Some assembly required

I recently sent out my Christmas cards and gifts.  Those who know me, know I'm often unable to finish a piece, or if I do, I struggle beyond words when it comes to tying knots.  My hands simply don't work that way.

After I mailed three international pieces, and hand wrote a note inside the card, my hands cramped so much, I couldn't finish the job.  But, I knew all my friends' hands were in much better shape than mine.  And if they weren't they had significant others who could perform the job.

But, allow me to start at the beginning.

I confess I stole  copied  borrowed this technique from my friend Helen (Stamping by H).  Rest assured, I warned her I was going to take this technique and run with it.  I started by running my new stamp pad I got on clearance at Mrs. O'Leary's over the paper.  Now that is nothing new.  What IS NEW, is this was done on copier/printer paper.  It was the perfect thickness for the cards I wanted to make.

Next, I made several masterboards.  Now these aren't all that popular in the States, but my British friends have embraced them for a couple of years.  I began with the snowflake stamp I picked up a few years ago at Michael's for $1.49 (US), along with two never used snowman stamps.  This one was too large for the job,

but this one was just right.  After stamping the snowflakes in white pigment ink and allowing them to dry overnight (yes, pigment ink takes FOREVER to dry, but I've never found white in anything other than pigment based ink), I stamped the snowmen.  I don't care how many of these I make, I somehow always make some silly stamping mistake.   These were made for my international friends and all but one were long gone before I shot the next photos.

The next day, I started the assembly process, which meant even more stamping.

I still can't get it right.  I'm calling it ARTISTIC GRUNGE.  That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

I was tired of all that stamping, so I printed the insides using my word processing program.   I picked a font I hoped went well with the sentiment.

I had cut the masterboards 1/2" smaller than the overall size of the cards, giving me a nice border.  I never measure, going with my "gut" when I place things like this.  However, I have a rather uncooperative guillotine cutter, so the cuts aren't always straight. 

These eight are now finished and ready for the next step. 

I created a smaller, thinner version of my Tea Tales by sewing a piece of my eco-dyed fabric from my first batch.  These were made using a very thin white bed sheet, and were the perfect thickness.  At the top, I hid a piece of balsa wood to keep the quiltlet from sagging when hung, and used my crop-a-dile to cut holes in the top.  I added a bit of embellishment, then the tea bag holder and tape transfer assembly I sewed on top of the embellishment.

I suspect I'm getting ahead of myself, though, because I have to show the back, which I also made from another masterboard I created during a MOO-Mania session.  Now you see why I don't care for my handwriting.  I believe this one went to Cindy in Canada, but I can't be sure, since I sent hers a day after I sent the ones to my British friends that I didn't bother photographing.

This one went to my friend Halle, and it was so obviously wrinkled, I had to do something about the rest of them.  Of course, I was fighting the clock, and was taking shortcuts at this point.

After I ironed the very wrinkled fabric, I tore it to size and began the assembly process again.  However, I completely forgot

to add a small embellishment behind the tea bag holder on two of these.   It took me that long to remember what I had forgotten.  My blonde moment was showing.

Thankfully, I remembered it on this one.

It always saddens me that I can't get the shine and glare out of the photos, so I tried a different angle to show you truly can see the tea tale beneath the bird.

Although the last two I sent I haven't heard back from yet, I will show the last of the birds.  When I ran out of birds, I allowed Bleubeard to pick some of his favorite animals, but failed to photograph them, because I was trying to get them in the mail before it was too late to send them. 

The UP SIDE to this tale that required my friends to assemble the ribbon hanger I included with their package is: the card, the quiltlet, and the typed letter I included (since my hands were no longer capable of hand writing the messages) all went for a SINGLE postage stamp each.  So, why send just a card, when a small, thin gift will go for the same price?  After all, I AM the Queen of Free, and the quiltlet was sort of a freebie since I was sending the card, anyway.

Thanks for visiting.  I hope this has inspired you, just as some of my internet friends have inspired me this Christmas season and throughout the year.

And please remember, Google is the Christmas grinch.  You DO NOT have to include the word verification numbers when you leave me a comment.  Simply hit publish and your comment will appear.