Counting the days

Well, school has started, the Halloween merchandise is on the shelves at Wal-Mart, and there are only 110 days left until Christmas. My mother used to warn me that time sped up as you got older, and I never used to believe her. But I'm already starting to get a whiff of holiday stress, so I thought I would pass it along to you with a new book on our shelves: Quick and Clever Christmas Cards - 100 fast and festive cards and tags, by Elizabeth Moad. It may seem too early to start doing your Christmas crafts, but if you set the reasonable goal of one card a day between now and mid-December, then you can send a beautiful hand-crafted greeting to 100 people without incurring an ulcer. And if you were thinking of participating in the Winter Arts Faire, now is the perfect time to start crafting. The cards and tags in this book are very attractive, and Moad offers a wide range of styles and techniques to choose from. You can stamp, paint, cut, sew, glue, fold or quill. Card patterns include religious themes, children's cards, abstract designs and more traditional looks. She also offers a range of time commitments, including a final "Super-Quick Gallery". I would not recommend trying to make these cards with an 8-year old, but preteens would enjoy this book, and the techniques and design suggestions can be a launching pad for even more creative cards.