Ok, yes, it's January, almost February. You don't want to think about Christmas anymore. But I want to share my cards. So tough nuggets!

I got the inspiration for 2013's cards while walking around (actually, just walking into) Anchor Paper, a local paper supply/scrapbooking store. The first display I saw had bright, fun colors, shiny lights on the paper, and upon closer inspection... a hedgehog stamp! 

**Time out for those of you who don't know me that well... I am OBSESSED with hedgehogs! I think they are adorable and I have a whole shelf of stuffed animals and figurines in my work room!**

Time in!

So of course, I snatched up that stamp and a sampling of paper and hurried home to experiment. And boy, let me tell you, these cards took a lot of work. Not only to design, but to actually make!

First, I had to stamp the hedgehog image, then I had to color it in, by hand, with 2 different colors. Then I edged all the stamped papers with ink and matted then, then edged them with ink, too. Then I used glitter glue to fill in all the tiny lights.

Oh, did I mention I made 50 of these?
Yeah, 50.

After all that, it was pretty simple to finish the rest of the card, just cut out the pieces, edge in ink and attach!

And voila! My 2013 Christmas Card!

I really like how they turned out, and I got a lot of compliments from recipients, so I think I did well!

Do you make Christmas cards? How many do you make? Share with me!

My sister, my little sister, my only sister, is engaged! Her boyfriend asked her on her birthday in August and we've been planning ever since! I get to be her Matron of Honor (I'm married, so I'm no longer a maid), and I'm helping out as much as I can with all the plans. 

As my gift to her, I"m making all of her paper goods. Save the Dates, Invitations, Thank You cards, programs, advice cards, the whole nine yards! Plus, I['m throwing a shower for her, so there's all those paper goods, too!

I've been experimenting with different layouts and ideas for the invites, but I ultimately had to make the Save the Date cards first, so last week, I finally sat down and finalized a design. 

Then I hunted down supplies and spent 3 days in front of Netflix cranking out 100 of these puppies! 
(the following picture was taken in a dim room, so the colors aren't accurate)

I am very happy with how they came out, and better yet, so is my sister!

Erin's favorite color is Periwinkle and I was able to find the perfect shade of paper to match her dresses! And her flowers are going to be hydrangeas and I found a hydrangea stamp on eBay! It's actually a double stamp. I had to stamp the light blue with one stamp, then wait for it to dry, then stamp in exactly the right place with a separate stamp in a darker periwinkle.

It took a lot of time, but they are perfect!

I'm thinking of doing the invitations in a similar, simple style. Now I can start working on them...
And the programs...
And the advice cards...
And the thank you cards...
And the shower invitations...

Oh my, I think my head is going to explode now...