Tuesday, December 04, 2007

Fun.





Happy Birthday to my nephew, Braden today. He is 6 and I send my love and wishes for lots of fun and happiness today. That's what 6 is all about, right?! Have a special day...and a fun year being six.
I've been having fun making some little atc's (which is short for 'artist's trading cards') and although I don't consider myself an artist, it is still fun to create and make up designs. I hope that this time of year is one that makes you want to create- whether it is baking, cooking, sewing, drawing, painting, crafting or just decorating trees and gingerbread houses- because I have to say, it seems to just make the season 'come to life'.
Sure, it can be fun to shop and watch movies too, but there is just something about creating that involves the heart and hands at the same time.
Tell me about something you have made- this year or in years' past- that has helped you get into the spirit of the season, and I will have a drawing this weekend and send you some Christmas gift tags and a few other little goodies that I love this time of year.
Sharing the love is so fun. I challenge you to do something with your heart and hands this week. Happy 21 days until Christmas!

45 comments:

Anonymous said...

hi jody! this year i made a couple of cookie sheet advent calendars that were so fun to do! in fact, i got the first one done and was so enmergized i made the second one. it really did bring me right into the christmas mood, now that you mention it:) merry to you and yours and thanks for the chance to have a bit of your work.( i saw your offer on sis, but i also read your blog. actually, it was your blog that led me to sis!)
angie

Sonja said...

Good morning darling:) It seems the only thing I make very well this time of year is a big, old mess (oh wait, that's my kids and my husband;) I love, love, love a big holiday baking day...it makes me feel so happy and ready for Christmas, the kids love to help too.

Happy 21 days until Christmas to you too!

Tanya said...

I always like to make hand-made Christmas cards for the "special" people on my list. I do this the first week of Dec and get them mailed out because I can't wait for them to see them:)

Anonymous said...

i made an advent calendar! i even eat an m&m for each day bc i can't fit the m&m in a sheet of paper haha. i love it though. i love christmas so much!

Unknown said...

I always make handmade Christmas cards. They have been finished for nearly three weeks now, I am just waiting a couple more days to send them out!

Lori said...

It's all about the Christmas Cookies!! Mom and I spend a weekend baking up a storm. I always have to make enough to deliver to my elderly neighbors. (Helps with me not eating so many too).

Have a great rest of the week Jody!!

Celebrate Today said...

Loving all the craftiness going on, Jody!! Hope you're coming to the crop this weekend so I can soak in some more inspiration! :)

corinne5 said...

I was just thinkingof making a huge painting of an christmas angel this week. I haven't painted in ages and I miss it. So I think that is what I need to do!

Corinnexxx

Laura S. said...

We just love making crafts for the holidays around here.

My favorite one by far is having each one of my four kids make a holiday design for a note card. I then scan in their gorgeous art work & print them on to note cards from staples. Each grandparent & aunts & uncles gets their very own set of my kids orginal note cards for Chirstmas presents from the kids. They are perfect for thank you notes & I just love seeing what unique deisgn each of them comes up with.

One year Caleb was really into dinosaurs & he made a t-rex with a santa hat ripping open a gift with a turkey in it...it cracked me up.

ruth said...

That would definitely be our Christmas Scrapbook. I add pages every year of our family Christmas.....starting with a family photo....then the 'getting the tree & decorating' photos, then Christmas with both extended families, and then ours. We do have some kooky traditions...so it's fun to just keep adding all the things that make us 'us' to the album.

The boys don't know it yet (I have 3...ages 17, 19 & 21) but each year I have done a few pages for each of them (I do the same pages for all three boys) and have albums going for them to have for their wedding gift.

When you have an album with 6-8 pages done each year, you can quickly see the changes in people....and that's half the fun (what was I thinking with THAT haircut???). :)

Cricket said...

Wow, it doesn't take much to get me in the holiday mood..I wish I could start with the decorations in September LOL! Every year I make my Christmas cards and I start them around October, it really jump starts my holiday excitement!

