance but never do! Maybe one year eh! xx
ReplyDeleteI'm impressed cause I dont know how to do small print! might have to have a look later - I am about to start christmas cards for workshops too - luckily I still have loads of tags left from T!ms 12 tags of Christmas last year that will go on my own personal christmas cards this year - feel really ahead of myself and obviously wont know what to do with myself in December when they are all done! Have a fab week.
ReplyDeleteWay too funny. You had me crackin' up. ---My secret: I don't even make Christmas cards, I barely even do Christmas layouts. I have a stash of old Christmas goodies and refuse to buy more until I use it.
ReplyDeleteThank you for a chuckle this early Saturday morning (but it is not so early now that I have been watching Pawn Stars for ages and signing up to Pinterest). I started making C cards back in June - Hazel's fault with her weekly challenge blog - and have a nice stock now. I only do it because there is a different theme each week which stops me getting bored - and every time I get in my Xmas stash box I find something fab that I HAVE TO USE. I am trying not to put pressure on myself to make all the cards - I do buy some charity cards for neighbours etc, and that makes me feel less guilty. Ali x
ReplyDeleteBeautiful
ReplyDeleteThis is the first year that I have done all my Christmas cards already, before the end of September - except for the inserts. I have also printed out all the labels for the envelopes. The only problem is.... the cost of postage, so I suspect I now have enough cards for the next three years (if they have not got lost by then). It is sad that cost has done such damage to tradition, but, even buying the stamps pre-rise, it is still too much, so Ecards will take the place of many of them. However, I do still have to do my Christmas letter, to all the friends with whom I only communicate at Christmas - and that takes more time than the cards, so I think I had better get started now. See you after Christmas. I love reading your posts and looking at all you have been doing. I did put your blog up for the best crafting blog in one of those magazine award thingies, so you never know, you might become even more famous. xx Maggie
ReplyDeleteYou did that mind reading thing - but I don't do workshops.
ReplyDeleteIf I were magic, I would made that naughty shih tzu of mine focus all his naughty energy and make him make them for me... but since I'm not, and he'd probably eat them anyway, I'm going to have to do them when I've said 'i'm going to have to do them' enough times lol.
I did craft with Stephanie Weightman yesterday and made (a mess of) my first Christmas card... seems I was 'class clown' as usual...
Paula x x x
It's a Beautiful card! Since a couple of years i do make my own Christmas cards and mail them too. My people are waiting for them in December...
ReplyDeleteMichelle
I can't read the small print, and get myself into heaps of trouble as a result, I too would prefer to conduct Christmas between the dates of the 1st and 25th Dec. My creative director ( sonny boy with the degree- don't we know it) has reliably informed me that I am one month behind on my plan to dominate the world with my Christmas freebie eZine...I have been making Christmas things that are LITTERING my desk (bet no one spots them) and tomorrow I have to put up a Christmas tree(!) so we can 'do the photoshoot'
ReplyDeleteI think it is time he left home....
Such a delight to visit you Julia, even your whineyposts are hilarious!
ReplyDelete"A grotto of cinnamon bathed well-meaning"? I love it! Totally stealing it. x
ReplyDelete[url=http://doxycycline-hyclate.science/]doxycycline hyclate[/url] [url=http://genericzoloft.cricket/]generic zoloft[/url] [url=http://diclofenac.club/]diclofenac[/url] [url=http://trazodone.tech/]trazodone[/url] [url=http://generic-for-lipitor.gdn/]our site[/url] [url=http://fluoxetine.kim/]fluoxetine[/url] [url=http://valtrex-online.xyz/]valtrex discount[/url]
ReplyDelete[url=http://cephalexinonline.click/]continue[/url] [url=http://antibuse.top/]antabuse[/url] [url=http://buy-strattera.space/]how much is strattera[/url] [url=http://valtrexgeneric.gdn/]valtrex generic online[/url] [url=http://buyacyclovir.link/]buy acyclovir online[/url]
ReplyDelete[url=http://buybuspar.red/]buspar[/url] [url=http://buynexium.us/]nexium[/url] [url=http://pfizerviagra100mg.xyz/]viagra[/url]
ReplyDelete[url=http://buyelimite.men/]buy elimite[/url] [url=http://atomoxetine.trade/]atomoxetine[/url] [url=http://buysingulair.space/]where to buy singulair[/url]
ReplyDelete