Christmas Craft Concepts: Holiday Card Stash Box Ideas

We're shaking things up at the 12 Months of Christmas. While we have offered countless recipes and unearthed customs and traditions from around the world, it's time to explore a different path. Each month this year, we will offer up a tutorial or template revolving around the holidays.

WHERE DO YOU STASH YOUR CHRISTMAS CARDS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR?

The problem with accumulating a stack of handmade cards is where to keep them. You can't stack them or they'll topple; stuffing them in a drawer seems a little haphazard. I personally like to use photo boxes, but as you can see, I need to decorate it in some way to keep the box of holiday cards from getting lost with the other boxes. This is only half the room, with more boxes not pictured.

I tried to use sticky notes, but they kept falling off; I didn't want to permanently mark up the boxes, since I use up their contents and switch out what goes in them.

But I always have an ever-growing stash of Christmas cards, so I gather up my supplies: empty photo box, patterned paper, paper cutter, spray adhesive, a well-ventilated, protected area to work in (mine is my stove top, cleverly concealed by newspaper store ads, where I have a venting fan that will suck up the fumes from the adhesive).

I start by measuring out the sides of my box. I want a clean look to it, so I'll make the smaller front and back ends longer than necessary so I can fold them over. Then I can cover them up with the papers I adhere to the long sides of my box.

Spray the adhesive on the backs of your papers, waiting about 15 seconds for it to get tacky, and apply to your box, starting with the front and back ends.
Next, measure and cut your papers for the lid, remembering to make the papers for the front and back sides longer.

When all sides of your box and lid are papered, you can decorate to your heart's content. I like to just place a large decoration that I can read from afar, one that tells me that Christmas cards are inside.

As you can see, I've got a good start on my stash for 2018. Not bad for just 23 days!

There are lots of ways to store your cards for the holidays. At Household management101, they suggest buying a greeting card holder from Amazon. It looks great, but at over $17, it's not quite in my budget.
It looks very much like the photo storage boxes you can buy at Michael's or Hobby Lobby. I have three of those. I would have to make my own tabs to separate my cards (children's, religious, family, etc).Photo boxes, on the other hand, can cost as low as $1.50 US dollars.

Next, I found a template that looks like a magazine holder but is sized for note cards. The template is offered by Papertrey ink and is sold for $5. It's still a little pricey, but at least you can create it yourself, putting personal touches in your project and even using it as a gift filled with cards (or blank cards and embellishments)for friends.

Then I got to thinking. Anyone can take a cereal box or some kind of box and cut it to look like a magazine holder. Except, of course, it should be sized to hold cards. Recycle and upcycle is my motto, and all it costs is a few weeks of eating the same cereal for breakfast to empty the box, your craft papers and embellishments!

There are so many ways to store your cards, but I have one more way that will KNOCK YOUR SOCKS OFF. Granted, you may not build your stash this much, but don't you just turn green with envy at her storage system?? I know I'm salivating over it...

Amanda of Wit & Whistle sells cards and other paper goodies and needs storage for her inventory. These are bookcases from Ikea.

So as you can see, there are a number of different methods for keeping your stash of Christmas cards together. Some home-made and some purchased. Whatever system you choose, just make sure that it will serve you best and keep all those Christmas cards looking as neat and fresh as the day you first made them!

Thanks for joining us today. I hope that I have given you some great ideas to play around with. Be sure to join me again on February 23rd when I will be back to share a new Christmas Craft Concept!

Challenge #37 Midway: Optional Theme...A Touch of FROST

Hello and happy Monday folks!

Just before we get on with today's post, I wanted to let you all know that this will be Granmargaret's last month with us. Granmargaret has been an integral part of this design team going on two years now. She started out as a participant over on my blog where the 12 Months of Christmas first originated and then she migrated over here in 2015 when the Link Up got its own home. I asked her to join the team in 2016 and was thrilled when she agreed. She has been an important part of our 12MoC family since the start and will continue to be so even though she is leaving the team!

Please join me in wishing Granmargaret the absolute best as she moves on to new adventures in her life. Her talents and beautiful spirit will most definitely be missed around here.

Now it is time to continue with our midway. We are halfway through the month of January already, and that means it is time to see what the Merry Maidens have been up to with their fabulous images from Scribbles Designs, our guest sponsor this month!

Check out the fun and quirky images that the team worked with this month for the mid-point of the challenge. Clicking on any of the image watermarks will take you to their spot in the Scribbles Designs store.