Love the ATC's, I've been meaning to try my hand at them as well..oh what I wouldn't give for some more hours in the day!

smiles,

TinaLynn510 said...

I made over 250 cookies on Saturday this week. I spent my whole day baking, and I was covered in ingrediants! lol I made these for the Handicapped Christmas Party, that we had in town. I have volunteered there, since I was 11, and it's always such a blast! I love doing it!!

I can't wait for Christmas this year!! :)

--TinaLynn510 @ SIStv

Anonymous said...

Hey Jody! I love your blog! I absolutley love to give gifts to everyone I know so I made some virtual gift atcs for my sisters over at SIS! http://www.scrapinstyletv.com/portfolio/view_layout.php?layout_id=51852&user_id=1706 If you want to check them out!
Hope you and your family have a wonderful beautiful Christmas and a Very Happy New Year!

Anonymous said...

Every year my closest girlfriends and I get together while the hubbies spend the day with the kiddos and make cookies (at least we attempt to make cookies... we usually talk a lot and make a really big mess!). It is so much fun for us and we can always count on this fun day to kick off our holiday fun!
Angie

Anonymous said...

I have to say xmas cards and scrapbooks- both to be given away as gifts. I have a problem, a very unique one- I cant write inside a card that I have made. I feel like Im defacing them or something (wierd, I know). So most of the cards I make I gift away. On rare occassions I've had my husband or son write inside a handmade card. It's ok for someone else to write inside, its just that I cant do it. Priya

Jessica said...

hey jody!
So far I have made a few things- 1st- my advent calendar- so in love with it. I also made a paper wreath, in love with that too! And have been working on my christmas journal, which has totally got me in the christmas spirit. Still, I have a list of things I want to create- hopefull time will allow me to!

Kellie said...

Hi Jody!
I just love the holidays. :)
Hmm I made two special cards this year for both my parents. I wrote out two poems specifically on how I felt about them, yes they were good poems! :)
There is just something about a handmade gift that shows how much you care!
Oooh, I also altered some Maya Road chipboard birds, they hang on my mom's mantle. I am letting her borrow them. :)
Have a wonderful holiday!
Those ATC's look super sweet! :)

Jennifer H. said...

LOVE those ATC's. Too cute!

I made one of those cookie sheet advent calendars and I just LOVE it. It really gets me excited for Christmas. Its fun to have a coutdown. :)

Jennifer

Anonymous said...

6 years ago my husband and I were really watching the $ and I decided to make many of our gifts. I made pillows and ornaments and microwaveable neck warmers (with corn) and scarves. But, I had 3 relatives that were teachers and I painted sweatshirts that had little pencils and crayons on them to wear to school. They opened them and put them on and I have a picture of my aunt and cousin in their matching shirts. It really proved to me that how much you spend on a gift IS NOT IMPORTANT! I try to make at least one gift each year and that helps me feel the spirit. . .

Janna said...

I love to make Christmas cookies and Dutch banket each year... it's a tradition! Every year when December rolls around, it's cookie time! :) And of course we put up Christmas lights and decorations. I LOVE Christmas! :)

Closet Artist said...

I am so proud this year as I have made 6 handmade gifts!! Painted wood blocks that spell "joy", an altered chipboard frame, 2 altered books, an altered photo album and an altered giant clothespin!! So proud and excited to be giving my handy work this year instead of a commercial gift!

Heather said...

thebull3030
So in years past I never really made anything and this year I really wanted to get into the spirit so Ihave made a button tree, 2 cookie sheet advent calanders (one for my siste in hawaii) and all my christams cards. Yea that has been a challenge, but loving the look of them.

Christa said...

The girls and I baking lots of different cookies and candies always get us in the holiday spirit. I also usually hand make our christmas cards and that helps get us in the spirit but after going back to work this march I just couldn't find the energy. Hope you and your's have a wonderful holiday.

metrochic said...

yay! i'm working on ornaments today and i'm loving your tags. you are making me want a white tree! also, i forgot to tell you that i'm totally loving that twisted peppermint stuff. thank you for the tip!!!

