 |
Maggie drawing the
pictures. All the little
ones helped draw
for the card. After
they draw the
pictures, I scan them
all and resize them
and combine them
on the pages on the
computer. Then the
pages are all printed
out and cut to the
right sizes.
pictures. All the little
ones helped draw
for the card. After
they draw the
pictures, I scan them
all and resize them
and combine them
on the pages on the
computer. Then the
pages are all printed
out and cut to the
right sizes.
| The next step was cutting out the five cut out shapes with Xacto knives. |
Can you tell what movie we're watching?
| What a mess! |
Peapod was very interested in every stage of the card.
She enjoyed sauntering in and parking herself in the
middle of everything. See how many times you see her
in the pictures. And if you have a cat hair on your card,
well, now you know why.
She enjoyed sauntering in and parking herself in the
middle of everything. See how many times you see her
in the pictures. And if you have a cat hair on your card,
well, now you know why.
| After cut outs were cut, the cards were colored with green and blue diluted transparent air brush dyes. |
| I had to press the cards often between each step to try to make them as flat as possible. I used books and weights. |
Next, the stitching details on each
page done with my good old
Husqavarna sewing machine.
page done with my good old
Husqavarna sewing machine.
Decorating each tree.
| Since both tables were covered in cards for several days, there were many picnics. But nobody seemed to mind! |
| Our annual "Hannah and Canaan stabbing each other" picture. |
la la la....
Cards drying in the garage.
| Maggie and Silas did every candle flame on every card. |
| Helping with sequins and stars. |
Star face.
All that work for this? At
this point the cards are
all numbered on the
back, each card having
its own individual
number. This year was
our biggest run of all,
and we made 185 cards.
this point the cards are
all numbered on the
back, each card having
its own individual
number. This year was
our biggest run of all,
and we made 185 cards.
| The littles did all the sealing and stamping. |
"Oh little town of Bethlehem, asleep and unaware
Your skies will ignite in the dead of night, as the angels sing praises fair.
Your shepherds are busy with sheep, gentle, monotonous, slow
Living each day in a haphazard way, but little did they know...
Young Mary and sweet Joseph, getting ready for their union
They couldn't conceive, be hard pressed to believe, that in due time she'd carry God's son
The innkeeper renting out rooms, watching faces that come and go
His rooms occupied, a sad couple denied, and little did they know...
Each year we come and celebrate, with love and food to spare
But some are weighed down with trouble around, they feel that it's too much to bear.
Take heart! See that one day before, those whose worlds would change had no clue
Lost and insecure, searching for the cure, little did we know YOU!
(c) 2009 the Baker Family
poem by Jordan Baker
"I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be
strong and take heart and wait for the Lord." Psalm 27:13-14
It has been a long year, with many challenges for the Baker family. We begin thinking about what the theme of
our card will be in the summertime. This year we got started a little bit later. It begins with thought, and talk, and
prayer, and someone volunteering to write the poem. This year it was Jordan. Once the poem is written, we
brainstorm the design of the card. This takes a while, with various input. Once we agree upon the basic idea of
the card, it is largely up to me to figure out how it will all piece together, the logistics of lay out and so forth. This
is one of the most time consuming parts of the card. Besides just figuring how it will all fit together, I also have to
figure out how it can be mass produced by hand, and include little hands as well! Sometimes my perfectionism
cringes as I see the sacrifice in quality for the sake of everyone having a part in the card, but I remind myself what
the card is all about. Each little (or not so little) imperfection is evidence of the many hands that worked together
to bring this card to you.
Jordan's poem centers on the idea that there may always be something right around the corner that we cannot
even imagine, and we need to take heart, and be faithful, and wait....
Your skies will ignite in the dead of night, as the angels sing praises fair.
Your shepherds are busy with sheep, gentle, monotonous, slow
Living each day in a haphazard way, but little did they know...
Young Mary and sweet Joseph, getting ready for their union
They couldn't conceive, be hard pressed to believe, that in due time she'd carry God's son
The innkeeper renting out rooms, watching faces that come and go
His rooms occupied, a sad couple denied, and little did they know...
Each year we come and celebrate, with love and food to spare
But some are weighed down with trouble around, they feel that it's too much to bear.
Take heart! See that one day before, those whose worlds would change had no clue
Lost and insecure, searching for the cure, little did we know YOU!
(c) 2009 the Baker Family
poem by Jordan Baker
"I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be
strong and take heart and wait for the Lord." Psalm 27:13-14
It has been a long year, with many challenges for the Baker family. We begin thinking about what the theme of
our card will be in the summertime. This year we got started a little bit later. It begins with thought, and talk, and
prayer, and someone volunteering to write the poem. This year it was Jordan. Once the poem is written, we
brainstorm the design of the card. This takes a while, with various input. Once we agree upon the basic idea of
the card, it is largely up to me to figure out how it will all piece together, the logistics of lay out and so forth. This
is one of the most time consuming parts of the card. Besides just figuring how it will all fit together, I also have to
figure out how it can be mass produced by hand, and include little hands as well! Sometimes my perfectionism
cringes as I see the sacrifice in quality for the sake of everyone having a part in the card, but I remind myself what
the card is all about. Each little (or not so little) imperfection is evidence of the many hands that worked together
to bring this card to you.
Jordan's poem centers on the idea that there may always be something right around the corner that we cannot
even imagine, and we need to take heart, and be faithful, and wait....
| Merry Christmas from our house to yours. |
| Ready to go for another year. |