Too Good to Be True

You know when your holiday preparations are going well...it's too good to be true.

My father, the artist and musician, used to draw the family's annual Christmas cards and everyone looked forward to his artwork and cartoons. I can sketch a little and, somewhere along the line, I started doing the same. Now folks expect unique cards from me.

I usually make a sketch of an equine scene, have the picture printed on card stock, and place a seasonal message on the inside. The leftovers can be used as notecards for any occasion.

Here's an example of a past card:

I can't remember what holiday message I used for the above, but you get the idea.

So I had the cards and envelopes for this year printed and ready to go. Mailing labels were ready to peel and stick. Typed the message and cut it out with scrap-booking scissors. Swiped the message with a glue stick and pasted it inside the pre-counted cards.

Moving right along. Piece of cake. Holiday cards will be completed in plenty of time this year.

Do you hear the ominous music in the background?

Turns out, I pasted the message onto the wrong side of the cards! Every one of them was stuck to the back of the picture instead of the interior of the card where the greeting should be read when the card is opened. That's what I get for watching The Philadelphia Story while working on cards.

Of course, the glue stick worked marvelously and removing the message only leaves behind an unacceptable torn mess. ARGH!

I've messed up an envelope or two in past years, but this is the first time I've completely ruined the cards!

So it was back to the printer today. The replacement cards should be ready by Thursday. Meanwhile, I'll work with the cards that are left.

Everyone knows Christmas preparations never go smoothly. What was I thinking?!