Holidays Archives - Page 23 of 62

A Special Box

February 3, 2012 jennifer Christmas, Paper

I had an item on my January to-do list that might just qualify me for the looney bin, but which actually put a smile on my face. It took me an extra day to finish this project, but it’s done.

I made my Christmas cards for 2012. Strange? Absolutely. Wonderful? YES! I know I could just upload a picture to a template, type in a quantity and be done but for some reason I’m not ready to do that yet. I still want to make my cards, but the past couple of years have taught me that my fall and winter season is always overcrowded and my cards end up being a source of stress (not until I’m half done with them, that is, when it’s too late to back out and upload a picture). If I carried one thing forward from the holiday season we just enjoyed, it was a determination to make sure that this year is better. So I spent some time in January doing just that.

I’ll have a bit of work to do in the fall when I get them back out but it’s only to add the finishing touch. All supplies for this, including envelopes and an updated Christmas card list sit in the box. I made a list of notes to myself about what still needs finishing (add a greeting and a photo) and now I’m done.

There was something really nice about investing now in my emotional well-being down the road. Something nice about preparing a gift for myself to appreciate in another ten months. Something about doing it makes me feel more like I’m worth it, and it feels good.

Hopeful Homemaker

One comment Christmas, Paper

Christmas Card Book

January 25, 2012 jennifer Christmas, Organization, Paper

I was so delighted to see this idea a few weeks ago. I’m also someone who has a hard time throwing away Christmas cards because they’re such great snapshots of families we love. It’s delightful to see how families grow each year, going from lots of little ones to lots of big ones. Exchanging cards is one of my favorite parts of the season. But if you save them, what do you do with them? Now I have the solution.

What a great idea, to punch holes in your cards and put them on rings, then add a cover. If you view the original post you’ll find downloadable covers that are super cute. Since one of my goals this year is to do something creative every day, making my own was a great idea.

I used leftover paper from my Christmas cards last year, which adds a reminder of the card I sent out in 2011. I tried my hand at some paper rosettes, which were REALLY fun. I’ll be making more of those.

I am thrilled to know what to do with Christmas cards every January from now on. We can get these books out from year to year and see how people have grown. I’m glad that I can take these little pieces of my friends’ lives and preserve them in a way that encourages us to look at them in the future.

So, even though today marks one month since Christmas, I hope you’ll find it helpful enough to file away in your mind for 11 more months. {This was a project on my January to-do list. I’ve had the cards on rings for weeks, but hadn’t sat down to just make the cover. Hooray for a finished project!}

I was thinking that this would also be a fun way to corral all those valentines that come home from school and then float around the house for weeks. You could use just one ring and let each of your kids have a little Valentine flip book of their own! Wouldn’t that be cute?

I hope your day is great.

Hopeful Homemaker

2011 Christmas Card

December 23, 2011 jennifer Christmas, Paper

Well, they’re done.

Done and in the mail. For as much stress as I felt over them, and for as long ago as I purchased the paper and planned them, I’m a little amazed by how simple they look. But I do like them.

Here is my 2011 Christmas card:

I cut each card by hand, which was a small project, but not an unpleasant one given how much I liked the paper. I was excited to find the greeting as well.

I’m grateful I got them done, because receiving Christmas cards is one of my favorite parts of the holiday season. Right now my kitchen counter card holder looks like this, front and back:

With too many of these people, once frequent communication has become rare, something I hope to improve next year. But even only with annual cards I feel grateful for the reminders they are of remarkable people with whom I’ve crossed paths, people who have influenced me for good. It’s a wonderful part of Christmas.

And as for you, from our family to ours, “Have yourself a Merry little Christmas!”

Thanks for reading along. Merry Christmas!

Jennifer