Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Christmas cards and ornaments ~


 I am in the Christmas mood and ready to decorate and create!
 Our tree is up (pics to come later) and I have been decorating around our home since Thanksgiving weekend. I've been working on some projects on the weekends as well. 
This truly is the most wonderful time of year!

Don't you just love pulling out all those Christmas ornaments, lights, and decorations?


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My first project was to create a door hanger instead of a wreath this year ~


I bought this grapevine star for $2 at a an antique flea market!


I found the "Country Christmas" ornament in a pack for $5 at Marshalls ~ I can use the rest on my tree or for other projects in the future

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My next project was to make some Christmas ornaments ~


I have saved some Christmas cards that my Mom sent out one year.  I asked to keep the left over ones; I must have been 4 years old! They reminded me of the Little House on the Prairie series, specifically The Farmer Boy, as my mother was reading that book to us at the time. 
I feel like my love for all things old, country, and vintage comes from my early years.


I wanted to recreate some post card ornaments that I bought at Macy's for 90% off a few days after the holidays some years back. I've always wanted to display these cards that I've saved for so long, and this seemed like the perfect way to preserve them for years to come.



All I used to create these was thick silver card stock, glue, exacto scissors, silver glitter, red ribbon, bells and some scrapbooking brackets. I had everything except the bells on hand.


The final product...

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Then on to Christmas cards ~

I had three left over boxes from last year and I made some labels that I stamped with some Christmas designs.


 Last year, to make it easier for myself this year, I had made little lists that I placed in each box of who got what card. I simply took the three lists out and placed them each in a different box and began writing away...Just a little organizing tip to save you some time!


I must truly be in the mood for organizing because I went through and added all of my current contacts into my new address book. I always have intentions of being organized but it's hard to carry out a plan all the way through. I guess when there's a daunting task like a stack of  Christmas cards ahead of you, the time has come...

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We took a break from tree decorating, craft making and card writing to see  the Christmas classic 'It's a Wonderful Life' ~ The movie was just wonderful on the big screen!


Nothing like a classic Christmas movie to put you in the Christmas frame of mind!


We love this second run theater!


"Merry Christmas, movie house! Merry Christmas, Emporium! Merry Christmas, you wonderful old Building and Loan!"  

I just love that scene when he's running through beautiful, snow covered Bedford Falls, appreciating everything old and dear like he's truly seeing it's beauty for the very first time. 


"Look Daddy.  Teacher says, every time a bell rings an angel gets his wings."

Don't you just love that movie?! In our home, it's not Christmas until we've seen that movie!

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I still have some more ornaments to make (then the tree will be finished), lots of cookie baking to plan...not to mention Christmas shopping! As always it will be a busy December!  

Happy beginning to the holiday season!


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