Continuing from 2003’s, 2004’s, 2005’s and 2006’s Christmas Cards, here is 2007’s. There’s a bit more to it than the front cover and inside that you can see below. The snowball and picture of me on the inside are slightly raised on little sticky pads, to give a small 3D effect. I think it looks alright but doesn’t touch 2005.

Although it’s not my favourite, it’s been the one that has take the most time and effort. It’s the cutting out that really slows things down. Cutting straight edges is not too bad as I have a paper slicer thing, but cutting round the picture of me took ages. Spending every evening for a week and then a full weekend cutting pictures of yourself out gets a little annoying.

I couldn’t find anywhere that did double sided printing, so I had to print on two different pieces of card, cut each one out, glue together, leave them to dry (below) and then trim the edges. You have to fold the paper before you glue, or it pulls itself to pieces when you try to fold it in half.

I then wrote in the space on the front and on the insert and attached sticky pads to hold the insert in place. Once that’s stuck on, I positioned the snowball so that it didn’t come into contact with the insert and that’s pretty much it. My hands are covered in little paper cuts and scissor marks, but I really shouldn’t be so soft.

Sorry, a few of you long distance people may be a little late getting yours, I was a bit behind the postal schedules. I think I should do something completely different next year.

• WOW! That IS A LOT of work. I just hope people who receive handmade cards really appreciate the amount of work that goes into making each and every one.

  Next year you should outsource some elves to do the labor.

  I do like your workshop though.

  Comment by jessica — December 20, 2007 @ 3:40 pm

• Brilliant!! I’m just about to leave for a couple weeks with family — I’m exicted to see it in print when I return!

  Comment by Frank Jania — December 20, 2007 @ 3:50 pm

• It’s really more of a kitchen than a workshop, but I may rename it. Hope you both have a good time with your families.

  Comment by Darren Shaw — December 20, 2007 @ 4:31 pm

• Thanks for the card Dazzer, the hand made effort is definitely appreciated, it has pride of place here! Hope you had a good Christmas, and Happy New Year.

  Comment by Graham White — December 27, 2007 @ 5:03 pm

• The card is amazing, Darren. Your comments before Christmas about having fingers sore from so much cutting suddenly make a lot of sense! Brilliant stuff. They look (and feel) very professional. But then, your cards always do.

  Comment by Roo — January 2, 2008 @ 11:54 am

• Thanks Roo, thanks Graham. Hope you had good Christmases.

  Comment by Darren Shaw — January 2, 2008 @ 2:47 pm

• Our card was really appreciated too …. you went to a lot of hard work … I love the way the kettle features in the workshop … lots of cups of tea while making the cards I’m sure :o)

  Brilliant work.

  Comment by Hanan — January 4, 2008 @ 2:14 pm

• Thanks Hanan. Need to think of next years now.

  Comment by Darren Shaw — January 4, 2008 @ 2:15 pm