I came across this quote today on the Roots of She blog and liked it so well, I made small poster of it for myself to hang over my desk. You can download a copy for yourself too, just click here. It's a PDF that will print on an 8.5 x 11 page.
I also wanted to share with you this wonderful calendar template from the Shutter Sisters. You can download the template, open it in Photoshop or PSE, drop in your own photo and print. These are what my finished pages look like. I saved each month as a .jpg, then opened them in Microsoft Publisher (MS Word would work also) and printed two images per 8.5 x 11 page. I printed on photo paper, trimmed them on my paper trimmer and used a small binder clip for each set. They can be hung using the clip at the top, or they will stand up with the binder clip in the bottom of the set. They made great Christmas presents, but it's not too late to print some up for New Year's gifts, or just a set for yourself.
Okay, seven days left.Anita reminded me that this is the last weekend before Christmas. And I had a little pain of anxiety. How on Earth did I miss that bit of trivia?
I'm terribly behind with Picture the Holidays. But that always happens with me. Each time I try to do one of those daily (or *ahem* weekly ) prompts I make it about a week. Good intentions. I figure I can jump back in whenever. Right.
And what is the deal with all the crafting in the month of December? It's not like Christmas is a surprise, same day each year and all that. Why then am I crafting gifts and decorations at the eleventh hour? Insanity. I blame Pinterest.
And speaking of crafting. Anyone been to Michael's this weekend? Where is the Christmas wrapping paper and ribbon? One small bin of it left? I mean it's not like it's Christmas Eve.
These are some of the projects I've done this week. Because, of course my Christmas decorations weren't complete until I had some snow globes, right? I found the bottle brush trees at Big Lots, 16 of them for $6 (they are on sale now 1/2 off, of course, after I bought mine). To make the white trees I just soaked them in bleach until all the green was gone. I used full strength bleach but maybe I wasn't supposed to? It worked really well and didn't hurt the trees. Just pop them into old (or new) jars, add some Epsom salts and instant snow globe.
I'm guest musing today over at Mortal Muses about the wonder of the season. Stop by and say Hi, there are giveaways and link ups each day too.
So tell me, how are your holiday preparations coming along? All done with your feet up enjoying egg nog, cookies and Christmas music? Or frantic with hot glue blisters on your fingers, a cold cup of coffee by your elbow as you try to remember where you hid the presents you still have to wrap? I'll let you guess which camp I'm in.
This isn't one of the prompts for Picture the Holidays, but I couldn't resist sharing it. Heh.
The Bud man loves me.
"why you put lights on me Mom?
not funny.
stop laughing.
where my treat?"
This may be this year's Christmas card.
Day five ~ the view from here. I love Christmas lights. I have always loved driving around after dark looking at homes all decked out for the season. From simple displays to over-the-top-Christmas-Vacation-style light shows. I love all of them.
Day six ~ every little thing. Amid the boxes of ornaments and decorations I came across this one. Such a little thing. An angel, handmade with love from corn husks. Each year when I unwrap it, I am flooded with memories. My great Aunt made this for me nearly 50 years ago. It always makes me smile and remember Christmases when I was little and the Grandparents and Aunts and Uncles all came to our house for the holiday. The house was full of family and the joy of the season.
Day seven ~ express yourself. I was feeling a bit overwhelmed. Decorations and crafts and gifts strewn all over the house. Nothing completed, everything in a state of half-finished. {much of it still is, truth be told}
Ah well, 'tis the season right?
So, lets get to the winners of my little drawing.
Gail wins the Christmas flash cards, Anita wins the set of sheet music tags and Debby wins a set of Santa tags. Thanks to everyone for leaving comments. Ladies, email me your address and I'll get them out right away.
Today begins 14 days of holiday musing with the Mortal Muses. Be sure to stop by and join us each day. There will be a different prompt, giveaway and linky party each day.
Picture the Holidays Day Four. We were reminded to be aware of our 'key.' That thing that we do to keep our perspective about the season. What is it that we go to, to put ourselves back in the holiday mood, to slow down and enjoy what's special about the holiday. For me, hands down, it's Christmas music. I have tons of it. I listen to it from the day after Thanksgiving through Christmas day.
I listen in my car, at home {shhh don't tell, sometimes I even listen at work} and I smile happily when stores are playing it too. No matter what kind of day (or shopping experience) I'm having, when Madonna starts singing Santa Baby or I hear the Eurythmics begin with "Sleigh bells ring, are you listening" I always smile and begin to sing along. Long lines, crabby shoppers? Who cares.
Go ahead, listen to one, or treat yourself, and play both. I bet one will put you in a holiday mood.
One of the other things I love about Christmas is gifting. I love making gifts. Just about every year I find some project to make and share with my family and friends. This year has been a Santa's workshop of handmade gifts. Photo gifts, jewelery gifts, sewing, paper crafting.
I have piles and messes all over the place, but I'm happy as can be. That's really when I find my muse, when I've got my hands sticky with glue and glitter, threads hanging from my clothes (and sometimes in my hair) and bits of paper littering the floor.
