Thursday 15 November 2012

Christmas cards - option 2

Hello again
I hope that you are well - thank you as always for kind wallpaper comments.  With old houses you never really finish decorating and I now realise that this house will never be 'done' - just  a process of refinement (sort of).  Talking of refinement I am desparado to clear some 'stuff'' and the spare bedroom is rapido filling up with my 'reading rid of' section - mind you when I wistfully see very similar  'stuff' appearing on blogs I have great pangs of regret - daft as it is only STUFF.

I have been caught up in the whiff of Christmas appearing on blogs.  I have opened the Christmas Cupboard (little fanfare) and started thinking up the theme for the display for this year.  For starters let us discuss..... Christmas cards.  I have four approaches to Christmas cards
1.  Don't send them
2. Send home made
3. Send old
4. Donate to charity (as feel guilty for all of the above!)


So these are my Christmas cards - these ones are sort of home made!  They all feature Christmas things from our home.... there is a bit to choose from.... here you can see photographs of  paper bunting that I have made, our old table runner, old tins, old Christmas magazines, old tablecloths, old decorations, one of the wreaths that I have made from old stuff.....  All sorts that I think look purdy for Christmas.  These are pricey I think (our printer is not up to printing these out so have to sent away to be done) so not a cheapo (sorry a bit of Italian creeping in - I just cannot help myself nowadays!) Christmas card option.


Some of these things merit a little posting all of their own ...one in particular is my favourite thing...which one is it do you think?


This afternoon I am launching my brand new shop called 'The Custards Christmas Cards'  (TCCC) for a unique line in cards this season...ho ho.

The other option is so use up old stock that has not been used before and I will be posting about that next time!

Tra la la
Fiddle de dee
Off I go
And will show you next time we have some tea....

PS I have been invited to apply for a little job in Jersey - I haven't been there for years but do still have some things that I bought whilst there - anyone know if Jersey is rich in vintage goodies?  That might be the deal breaker!!!!

PPS Apologies for 'genderism' on previous post - thank you once again to The Hattatts for appropriate reminder.

29 comments:

  1. Hello Jenny:
    A breako from the packing!!

    At one time we received somewhere over 200 Christmas cards each year and sent about half that number. About three years ago we stopped sending any and hey presto [good expression in the Italian mode] we now receive perhaps two!! We mind not at all.

    Now, we really are off to get the Eurolines bus!!

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    1. Dear Jane and Lance - two well received cards sounds good to me. All the best with you trip - I look forward to your return and talk of your adventures
      Best wishes
      Jenny

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  2. Oh Jenny, how lovely! I love the lady with the snowball best, I think, but they're all lovely. Pity I don't send them though, stopped about 8 years ago as it was just one more thing to get stressy about and each year I give to a different charity instead. Much easier, and not completely bah! humbug!!

    Love Claire xxx

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    1. Not bah humbug at all Claire - it makes great sense I think. I like the snowball lady too! Not my favourite though
      Have a lovely weekend
      Best wishes
      Jenny

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  3. Oh now look!! - So weird you did a card post today because today is The Day I Start My Card-Making and bien sur I am going to do a blog post about it. You have read my mind.

    Your "card sending rules" could have been taken from my personal Christmas Guidelines List. We only send cards to peeps we know and love. I hand-make all our cards - and after the 5th card it starts to get very tedious - so our list of much-loved dear ones who should get a card decreases every year. ;)

    Your cards are cracking. Very nostalgic and retro. And I don't know which is your favourite thing...maybe the glittery doll card?

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    1. Dear wendz - looking forward to seeing your cards much indeedy. Far better to send with sincerity than 'just because'. The glittery doll I keep meaning to 'dress up' and then forget all about it! More to come of favourite!
      Enjoy your weekend
      Best wishes
      jenny

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  4. Love your Christmas cards ... I send a few and receive a few ... but always seem to forget someone each year ... not good ... I don't think people mind anymore though ... Bee xx

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    1. Indeed Bee - one or two less each year....soon there will be next to none I think.
      have a delicious weekend
      Best wishes
      Jenny

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  5. I like to send cards and use old ones to cut up and make things for myself :) love your cards, they are wonderful!

