Today's post title is fitting, because I am feeling the JOY! Wanna know why? MY CHRISTMAS CARDS ARE DONE!! I am headed to the post office to mail them off today and I will be skipping the whole way. This is one holiday task that always hangs over my head, starting in early November when I am faced with the task of organizing a family photo shoot for the annual card. (More about this here: How To Take A Christmas Card Photo)
Once I get the other three yahoos I live with to actually pose without (a) sticking their tongues out; (b) glaring at their siblings; or (c) pretending to fart, then I have to design the card, get it printed, and address, stamp (and oh lord - LICK!) all those damn envelopes. And I'm usually doing all this sometime around December 23, armed only with a American Crafts Slick Writer, a box of cheap wine, and my quickly unraveling patience. But this year, I managed to cross this off the to-do list with time left to spare. It's nothing short of a Festivus Miracle!
Which brings me to today's layout, featuring our Christmas Card photo from last year. It was taken in the middle of a snowstorm in Winter Park on the day we had planned to hike up into the woods and do a snowy forest shoot. The storm kind of ruined our plans, though I went ahead and acted shocked and annoyed that it chose to snow in mid-December in the Colorado mountains (because nothing brings out my inner diva like a Christmas photo shoot!) We proceeded with Plan B and set up my tripod on the deck, donned our puffer jackets and captured this shot in mere minutes thanks to my camera timer and some well-worded threats to the children. (You can see the card design with said photo here).
S U P P L I E S :
The design is another variation on stripes - this time horizontal - on which I layered my photo, some color-coordinating embellishments and die cuts. I framed the column in a punched scallop border, using black to create a strong vertical line that helps unite the many colors and patterns.
The title is a set of two tags that I adorned with pieces cut from patterned paper and "hung" from a black button and baker's twine. I popped them up with foam adhesive and added some sparkly sequins to the "JOY" tag to make them a bit more festive.
If only my Christmas cards came together so easily! But hey, this year's are done and I can move on to move enjoyable tasks like gift wrapping, which also coincidentally involves a box of wine. Are you beginning to see my approach to holiday survival yet?? Merry Thursday!
