Another year and I still haven’t learned my lesson. I put off making my handmade Christmas cards until after Thanksgiving. Wrangling a headstrong printer, inking with any resemblance to the family member, and cutting a zillion sheets of paper has been frustrating at times, but I finished twenty-five of them yesterday. YES! Would you like one? Guess what we are doing and win a card!
In case you haven’t noticed, this is the shortest time between Thanksgiving and Christmas. I’m feelin’ it! Are you?
My cards started off simple then got super complicated through the years.
This one from 2011 returned-to-sender for extra postage. GAH!
2009’s endeavor.
Family rendering of 2012.
Lots of drawings but less cutting in 2014.
Note to self:
If you aren’t willing to make them before the holidays, like in July, then for the love of all that is holy, draw something and print it like a normal person. Correction: normal illustrator. (Most people can’t find the time to buy and send cards.) NO MORE CUTTING AND PASTING, PLEASE!
Yeah, whatever.
No, this is not my Christmas card, but the conversation that goes on inside my head.
I eased off a couple of years ago and printed my holiday cards with very few bells and whistles.
I’m not sure why I didn’t check out the cards from the last three years. They were so simple!
2016 – NO cutting or pasting whatsoever.
Instead, I added a little bit of color.
Then in 2017, I went back to a little cutting and pasting to make the card pop.
Last year, I came up with a simple idea, but the cutting started once again.
Not this year.
I’m not sure what I was thinking. When I am inspired, nothing stops me. So far, I’ve worked six days sketching, inking, printing, and cutting. Oh, the cutting and that printer…
I totally forgot the madness of Christmas Past that ensued years ago and decided to embark on another complicated project. This card includes three different colored sheets of paper and requires tons of cutting and pasting. I don’t want to add up the time I’ve already put into them.
Yep. I forgot to take my vitamin hidden under the depths of the paper shrapnel.
My demon printer problem.
Last Saturday night, I copied a sheet but my printer had returned to its default settings, once again. I lost it and slapped one sheet of paper into the tray and copied it. The printer made a horrible sound. The paper twisted and jammed in the roller! I couldn’t open up the paper feeder tray to pull it out.
I looked at Youtube videos, searched for the factory instructions, and Googled all kinds of Brother printers. Mine must have been an outlier. I couldn’t figure out how to get at the jam.
Over an hour later, I yanked out the receiver paper tray, not caring if I broke it. With the help of my phone’s flashlight, I carefully pulled the torn paper out of the roller. It worked. The tray slipped back into place.
It was a Christmas miracle!
Where were my Minions when I needed them? I could have used their sense of humor.
Second Note to self:
Haste makes waste. Next year, hire Minions.
Want to win a card?
Guess what my family is doing in this year’s card and win one!
If everyone guesses the same thing or doesn’t guess it, I’ll draw from a hat.
Good luck!
Don’t forget to join me in putting together a Blessed Project. I’ll feature yours on December 19th! Click for more details here.
Pin for later:
Click for more adventure on the Wild Ride!
great ideas, and you can draw so well, have a happy Christmas susie, amen
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Thanks so much, BW!
Guess what we’re doing as a family in this year’s card and you could win one!
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skiing!
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Thanks for guessing!
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I love your cards and I appreciate you share them with us on here every year. It isn’t Christmas until Susie unveils her card!
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Guess what we’re doing, Michelle and you can win one!
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Thanks so much!!! (((hugs)))
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I’m a bad guesser but, I will going against the norm and your active lifestyle and say that you are drinking hot chocolate around the fire.
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Thanks for guessing!
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You are one mad hatter of an elf Wild Rider – hehe – oh so CREATIVE!!! I love that you keep this tradition alive for yourself and your family. I enjoy cooking and gathering with my greatest someones. I also love finding some unique stocking stuffers for everyone too. I am right there with you in that it seems really short between Thanksgiving and Christmas this year. Happy Day – Enjoy 🙂
P.S. I cannot wait to see the actual card. I know it is something to do with adventure and wild rides.
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Thanks so much, Renee!
I’m on the hunt for those unique stocking stuffers. Any ideas?
You can guess even if you’ve won a card in previous years. Go for it!
Have a Happy Hump Day!
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Cleaning cloths or wipes for technology (i.e. phones, tablets, etc.). Ear buds, cord organizers, cord keepers, etc. Soaps, lotions, balms, etc. Phone mounts, pop ups, etc. Candies. Crazy, fun socks. Puzzles, games, etc. Key chains, lanyards, etc. Kitchen stuff (i.e. wooden, whisks, etc.). Fun sticky notes. Reusable produce or shopping bags. Head lamps, reflectors, mace for those walkers/runners, bikers, dog walkers, etc. Beauty and hair supplies. The possibilities are endless. I love wandering the Dollar Store or Five Below for ideas and usually find more than enough to stuff in stockings.
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Great ideas, Renee! Thanks!
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Wow you are so talented, these are impressive! I think this year you are all exchanging presents around the Christmas tree. Have a lovely Christmas x x
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Thanks so much and for guessing, Marion!
Merry Christmas to you! xxoo
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Thanks Susie!
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I have so much admiration for your talent and creativity. I was a lucky card winner several years ago. As to a guess … how about ice skating?
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Thank you, Ingrid! The cards were a huge undertaking but made with lots of love. 🙂
Thanks for guessing! Always great to see you. Merry Merry!
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You are so ambitious. But I must say I like 2016 one the best. I think this year you will all be opening gifts, and they will be books! Last clip, everyone reading around the Christmas tree. Everyone who gets your cards is very lucky indeed. Merry Christmas!!