Since time is in short supply for all of us right now, I'm going to get right to it. I've worked on two projects I'd like to share today.
I love vintage flash cards, but I haven't found any in my junking trips, plus I like the idea of holiday words. So of course I made a set. These are really easy to set up and print, with whatever words you like, but, like I said, time is short, so here's a set you can download and print your self I'm giving away. I can't seem to find the original document. *sigh* What unorganized hard drive? If I find the original document, I'll share it in another post. Moving along.
Next up. The other thing I love about Christmas is wrapping gifts. I always have. When I was younger I wrapped all the gifts my Mom bought for the whole family. I used to think it would be the best job EVER to wrap gifts in a department store. Each year I choose a theme for my wrapping paper and trims and all of the presents under my tree are coordinated. This year I'm using plain brown kraft paper and vintage tags with white and a bit of red ribbon thrown in.
For unique gifts tags I went through my paper stash and got out my vintage Christmas post cards and sheet music. I scanned them and punched them out with a large tag punch. Some are printed on cream card stock, the brightly colored Santas are printed on white card stock.
This is a tag made from a vintage, visit with Santa photo. That's Santa in a sleigh and the little girl with him is my Mom. The photo is one of my most treasured possessions. And I think it makes a darling gift tag.
This tag is one of my favorites from a vintage Santa postcard. I laugh like crazy at it every time I look at it. It's Santa raising his hands in fists, seemingly in dismay at the fact that his sled full of toys has wiped out and is strewn all over the snow. And I have no idea what it says at the top. Anyone know? Perhaps that would solve the mystery of that look on his face. Can you imagine getting that in the mail as a Christmas greeting? I l-o-v-e it.
The sheet music tags are punched from a page from Santa Clause is Coming to Town.
I have one set of each punched and ready to use that I'm giving away.
So, to recap, I'm giving away
one set of Christmas themed flash cards
one set of vintage post card Santa gift tags
one set of vintage sheet music tags (with a few Santa tags}
If you'd like to win a set of flash cards or tags, just leave me a comment. I'll draw a winner on Wednesday later this week, certainly by Friday, and get them in the mail ASAP.
The prompt for the second day of Picture the Holidays was 'reframing' the season. I thought about it all day while at work, and wasn't particularly inspired. In the evening, while driving around looking at Christmas lights I came across this scene. I live in a small town, that has its share of urban blight. Mainly in the old 'downtown' area. Sadly, most of the lovely old buildings I remember from my youth, had fallen into disrepair and have been torn down. But there are a few left. This year, in one of the old bank buildings (often some of the coolest old buildings) Santa set up shop. It's a wedge-shaped building lined with windows on two sides, all of which were full of Christmas displays. I was so delighted to see one of the old buildings being used, and in such a fun way. It was a lovely way, to (re) frame the season and a tired old building. I was so uninspired during the day, I had left my big-girl camera at home. Lucky for me I had my trusty iPhone with me. I shot this through the 'frame' of a wreath on the door.
The Prompt for day three was "All you need is love." Using a heart shape for this prompt was obvious, and I had a few things in mind for it. But, before I took any photos I checked my mailbox, the real one, next to my front door. And there I found love. Perfect timing. Last week I was desperately trying to catch up on blog reading when I came across this post by Dagmar at studio d. I thought her jar hang tags with the bright red hearts were darling. And I told her so. To my surprise, she sent me two of them! Don't you just love blogging, and internet friends? I love the way the internet has brought back the fun and delight in snail mail. It's such a treat when I come home at the end of the day, bring in my mail and find a hand-addressed envelope {nearly lost in the large volume of junk mail}. I get more personal mail now than I have in years. And it's all from my blogging, flickr, instagram and facebook friends. Friends I've never met in person, but feel as though I've known for a long time. Do you have a pen pal? I encourage you to reach out and share a little bit of yourself with a new friend, you may be surprised by what comes back to you.
Be sure to stop by tomorrow, I'm putting the final touches on a giveaway & freebie post. I'm knee deep in Christmas crafting and want to share some of my projects with you. Because giving is one of the best parts of the season, isn't it?
Really?
December first?
When did that happen?
A.Ma.Zing. the way this year has flown by. In an attempt to keep the last bit of the year from flying by without truly experiencing the best parts, I'm participating in Picture the Holidays with Tracey Clark and Paper Coterie.
We were given a class creed to remind us to focus on the season, {Not a bad reminder regardless if you are participating in the class or not.} and each day we will receive a prompt, a reminder, to slow down and record the magic.
Today we were encouraged to begin from a place of gratitude. I took some time to sit and enjoy a cuppa and reflect on Christmases past, and the promise of future Christmases shared with a grandchild. There are so many wonderful things to enjoy about the season, but there is nothing like experiencing the wonder of it all through a child's eyes. I'm grateful for so many things, but most of all for the blessing of a new little one to love and spoil.
I hope you find time to enjoy the magic of the season also.
xo maureen
