Friday 27 November 2015

Silent Night White Christmas cards and bulb growing

For years and years, I've been wanting to make my own Christmas cards to send to friends and family, but apart from the odd card, I've usually ended up sending bought ones in the last moment. But this year, I was determined to make them myself, from start to finish. As the easiest way to get the same motif on a number of cards is by stamping it, I had to make a stamp first. I haven't really carved a whole stamp before, so I decided to go with a simple design. A bit rustic, reminding of an old wood carving.


And here's the pile of finished cards, all coloured in. Now comes the hardest bit. Writing them. I'm not good at all at writing cards. It always makes me happy to get beautifully written Birthday and Christmas cards, and I always marvel at the eloquence of the writers, wishing I could do it too. But I can't. I'm just rubbish at it. I never know what to write. So I hope that this year, the cards will make up for the writing. And then I just hope that the recipients will enjoy the receiving the cards as much as I enjoyed making them.


I've also caught the bulb bug. A few weeks ago I read about the different bulbs you can use to grow lovely flowers for you home in winter in a magazine, and decided to try it out myself. Now of course, amaryllis bulbs aren't anything new at all. But I think I had one once, years and decades ago, and I can't even remember if anything ever came out of it. So I thought I'd give it a try this year. I bought one called Aphrodite, a white one with pale pink around the edges, that came ready planted in a pot. I'm totally enjoying watching it grow from one little green tip just visible, and I've been drawing the stages in my sketchbook every week. And they grow so quickly! And there's definitely a flower pod beginning to appear. Can't wait until it starts blooming! I bought another, smaller, white one, too, and I'm thinking about getting a couple of crocus bulbs too.

13 comments:

  1. Your cards and stamp are wonderful! Amaryllis bulbs are very fascinating, too , love the drawings. Happy PPF, Hugs, Valerie

    ReplyDelete
  2. Your stamp and cards are fabulous!! Love them...and Amaryllis are gorgeous and so easy to grow...enjoy it!

    Hugs Giggles

    ReplyDelete
  3. Kay those cards are absolutely beautiful!! What did you make the stamp out of? Is it something you buy specifically to carve into for stamping? I love the colours you used - did you paint them individually in watercolour? Sorry for all the questions! Funny enough, this is the first year I'm not making my own cards. I always had some for sale in my Etsy shop and used them to send to friends and family but decided this year to stop making cards and donate to a charity instead of sending any - you've made me want to make some now though!!
    I was given an amaryllis once many years ago but after the flowers died the first year it never did bloom again - I don't think I'm very green fingered. I love that you're sketching each little stage of the progress!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Wonderful stamps and beautiful cards.
    Have a happy weekend ♥

    ReplyDelete
  5. What a lovely idea for your cards... they are just perfect! You are SO creative! :0)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hi Katja! I have been reading your blog for a while, but I don't think I have ever commented... I too have the problem of what to write in my holiday cards...The last couple years I have oundd the olution--I find a quote or poem and tada! Warmest greetings and love, aaand done! Hugs, Carroll in Vermont

    ReplyDelete
  7. Brilliant carved stamp and cards!! I really need to get going on mine-and real soon since I'm not sure what I want to do yet (I have been making my own cards for years). Those amaryllis blooms are gorgeous so I hope you'll share yours. Happy PPF!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Well done on the carving and cards. You did a fabulous job!!! Good luck with the bulbs.

    ReplyDelete
  9. The cards turned out beautiful.And now i want to make cards, too :) Happy weekend...

    ReplyDelete
  10. I am sure the lucky recipients will be delighted with your cards! Well done on the carving!

    The prints turned out marvellously. The bulb sketches turned out so well with you showing the layers and shading.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I'm sure you could get some nice macro photos of the bulbs too! Cute cards - very clever.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I love your stamp and the resulting cards. Just great! i did the opposite this year and didn't make my own cards, but purchased! I need to get them sent out, as I have received two already although it is not even December yet!

    ReplyDelete