Reasons for the Season

It's almost Christmas.  Those three words generally evoke feelings of joy, anticipation, happiness, and memories of childhood.  But this year I'm struggling with that.  Those three words are just that -- words.  A signal that malls are full of crazed shoppers, that it's time for parties, food and gifts, and that the year is almost over.

I've had a hard year, and I know I'm not alone in that.  I've gone through things that I never imagined I'd ever go through, let alone at my age.  And in thinking about this past year and what my husband and I have lost and how we've hurt, I can still see the many, many blessings in my life.

I recently saw the episode of Family Guy where Brian and Stewie go to the North Pole to find Santa.  When they get there, they find Santa gravely ill and the workshops more like dirty factories with these huge iconic smokestacks billowing black smoke.  Not at all what one would imagine the North Pole to look like.  The cause of this?  Us, a society whose wish lists grow longer each year, and in his attempts to keep up with the demand, he's grown weak.  The only way to save Santa is for each person to ask for only one gift for Christmas.  The next Christmas they do, and Santa is saved.  (Note:  This episode was done in grand Family Guy style, so I would not recommend sharing it with your children!  Just the moral of the story.)

I really related to that symbolism, especially after this year.  If you could only ask for one thing from Santa in order to save him, what would it be?  Honestly, I can't think of anything...nothing tangible that is.  I already have so much that what else could I possibly need?  I have an amazing family that has stood by my husband and me through everything, great friends, a wonderful church family, a roof over my head, a vehicle to get me where I need to go and food in my pantry.  I have love constantly surrounding me.  I have the gift of creating things and I love sharing them with you.  And I have a God that loves me unconditionally, so much so that he had his own son -- a baby brought to Earth on Christmas -- killed just for me.  If those aren't reasons enough to celebrate this Christmas, I don't know what is.

My family did away with gifts this year.  We are just simply spending time together.  And celebrating the little things.  And I really feel that that is what Christmas is all about.  So I say again: It's almost Christmas!  Time to gather with family and friends, to share the Christmas story and to remember the reasons for the season -- a very special little baby and all the little things in life. 

I don't have a new notecard design or a cute little craft to share.  Just a message from me to you:  Merry Christmas!  May you be truly blessed this holiday season, with all the little things.

Until next time...

Presenting...

...the 2010 Christmas Card additions!!

Each of these is available for purchase, along with past cards I've done.  If any of them interest you, just email me at bemadedesigns@yahoo.com and we can get an order going.  :)  But hurry!  Christmas will be here sooner than we think!!  :D

Wreath Christmas Card

This is done "postcard" style, meaning it's not a bi-fold card, but it does come with an envelope for mailing.  Paper doily wreath with pink paper bow and pearl detail on textured khaki cardstock.

 

 

 

Present Christmas Card

Traditional bi-fold card with a plaid paper "ribbon" and a real ribbon bow on kraft paper cardstock.

 

 

 

Snowflakes Christmas Card

Traditional bi-fold card with watercolor painted face.  Snowflakes feature mini jewels.  Snowflake cut-out.

 

 

 

O Tannenbaum Christmas Card

Traditional bi-fold card with Christmas tree design printed on smooth white cardstock.

 

 

 

Years Past Christmas Cards

Christmas Ornaments Card

Traditional bi-fold card with ornament design printed on smooth white cardstock.

 

 

 

Let It Snow Christmas Card

Traditional bi-fold card with stamped snowflakes on smooth white cardstock.  Random mini jewels on the snowflakes.

 

 

 

Peace on Earth Christmas Card

Traditional bi-fold card with printed message and gold stamped decorative vine on kraft paper cardstock.

 

 

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Until next time...

Art? Probably Not...But It's Pretty

I am going to make this one short and sweet, because I don't think it's anything spectacular, but perhaps it will lend some inspiration to you :)

I was recently in need of some art for my house--my mantle to be specific.  My husband and I aren't currently in a position to purchase anything frivolous, and I'm no artist by any means, so I scavenged my house to come up with something to decorate my mantle. 

I came across a calendar I had saved from a few years back that was a collection of Art Nouveau art and advertisements.  I also discovered 4 empty frames to fill, so I chose a couple of pictures that fit the frames.  2 down, 2 to go.

 

 

Piece #3:  I love the simplicity of silhouettes, so I wanted to try something in that idea.  I remembered I had leftover paper doilies from a very special birthday party, so I used the large ones for my background, then created the bird silhouette.

 

Lastly, I used some scrapbook paper that looks like vintage wallpaper for my background, then wove a ribbon into 3 doilies that I cut the centers out of.

 

 

So now I have a generic-ish collection of art (versus a mantle covered in photos of my husband and me). 

 

 

Now, I'm not claiming these are Picassos or Warhols by any means, but I think they are a collection of pretty things, and can maybe give you inspiration to create art of your own.  :)  Calendars are a great way to start.  Many calendars are a collection of landscapes or famous artists or period artwork, like my Art Nouveau calendar.  Clip out the ones you like, frame it, and you have instant art.  And if you needed it larger than the standard calendar size, just have it reproduced larger.  :)  And that's just one place to start!  Hopefully I helped to turn on your light bulb, even if only dimly.

Until next time...