Family Card Exchange - Christmas Themed

I have one of the coolest families EVER!! There. I've said it. Stamping homemade cards is something most of the women of my family love to do. Years ago, we decided to start card parties to exchange cards. We'd all get together and play games, have card making competitions, and we'd each bring 12 of the same type of card. Before the party was done, we'd exchange and have 12 different cards! It was a great way to build up a collection. 

As years went by, more and more of my cousins grew up and became more and more geographically dispersed. The card parties started to dwindle and then stopped altogether. But this year we started something new: mailed card exchanges.  Everyone sends their cards to my house and I collect them, sort them, and mail them back. It's a process, but I LOVE to be able to have that creativity carried on.

This was the card I made for the exchange:

Isn't this moose ADORABLE?! He's from the Lawn Fawn "Arctic Critters" set. I colored him up, stamped the hat, cut it out, and placed it on his merry head.  And then I layered. And layered some more. There are a total of nine layers! There were 13 participants this time around, and by the end of putting together all of my cards I was definitely cursing my lack of ability to create beautiful clean and simple cards. 

 The sentiment is from an old, old Stampin' Up set.

 

I love those little wooden tree embellishments, too! 

I'm sending this guy over to the Lawn Fawn Lawnscaping "Merry Christmas" challenge, because he is definitely merry and Christmasy. Or Christmoosey anyway. :)

 

I am also going to support these fantastic challenges: 

Simon Says Stamp: Winter Inspiration

Time Out Challenge: Christmas is Love with all the Trimmings

Tuesday Throwdown: Christmas

But I can't leave you all without a look at the rest of the gorgeous cards my family made. As I was going through each card, I was blown away by how much talent my family has. (I know, I know, biased much?) But seriously... I just love how we can all come together to support each other and encourage creativity. 

Aunt Paula's Card:

crafted by Aunt Jerrie from Coloring Outside the Linez

Danielle's Card: 

This is the very first card she's ever stamped! 

Didn't she do awesome??

 

Brianna's card: 

Allison's card:

Chandra's card:

Crafted by Aunt Julie

 

Aunt Julie's card:

 

Aunt Jerrie's Card:

                          Jerrie from Coloring Outside the Linez

Amber's Card:

Crafted by Aunt Julie

Casey's card:

Heather's card:

This last card is one that is very special to me. Just before this last card exchange concluded, my Grandma passed away. She was in the middle of making this card for us all, and my cousin Heather graciously finished them. 

My grandma loved cardinals, and always had bird feeders out. Her cards almost always were nature cards that required a lot of hand coloring. I am so grateful to Heather that I will have this final keepsake. I intend to frame it and hang it in my craft studio. 

Grandma's card:

Finished by Heather

 

There is one more card that I will add as soon as I have it in my fingers to photograph. My wonderful, talented Momma's card!

Thanks for stopping by! Leave a comment - my family loves to read through what you think of their designs!