First of all, Happy Holidays to everyone out there in the blogosphere!
After all the drawing, printing, folding, cutting, and pasting, I am happy to say that my Christmas cards are finished. Whew!
They are a little different this year. They are a modified pop-up and more like a fold-up.
Step 1: Fill coffee mug. Use up entire red ink cartridge. Punch out trees. Refill coffee mug.
Step 2: Glue front cover. See that diabolical glue stick? It sucked at sticking. Repeat Step 2.
You all know how I’ve been dreaming of a white Christmas. Well, the only snow I’ve seen recently has been in the mountains or on my blog! Thank you WordPress. I decided to make that my theme. Snow.
Over Thanksgiving break, my family and I headed up to the mountains. We skied at Keystone and had a photo taken at the top of the run.
Step 3: Drawing. I used some artistic license and added Roxy to the drawing. Nope. She didn’t go skiing with us.
The activity is skiing and snowboarding! I think that half my cards include that subject. Not one person guessed it.
Step 4: Freakin’ folding, folding, and more folding. I think I listened to 10 movies while I worked on this project.
Step Five: Cutting out the inside of the card. “Snip snip here, snip snip there and a couple of diddle dees…” Okay, so after a while, I got reeeeally slap happy.
Step 6: Still cutting… Creating the mountains was pretty dang fun until I made about 70 of them. 20 to go.
Step 7: Assemblage: I glued all the pieces together and then prayed that they wouldn’t fall apart after tossing them in the mail.
Step 8: Added a tree and snowflakes to each card because, hey, it’s only time. Lots of time! Assembly line and littered floor.
I kinda lost it at one point after I had been working for nine hours straight. I yelled, “Why can’t I be like an ordinary person?” I was watching Miracle. As if on cue, Olympic Hockey Coach Herb Brooks said, “No one ever became extraordinary by being ordinary.” That really freaked me out and I went back to work. Talk about ironic!
After 36 hours of drawing,printing, folding, cutting, and pasting…
…my family’s 2012 Christmas card is done.
I would like to thank everyone who left a comment guessing what our family was up to this year’s Christmas card. There were a lot of Wild Guesses, but this is the Wild Ride so you never know… I loved reading the responses and now I have a lot of ideas for future cards. Thank you for that!
Now for the winners. Be sure to click on their links and say hello!
Linda Seccaspina was the only one who got it right with guessing snowboarding!
El Guapo guessed that we were all together enjoying a family activity. It was a loophole, but true.
Leanne Shirtliffe guessed that I was laughing. I always laugh when I get my picture taken so my smile doesn’t look like a snarl.
I had planned to give out 5 cards, so that left two more to send out. I decided to throw the names of everyone who entered into a hat.
Cecile at Tryingtobeconscious was the first one I picked and lives the farthest away in Switzerland!
The second one was Catherine Johnson. Canada was well represented as Linda, Leanne and Catherine all live in the Great White North! El Guapo will be only one who get the card in the next three or four days. Please email me your addresses and I will send out your cards – susielindau@gmail.com
Thanks again for guessing. I would have felt bad if no one wanted one!
Happy Holidays everyone. Time to dance!
See that stack of stuffed envelopes on the counter? I am a happy Wild Rider.
What is your favorite holiday tradition?
From one contest to another – I am entering my holiday card in the GoJulesGo and TheByronicMan sheet giveaway!
Wow, Susie, I am just so impressed! Not only do those cards look complicated and so pretty.. but you’re quite the artist as well! Anyone who receives one of these would keep it forever! xx
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Thank you so much Barb! I really appreciate that! If they didn’t take so dang long, I would send one to everyone who wanted one. 🙂
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Love your cards – you are a one woman machine:) I love spending time with family and friends – maybe get a little toasted and have some much needed fun and laughter! Happy Friday!!!!
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Sounds great Renee!
Thanks so much. They are a lot of work, but worth well worth the effort.
Happy Friday to you!
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These are AMAZING!!
