Waltzingmouse Secret Santa Exchange

I was delighted to play in a recent card exchanged organized by Cathy Weber (aka Empty Nest Crafter)  for the Waltzingmouse stamping forum. Each participant was given the name and snail mail address of a person to whom we were to mail a Christmas card. Meanwhile, someone else would get your name and send a card to you. So surprises all around! Today we get to link our cards over on the WMS blog so we can all see the Secret Santa creativity.  

I have to say I was OVER THE MOON when I received the lovely card below from Jeanne Jachna.

Jeanne makes gorgeous cards, with lots of layers and embellishments. I have never held a card like this in my hands before! I have seen her cards on her blog, but to see one in person - well, WOW is all I can say! I know I would find it very difficult to combine:
- that patterned background
- scalloped and chevron borders
- striped ribbon
- stamped doily
- velvet ribbon
- lace
- stamped Santa
- stamped tag sentiment
- die cuts
- twine
- pins
- AND a flower!

Well, it would never occur to me that it would all fit, in the first place, and in the second place, I think you need a very experienced artistic eye to pull it off so BRILLIANTLY! I am in awe. This is a card you can keep revisiting and see yet one more new thing! She also tucked some sweet little crafting prezzies in with the card - totally unexpected and so appreciated. Thanks, Jeanne, for making something so beautiful and interesting.

The card I made was sent to Anya Schrier, of the Life is What You Make It blog. Anya is an amazing card maker. She is published, she is a member of a number of design teams, including WMS, AND she is a stamp designer. To say I was a little intimidated is an understatement. However, Anya is also one of the MOST encouraging people I know. She always has a kind comment in the WMS gallery and when she visits other crafters' blogs. If I did not know what a nice person she is, I might have had a full-on panic attack. Here is the card I sent Anya:

I love that I had an opportunity to use new WMS stamps to make this western themed card. I used Distress Inks to stamp and shade the various bits. A square silver stud seemed to suit the cowboy motif.

This exchange reminded me how much I like to receive handmade cards from others, even though I rarely do! And while most of my cards are appreciated by my family and friends, they are mostly non-crafting types and I think when you make cards yourself, it is especially thrilling to receive one - knowing the thought and effort that goes into making them. I think I will try and find time to make more cards this year - cards that can be shared with fellow crafters.

Thanks to our organizer, Cathy, for pulling the Secret Santa Exchange together for us. It was a lot of fun! You can see all the cards from the exchange at this post on the WMS blog.