#251 Three B's Trio

***Please note that this image is part of a larger set***

#243 Snow Kisses

#0153 Let it Snow

#325 Carl Snowman

Thank you so much to this month's generous sponsor for providing such fabulous images for the team to work with! Please pop over and pay Scribbles Designs a visit when you have the chance! You are sure to find something to add to your wish list while you are there!

While team members had the option of working with any of my Décosse's Dynamite Doodles digital paper sets, I did create a special set called A Touch of Frost: Rich Colours Collection. Check out the preview...

Everyone who links up a minimum of two cards during the month of January will earn ONE of the digital papers from this set. The specific paper up for grabs will be shown during the winner announcement post. Additionally, one random winner will earn the full set of papers.

Have your say in determining which paper will be offered to those who link up a minimum of two cards this month by completing the poll below.


DIGI PAPER POLL
Please click "like" to choose the ONE paper that you would like offered up to participants who link up a minimum of two cards during the month of January. Poll will be open until January 31st, 11:59 p.m. EST. Please note that you can get a better idea of what the actual paper looks like by bringing the preview ABOVE up in the lightbox.

Now check out what the Merry Maidens came up with to inspire you. Clicking on the names will take you to the individual blogs where you can check out the details for all these wonderful cards.

So if you haven't entered already, what are you waiting for? It is time to link up your Christmas and other holiday cards for January. Whether you choose to link up ANY type of Christmas or holiday card you've made for a chance to win this month's Paper Kit, or link up two of them simply to earn your free paper this month, or you choose to also follow the optional theme to have a chance at the sponsor's prize, it is completely up to you! 

Here is a refresher of the details for this challenge...

Please remember that this is a CARDS ONLY link up. While we've had some lovely tag entries in the past, we've sadly had to disqualify them.

Challenge #37

Optional Theme: A Touch of FROST

Happy New Year! If you happen to live in the Northern Hemisphere of this beautiful planet, January is one of the coldest months of the year. If you live in a place like I do, then you may have woken up on the first day of 2018 to a frosty, snow covered scene as well. The ground is still layered with snow, icicles remain hanging from the eves and the windows continue to be nice and frosty. In fact, we're having an extreme deep cold snap here in many provinces of Canada. The temperatures were soooooo frigid at the end of December and start of January that many of the planned outdoor New Year's Eve celebrations and concerts were cancelled! It was so cold that they even ended up bringing the Penguins indoors at the Calgary [Alberta, Canada] zoo!!! Now it if is too cold for the penguins to be outside, you can only imagine how frigid it is for humans!!! We'll have to see if the deep freeze continues throughout the remainder of January! For the sake of anyone living in these frosty areas--people and animals alike--let's hope not!!!

So to commemorate this cold snap, in order to have a chance to win the prize from our guest sponsor, be sure to have some sort of frosty element on your card (for ex. icicles, snowflakes, snow, frost, etc.). It can be the image itself or in the paper(s) you use, or even in your embellishments but it must be featured prominently. If you do follow the optional theme, be sure to add FT after your name so that we include you in the draw for the prize.

Remember, you don't need to follow the theme to link up your cards and earn a free paper each month or for the chance to win the featured digi paper set. You only need to follow the theme if you want a chance to win this month's sponsored prize of a $10.00 gift certificate from Scribbles Designs.

If you are new to this unique challenge, you can find out the impetus behind why I started it under the 'Introductions' tab.  As this is a different kind of link up where we have both an Anything Goes Christmas or other December Holiday option AND an optional theme to follow, be sure to read all the details and rules you need to know in order to participate, by checking out the 'Challenge Details' tab (both tabs located at the top of the blog).

You can find the Challenge Details Summary along with the link up for
Challenge #37 by clicking HERE.

 Don't Forget, if everything goes according to plan...

• If I can pull it off, I'll try and get another winner announcement done before the month is out. 
• Pat will be here on January 23rd with something special for you to try.
• Our new challenge will start on February 1st.
• Other special posts may be published throughout the month. Be sure to sign up to have our posts delivered by email or follow us through Bloglovin' so you don't miss a thing!

We look forward to seeing you participate!

Challenge #33 Winner Announcement

Hello to all our Christmas crafting friends! I'm popping in to announce the winners and our top three Stocking Stuffers from Challenge #33.

We had 49 entries in our September challenge which was definitely down from the previous month. Seven of those entries stated that they followed the theme. Please do not forget to add FT after your name if you have followed the theme. It would be a shame for those actually following the theme to lose out on the chance for the prize simply for forgetting to add the initials.

Anyway, it is time to get on with the finding out who our winners are for the month of September.

Are you one of those lucky peeps?! Let's find out!

