After the excitement of the Frosty Festivities (still time to enter the giveaway if you complete the hop and end up back at Jennifer by 10.59 tonight GMT), I thought I'd stay in a celebratory mood and make my Christmas cards over the weekend. I did my own cards for the first time ever last year - for crafting, blogging friends only! - and I had so many lovely ones come back to me that I just had to give it another go for 2012.
This is what I've come up with:
That piece of October Afternoon map paper I've been saving for something special and I'm pleased I finally got round to cutting it up here because it means each card has a slightly different look.
I got nine cards from that piece, so I found another OA favourite for another nine..
..and I think I might have a few more to go yet. The Martha Stewart punch pushes out a tree and decorations at the same time - last year I used the tree on its own, this year I let the tree and the baubles appear together. I've saved all the trees for a Christmas tree confetti which will probably appear on a page soon.
It's a simple, retro look and, after I'd made a few, I decided that they had a Rupert Bear kind of a feel to them, what do you think?
I've got a few more to do and a Studio Calico map to do them with; just the kind of thing for a wet Monday I think. Better get the rest of my jobs out of the way first then. Have a good week!
Yes, a real retro feel - and they are delightful. I was initially reminded of the maps inside the front and back covers of my Winnie The Pooh - you know, The Hundred Acre Wood? But Rupert Bear is a close match too. I like the simple addition of the ribbon tag.
ReplyDeleteyes a Rupert feel - great idea, thy look wonderful
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely a Rupert feel to them ~ lovely.
ReplyDeleteThey look fab and yes Rupert is a good match. Still have mine to do, she says, slightly wild eyed!
ReplyDeleteI'm a great fan of Rupert and anything that reminds me of my childhood, your cards are fab!
ReplyDeleteYes either Rupert bear or Winnie the Pooh's 100 acre wood
ReplyDeletethey look great and very unusual
I like them both, but especially the one with the negative die cuts. I've been admiring that technique around blogland, but haven't given it a try. I spent a bit of time working on my Christmas cards this weekend, and need to spend more that a bit of time this week to finish them up!
ReplyDeleteI have that paper in the 8x8 pad and I've been saving it too! Yes it does give a kind of retro feel, I like it!
ReplyDeleteI don't know who Rupert Bear is, but the cards look wonderful. I really like the simplicity of them.
ReplyDeleteDefinately a Rupert Bear feel...I loved Rupert in my childhood...and still have some of the annuals....love the cards.
ReplyDeleteTerrific use of the map paper and a great colour scheme. They all look so jolly!
ReplyDeletegorgeous, retro xmas is my favorite style i think!
ReplyDeleteWhat an inspired idea! Obviously Christmasy but from nothing that screams Christmas to begin with.
ReplyDeleteI love them!
Rinda
Sweet cards. I agree on the "handmade cards for crafters only" thing. :D
ReplyDeleteI would never have thought of using that paper for Christmas cards. What a great retro look. I was thinking Winnie the Pooh too.
ReplyDeleteFab cards & definitely very Rupert-esque!! That means each one will need a rhyming couplet as a greeting!! Thinking cap on!! :D
ReplyDeleteSandi - you're right!
ReplyDeleteThese cards are so sweet! Love how you used the mapping paper and the negative image on all! They do have a Rupert vibe!
ReplyDeleteOh my, these are gorgeous - *love* the map ones! I was thinking Winnie the Pooh, as others have said :) I made a start on mine at the weekend but they'll have to be super simple this year as that's all I can manage :(
ReplyDeleteThe Winnie the Pooh thing? Yes, I already used the paper to help stage a photo of a little Piglet doll my sister made. let me see if I can find a link..
ReplyDeleteHere it is:
ReplyDeletehttp://fromhighinthesky.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/photo3651.html
winnie the pooh indeed! I wasn't into Rupert the Bear! these are gorgeous Sian - the recipients will love them! x
ReplyDeleteOh I just love that paper made into cards, and also love the clever way you've used the tree punch!
ReplyDeleteI need to come up with a card design and get busy next weekend! As soon as I'm past Thanksgiving this week, all bets are off for Christmas, and I will be full-speed-ahead. :o)
Lovely design :) I was going to say that the paper reminded me of a children's cartoon, like Dr Seuss :)
ReplyDeleteI thought of Rupert the Bear! These cards look fantastic Sian, very original! I like the negative Christmas tree, I'm going to try that out ASAP! Thanks for mentioning the giveaway again too. x
ReplyDeleteThose look lovely.
ReplyDeleteLovely cards, and it seems like rhyming Rupert is someone I need to know! Does he reside solely on that side of the pond I wonder? I hope not. I'm off to see - if there is a series is there one you recommend? (I'm thinking presents for wee ones here, honestly I am!)
ReplyDeleteSandi beat me to the rhyming couplets comment DOH!
ReplyDeleteI love the cards and paper too
And hope the very special few
Who find one in their Christmas post
Will scrap a page and Blog to boast
Phew, that was hard work
ooh sweet. I know what you mean about the Rupert Bear feel. That negative tree is genius! I am so focused on essays now that christmas cards will have to take a back seat I think. Grrr! xx
ReplyDeleteoh, i love your holiday cards! the map adds a sense of wonder and the cutouts are classic but different with the way they are placed. i made my holiday cards yesterday and the process totally put me in a festive mood!
ReplyDeleteVery lovely indeed Sian, I happen to agree with Rinda - Christmas without being overtly Christmas - just right!
ReplyDeleteThat is quite inspiring, I have loads of papers which I should use.. maybe I'll get a little production line going here.. x
ReplyDeleteThat paper reminds me of Winnie the Pooh but as my WTP fan here pointed out it isn't really the 100 acre woods. Nonetheless I think the map ones are gorgeous - a hope for new exploditions in the new year :)
ReplyDeleteLove the cards! The map pieces remind me of Little Bear. Funny how we all seem to associate it with some sort of illustrated bear. :)
ReplyDeleteThe maps shouted 'Winnie the Pooh' to me...lovely cards Sian!
ReplyDeleteAlison xx
What a great way to make cards - they look fabulous!
ReplyDeleteLovely simple cards. I wish I had the time to make.cards.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely a Rupert feel - inspired! I sadly did none last year but am going to be back making some this year (she said confidently!!!)
ReplyDeleteI love Rupert bear & the retro look so your cards get full marks from me! What a lovely idea, some big smiles coming when they land on doorsteps x
ReplyDeleteDefinitely a Rupert Bear feel to them! Loved my Ruper Bear annual every year when I was a child! Hoping to get a few Christmas cards made this weekend, but quite a full weekend coming up with lots of family visits!
ReplyDeleteI love these cards and, yes, they did remind me of Rupert :)
ReplyDeleteYes just lovely!
ReplyDeleteSue x
Sweet! I have been bad this year and not done or plan any homemade card. I might have to do one for my neighbour as I hate to "reply" to her lovely handmade one with a Tesco's.
ReplyDeleteThey look great and so different! I used to do handmade cards but when someone said I was being cheap I thought why am I doing it for someone who wouldn't appreciate the work. I should get back to doing them for my crafting friends.
ReplyDelete