We finally succumbed to opening up the Christmas paper packs this weekend. It’s hard, when you live in Florida, to think about Christmas much before Halloween, as it stays warm here 10 months of the year. But as crafters, we know that we need to get a head start on our Christmas cards, or we’ll be resorting to Hallmark cards in December!

Sometimes I think the hardest part of sending Christmas cards is addressing all the envelopes. Nowadays, it’s the cost of postage – especially with dimensional cards! Fortunately, Heartfelt Creations came up with a collection that lends itself to a more flat card (= less postage) this year. I think my long distance cards will have Shaker Boxes on them as the most embellished part this time. (Close friends/neighbors & those I’m sending a package to, will still get the dimensional flowers – because I just don’t feel like my card is complete without them!

I just love the paper colors in this collection – purple and blue – a nice step away from the traditional colors – it has a very “cool” look to it – like ice or snow. This first card has two different colors of shiny metallic paper to add to the glitz.

My second card is my take-off from one that was demonstrated by the HFC design team – note to self, that corrugated white glitter paper on there requires hot glue to get anything to stick!

The shaker element for the second card did NOT come from a kit – the die cut set has several nesting stars that made it possible, with a little foam tape — I’m just not a fan of making my own, so I have several kits coming in the mail!