Christmas cards

Good morning, All! :)  Today I brought the treats and goodies that I've been making to work.  I spent yesterday afternoon wrapping gifts, making gift card and gift certificate holders, making and packaging all the treats.  It was so nice to feel that little bit of stress slide away.  I can't take all the credit though, my wonderful sidekick helped me so much!  I wouldn't have been able to finish it all without Josh, for sure! :)  Tonight we are having a Date Night, dinner and looking at lights.   I'm sooooo looking forward to it! :)

Today I wanted to share some cards that I made this holiday season.  I love doing the photo cards each year and have them printed at either Walmart or Walgreens, and did again this year.  But, I felt like a dork (read: cheater, LOL) sending THAT card to a few of my Scrapbook Besties! :)  So I decided to make up a few cards one evening ....

The first one I made was for Red Dirt Boxer Rescue.  I used the colors from their logo and die cut a couple of boxer silhouettes with my Cameo.  I stamped some paw prints and a sentiment, put on some washi tape and alpha stickers.  I took this with me when we dropped off their donation a few weeks ago. :)

Now for my Scrapbook Friends ...
I have a set of Christmas stamps by Jillibean Soup that have three different snowflakes that I adore.  I thought they'd look gorgeous embossed in silver glitter.  Well ... my scrapbook room looked like there was a Sparkle Explosion, and my heat tool ended up warping the card a little.  I was pretty unhappy with how this turned out, and felt too embarrassed to send it to my friend that is an excellent stamper and card-maker!

For this one, I used my Cameo to cut a label and a fun, round sentiment.  I added a pearl in the center, and I liked how it came out ... but, it just looked sort of plain.  Much too plain for my spunky friend that it was intended for. 

The next card was all about the postage.  I cut the nested labels, and the North Pole postage shape with my Cameo.  I stamped the inside with a couple more postage-themed stamps.  Again, I just wasn't feeling like this was my best work, especially to send to someone that always makes gorgeous cards. 

The last one I made, I used my new Stampin' UP! roller stamp and washi tape.  I was REALLY unhappy with how this one turned out.  There was just NO WAY I was going to send this to one of my card-making idols!!!

As disappointed as I was with how my creations turned out, I knew they weren't just horrible.  I decided to sleep on it.  Well, I napped once, tinkered around with them some more, THEN slept on it.  And nothing changed, I still didn't like them.  I actually liked them WAY less and actually started ordering a few more photo cards so that I could send those. 

Then, I caught a glimpse of a scrap paper on my desk.  I'd jotted down an idea for a card that I'd seen online.  I had an epiphany.  Why was I trying so hard to not be ME?  "Me" is bright and colorful, Doodlebug, simple, using my Cameo.  And why did they all have to be different?  There were definitely shapes on the design that I could cut with my Cameo, making them be perfect, too.  I pulled out my Doodlebug North Pole collection and went to work.  And TA-DA!  This is what I came up with.  I think it's MUCH better than my previous attempts. 

Thanks for stopping by!  Tomorrow (if the world doesn't end) is Photo Friday! :)