TERRIE (Paper Addict)

Terrie, you are the winner of a $15 gift certificate to the Sparkle N Sprinkle store, our guest sponsor for September (chosen by miniwebtool.com based on all eligible entries).

Terrie, please send an email to the_12_moc_linkup {at} outlook {dot} com (or click HERE to bring the address up in your email program), with the subject, "12MoC Challenge #33 WINNER" to make arrangements to receive your prize. Please note that it may take me several days to get back to you. Thank you for your patience. In the interim, please grab a copy of the winner badge below for your blog.

Next, it is time to get on with showcasing the top three. With so many wonderful entries to choose from, it is always such a difficult task for the design team. We did however settle on three awesome creations. So, without further ado, here are our Stocking Stuffers for Challenge #33:

EDWINA

TRACY M.

MEG

Congrats to our top three Stocking Stuffers! Edwina, Tracy and Meg, please grab a copy of the badge below for your blog.

Everyone who links up two cards each month is eligible to receive a free digital paper. All those who linked up two cards during the month of August have previously been mailed their paper. If you thought that you had linked two, but did not receive a free paper, please contact us and let us know and we'll look into it for you.

The individuals who linked up a minimum of two cards each during the month of SEPTEMBER, qualifying them to receive the digital paper from that month, will receive the Diagonals paper which received the majority of the votes! I have included the watermark of it, below...

To all of you who linked up during September, thanks ever so much! We are so happy to have all of you with us and hope that you'll continue to link up your holiday cards as you start your stash for 2018!!! It is never too early to get working on your holiday cards!

Papers will be sent to the email address that qualifying participants used when they added their cards to the Link Up as soon as I can manage.

As always, we are going to have a random draw from all the entries and give out a set of six digital papers to one lucky individual. The papers are all made so why not have an extra prize! Here is the watermark for the full set...

 

The winner of The Shape of Things Mini Kit is

SHARON (Glittertastic)

(chosen by random.org)

 
Sharon, please send an email to the_12_moc_linkup {at} outlook {dot} com (or click HERE to bring the address up in your email program), with the subject, "12MoC Challenge #33 PAPER KIT WINNER" to make arrangements to receive your prize.

Well folks, that is it for today. While you are here, please be sure to check out the details for our current challenge going on now (if you haven't already), with the Optional Theme this month of "A Touch of Frost". You can find out all the details along with the link up, by clicking HERE.

Other special posts may be published throughout the month; so, be sure to sign up to have our posts delivered by email or follow us through Bloglovin' so you don't miss a thing!

Until next time,

Challenge #37: Optional Theme...A Touch of FROST

Hello crafters!  From all of us at The 12 Months of Christmas Link Up, we wish you all a very HAPPY NEW YEAR! For those of you who have been with us during the last three years, we thank you for your continued support. If you are brand new, welcome! We're so glad you found us!

On this very first day of a brand new year it is time for our very first challenge of 2018 to get under way! Now I realize that the last thing that many of you want to do is think about Christmas right now but it is never too early to get started on all the Christmas and other December Holiday cards you are going to need when December rolls around!

With that in mind, it is time to get down to the business of our latest challenge. Here is what you need to know...

The Basics

While you can find out ALL the information you need to know in order to participate in the challenge by checking out the 'Challenge Details' tab at the top of the page (or by clicking HERE), here is a refresher of the basics.

• Anyone can link up as many Christmas and/or December holiday themed cards (including Happy New Year's cards) throughout the month with an ANYTHING GOES theme.
• Every person who has linked up a MINIMUM of two (2) cards will be eligible to receive a specially designed Christmas themed digital paper.
• Each month there will be an OPTIONAL theme to follow. Anyone who submits a card adhering to the monthly theme, will have the chance to win a prize from that month's guest sponsor.
• ALL entries adhering to our basic rules also have the opportunity to win a mini pack of digi papers each month as well.

Now that the basics are out of the way, how about we get on with the details of Challenge #37.

Challenge #37

Optional Theme: A Touch of FROST

Happy New Year! If you happen to live in the Northern Hemisphere of this beautiful planet, January is one of the coldest months of the year. If you live in a place like I do, then you may have woken up on this first day of 2018 to a frosty, snow covered scene as well. The ground is layered with snow, icicles hang from the eves and the windows are nice and frosty. In fact, we're having an extreme deep cold snap here in many provinces of Canada. The temperatures were soooooo frigid that many of the planned outdoor New Year's Eve celebrations and concerts were cancelled! Good thing that the temperatures didn't interfere with the ball drop in New York!