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Thank you, Darlene! And thanks for guessing!
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Nice idea
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Thanks, Mark! Guess and you could win one.
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Building a snowman!!
Seriously, these are so lovely. What a gift.
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Thanks, Jay!
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Such a wonderful thing to do each year Susie. I know it’s a load of work but it must be so rewarding and lovely to send such personal cards. Hope you’ve got copies of every card you’ve sent ever, what a lovely collection.
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Thanks, Jonno! I might put them on the mantle this year. I think might have sent all of the snowboarding and skiing cards with the twisted popup. Wouldn’t you know, it’s my most complicated one!
Don’t forget to guess!
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Something Snowman related?
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I feel very lucky to have one of your cards, which will have a place of honour again this year. Will this year’s card have you visiting the Stanley Hotel?
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Thank you, Anneli and for guessing! Merry Christmas!
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And the same to you, Susie.
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Susie, you continually blow me away with your drawing talent. Since I am a previous winner of this contest I am going to recuse myself this time. However, that doesn’t mean I’m not looking forward to seeing the results!
Loved the “note to self” section. I’ve finally decided I need to quit talking to myself. It’s resulted in some of the worst advice I ever had!
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LOL! Me too. I should never listen to myself. And the nagging!
You can guess anyway!
Thanks for stopping by, Al!
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Without looking at others’ guesses, I’ll say you’re decking the halls! Your cards are so creative! What fun to be able to draw. My drawings can be bested by someone in elementary school. Looking forward to your reveal.
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Thanks for guessing, Susan!
Everyone has their things. I grew up as the daughter of an artist with a coffee can filled with crayons at my elbow. LOL!
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I decided my guess would come from my memories and those are often way off! But I will guess you all are vacationing to England!
I know that may have been another year, perhaps, not even you all, but it’s my guess.
Scott
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Thanks for your guess, Scott! Happy Friday!
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Why I have a parasitic twin growing out the side of my cranium I try to hide keeping covered my my bowler Hat, I name him Yoda and the little bastard be me to opening up my Christmas Presents last year, and he ran off with my Irish Mistress.
I love that you too have a twin, and that you make such lovely Christmas Cards including your family and loved ones Susie. And remember you shovel the snow and pile it on the right side of the walkway. Not scoop it from the right side and toss it to the left and then scoop it back up from the left side and toss it back to the right. That’s why Mr. Danny is in the back ground shaking his head and laughing. Marry Christmas to you and your family Susie. Have lots of snow ball fights, and cheery holiday moments.
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Thanks so much, Brock!
You forgot to guess what we are doing to win a card.
More snow is on the way, so I will work on my technique, LOL!
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You must have the patience of a saint putting these cards together, but I love them. The only Christmas card I made involved a small amount of cutting. I don’t know why I never went back to making my own cards. Maybe it was the invention of the internet which took up all my time instead of making cards? I tend to design them and order them online now.
I’m guessing you’re all helping Santa load his sleigh.
Merry Christmas, Susie. 🎄
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Nice to see you, Hugh! Thanks for guessing. 🙂
That’s so great that you send them. Even with the invention of the Internet, fewer people take the time every year,
I finished mine yesterday. Whew! Now comes the stamping and sending….
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Nice post, Susie! Happy to see the art of Christmas cards surviving in this digital age of ours. Hope you’re having a good holiday season so far.
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Thanks, Paul!
Great to see you. Don’t forget to guess what we’re doing. You might win a card!
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I can’t even with how wicked awesomesauce and amazingly creative your cards are! And to be in the process of attempting such a complex one now…
While my brain is still boggled at the thought of all that work, it did manage to come up with a guess – put me down for a pop-up Christmas tree, featuring family members faces on ornaments, with a sprinkling of outdoor adventuring equipment for other decorations.
Whatever it ends up being, I’m certain it will be gorgeous! And if I don’t catch up with you beforehand, Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays to you and yours.
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Thanks so much, Traci. LOL!!!
I didn’t know we could use Gifs in comments. I LOVE IT!
Thanks so much for guessing. Merry Christmas to you.
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The question is: is it the dining table or an actual craft/office area that is totally inaccessible until The Cards are done? HaHa.
What is Christmas without a little manic action?
Enjoyed the card review. The one from 2012 is my favorite – nice drawing, good use of shapes, and just enough color. Can’t wait to see what you’ve cut up this year (lovely green).
Subject this year? hmm, Outdoor scene with family decorating house Griswold style while you local wildlife peer out from a tree/forest?…Maybe Santa with them? (You could really go crazy with into all sorts of cutting, pasting shadowing with that one….ok in the future perhaps – when you have all that vast amount of spare time people always tell you is waiting there HaHa
Jingle on, Susie – you make the holiday merrier
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I never made it into the craft room this year. That is super unusual. I have always drawn them at a drawing board. This year, I created them from start to finish at my kitchen counter. 😂
Thanks so much for guessing! Merry Christmas, Phil!
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I LOVE your art work, Susie. Amazing talent! The printer ordeal, oh man! I hate it when those things happen. Glad you were able to save it! I thought the Blessed Project started today and I haven’t written a post. Helped care for daughter and grandkids last week while they were sick and now I’m fighting it. Hope you guys are staying well. Let’s see if I can write a post for The Blessed Project!
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Thank you so much, Lynn!
I was so thankful the printer worked after that fiasco. The alternative would have been a huge setback.
I’m so sorry to hear about your sick grandkids and your daughter. I hope you’re able to sleep it off. I take Coldeze whenever I sneeze. 😂
I’m not posting the Blessed Projects until Thursday morning, so I hope you join us! It can be super short.
I hope you’re feeling better.
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