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Thank you! 🙂
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Wow! Let me bow down before you! These are spectacular and will mean so much more to the recipients that you’ve them yourself! I love the traditional turkey too! Looking fabulous, missus!
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Thank you so much CC! I wish I could make 200 and send them to everyone! Next year I will start in July. I say that every year…. 🙂
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Woot! Susie, those are awesome cards, and you are a fabulous artist; I’m truly impressed by your multitude of talents! Love the snazzy photo of you, too! ~ Julie 🙂 xox
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Thank you so much Julie! I snapped that photo of myself before going to a cookie exchange last night. I thought that finishing was worthy of a little dancing!
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You crafty devil. If I were a tad weaker I’d submit to the subliminal message to craft my way through the holidays. But no, I’ll send cards sent to me by people I give money to.
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Do not submit Tom…. Hahaha! Enjoy your holiday season!
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Great. I did get half right w snowboarding, or did I forget to say that. Anyhow…the country is in mourning. 😦
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I may have misunderstood you. I thought you guessed firefighting and then said that you thought the card I showed looked like snowboarding which it was. It was from three years ago.
Did I mess up?
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No u r right, I think I guessed firefighting from your summer out there. Anyway I had to go to a movie tonight to get away from this horrific massacre.
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I know. It is so sad. I went to Danny’s company Holiday Party and not one person brought it up. I thought the president would at least say a prayer or mention it.. I have to say it was the strangest party I have ever been to! We dressed up in “bad prom attire” which was fun, but in light of what happened today, everything felt off.
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Ha! I was late for the guessing challenge 😦 but it’s all good. Congrats on finishing an great Martha Stewart-Michaels looking Christmas card. It looks great and you look very happy bustin out your I-finished-the-Xmas-card dance moves! Woo-hoo!
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You would have guessed it almost, but it would have been close enough!
Thanks so much! My house is a disaster and now I can focus my attention on finishing my decorations.. 🙂
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Wow! Those cards are awesome! You’re so talented!
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Thank you Jo! I was a medical illustrator back in the day so this is my annual art project!
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Medical illustrator sounds like an interesting job.
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It was! I created a lot of graphics for posters and poster sessions. The fun part was doing the line drawings for pamphlets. I didn’t have to go to the morgue thank God!
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You had me right up until the possibility of morgue visits… of course I can’t draw to save myself so it will never be a career path for me, but I love that there are so many different ways creative people like yourself can use their talents and get paid to do so!
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Oh thank you! Several years ago, I went back to my old office at the VA hospital and they had closed down. With computers and photography, my position has become antiquated. I am sure there are some medical illustrators still employed at hospitals, but a lot fewer.
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My, Susie, your card making is really impressive! What an enormous job.. I’m sorry to have missed your earlier post. But I’m going to take a leaf from this and maybe start my own tradition of making New Year cards.
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New Year’s cards is a great idea! Thank you so much Alarna! I have made cards that didn’t quite make the Christmas cut off and became New Year’s cards! Sometimes they take longer than I think… 🙂
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Love it! Okay, I have this thing that I think you totally need. It’s called a Xyron and it adds adhesive to the back of anything. It’s manual, so you can use it anywhere. There are other cartridges you can use to add magnets, or even laminate. It’s awesome.
I’m in awe of your cards! They are truly magnificent.
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Hahaha! And why do I need Xyron? Is this for another project??? I am done for another year! 🙂
Thanks so much Tameri!
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Well, most of us thought you would be doing something original this year… not the old skiing/snowboarding thing again (especially since you have no snow)… Oh well, there’s always next year… sniff, sniff… yes I am a poor loser. Your card is truly lovely and quite an accomplishment. Thanks for the step by step. Take a much deserved rest and enjoy the holidays.
p.s. thanks for the glam shot at the end!
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Thanks so much Ted! They take so long to make. I wish I could make another 100 and send them out to everyone.
Glam shot. Hahaha! Breckenridge has a 4o inch mid mountain base, (packed down snow total) but it hasn’t snowed here in Boulder since October 25th. No precip at all!