That is why this month, in order to have a chance to win the prize from our guest sponsor, be sure to have some sort of frosty element on your card (for ex. icicles, snowflakes, snow, frost, etc.). It can be the image itself or in the paper(s) you use, or even in your embellishments but it must be featured prominently. If you do follow the optional theme, be sure to add FT after your name so that we include you in the draw for the prize.

Remember, you don't need to follow the theme to link up your cards and earn a free paper each month. You only need to follow the theme if you want a chance to win this month's sponsored prize of a $10.00 gift certificate from Scribbles Designs.

Talking about Scribbles Designs, it is time to refresh ourselves with the details of this returning sponsor…

Looking for a unique image or sentiment? Well then! Head on over to Scribbles Designs and check out Sandy's world of her funky imagination and quirky characters. Sandy has loved art, drawing, water colouring and doodling for many years... and with the digital image world she can now share it with all of you. Brrr (Penguin) was her first main character and her other quirky images followed not long after. We hope you enjoy the endearing images available in the store and add Sandy's images to your digital stamp collections.

Click HERE to head to the store and HERE to check out the Scribbles Designs Challenge Blog. You can find the Scribbles Designs Facebook Group HERE.

Check out the fun and quirky images that the team worked with this month for the start of the challenge. Clicking on any of the image watermarks will take you to their spot in the Scribbles Designs store.

#A 49 Snowheads 2

#243 Snow Kisses

#8111 Festive Trees

#8120 SS Snowman Sign

#876 Jack Frost

You'll get to see more awesome images used during our midway so be sure to come back again at that time!

Oh and if you like these images and are looking to join a new design team, Scribbles Designs is currently having a DT Call. You can find out all the info you need by clicking HERE.

While team members had the option of working with any of my Décosse's Dynamite Doodles papers, I did create a special set called A Touch of Frost: Rich Colours Collection. Check out the preview...

Everyone who links up a minimum of two cards during the month of January will earn ONE of the digital papers from this set. The specific paper up for grabs will be shown during the winner announcement post. Additionally, one random winner will earn the full set of papers.

Have your say in determining which paper will be offered to those who link up a minimum of two cards this month by completing the poll below.


DIGI PAPER POLL
Please click "like" to choose the ONE paper that you would like offered up to participants who link up a minimum of two cards during the month of January. Poll will be open until January 31st, 11:59 p.m. EST. Please note that you can get a better idea of what the actual paper looks like by bringing the preview ABOVE up in the lightbox.

Now check out what the Sleigh Belles came up with to inspire you. Clicking on the names will take you to the individual blogs where you can check out the details for all these wonderful cards...

So what are you waiting for? It is time to link up your Christmas and other holiday cards for January!

If you are new to this unique challenge, you can find out the impetus behind why I started it under the 'Introductions' tab and all the details you need to know in order to participate, in the 'Challenge Details' tab (both tabs located at the top of the blog).

We have a packed month as usual; so, Pat and I and the rest of the gang hope to see you back with us soon!

• We hope to publish the names of the winners and top picks from Challenge #33 ASAP. 
• Then, be sure to join us again on January 15th, for our midway post where you'll get to see cards created by the Merry Maidens! 
• Pat will hopefully be back towards the end of the month with a special Christmas Craft for you to try!
• Other special posts may be published throughout the month. Be sure to sign up to have our posts delivered by email or follow us through Bloglovin' so you don't miss a thing!

CHALLENGE DETAILS SUMMARY
Each month we'll include a summary of details for the particular challenge taking place. If you are new, please be sure to familiarize yourself with all the details and rules in the 'Challenge Details' tab at the top of the page. Please note that dates and times listed below are for this particular challenge only:

• Cards for this challenge will be accepted from 6:00 p.m. (18:00 hrs), January 1st until 11:59 p.m. (23:59 hrs), January 31st, 2017.  All times listed are in EST (Eastern Standard Time).
  
• If you wish to receive the free digi paper being offered up for this month, you need to link up a minimum of two (2) Christmas or holiday themed cards. 
• This is NOT a progressive challenge. You can jump in at any time.
• Only a maximum of three (3) entries will qualify for the draw for this month's prize prize of  a $10.00 gift certificate from Scribbles Designs.
• No backlinking.
• Make sure when entering your project that you mention The 12 Months of Christmas Link Up in your post with a link back to this blog.
• Please remember to link directly to your blog post where we can see your creation, and not just the generic link to your blog.

We look forward to seeing you participate!

Link Up Below:
If you have any problems linking up, please be sure to leave a comment.

The 12 Months of Christmas Link Up Challenge #37
Please link up your Anything Goes Christmas and/or December holiday themed CARDS with the optional theme of A Touch of FROST, below. Please see above for all the rules and details.