Anonymous said...

What a lovely RAK! I actually haven't made anything seasonal yet as I've only just got home from uni but am planning to make some hand-made cards this week!

Unknown said...

I have tried to start making a lot more gifts over the last few years. It seems my family has so much "stuff" and when you can give something that much time and love has gone into, it makes it much more meaningful. A few years ago I made everyone in my family (17) a stocking out of my grandparents heirloom chenille bedspreads and Granny's costume jewelry. I started these the previous Christmas break and worked on them a year. They are now family treasures!
kim

Christal said...

Hi Jody... I am still alive .. I think,:) Every year I go to Tom's office and decorate it for him with "parts" of our first christmas tree. This year I didnt get to. Stinks too! But the boys and I always make monkey bread to eat up and enjoy! YUM!

Anne Marie said...

Hi Jody -- I've made Christmas organizers for the last 2 years that help get me psyched and ready for the rush of the holiday season. if you visit my blog, look on the menu bar for my Christmas Organizer flickr album. I got so many compliments on the purse I made last year, but I really wanted to make something new this year. Enjoy!

LuzinhaFolch said...

Hi Jody,
I'm just playing like Gepetto right now,giving a life to a Santa called Samuel.
Tomorrow he will born and I'll show you at SIS okay?
Every year I love to do stuff and decorate everything for the season,it's a JOY!
Oh I have some ATCs here if you want i can totally send for you.
hugs
Lucy

Lisa said...

well my favorite thing i've made is my canvases with cole's handprints and footprints. i was so glad to document his size at this age - especially since we hope to see such a huge difference between this christmas and next!!

Anonymous said...

hello jody!
every year my mom and i make ornaments, any kind. every once in a while she'll let me take a day off of school to come over to her work (a plastic company..haha) and just make ornaments and stuff all day long. its super fun and we get the whole work place involved. and we also decorate the work christmas tree then go home and make more! ;D so fun!

and for my family i sew individual bags for each family along with a hand made card and little goodies. it takes foreverrrr but its really fun to make and hand out on christmas eve. :)
-rachael

Melanie said...

Hi Jody! I have SO far done some baking and I plan on doing more in the next few days while I'm on vacation (from work)! I have also painted a Christmas canvas that I will be posting on my blog later tonight after I do some sewing! I love being creative and doing crafts!!! So much fun and theraputic for me as well!!!
I hope you are having a Happy December!!!! LOVE YOUR BLOG!!!
love,
Melanie Smith

Jaena said...

Christmas cookies is my thing...especially sugar cookies or gingerbread cookies decorated with icing. This year I tried colored sugar cookie dough made into pinwheels - very cool! I love all of the fun and creativity on your site, Jody!

Anonymous said...

Yep, cookies for me, too! I make a big ol batch of my grandmother's fruit and nut cookies for my grandfather - he loves them! And last year I made the cutest little sticky note holders with those clear acrylic photo frames - easy to do and they were a big hit! Love your blog - you really touch on things that I need to hear, sometimes. Thanks!!

Bridget said...

Fun, Jody! The first Christmas after Katrina was hard because I was still unemployed and didn't know what I was going to do about presents. I decided to make decorated composition books for my little cousins and friends' kids. I thought they wouldn't like them, but they really surprised me. They loved them! They really were excited to get something handmade.

Right now I'm having my 8th graders make Christmas cards to send to wounded soldiers at Walter Reed Medical Center. I really want to teach them the joy of giving back.

Misty said...

Very cute ATCs - and - in my book every scrapper is an artist! I started doing little altered playing cards and hopfully I will continue every day til Christmas. I actually only did one but I wrote down something each day til I have a chance to do the others. I'm going to put them in this clear glass candle holder and sit out somewhere. Merry Christmas!
Misty

... said...