Happy Holidays to you and your family too!
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I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you. I’m sure we’ll all hear when you ‘hit the slopes’.
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Thank you Ted! I’ve been out three times, but the snow isn’t that great yet… I am waiting for a big storm!
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Big Storm should be on it’s way, Susie.
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Thanks for that Ted! I am sure you were willing it for me! 🙂
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What a great card. I love it. You’re very creative. 🙂 Merry Christmas!
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Thank you! They have really become a big part of my holiday tradition.
Merry Christmas to you and your family!
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Wowzer! What a talent! It’s easy to see the love that goes into those cards, Susie. Merry Christmas to you and yours *doing a snow dance just for you*
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Thanks so much Patricia! Keep on dancing… We could use some snow here in Boulder! Merry Christmas to you and your family too!
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Susie- Check your year on the intro of the Christmas card- which is amazing, by the way. You typed in “1012”. I know you’re ahead of your time, but that’s pushing it.
That’s better than ANY Christmas card the rest of us are going to pay too much money for. Amazing.
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Thank you so much! I still have to make a few more….
God! How did I miss that? I read and reread and still miss typos. Thanks Cayman!
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We’re each others editors, remember?
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You need to get on mine faster…..I must not be paying you enough…:)
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Susie, you are an absolute nut! That is why I like to read your blog. It always brings a smile to my heart and my face.
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Awww! Thanks! That really means a lot to me!
I wish you and your family a wonderful holiday season!
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No frosters anonymous? LOL! Your card looks great. Wishing you and your family a Happy Christmas.
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No, but I would LOVE to try Frosting! Hahaha! Thanks for introducing me!
Merry Christmas to you and your family!
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These are awesome! You are really talented and creative.
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Thanks so much Arindam! It is so great to “see” you again!
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It’s my pleasure Susie. These days I am bit busy with my book’s promotion so I am unable to visit everyone’s blog regularly. I hope you understand.
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What book?
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You did not know that. I saw you hitting a like button on that post in my blog. 🙂
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I WANT A CARD! Beautiful! You asked about my favorite holiday tradition? It would have to be falling asleep on the couch after stuffing myself at our Christmas dinner. The noisy kids don’t even disturb me! 😉 It’s A Wonderful Life is only 5 days away (counting today!
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Thank you Paul! I wish they weren’t so time consuming or I would send out more!
Sounds like a wonderful tradition for a “Wonderful Life!”
Love that movie!
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I agree with Paul! I wish I were as creative as you are. but, I guess I am in a different way. I’ll be working on my cards this afternoon. Merry Christmas and enjoy the time with your family!
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I am sure that you are creative too Clay! You have to be when you are a teacher. 🙂
Sounds like a great afternoon activity. The holidays wouldn’t be the same without them!
Merry Christmas to you and your family too! Thank you!
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Woohoo!!!
though just to see the cards and the effort you put into them is a great prize!
Happiest of Holidays to you and the entire Lindau clan! (Of course that includes Roxy!)
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Don’t you want yours? I haven’t received your email…
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Sniff Sniff– I really wanted one.
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Wow! Thanks for that! If I made them in a more simple way, I could send them to everyone! Maybe I will do that next year…
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Do your friends all hate you because you’re so damn good at everything?! 😉 (Just read your photo tips before reading this post!)
Seriously, though, the finished cards are stunning. I’m sorry your family wasn’t singing, because I really, really wanted one. Hope you do another card contest next year ….
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Awww! I wish I could send them to everyone who wanted them Mary! Thank you so much! 🙂
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I agree, you are very talented, Susie.
PS can you e-mail me how do I put my picture/avatar, here on my comment.
Happy Holidays.
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Happy Holidays Sam! Thank you so much!
I would say that getting my picture on the gravatar was the hardest part! First you need a WordPress blog site or you can use your Facebook or Twitter account. Upload a picture to your gravatar and it should work!
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