    Bee happy x

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    1. Indeed - lots of uses for old cards - making more cards being one of them!
      Have a lovely weekend
      Best wishes
      Jenny

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  6. These are fan dabbie dosie! I love the 1950 inspired ones, especially the children on their sledge! I'm with you on the cards, I send less these days and give a bit to charity! :)

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    1. Thank you dear Ada - the sledge picture is from the cover of an old magazine. Card giving does seem a bit daft when you take a hard look at it
      Best wishes
      Jenny

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  7. Oh Jenny please can I have two favourites?? One is the lady with the snowball and the other is the lady that looks like the quality street tin picture, mind you they're all wonderful. I shall have to have some but not to send, oh no, just for me to display them on my lovely wire "hangy thing" and to admire and drool over!!For me it wouldn't be Christmas without writing out seasons greetings to one and all and sticking festive stamps on and then finding the pretties post box to pop them into ready for Mr Postie to deliver and of course it's lovely when Mr Postie pops one or two hand written cards through my letter box too. Lucey xx

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    1. Good choices Lucey- the Quality Street one is actually a very large needlepoint that sits in the spare bedroom! I like the festive stamps too - I have a little post lined up about those! Looking forward to seeing your wire 'hangy thing'!
      Wish that my writing was nice!
      Best wishes
      Jenny

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  8. My favourite card is the baubly wreath one - love it.
    As for cards...don't send out many but can't resist buying them and I always buy in the sale for next year :)

    As for vintage stuff in Jersey....but if Guernsey is anything to go by my sister and I picked up lots of lovely things in St Peter Port earlier this year. We both came home with our own personal treasures. My sister bagged a gorgeous, little fifties style handbag which she uses all the time and I bought a bag of vintage old lace and all goodies were absolute bargain buys :)
    x

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    1. Aww thank you Barbara - I made those wreaths a couple of years ago - a glue gun works wonders!
      Thank you for the info about the Channel Islands..I may be 'forced' to apply now! We do like a bargain!
      Best wishes
      Jenny

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    2. Jenny, my sister always says she has the nose of a 'truffle pig' for scenting out the bargains....I now very much believe her! :)
      x

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  9. I dont send as many cards as I used to do but when I do I make sure they show the nativity because I am obsessed that people are forgetting what christmas is all about. Anyone I see on a regular basis doesnt get one, they are sent to people who I dont see with a little note inside.At work we tend to make donations to charity in lieu of cards, a much better idea and it saves having to write the blooming things too!

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    1. I like the idea of donations at work Anne - and with my writing no one wants to see my hand written cards sadly.....
      Have a lovely weekend Anne
      Best wishes
      Jenny

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  10. Hi Jenny, this is a fab idea and I love all the designs, most of all the vintage lady wearing a head scarf, just lovely!
    Echoing every one else on this one, sending less and donating more is a much more stress free and giving thing to do.
    Ooh haven't watched 'The Paradise' yet as been a busy bee this week, but now you have me excited about the last episode, can't wait!!
    Sending kind thoughts....
    Love Maria x

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    1. Thank you Maria - this is a 1940s cover of Woman Magazine and I am rather fond of it too. Looking forward to your thoughts about The Paradise...
      Best wishes
      Jenny

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  11. Oooh Jenny
    Its like a treasure trove, I love the lady in her bonnet and the children with parcels... yesI still send a few...and yes I do love receiving cards as I always keep them for crafting
    Thea x

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    1. Cards are great for a bit of recycling aren't they Thea - keep meaning to make one of the hexagon ball thingys!
      Best wishes
      jenny

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  12. Hi Jenny,LOVE your Christmas cards and the idea that you have a Christmas cupboard!I do think we ought to send and buy cards because there must be people who are in the card business and depend on us to buy them to keep them in their job,just as we depend on others to keep us in our jobs! I do think that the post office should make a special cheaper stamp for Christmas cards as 12 shillings is a vast amount for one little stamp and we could buy all of our Christmas dinner for that much!!God bless the postie though for delivering in all weathers.Sorry to have gone on there,my favourite card is the wreath and bunting one.Warm Regards Pam.

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    1. Dear Pam - oh dear, you have added an extra dimension of guilt with the card business! A cheaper stamp sounds like a great idea - not sure if the GPO will agree though. 12 bob...God bless us everyone...
      You may go on as much as you like dear Pam

      Best wishes
      Jenny

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  13. Love your retro cards! Cards were a dilemma but... for many years now I only ever buy cards direct from the charity or maker... or I make them myself. That way I am supporting either creative endeavour or others in need... Conscience clear I send my love and greetings freely.

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    1. Good idea Cass - were are guilt ridden don't you think!
      Have a lovely weekend
      Best wishes
      jenny

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  14. great cards. I definitely like to idea of home-made, I usually make really mini ones! is the wreath your favourite thing I wonder. Nice idea to use pictures of things you have made, Heather x

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    1. thank you kindly Heather
      I look forward to seeing your cards. I do like the wreath one but not my favourite thing...
      Have a lovely weekend
      Best wishes
      Jenny

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