Holiday cards get the rubber stamp
Sending and receiving holiday cards is one of my favorite parts of the Christmas season. I love coming home to see the festive envelopes piled among the regular assortment of bills and junk mail. So, it’s no surprise that cards are one of the first things on my holiday to-do list.
Bored with store-bought options and feeling inspired by yarn and the paper leftover from our wedding invitations, I decided to make our cards. Here is what I dreamed up:
Using a set of holiday-themed stamps from the craft store, I stamped out my design on the front of some ivory colored pre-creased cards. Next, I printed our message on linen paper left over from our wedding invitations. I printed two card liners per sheet of paper and then creased and tore the paper, creating that rustic, artsy edge. Finally, I lined up the paper and the card, punched holes, and tied them together with some white yarn. (I’ve been slightly obsessed with yarn since my Anthropologie visit last week.)
In the end, I spent about $15 on the cards, which is much cheaper than the cards I drool over in the stationery shops. The rubber stamps were on sale for $2.99. The package of 50 cards and envelopes was $9.99, and the rest of the materials I had on hand. Besides saving big, I do love the idea of sending a card that is a bit more personal and reflects my own style.
And, just in case you’re not on my Christmas card list this year (after all, I can only make so many), please accept our holiday message via blog:
How are your holiday cards coming along? Do you have any creative ideas for hanging the cards you receive? Oh, and if you are lucky enough to receive one of your cards, I won’t blame you want to turn it into a new ornament.
These are so cute, I love the font of the stamps! With everything else going on this time of year, I let myself use storebought cards. And ya know what? i had an internal debate this year about the really pretty sparkly ones I wanted to get at Target but I couldn’t pay $7.99 for only 10! So I went to Walmart and got 18 for $5 and tried to make them a little cuter by making my own address labels. And I didn’t regret it one bit. Oh and this was also the topic of my post today too so you can check em out!
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These are adorable. You are so clever.
I bought ours, but we also send out nearly 150 of them, so I give myself a break on it. =)
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Those are super-cute! Love the message on the front! And homemade crafted cards are THE BEST!
I used to get all crafty and handmake them… until we got married and my Christmas card list quickly tripled (I guess moving around a lot does that?). Now I design my own using photoshop and order them from an online printer. I figure that still gives me the “homemade” aspect of it, but not the part where I get sick of crafting after only making 15 cards!
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Erin Reply:
December 9th, 2009 at 7:38 pm
If I had more than 50 cards to send, I would definitely not be making all of my own! That is for sure!
- e
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I love your card Erin. You are so talented. I agree, with Jen, home crafted cards are the best. Now, how come Frankie doesn’t get a signature on this beauty? All of you Domestic Adventure blog fans should know I coerced Erin into helping me with my holiday card this year. I told her my plan and she made it happen and it is beautiful. Maybe she can share it with you. Erin, I love your Christmas trees. Did you cut them down yourself? I was determined to cut ours this year, because I like a more Charlie Brown looking tree than the perfect ones found at the tree markets. Determined to get this done last weekend, I could not cajol any of my kids or husband to help me. Sad, I know. Husband out of town and teenage sons all occupied. I drove to a tree farm and found the perfect tree. Saw in hand I worked ever so hard to get this tree to a stage of “timber”. Long story short. I tied it to the top of our 12 year old, very tired Suburban truck, and started home, humming my favorite Christmas carol. Five minutes onto the interstate I noticed a little color of green in my peripheral vision. Another three minutes and half my side window was covered in green. Much to my dismay my perfect tree was close to becoming road kill. I opened the window and held onto the trunk of the tree for dear life, while freezing rain numbed my hand and arm. At this point I was not so cheerful. I am happy to report tree, tired Suburban and grumpy mom made it home safely. Now, to get our beauty decorated…….
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Erin Reply:
December 11th, 2009 at 4:03 pm
Suzan,
I will post more about our little entryway tree, but yes, it is a Charlie Brown tree of sorts…right from our back yard! I love your tree story…only in Maine and only in the Backer family… I want pictures once your tree is all decorated!
xoxo
- e
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Your cards are adorable! I still need to write ours. I’m normally so on the ball with that and have our cards in the mail before anyone else. I know I’m behind this year because we’ve already started to receive cards!
Stop by today to enter the giveaway!
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Erin Reply:
December 11th, 2009 at 3:25 pm
Laura,
Don’t let my post make you feel behind. Let’s be honest, I have only half of my cards made, and none are addressed or sent out yet! I swear I will finish them this weekend…
- e
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This was our favorite card this year! It was the only handmade greeting we received, so the choice was easy! xoxo
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