November 17th—38 days until Christmas—Christmas Card Bowl

We’re under forty days to the big day and that means soon cards will start to arrive. I hope you already have yours. I hope you’ve even started to address them. Remember we’re trying to do everything in advance so December will be stress-free and love-filled.

Since you’ll be receiving cards, you’ll be needing a place to keep them. I decoupaged a painted wooden bowl with old cut-out Christmas cards.

The elves love to carry it away to a quiet place to look at the pictures and read all the greetings. Decoupage is easy and takes no artistic talent at all–just cut and paste. Here are the instructions for a box I made last year.

In my next post I’ll take a break from crafts and share some of my dear husband’s favorites for the holidays. Hope some might be yours, too.

October 27th—59 days until Christmas—My Favorite Advent Calendar

Our countdown is into the fifties! Time is moving on. That’s why it’s not too early to be thinking about Advent Calendars.

My Advent Calendar today doesn’t hold gifts. This one is full of activities the family can do together. The easiest part is making the container—I use an old vase, wide enough at the top so that small elf hands can fit inside and tie a bright read bow to make it seasonal.

Then fill your vase with twenty-five sheets of paper.

What’s written on each paper?

A different activity that you can do together. By the time December comes around, if you’ve been following this blog, you will have completed your shopping so you can relax and make memories that will last a lifetime.

Need some activity suggestions? How about these as possibilities?

1. Make a card for someone special

2. Go through your toys and belongings to find those still in good condition to donate to others less fortunate. This has the added advantage of brightening someone else’s holiday and gives you space to put the gifts received this Christmas.

3. Bake cookies—What about these yummy white chocolate oatmeal cookies?

4. Shut down your computer, no video games. Everyone in the family gather around the table and play an old-fashioned board game. SCRABBLE anyone? MONOPOLY?

5. Do an outside activity together, walk, jog, ice skate, build a snow man.

6, Start a jigsaw Christmas puzzle. Serious Puzzles on the internet has jigsaw puzzles from 13 pieces up to 6,000! Check them out here.

7. Read a Christmas book aloud. Perhaps this lovely collection of poems (My alter-ego Ann Whitford Paul has a poem there.)

Or, better yet, this book about ME!

My next few blogs will be devoted to further suggestions for your Activity Advent Calendar. What fun you and your family will have together!

August 29–118 days until Christmas–Last Card

Here’s the final card created from ‘TWAS THE LATE NIGHT OF CHRISTMAS.

And the message inside reads

It, too, can be ordered here.

Hope you’ve liked at least one of my cards. Anything I can do to help ease your stress for this holiday gives me pleasure.

If, however, none of these cards suits your fancy, don’t wait to buy your cards. Shop now. Anything you can do before December will give you a more relaxed holiday.

Check out my next post when we’ll talk about school bells and Christmas bells, too.

August 28–119 days until Christmas–Check out this Tree Card

By the end of the holiday needles are dry and dropping, decorations have fallen and the tree will be tired of standing straight, just like this card.

with this message inside

You can order the card here.

The last card created from ‘TWAS THE LATE NIGHT OF CHRISTMAS is about the best gift for your loved ones. It’s the cheapest, too, so don’t miss my next post.

August 26–121 Days until Christmas–At Last, the Card Surprise

If you’re like me, you’ve probably tired of the usual sappy, holiday
greetings. Then I have a treat for you—cards that are honest about the holidays like this one.

Haven’t we all felt like this at Christmas?
Here’s the message inside.

This card was created with an illustration by the talented Nancy Hayashi from that charming book about me.
‘TWAS THE LATE NIGHT OF CHRISTMAS.

Don’t like this card?
Tomorrow I’ll share another. We have four designs in all. Each folded card is 5 by 7. Set of ten is $16.99 which includes handling and postage.

Order here now and get them in plenty of time for the holidays.

August 25—122 days until Christmas—Unique Christmas Cards

I know I promised you a surprise about cards today, but alas, even my best laid plans have to be delayed. I’d like to blame it on the elves, or better yet, Mr. Claus, but alas it’s my fault and the surprise will have to wait for my next post.

In the meantime we can still talk about cards.

What about this year making your own?
Use a family picture

or a favorite drawing by your children
or maybe an acrostic poem you’ve written yourself In case you’ve forgotten how, click here.
or a poem with repetition To refresh your memory, click here.

Then go online for companies that help you create your card. In the past my husband and I have used Shutterfly and Costco and been pleased with the results.

Does creating your own cards overwhelm you?

Then be sure to read my next post for the card surprise.

Anyone want to share a story about creating your own card?

126 days until Christmas—Rethinking Cards

Do you really need to send Christmas Cards?

