Holiday Card Planning 2018 Version

Posted on by Craft Carnivore

Christmas & Holiday Card Planning 2018

Here’s a quick guide to planning out your handmade holiday cards. If you scroll to the end of this post you can download a free PDF of this planner.

These are just suggested dates. Don’t lose your head if you’re behind. There’s always next year, right? 😉Get a start with your holiday card planning today with this free downloadOctober 15     DESIGN      At this time you should be narrowing down the ideas you have for what your card design is going to be – here’s what you need to consider:

  • are you making multiples of one design or several designs?
  • What is your color theme?
  • Are you going to do any die-cutting?
  • Are you stamping?
  • Do you prefer printing?
  • Are you making your own envelopes? (Are you nuts?)
  • Is your design going to be clean and simple or are you going in a more elaborate direction?

October 31     SUPPLIES     Now that you have your design the next step is to figure out what supplies you’ll need to have on hand.

SUPPLY LIST

~ Stamp Set(s):

  • Stamp 1: have ___ or need to order___
  • Stamp 2: have___ or need to order___
  • Stamp 3: have___ or need to order___

~ Card Stock:

  • Color 1: have ___ or need to order___
  • Color 2: have ___ or need to order___
  • Color 3: have ___ or need to order___

~ Ink pads:

  • Color 1: have ___ or need to order___
  • Color 2: have ___ or need to order___
  • Color 3: have ___ or need to order___

~ Designer Series Paper: have ___ or need to order___

~ Embellishments:

  • Ribbon: have___ or need to order___
  • Buttons: have___ or need to order___
  • Bling: have___ or need to order___
  • Embossing Powder:  have___ or need to order___
  • Washi tape: have___ or need to order___
  • Other: have___ or need to order___

~ Adhesive: have___ or need to order___

~ Envelopes:  have___ or need to order___ or want to make___

~ Return Address labels:  have___ or need to order___ or want to make___

November 15     ASSEMBLY     It’s time to put all the pieces together!

  • Cut all your card stock
  • Cut all your Designer Series Paper
  • Stamp your images
  • Die cut or punch your shapes

If you want to stop after this step you can store everything in container of some kind and pull it out when you have time to work. It’s portable: take it with you anywhere you know you’ll be waiting for something: your kids, the doctor, your boss, etc.

December 8     TIME TO MAIL     Don’t forget that you can order your holiday stamps online at the US postal service website and have them mailed directly to you for a small fee (as of today’s date that fee is $1.75).  Address your cards, add the return labels, slap those stamps on, and you’re done! Time for eggnog and cookies! Or vodka and olives!

Enjoy your creative time and be happy!

Click here for the PDF of this holiday card planning guide.