Every year after Christmas I cut up the cards we've received, saving pretty bits and stashing them away into a ziplock bag. The bits that are blank on the back get a hole punched in the corner and are used as gift tags for the following year's Christmas presents, while those that have writing on the reverse are saved. Saved for that magical, organised, crafty year that I use them to make our own cards to send out. So far that year hasn't arrived.
Until now.
This year I did actually make cards but using fabric, not my stash of little Christmas pictures. Even managed to write and post them. And then, because I was on a roll, I dug out the ziplock bag full of pictures and cuttings, dusted off the little guillotine found when I accidentally wandered into the scrapbooking aisle at Kmart the other day (and that's a scary aisle, let me tell you. If ever I am tempted to take up scrapbooking you have my permission to shoot me), and I made cards. Real life homemade Christmas cards, ready for December 2008, people! Like NOW. In January 2008.
The word smug doesn't even begin to describe it.
Added to that, the missing box of purchased Christmas cards turned up, et voila, I have enough cards stockpiled to see us through to 2010.
Laughing, I am laughing, baby. Oh so pleased with myself.
46 comments:
You could just send them now and then that's done too!
aren't you good? I too have been saving christmas cards to reuse, but it hasn't happened for me yet...
oh my giddy aunt.
That is beyond organisation,
wow.
I've started wandering scrapbooking aisles and thinking hmm "papercraft"? Maybe there's something in the air for 2008?
Wow! love them. Such a great idea.
I'll buy them off you.
And pay you double if you write in them for me.
Either that or just write them now, and have then ready to post...
I am blaming the heat for this. Absolutely.
JANET -
It's SCRAPBOOKING.
You can try and szshoosh it up by calling it 'papercraft' but it's scrapbooking.
Again I blame the relentless heat you guys are experiencing.
Oh how I love being organised.
One quick thought: write a note to yourself on your calendar to tell yourself where you've put them. It'd be too tragic if you are tearing the house apart in December looking for them.
Wow...I aspire to that level of organization! I think that tadpole is right though make a note somewhere about where you have stored them... and then (if you are me) make a note about the note..etc....
Oh my goodness: I have all the cards from the past several years in a bag, and I'm about ready to do the same (or something very similar . . .)!!!
You should write them out - do everything but stamp and post them...
GO AHEAD, show us all up.
They do look pretty though.
(You COULD, as I MIGHT, stash them in a special, safe spot - AND NOT REMEMBER where you put them.)
We do the same thing with our cards.. and then can never find them when it is time to make them. This year I got a box specifically for the purpose of holding and storing all Christmas card related stuff, and marked it clearly on the outside before it went into the attic.... it will still manage to get lost.
The pretty bits of a card can also be used to make simple ornaments by small children... cut out the pretty area, and glue to a small clothespin to clip on the tree. Big hit at this year's Advent fair at the church for the 3-4 year old set.
And I feel the same way about scrap booking! LOL
I would be smug if I was that organized. Wow! I would also probably not remember where they were by next Christmas. They are very pretty cards.
I am totally impressed. Do you take orders?
Hello Suse,
First I want to wish you a happy new year.
I'm kind of a new reader here, I just found your blog a couple of weeks ago. I keep coming back to read because you inspire me and you can make me laugh !! thank you !
this amazing organisation job you did is just amazing..... just remenber to write it down were you will keep them, so you can actually use them next december !! but with organisation as your middle name, that won't be a problem, right? !!
By the way... thank you i feel not alone anymore... I saved my cards for years and years, but one day my husband said, why are you saving them? Now I can finaly give him a suitable answer :-) Thank you !!
Ah the satisfaction of recycling!
Just dont misplace them for next year. As everyone else has suggested, perhaps a not in the December page of your calnedar, reminding you where they are stashed!
Lovely, especially the torn ones.
I *need* one of those guillotines! But scrapbooking? Shudder.
P.S. I misplaced all the handmade cards I'd made in 2006, still don't know where they are.
Unbeleivably well done!
Very nice!
I do think it's funny that you trade cards with snow and sledding and wintery themes when you are living all balmy and warm over there.
Make sure you put them someplace where you won't forget to use them next year!
Oh my gosh - how fabulously organised, I am laughing and crying at the same time!!!!
Oh me too! I do the same thing (the gift tags anyway). This year people were noticing them and I asked if they recognized them from cards they'd given us last year.
Love your new cards. Gorgeous! You have every right to be smug!
Tick, vg, 10/10 Soup Lady.
Have been turning our cards into gift boxes this year. Heh! For all the gifts I will be sending out next Christmas!
What a b****y wonderful idea...
Now why didn't I think of that???? I have just thrown away 3 years of Christmas cards out and bought two new packets at a 50% off sale - and I thought I was being organised... S - you need some sort of award... Hmm.. a Post Christmas Merit Award : for Beyond the Call of Duty in the Line of Organisation of Christmases Past and Future!!!!
I bow in the presence of greatness :)) ( Sharon falls to a sweeping curve of a bow complete with plumed hat..)OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh my back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Have a great one S :)))
This is just blatant showing off. How's your Christmas present-making going? Started that yet? Actually don't answer that.
I am WILDLY impressed. Not as wildly impressed as I would have been before we threw out our Christmas cards, but close.
-J.
You're insane. I love it! Xxx
Gosh, they're GREAT. I am so going to steal your idea. But I think I'll be furiously doing them in December...
I takes me 'at off to you.
I am so impressed.
Oh my lord... I think it might be your FIRST name. I'm way impressed (and thanks for the heads up- I will be wary of wandering into unexplored zones in Kmart in future..)
You've got me unlurking here! Definitely do feel smug...but don't show me!
I happened to cut pretty bits out of the christmas cards yesterday, not knowing what to do with it. Now I know. Only to act...
I think...
I think...
That you're an absolute genius.
Happy New Year, Suse!
Yes, I thought about the same: Now, after Christmas and New Year's Eve, I finally got rid of the tension I had before Christmas, so this is the *perfect* time to make cards for the upcoming season! Now, finally, we can let the creativity flow and, hey, we've got plenty of time to finish the project (wink, wink)...
A woman who can perfect how a marshmallow is to be eaten is capable of anything.
Suse, dear, could you work on a way to make hydrogen fuel cells practical?
-J.
You do like that marshmallow business, don't you Joke?
Unfortunately I didn't understand your second sentence. It doesn't appear to be related to knitting or marshmallows or handmade cards?
Okay that is just toooooo organised - but such a great idea...hmmm, may add it to my to-do list tomorrow...that way I should get around to it sometime in early December.
Great idea! I really need one of those cutter things but have been too scared to venture down 'that' aisle - blah!
Don't forget where you put them!
Because I would forget.
So very cute. You should feel a little proud of this accomplishment.
That marshmallow thing is genius. You can do no wrong on the strength of that.
Now, if you apply yourself, I'm sure you could come up with a crafty way to make hydrogen fuel(l)ing a practical thing, eliminating the threat of global cooling, global warming and/or funding terrorists.
Or having to fuel up the car.
-J.
Wow! That's very impressive! The cards look great. I'm sure the recipients will love them :-)
Now you are from the future.
p.s. I try to keep it quiet around where I live about being into anything crafty because if anyone hears about it they invariably suggest something along the lines of "So-and-so loves scrapbooking, you should talk to them."! And it's always scrapbooking.
That's great going! Well done, you. I have to say I do use my old cards for gift tags but am far too lazy to make cards........ x
That idea has so much class. I wish i had thought of that.
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