It's the most wonderful time of the year ...

Christmastime is my favorite time of year.  Everybody seems to be in a better mood (unless you are at the mall - or "maul" as I prefer to spell it in December) and homes are so beautifully decorated.  Oh - and the food ... we can't forget about that now can we?

I sometimes reminisce about all the Christmas cards I used to send and receive.  How come that's a thing of the past?  What brought us to that?  Has technology stolen that?  Have postage increases taken that from us?  Also, in the hustle and bustle of life, the cards we do receive do not have handwritten notes inside - only a signature.  And what happened to the photos?  It's sad, isn't it?

I vividly remember helping my mother with her Christmas card-sending job.  I was the designated stamp licker.  I thought it was a big deal that she trusted me to line up that little stamp just perfectly until one day she told me that she just didn't like the taste of the stamps.  Atta way, Mom!!!  I wish she was still with us so that I could put all of her stamps on the envelopes.

As promised in yesterday's post, here are the 10 Christmas cards I created for Beverly to give to Jill.  This is why these cards were an early Christmas gift.

First up is the reason for the season.  Away in a manger ... I remember learning this song as a very young girl - hand motions and all.

Thank you to my friend, Marie, for giving me the window die cut.  At first I wasn't sure just what I would use it for until I started playing around.  Amazing how a plain white window can be transformed, isn't it?

Of course, we can't forget Father Christmas.  He's probably a child's reason for the season.  I've never thought of browns as a Christmas color but I sure seemed to use it quite a bit this year in my creations.

And another Father Christmas.  He sure does have some wardrobe changes, doesn't he?  I wish Santa Claus would dress like this rather than the red and white velvet suit with the big black belt.  Ho Ho Ho!

Here's one more Father Christmas in all his splendor.  Joyeux Noel to you.

 

Here we go with another card in the brown tones.  I really like it and think it's a nice change from the traditional reds and greens.  What do you think?

 

This little sweetie is all bundled up and protected from the elements.  I have a feeling she's going to stay toasty warm in this hooded cape.

 

I don't know about you, but I wouldn't be very comfortable if one of these had his nose in my car window.

Now that the cards have been addressed and the stamps are put on the envelopes oh-so-straight, it's time to take the truck to the tree farm and bring home the best one on the lot.  If you look closely, you'll notice that the plate says "OHIO" - home sweet home.

Once that tree has been taken out of the bed of the truck, it's time to go to town to the Toy Emporium.  Christmas was so much more fun when there were little ones in the house.  I can still remember the excitement in my children's eyes when they saw all the presents under the tree.

That wraps it up for the cards for Jill.  Don't worry though - there will be many more Christmas cards to share as we get closer to December 25.

Once again, please don't be shy.  Leave a comment and tell me which one gets your gold star from this group.  Oh - and tell me why, too.