So finally most of my cards have been written and posted. Just a few left to write, along with a bit of news. Par for the course here - I do have a habit of leaving all things christmassy to the last minute.
As the last few weeks have sped by, I've not found much inspiration for a card for this year. Lurking in the recesses of my brain was the thought that I should take the leap and use my gocco for the very first time. I've kept this secret, but I bought a gocco about six months ago from
a little goodness, and although I've looked at the box, unpacked it, touched it, and admired it, courage has failed when it came to actually using it. I'm not sure why I was so daunted really. So, after ordering
card supplies (what a luxury, not to mention time saver, to buy pre-cut and folded card as I usually cut and fold myself) and envelopes, what to design? I should add that the blogger who continually inspires with her gocco cards is
Melissa, and she's also written a really helpful
gocco 'how to' post. Also check out the gocco
flickr group.
After a bit of faffing about I was thinking snowflakes. This was semi-discarded, and then developed into my first paper cut, done, I have to admit, with nail scissors! After several attempts I was happy with my design and I ironed this with a tiny bit of steam, then mounted it on card , and took it down to the printers to be photocopied and reduced. The photocopy is used to make the screen.
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Then, the scary bit - making the gocco screen. I checked various tutorials and then, well, you just have to do it, don't you? It was much easier than I expected and I'm wondering now why I waited for months to start printing. The red and white features again (the red has come up a bit pink in these photos) - though I have a very small choice of inks to choose from, most of them not 'christmas'.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOXFlyKXzkcVGFijSvtlsCtlZ84cuTxwYCVFxBQUw1trS39GTMwGjlznsi7cYGg2soPv4gQg_QJpKP0EgCr18vgP7nlsP7lJfn2avZVx-WBXtG03nan-B9GGXptjpzYMZ7lWqd5xrcxvI/s400/P1040257.JPG)
The actual printing was quite easy, though I haven't always managed to get the ink spread evenly - it's very thick and gloopy.
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Once I got going it was quite the production line - anything that could be gocco'd was grabbed! I am really pleased and excited by my cards, and can't wait to try something else.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhml1kdLOVMun0gr1MytfhXxv5CGQwEOHloO4hGbA51hNnbK2d8uq7uxZGE-pUQORN1MdvXtJxYieHomxFYvyTvu31KcvA5mJtg1MhqXeIYhkfsIrQx2ecjJW7A5-uv6awjRjV2XxeB0yI/s400/P1040262.JPG)
I've also printed some postcards - maybe these will be cut down for gift tags, or used for a christmas note or two. I've also printed a
moleskine cahier so I now have my own little christmas book!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt0v-WLxBT_HshXt0VmnCVodi13_XXQYUsnkz6zxzl3DocZJHZhyxtvHYqQ3E1f5CX5MSvxObq-9ps8Y6lJJqycClJYImA-mHXc5hNHGwK1nYMYjme1AVtbDY2GmwIXdO0J8nl9_r67Vc/s400/P1040265.JPG)
I thought it would be fun to give away a little set of five cards with envelopes. Probably too late for using this year, but save for next! The draw closes at midnight on saturday (2oth) and I'll pull a name from the hat on the solstice. So leave me a comment - oh, and a question for you: What's your favourite christmas song? I'd love to know!