Every year I make my own holiday/Christmas cards. We never use to send cards until we moved to AK, then it seemed much more important to make the effort to stay in touch. You never lose as many friends as you do when you make a move that drastic (Fl to AK). Originally we did what most sane people do and bought regular cards, what made me want to do my own cards was that I had two artist friends who did their own. They both did a piece of art and had it printed into/for cards. However I am not an artist, you can argue with me if you want, but the reality is that while I can draw things, I just don't have the skills and passion to be an artist, not really. However, I am the craft queen, and I love the idea of actually hand-making every single card, of effectively making something for every single person on my list. Although that is why I don’t generally send out more than 40 cards.

The 2018 cards were hands down the best cards I’ve ever made. This is a hand-carved stamp, and because I’m crazy, it’s only the 3rd stamp I’ve ever carved, and definitely much much larger than the small samples I’d carved before this.

This is Pioneer Peak in the Mat-su valley. It’s my favorite mountain and is the one thing that tells me “you’re home” when I’ve been away, I’ve wanted to make a card with this mountain on it since I started making cards. First I colored the background, which is meant to mimic alpine glow, then I stamped the card. I ended up with a BUNCH of, not good enough cards because (and just colored backgrounds) making these turned out to be tricky business. I’d get an amazing background and half of the stamp wouldn’t print right, or the card would shift slightly, or I wouldn’t have gotten just enough ink on the stamp, or I wouldn’t have pressed well enough or evenly enough. These cards were a pain, but they were a pain that ultimately was worth it as they turned out spectacular, I think anyway.

The solo top card was also technically a loss from the earthquake, and of course, it was my favorite. When the earthquake happened we lost a bunch of pickles and alcohol, and a single drop landed in the sky of this card. This one was meant for R and I was heartbroken, I can’t send my inamorata a flawed card! But when I mentioned what had happened she emphatically insisted I send the card to her, that she wanted it because it was special and different and sort of a momento of the earthquake. There is a reason I love her! How sweet is that?

The second photo is the best of the best that I made. These are the cards that my doctor said she wanted to buy some of. Flattering.