If your answer is yes, is there a way you can lessen the burden?
What about sending e-cards? Type in ecards in your search engine and you’ll be amazed at the number of websites that can help you.

What about shortening your list by only sending cards to people who don’t live near you?

What about sending your holiday cards at Halloween or better yet, after Christmas? Your recipient will have much more time to enjoy your greeting.

But maybe you love sending cards. I do. After all, the holidays are about stopping the hectic pace of life to remember who and what matters.

To ease your stress, make your list of who will get cards now. Makeing your address labels now, too? Want to add a small picture to them? I used this picture last year on my labels.

It’s a tiny illustration from ‘TWAS THE LATE NIGHT OF CHRISTMAS and is my early holiday gift to you. Just click on it and use with my blessing.

Next post, I have a surprise for you about cards.
Doesn’t it feel great to be planning ahead for the holidays? You are really going to relax this December and enjoy a stress-free, love-filled Christmas.

Cards and Letters

You’ve recovered from Thanksgiving and you’re ready to dive head first into the joy of Christmas. If you’re sending cards, now is the time to address them (or use pre-addressed labels.) I like to get my cards done in one day, so I take a strike from cooking. Santa is on his own. Fortunately he knows how to grill a mean steak. He’s so talented, the elves made this darling ornament commemorating his accomplishments.

Here’s the recipe for santa’s marinated steak.

I spread my cards out on our dining room table along with my envelopes, pens and stamps and my short Christmas Letter with only the highlights of the year. No one needs to know Santa suffers from gout, or the chief elf threw a tantrum this morning, or that I need a haircut. Just the important events, please!

The advantage of devoting a full day to cards is that once it’s done, you can clean up your work space and go back to the normal that is December.

Today is Black Friday so while everyone’s at the mall, you can quick go to the post office. Remember we’re working towards a stress-free December and there’s nothing that will set your nerves jangling louder than Santa’s sleigh bells then standing in a long line. If you’re sending e-cards, of course you won’t have this problem, but I’m old-fashioned enough to want to open an envelope and place the cards around the house as decorations.

Another way to avoid the stress of cards is to send them out after Christmas. You’ll have no deadline to meet and post office lines will be insignificant.

Have you received any humorous or inappropriate holiday letters you’d like to share?

Can you believe December is nearly here? If you’re followed my suggestions so far, you’ve finished your shopping, addressed and sent your cards, and are ready to relax and relish in the true meaning of Christmas—love of family and friends. If you haven’t yet finished everything, still congratulate yourself. You’ve started and I imagine that’s a big change from previous years. On December 2^nd we’ll begin decorating your house and I’ll have a recipe for a Not-so Fruity Fruit Cake

Until then, let’s all strive for a stress-free, love-filled Christmas . . .

Keeping in Touch

Just like Santa makes his list and checks it twice, it’s time to do that with your Christmas card list. Are you planning to send them? Have you bought them yet?

No! What are you waiting for?

Sending and receiving Christmas cards expresses the joy of holiday–of contacting loved ones and important people in our lives. It’s a tradition worth continuing, although perhaps in a less manic manner.

Go over your list. Your circle of friends changes over time. People move. Make sure, since cards and postage cost so much, you’re sending only to those people who truly matter to you.

Lucky me! I don’t have to go shopping for a card this year. Mine is a picture from the book about me, ‘TWAS THE LATE NIGHT OF CHRISTMAS.

I adore how that little boy is bopping his sister with his paddle ball. Typical! Inside the card says,

‘Tis the season . . .

Enjoy!!!

But you don’t need this card, because, if you’ve followed my suggestions thus far, you’re already feeling confident that you can enjoy the season. In fact, you’ve already finished a good portion of your shopping. Right????

When buying a card, I recommend checking out the collection at this web-site www.cardsthatgive.org. The site connects you to two hundred charitable organizations that offer cards and tribute cards to help fund their good works. Whether your cause is animals, environment, health or education, they have cards for you. Sending out their cards becomes not just a way to connect with friends, but also to help others. That’s truly the Christmas spirit!

Perhaps you’ve decided to go the paperless, stampless route via the internet. Cards that Give has them, too.

Do you have any helpful tips regarding cards? Don’t keep them to yourself.

In our next posting, November 18^th, get ready for a Riot of Ribbons.

I’ll have instructions for a fun, easy to make, ribbon pillow that will add a festive touch to any chair or sofa. (Mr. Claus is grateful when he discovers a decorative pillow where he can take a short break on Christmas Eve Night.) In addition to the pillow pattern, there will be links to other crafters in the blog world. You’re sure to find something to make that strikes your fancy. Hope to see you back here on Monday.