It was last Christmas when I gifted myself a copy of Print Workshop and the basic tools of a block-printing kit. Over the past year, I’ve made quite a few stamps using my trusty lino cutter, including a crochet-inspired one that I’ve been using on the envelopes for my Lace Love orders. I’ll share [Read More...]]]>

It was last Christmas when I gifted myself a copy of Print Workshop and the basic tools of a block-printing kit. Over the past year, I’ve made quite a few stamps using my trusty lino cutter, including a crochet-inspired one that I’ve been using on the envelopes for my Lace Love orders. I’ll share that one with you soon, but today I want to talk about my Christmas card!

I doodled this tree, inspired by a drawing in a children’s book, several times and knew I wanted to incorporate it into our Christmas card somehow. I cut a small version on a scrap piece of Speedy Carve and liked it so much, I began drawing it larger. When I was finally satisfied, I drew it directly on a linoleum block and began carving. I found some metallic Speedball ink on clearance at Hobby Lobby one day and took it as a sign. THIS needed to be on the front of my card! I got to work immediately and had my 30 cards printed in a few short hours.

Its metallic-y shiny goodness–which was surprisingly hard to capture in photos–is not the best part of the card. Nope. The BEST past of the card? The handsome little fellas on the inside:

Thrifted blazers, vests, cardigans, lollipops. Informal to the max, but just our style.

You want to see outtakes, you say? But, of course!

I took the outdoor photos first. There was more than one meltdown, I can promise you that. The black & white photo shows what a toddler looks like when his big brother tells him he WILL NOT hold his hand. Oh my word, the tears! I spared you the photo of them BOTH crying because I threaten their treat. When we finally came back in, they got their lollipop prize and were still so adorable, I HAD to take more photos. In our dining room. Lucky I did because I ended up loving one of those the most!

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Did YOU take your own Christmas card photo? How did it go?? How did you “dress it up” for your actual card? I want to know!

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p.s. Don’t forget to enter the giveaway for 100 custom postcards I posted earlier today!

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p.p.s. I totally forgot to mention I’m linking up with The Paper Mama’s Holiday Photo challenge!

Since I’m mildly obsessed with shop-stitching (explained in this post) and I already had the word “christmas” stitched, I decided to put it on the outside of our Christmas card, this year.

I really love using kraft card stock for our cards. Actually, I like using kraft colored everything. It just adds a [Read More...]]]>

Since I’m mildly obsessed with shop-stitching (explained in this post) and I already had the word “christmas” stitched, I decided to put it on the outside of our Christmas card, this year.

I really love using kraft card stock for our cards. Actually, I like using kraft colored everything. It just adds a sort of rustic feeling to stuff. I used it for our cards last year, and even the year before! I think I’m going to commit, RIGHT HERE AND NOW, to using kraft card stock for every Christmas card I ever make.

Inside, I attached a little ornament for folks to hang on their tree. Oh the joys of getting this done early! People aren’t receiving them ON Christmas, like I’ve done in the past, so they can actually put it somewhere in their house. Oh! I hope everyone enjoys them.

The main event of the card, though? My kids, of course:

I gave up on getting “good” photos of my kids for the cards…ummm…the very first year! In fact, when my oldest was 6 months old and enjoying his first Christmas season, my mother in law and I sat him in front of her Chistmas tree with only a Santa hat on. And I do mean only! He was at the age, though, where his hands tended to migrate south A LOT, so he did his own covering up and there were no penises in my photos. HA! Those didn’t end up getting sent to family. they’re pretty hilarious, though. He was SO FAT.

The years since, pretty much every Christmas card I’ve made has had a subject making a face, sitting without pants, not paying attention, or just generally being themselves. I like it that way. This year, I gave them both a candy cane and sat them on my love seat. I sat across the room and just…snapped away. Voila! That up there is THEM. All the way down to Andrew pretty much INHALING his candy cane and Nathan savoring it.

I sent the cards out, this weekend. I passed them out to those who I see regularly, or would see this weekend. The rest are in the mail, sent out to family and friends whose addresses I have. If you don’t receive one, then this lady doesn’t know where you live! Consider this your e-card. :)

Pattern: Bedfellows by Camilla Engman, in The Happy hooker Yarns: Lion Wool (pumpkin), Hobby Lobby Bamboospun (sea blue), and Hobby Lobby I Love This Yarn! (old leaf) Hooks: 5.0mm (H) and 6.5mm (K) Mods: I [Read More...]]]>

I finished attaching this guy’s little limbs, in the car on the way to the park, yesterday.

Pattern: Bedfellows by Camilla Engman, in The Happy hooker
Yarns: Lion Wool (pumpkin), Hobby Lobby Bamboospun (sea blue), and Hobby Lobby I Love This Yarn! (old leaf)
Hooks: 5.0mm (H) and 6.5mm (K)
Mods: I made the bear, but used the bunny’s head pattern. I followed the errata directions and made the arm/slegs stubbier than the book pattern.

You can see more photos of my ravelry page, here, or on my flickr crochet set, here.


By the way, I’ve finally reached the bind-off on the pinwheel baby blanket. it’s only 700 stitches. *shudder*

Have a wonderful holiday season! I hope everyone finishes up their knitting on time! I only have one hat to go–the most important one as it’s for my dad.

I made this little zippered coin purse for my sister for her birthday. I’ve been really lagging on crafts lately. It has to do with my oh-so-clingy-but-lovable baby. Even though I can knit while I nurse, I haven’t been doing much of that either. A knit hat that could have been done in a [Read More...]]]>

I made this little zippered coin purse for my sister for her birthday. I’ve been really lagging on crafts lately. It has to do with my oh-so-clingy-but-lovable baby. Even though I can knit while I nurse, I haven’t been doing much of that either. A knit hat that could have been done in a day has been on my needle for almost a week already! I wanted to knit a cowl for someone for Christmas, but I’m afraid I’ll start it and not complete it in time for gifting. While I’m sure the recipient wouldn’t mind a late gift, I wouldn’t feel right. so, I took advantage of the http://www.threadless.com shirt sale and stocked up on some gifts just in case I can’t make everything I want.

Wow…I can’t even finish this blog entry for the little one senses I am not there and wants me. I’m not complaining because…tada! I can nurse at the keyboard.

I’ve miraculously [almost] finished our Christmas cards before the middle of the month! I usually end up passing cards out on Christmas day. This time, I’m on top of it and perhaps some will go out in the mail within the next couple of days. All I need to do is pickup the prints then tape them into the cards, which have already been otherwise decorated. I did that pretty late last night, which explains the extreme fatigue I had this morning. Tomorrow, I get to address about 20 envelopes!

The Christmas season is fun.

I wanted a simple, yet interesting [Read More...]]]> I started a new knitting project–for myself! I received an early Mother’s Day gift in the form of a HiyaHIya 9″ circular. I decided to finally wind up the orange sock yarn seen in my header and start knitting some socks. They’ll be a mother’s day gift to myself.

I wanted a simple, yet interesting pattern. My due date is in less than 2 weeks, so I want to be sure I have something easy to put down and pick up. I decided on Twisted Tweed from schrodinger knits. it’s a beautifully easy pattern!

Tonight, I took a little break from knitting and made 2 cards for 2 people who are having baby girls. One is having her baby shower this Saturday and the other is having her shower in June. I wanted to make sure I had these done before the newborn arrives. i can certainly knit and nurse, but it would be hard to wield scissors and/or an x-acto knife while nursing.

I just need to figure out what sort of envelopements to use. they measure 6″x6″ so I may just have to make something.