A time to get serious about Christmas

This looks a bit like a WOYWW post (What's On Your Workdesk, Wednesday), but since
I can't see links unless I use my translator (and only one page before I have to use the translator again), it would be unfair to try to link up for this weekly event.  You see, in addition to not being able to see links, I still cannot leave comments on any Blogger blog with embedded text.  If you aren't sure what "embedded" is, simply scroll to the end of this post and see what I'm talking about, and how to change your comments.  I intend to leave this message at the top of EACH blog post until Blogger does something about this problem, since it appears I'm not alone in this dilemma. 

What you see is the beginning of some of my Christmas pages I've dyed, painted, stitched, spritzed, stamped, and/or stenciled to turn into small art journals (on the roll around table), as well as the ingredients for my cards and tip-ins (on the desk). Click on any image to enlarge.

I realize this looks like it is staged, but I assure you, this is how I work.  In my "other life," I design work spaces and the best way to effectively use them, especially during an assembly process.

Everything is laid out for both my tip-ins and cards, but I don't have enough room, so I will move the tip-ins to the roll around table until I have finished the cards.  Since I'm not much of a stamper, or a card maker, I'll get the cards out of the way first and save the tip-ins, my favorite, until last.

Here I've finished segregating and sorting each art journal.  I've punched holes and counted the pages. Luckily I have an equal number of pages for six small art journals (4" X 6") I will give to friends as Christmas gifts.  I had two pages left over.  You can see I've used the poinsettia "stencil" I recently purchased.  The page in the foreground was one in which I turned the stencil over and dabbed off the excess ink.  I really liked both ways this pseudo stencil worked.

Back on the desk, I am ready to stamp the cards and create the layered mats.  I will use the mouse pad to cushion the stamps, and the heat tool and heat resistant craft sheet (barely visible under the sheet music at far left) when I emboss the tip-ins.

Now that the cards are stamped and assembled, the no-longer-needed tools put away, and the excess stamps cleaned and returned to their drawers, it's time to work on the tip-ins.  I'm still auditioning various stamps, although I know which embossing powders I plan to use.   

 This might give you a better idea of what I have in mind for these tip-ins.

Sorry, but this is as much as I'm going to show at the moment.  You'll see more once my recipients have them in their hands.

And while I have you thinking about Christmas, I want to steer you to another art friend, Patty with the hard to spell last name whose blog is Magpie's Nest.  She's giving away three sets of her adorable bleached trees.  I really WANT to win a set, since I have a real thing for Christmas-time trees.  As is my policy with any giveaway I recommend, only a comment is needed on her blog post here for you to be entered, no matter where you live in the world.  Her giveaway runs until November 26, so run, don't walk to this one.

This post is for Day 21 at AEDM.