Life is busy for all of us, and the older I get, the more I want to use my time creatively. I love to craft and create art, but I am tired of writing blogposts and spending ages and ages going from blog to blog, to see what others have created. Blogger is such a time consuming platform!! It's not that I don't like seeing what other crafters and artists make, in fact, I love it, and it mostly really inspires me enormously, but blogger is no longer the place for me to do that. I much prefer Instagram and even Pinterest. I don't like Facebook and have pretty much stopped using that. But I also know that I have many followers here, so I have decided to make Friday the day when I will write a blog post and show some of my stuff. If you would like to see my work more often, follow me on Instagram, (link in side bar), where I post usually 3 or 4 times per week. That's also where I love to see and appreciate the work of the people that I follow.
Well enough of the waffle, but I just wanted to be honest.
Today I am sharing some of the Christmas cards I have made this year, they were inspired by Tim Holtz's Holiday Hacks. This is just a small collection.
They all use the same stamp set, Festive Overlay, which are a great size for smaller cards, all of these are 4 x 4". Below some close ups:
For this one I also used the Winter Watercolour set. These actually work a lot better on a slightly larger card size. If you are interested, you can see another card using this set HERE
Another sample using the same set, but with a different sentiment. The poinsettia was stamped separately on white card and then fussy-cut and adhered.
The next few cards all use just the Overlay stamps in different combinations and colours.
Because I can never just do clean and simple, die cuts and other little embellishments were added to the cards, and to some of them I also added some white splashes for a wintry feel.
Well, that's it for this Friday. Wishing you all the best and hope you find some time for creativity too! See you next week
xxxxx
14 comments:
Your cards are beautiful Astrid, I have loved seeing and making some myself using these lovely stamps from Tim this year.
I know what you mean about social media and I too have taken huge steps back from FB but still need to use it for DT stuff. I have an instagram account and will perhaps look at using it in the new year but my blog was always for me to keep a record of what I make so I will continue with it because it still meets my needs. I love Pinterest too and still use it a lot. I shall always love looking at what you make here on your blog so I’m glad you’re not abandoning it altogether. Have a fabulous weekend my friend xxx
Love your Christmas cards Astrid, they are so gorgeous! So love the colours and the vintage look .. stunning!!
Totally understand where you are coming from. Facebook is becoming harder and harder to cope with and I have often thought about stopping it. I have to stay for a while longer though because of the DT I'm on so, until that finishes I guess I'll keep using it. Blogger is still keeping my interest, although I only blog about once a week, and I love Pinterest but haven't really got into Instagram much as yet. I am glad you will be posting each week because I still love seeing what you are up to. Take care my friend and have a fabulous day! hugs xx
So nice to hear you will still be doing a weekly post Astrid, that is more than some people do on blogger. Your cards as always are ever inspiring and I love that vintage touch you execute so delightfully.
Blogger is my Happy home where I can sit and take a moment for myself to visit and indulge in other people works of art especially those that take the time to show how it all came to be. It can be time consuming but it's a format I love unlike FB which is far to fast paced for me and extremely distracting in a negative way.
I use instagram occasionally as you know but that too tends to dictate what it believes we want to see, maybe if I had a better phone it maybe more accessible for me but it still wouldn't give me that extra time needed to scroll through everything.
Life is busy and we are lucky enough to have so many choices and platforms to share our creativity. I'm grateful whenever I can catch a creation of yours.
Wishing you a wonderful weekend. Big Hugs Tracey xx
I get the commenting and blogging time. It really can take over your free time, can't it? I stopped facebook about 1 1/2 years ago, but I haven't gotten into pinterest and other social media. I think I'll skip those and stick with blogging myself. I like the connection with people and seeing all that art. But I really want to say (besides the fact I love your cards) that you were so lucky to visit NYC when all the holiday lights and window decorations were up. I still need to do that. I did it once as a kid but usually I did go once in the winter and see the tree at Rockefeller Center once though, just before it came down. And I do enjoy Donald Hall, although I haven't read that particular book. I should check it out. He was our local state poet and I am so glad you discovered him. Maybe someday perhaps you'll even get to NH. Hope all is well and you have a super holiday if I don't hear from you. Hugs-Erika
It was good to see your beautiful cards Astrid and read your post.
