Hear That Clock Ticking?

I braved the retail demons yesterday, got in and out of Michael's in record time with exactly what I needed and not one thing more, and bought groceries. I was home by 10:30 am and immediately started working on my holiday cards. I had an agenda that had to be met by the time I went to sleep last night, and I made it! The cards are assembled and the envelopes are printed. Now to do the final decoration on the envelopes and send them out the door.

I use embossing powder on my cards (along with a lot of other
crafty products). Embossing powder is rather magical, though, because
it changes to permanent application through heat. Of course, I keep
burning through my heat guns. One more bit the dust this year *sigh*. 

My friends away from the US will be getting the first batch of cards. After all, the cards have a longer way to go. But don't think I've forgotten any of you in the US. Your cards will be mailed early next week and then I'll be finished for another year.

It's no wonder I keep burning out my heat guns. Looking through
photos for today, almost everything I saw featuring a heating element
had the element closer than the minimum 2-inch distance recommended. That
pushes super-heated air back into the heating element and burns out the element. 

In case you think that's the end of holiday cards, though, I've already started mentally designing next year's card and it'll be wonderful!

I'll be wrapped up in Christmas and holiday things for a while now. 

I'll be tied up with holiday things and the mail for a few days still. I have packages to wrap and stockings to hang. DH will be making cookies today so the house will smell wonderful when I get home tonight. The season is starting to click into place. Yeah me!

I love the holiday lights. My new next door neighbor decorated his house front
really pretty with white lights and garlands. It's very festive. I like these
trees - they're bright and wonderful to see on a dark night. 

It's a short post today but I'll try to have a bit more time to spend on my blog tomorrow. In the meanwhile, have a glorious Thursday. Only two weeks until Christmas, so get yourself in gear if you're running behind....