Why I'm starting to sing Christmas carols... and I'm thinking of tasting fruitcake...it is feeling so very
Christmasy around here! Maybe it's these little paper houses I've been making for our open house on Dec. 1st. from 1 to 4 pm. We've been decorating and trying to get the studio all decked out with holly and tree trimmings. And these little paper crafts seemed to add so much to the look of hosting our first holiday Open House.
You know it's real easy to make these scalloped ornaments... All you need is your scalloped die cutter and a bone folder for them.
Rejoicing Crafts has posted all the directions on their website. Once you have your scalloped ( 6 or 8) then, you fold in half and attach two sides together. once three are attached, then, do the second set of three. Finally attach the cord for hanging before placing your two sections together. The paper bow is a plus. We hope to have several paper patterns available and instructions for all who stop by on Saturday, Dec 1st.
Our little houses and trees are used to decorate a winter scene picture box. Some of the Santas are another paper craft using spools or paper towel rollers. A little paper for hats and trims and this is a very primitive looking decorations, don't you agree? These white minature feather trees were bought and placed in the curio box, but I'm sure some of you who are very clever can figure some design with spools and trims.
I have put other things I want to make on hold so I might get a few cards designs put together too. One of the designs is thinking in terms of "3" as a challenge of Christmas cards. I have had my eye on one of the Fisker punches, it's a little gingerbread man die punch.
By using the punch, cut three gingerbread men, adhere them to a red one inch square and add a second background of one and one half inch of white. To an A2 size card ( 4" X 5.5") We've cut a red check panel and glued it to the outer edge of the card stock. to the folded edge we've added a ribbon with a sentiment and a second ribbon in a brighter red color, leaving a narrow space between the paper and ribbons. I usually get supplies at Micheal's, Hobby Lobby or Archiver's...so I'm sure you can find these trims there.
Here is another design using the theme of "3's". This example was by creator Korin Sutherland for Sweet N' Sassy stamps:
Our colors and materials have varied from the all reds in the gingerbread card to these bright reds and greens of our more traditional Christmasy colors, but the design
has only added a few additional steps as the gingerbread card.
Punches are nice! But then so is using our Christmas stamps and creating a theme of "three" card. I leave it up to you , what will you make your "3's " in.... We've so much to choose from
Three wreaths, three bells, three snowflakes or mittens, oh sooooooo cute. Well this is fun for me... how about you.
Who is having fun with these ideas?
This little penguin card used some great ideas with the lime green baker's twine in the sentiment tag...then matching the pop of green in the stamped design and filling in the background for the stamped sectionwith this lime green paper...pair the embossed paper with the same color as it's background. IT really makes this simple design card ---"POP" with fun.
Christmas is a special time of year for all of us and for many different reason.
While I was gathering my thoughts of this month's blog
I saw this little poem about the Spirit of Christmas. I wanted to pass along the words to the poem in hopes you might also find them meaningful too.
I've always said Christmas isn't about a date or one day a year no matter how much the materialistic commercial parade might try to sell us on this idea. It's really all about giving ourselves to others that makes Christ's birth meaningful. Otherwise, we could just simply walk away the day after Dec. 25th and feel empty, like, what happened and where did all our efforts go?
By keeping Christmas in our hearts for family and friends, and charity toward other fellow travelers on this planet --- all year long--then you always have a little Christmas with you.
That's my paraphase, it's not exactly what the reading says, but that's the essence of it.
Making cards is my way of doing this for real.
It's not just lip service for me--it's keeping Christmas all year through.
When you help make cards for Operation Write Home you are giving a message to the members of the military and their families that says we keep you in our hearts ( not just with cards at Christmas---but cards all year through!)
In fact, our next bunch of cards will be mailed on Dec. 31st for a Valentine's theme. And let me confess, we may have to combine a little gingerbread men with a heart to tell these heros how much we love them
and make sure they in turn tell
their family and friends at home.
The next time I post or until 2013, we hope you will long on to this blogsite and share some of your comments. They have been very helpful to us . We look forward to the coming of a New Year so from myslef and Garry and all the card makin cuties of Gestner Studio, we wish you a happy holiday in a bright and sparkling way.
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