Happy New Year of card-making!

What better way to start off the New Year than with a Christmas card challenge? I was thrilled to see the first Jingle Belles challenge of 2014, Something Old Something New, this morning. The challenge is, well, pretty much self-explanatory. The layered papers are old, from the first batch of Christmas paper I bought in late 2011, when I first started making cards. I realized pretty quickly that I preferred less traditional types of paper but couldn't bring myself to just toss it. But, just like quilting (she says as if she had ever actually quilted), paper that isn't pretty by itself can look quite striking in the right combination. The papers and ribbon have been around for a while and the tag was a surprise with a bunch of other tags that arrived from a great friend just a few days ago. I stitched around the papers, which is a skill I haven't perfected but I keep trying!

Also, I resolved to do more on the inside of the cards this year. I usually leave them blank and then write a message when I send them. But I decided to use stamps and embellishments on the inside as well. It's also a good way to use embellishments that just don't seem to warrant being on the front of the card. Happy New Year!