Facebook is not for me although I did have to join for a time when we were both on a certain DT in the past and haven't signed up of any other social media as I prefer my blog Yes it takes up time but I do have a time limit for myself when I go visiting mainly, in the evenings.
I am pleased that you will still be posting here now and again.
Yvonne xx
your cards are always so elegant. I will miss your blog posts. I like instagram but do not own a smart device and there is not one in my budget. can't afford the monthly fees for a smart phone. so I can view but I don't get any kind of feed that tells me when someone I am following posts something new. at least not that I have figured out. just feeling passed by in general because I can't afford the technology - not you specifically. thanks as always for sharing.
I think you have put into words what a lot of people are thinking Astrid. I understand completely where you are coming from! I do seem to spend an inordinate amount of time commenting and visiting blogs, commenting on FB and Instagram lags behind those - I swear I could spend all day on social media, when really I want to be crafting... it is hard!
I am so glad you are not giving up your blog entirely, I love my visits here, your work is always so inspiring. Your cards today are beautiful (as always).
It was lovely to see your photographs with Marjie, I hope you enjoyed your visit. Hugs, Anne xx
Your cards are amazing Astrid and as you know I just love that vintage/retro feelxx Totally understand your view regarding blogger and I do not post that often due to time it takes to edit etc. I have joined Instagram and must take the time to read how to post etc. ( I am sure you could quickly show me next tie we are together for a crafty day)
I hope you had an amazing time in NY and are now recovered from the time difference. Meeting up with Marjie must have been so nice too xx
Huge hugs
Annie xx
The cards are simply lovely - I adore the small format, the rustic kraft and the delicate stamping - especially that watercolour greenery - enchanting.
And heard and completely understood on the time-consuming-ness of all of this vs using the time for creativity. I've been debating Instagram for some time, and I know it will be a platform I need to embrace soon. I shan't give up Blogger - like Brenda, I like having the detailed personal scrapbook, and mostly a record of my how-to breakdowns and processes - for my own benefit! I think your Friday post is a great compromise - allowing those of us who haven't made it on to Instagram yet (and will never FB) to keep up with at least some of your gorgeous work until we manage to get our acts together and sort out the Instagram business!
Hope you're having a wonderful weekend.
Alison xx
It all sounds depressingly familiar. I am completely with you about how time consuming blogging can be.
But I think there is no need to blog so often - I am also often stressed because of the challenges and to blog exactly when they start and to comment on all the blogs I have to do as a DT member and then finding also time to visit all the blogs I adore - like yours!
But I think it's a kind of self regulation...for instance so many stopped blogging meanwhile since the GDPR ... specially so many German bloggers stopped .
The most I love and use Pinterest and YouTube - best source for inspiration for me - always.
I hope you will not stop here...your blog is unique and it would really be missed !
I love your wonderful christmas cards!
Merry Christmas dear Astrid!
oxo Susi
Your cards are lovely, Astrid. It totally understand what you mean about time contraints. Instagram is the perfect platform to get the visual inspiration without all the extra time needed to read posts and leave comments. I am struggling with this myself as my family life is in it's young stages and I don't want to miss anything. I hope you find the platform that meets your needs.
Merry Christmas,
Kate
Such beautiful cards! I love the vintage designs and your Instagram looks amazing, so many stunning makes 😁. One of my New Year goals is to join Instagram so I hope to see you there soon! Wishing you a wonderful week and a very Merry Christmas too! J 😊 x
Am so in the same boat Astrid. Like you and others above, I like to maintain blog for a record of makes. I really dislike FB! Have account on Instagram but never go there... I must check it out further and explore posting / following there. Your cards are brilliant! The festive overlay set is a great success - wonderful cards with greater ease. I'm glad you will continue to post on Fridays. Nicola x
Gorgeous cards... Love each vintage looking delight.
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