Oh Christmas Cards, Oh Christmas Cards....

It's that time of year again. Time to break out the box of dozens and dozens of lovingly, pain-stakingly, hand-crafted Christmas cards I've been working on all year in anticipation of sending them to my family and friends. I make them a little at a time, all year long so that everything is calm and peaceful and easy as the holiday approaches. Now all I need to do is sign them, address them and get them in the mail so I can resume drinking my hot cocoa while relaxing with a book as my precious kids play quietly around me ---- NOT!

In a perfect world, that's the way it would be, but here in the real world, in my world, it's December 3 and I've only got about half the cards done that I should, not even half the homemade gifts done that I should, I'm not done Christmas shopping and I will be gone for 12 out of the next 13 evenings! And then we're only a week or so away from Christmas!!! Can you hear the panic? Can you? Can you?

My friend, Lisa, could! And being the wonderful, amazing friend that she is, she trooped over to my house last night to hang out (and give me a little comic relief, honestly, as she danced and sang to ABBA) and help me get some things done. When she left at 9:00 I had another 20 cards completely made so I'm over half-way done with Christmas cards and 4 of my hand-made gifts done! Whoo Hoo! I love you, friend - you've given me hope (and made Laura jealous!) I don't know what I'd do with out you!

OK, away from the sap and back to the CARDS!

I'd already gotten a good stack of cards done.

I have some beautiful, natural ones.

I have some fun, funky ones.

And these super cute ones from last night! We made a slew of 'em!

And, no - this monkey isn't Stampin' Up!, but he's so stinkin' cute! And - my littlest monkey loves monkeys, so how could I resist?

Thank you again, friend, for saving my sanity once again!