Monday Motivational - A Christmas card to die (cut) for!

Happy Monday, and, as promised last Friday, we have very exciting news in the hive today!  We are cross-pollinating with the very talented and delightful girls from Jingle Belles this week!  Our Guest Designer today is none other than LAUREN BERGOLD, and it's CHRISTMAS in APRIL!! 
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Lauren Bergold

hello, honey bees!  i’m so pleased we could have this fun “cross-over” bee-tween betty bee’s buzz and JINGLE BELLES.  we were thrilled to have june for our big reveal last friday and i’m honored to be here on this “monday motivational”! 

it may seem odd that i’m going to suggest we make *CHRISTMAS* cards now, in the middle of april, but hear me out, ok?  i *LOVE* making cards, but the last few years, when thanksgiving would roll around and i’d realize i had to make FIFTY christmas cards in three weeks, my heart would just sink.  not only did i feel like i was missing out on holiday fun whilst maniacally assembling my greetings, i also felt robbed of the pleasure i take in making the cards themselves.  and FORGET about making each one unique and special, when it comes to “crunch time” you have to mass-produce, right?!  every january i’d VOW to start early... to make holiday cards ONLY when i was inspired... to spread them out through the year; and every november i’d wind-up in the same amount of hurry and stress.  last christmas i finally said, “ENOUGH!  i am NOT doing this again” so my lovely friend stef and i decided to make a little corner of the blogiverse that would be FULL of friends, inspiration and new ideas; and completely EMPTY of pressure and mayhem.  we call it JINGLE BELLES, we post a brand new inspirational prompt every single friday, and we’ve got the most FABULOUS group of papercrafters hanging out with us; but more is definitely MERRIER, so we hope you’ll stop by and visit! 

this week’s JINGLE BELLES prompt is to use diecuts in your holiday card.  they can be store bought, mechanically made (a la cuttlebug), or electronically generated (like cricut); you can make them the centerpiece of your design or the merest accent, but make a festive card that incorporates them in some way, and link it up at JINGLE BELLES before 6pm EST this wednesday.  also, be sure to stop back here a betty bee’s buzz on wednesday morning to see the honeybee showcase, and you’ll have until friday to submit your creations here, as well!  in the meantime, this is what i made:

i covered several diecut bases:  i used my cuttlebug on some quilting fabric to make the christmas tree, and backed it with a second glittery white tree for a sort of “drop-shadow” effect; i added some (non-holiday)k&co diecuts (border & butterflies) and a fancy pants diecut holiday sentiment; my card is definitely not traditional in terms of color or theme, but i am pleased with it!  there is full product information on my blog, as well as a little mini-tutorial on using your dies with fabric. 

many thanks to june, betty, and the honeybees for inviting me, and i hope i have added a little motivation to your monday!

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We are so excited to have Lauren with us, and hope you are as excited as we are about creating Christmas cards all year long!  Get creating, and you could be a prize winner, too!!  Check back on Wednesday, and get all of the details!!