Hey!! Just droppin by :)
A very long time ago, I made a Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus out of tomato cages. They turned out so cute. I think I have pics of them. Now they look so very 80's, lol. I am thinking about re-vamping the pattern and making some for this year.

Ang said...

I do love stringing cranberries for my Christmas tree...

Every once in a while, for Christmas, my family decides to only make our presents. Nothing store-bought. One year, I sewed a quilt for my brother, David...and one for (my then boyfriend) Ryan. My mom and I spent several days covered in scraps of fabric & thread, sewing our different projects, watching Anne of Green Gables and sipping home-made hot chocolate. But Ryan surprised me in return with a beautiful ceramic doll...that he had poured, fired, perfected, and painted with his Grandmother for me.
...then there was the grand piano he secretly rescued from a nursing home and worked for months to refinish for me as a gift. I was only in high school. His gifts have always been shockingly thoughtful, intuitive, elaborate and sweet.

One of my happiest memories of creating something at Christmas time though, was choosing the fabric, designing, and spending my days, again...at my Mom's house sewing the quilt and bumpers to prepare for my first baby, Maya.

Ang said...

p.s. One particularly familiar Kindergartener came to me today during music (after sitting back, silently for a while without singing) and said "Mrs. Corbin, I'm just not...feeling happy. I don't have any joy. I...I haven't got the cheer yet."

I happily told her that sometimes, you just have to try to find it on your own....and that what she needed to do was to sing her best and shake her jingle bells.

And she did...with a very happy smile for the rest of class :)

I couldn't help but laugh as I thought of her own mother's frequent words "sometimes you have to create your own joy"

I think she did it.

Kari said...

We pick 4 or 5 different kinds of cookies and cupcakes and bake an entire Saturday away. Then we pack them up in cute decorated boxes and give them to the neighbors. We listen to Christmas music and drink fun, festive holiday martini's.

This year I am making magnets for co-workers and neighbors using glass gems and colorful scrapbooking paper!

Unknown said...

WHAOUAAAA HOW MANY CARDS DID YOU MAKE?

I bought many little gifts for my daughter's advent calendar. It's her first one ever and wanted to treat her, and beleive me she has a blast getting all the goodies everyday. And i just love seeing her that happy.

elly rainbow said...

my mom, being the awesome person that she is, gets a lot of flowers. however, flowers fade too quickly! so i made her some beautiful paper poinsettias that she can bring out year after year. :) i love to make her things because she always appreciates the handmade-ness.

Anonymous said...

I'm not sure I could put this into words, but I have to say that each year on Christmas Day I make time stand still. For the time my boys open gifts, I take only one photo of each them and spend the rest of the time sitting back, enjoying, and just basking in their happiness and excitement. Later I do the same when extended family are all here together, laughing and enjoying eachother's company. I say a silent prayer of thanks, that we're all together and healthy and happy. I literally just feel like I am able at that moment to "make" time stand still and to fully be aware of what Christmas truly is.

FlipFlop Mom said...

Jodi.. my blog has been full of all my handmade gifts for Christmas this year.. I have decided to make gifts for those that I love.. because I stop and put thought and design it to their personality.... Even if I don't get one gift this year that is tangealbe.. I'm OK with that.. I have the greatest gift.. God's son.. and the blessings of my family...

Now.. my mother in love came over on Thanksgiving night and saw my Christmas CD's.. and wanted copies of them... She doesn't ask for much and can usually just go and buy what she wants.. but last night.. I stayed up to til 2am and made her a special gift.. I put lots of love, time and thought into.. and I posted it on my blog today!!!! So go over and peek at it... It's not fancy.. and I won't win any award for it... but.. I made it with love.. and thought!!

Kris with a K said...

Jody, those ATCs are so cute! Where did you get/how did you make the 'Mix and Mingle' embellishment? That is just too stinking cute...I need me some!