Creating Christmas at my house

The place is looking like Christmas.

I have the wreath on the door.  It features green with pine cones and some sparkle from silver accents.  The glitter fruit, bird and silver ribbon bow. This is one I made myself several years ago.














The tree is up for the first time in several years!  

It's a 4 foot tree I have had for years. It's sitting on the antique trunk I use for a side table next to my chair.  The tree is decorated in a neutral color palette of clear lights, white pearl ball ornaments, clear glass ornaments, and 40 or so crystal tear drops rescued from an old chandelier and a few ornaments which I have received over the years that have sentimental value.


There is a green fabric tree skirt with a white ruffle which my sister made for me many years ago.  I have added some snow blanket on top of the skirt.
I have placed my tiny nativity on the snow with a glass tree and stained glass angel hanging from the tree in just the right place. 

The advent wreath is again in a neutral color palette with white tea lights in crackle glass holders placed in cylinder vases in 4 different heights with a tall beeswax candle in a crystal holder in the center.

The Advent Calendar is hung with one  figure being moved from the border edge to their place on the calendar every day!  This one was made by another sister several years ago who is a quilter.  Panel is by Nancy Halverson.

The bubble night light sits in the hall and provides a wonderful light and great pattern on the wall. This light brings me back to my childhood when we had a string of these on the tree.  As the liquid in the candle heats up bubbles magically appear. I was fortunate to find one at a craft sale some years ago and purchased it as a memento of years passed.

Finally, the Yule Log DVD is in the player ready to provide a Christmas atmosphere in the living room any time I need it.  It provides music as well as the crackle of the fire so it's perfect to craft to or have on when company is visiting.
Caramel popcorn is on the agenda for this week so that will be several recipes to share with friends and family. 
Sharing with Jann at Daily Cup with Mrs Olson on her turn at Creating Christmas link up.

Advent Calendars - Ready2Go

I prepared 2 Advent Calendars which are Ready2Go.  They are easily displayed and the pages are easy to move to the next day.  Each day has a scripture reading and I have included an Advent Activity List to help moms provide non chocolate/candy options for each day of advent.  You can find the list on my Freebies page.

This one features a heavy wood photo holder with a clip at the top large enough to hold the 26 sheets of the calendar.  I added a red ribbon at the base to repeat the red in the calendar.  I've packaged it in cello.

This one is a skinny clear glass vase which holds the 26 sheets nicely.  It protects the sheets without obscuring the calendar or the scripture.  I wrapped it in cello and tied it a red ribbon.

Advent Begins - "Christ"mas is coming

I was not home on Sunday to hang my Advent Calendar so I dug it out today.  My sister made this for several years ago and every day I move a character or element into the scene until baby Jesus is placed in the centre.

I so enjoyed my Being Present for Christmas class this fall. I now have the book The Greatest Gift by Ann Voskamp to read every day.



I have Cinnamon Vanilla in my wax warmer which fills my place with a festive scent.

I also have several versions of other versions of advent calendars.

Be Present for Christmas - Lesson 5 - Be a Dwelling Space for God

We continue to assemble our Advent Calendars.  See last weeks lesson here. There is sewing on of buttons and adding strings to the envelopes.  We then place our scripture readings and activity sheets in envelope.  I will leave the writing of their chosen activities to their own time.  The envelopes can now be hung on the buttons.

This week the lesson focus is Be a Dwelling Space for God. It's the story of Mary. When you make space in your words, in your wants, in your ways for Jesus, He comes and lives in the most miraculous way in your heart, too. Only one thing is necessary - just let your hands and your heart be a space for love to come into the world.
Is there anything you need to take a break from for a while to make more space for Jesus?

I'm selecting my lessons from The Greatest Gift by Ann Voskamp.  The book provides 24 lessons for each day of Advent of which I have chosen 7 for this class.  We will have readings, questions, discussion, and an activity each week.

Be Present for Christmas - Lesson 4 - When All the Miracles Begin

Our activity for the next 2 weeks is creating an Advent Calendar.  I found a wide variety during my on-line research.  I chose a garland type calendar with a scripture reading for every day.

I cut the envelopes with the Stampin Up Petal Card Bigz die. For this calendar, I chose navy card stock. The bottom three petals of the envelope were adhered together with quick dry adhesive leaving the top petal to hang the envelope.  A hole was added to the top petal and a piece of coordinating thread was pulled through and a knot was added to the end. Each envelope holds a small sheet with the day's scripture verse and also a small sheet is included to write down the day's activity.  I found the set of scripture readings here (A Girl and Her Blog).  I punched a SUcircle in gold and color printed the numbers to match the navy and burgundy colors I chose.  Again, they were adhered to the other side of the envelope with quick dry adhesive.  I ran a length of white grosgrain ribbon through the burgundy felt garland to add strength and interest. White buttons were sewn in the middle of the circle elements in the felt making sure that the ribbon was attached.  The envelopes are then hung onto each button.  This allows you to take down the envelope to the family, have your time of sharing and then return it to the garland.  For children to track the progress the number can be turned to the back each day so they know which date in December is next.

This week the lesson focus is When all the Miracles Begin. It's the story of Elizabeth and Zechariah.   We don't have to work for the coming of the Lord. He will prepare our hearts for His coming.  You don't have to work for Christmas, you don't have to earn Christmas, you don't have to perform Christmas, you don't have to make Christmas. Just open your hear to the miracle. 

I'm selecting my lessons from The Greatest Gift by Ann Voskamp.  The book provides 24 lessons for each day of Advent of which I have chosen 7 for this class.  We will have readings, questions, discussion, and an activity each week.

Advent Calendar - Boxed

I've been working on another presentation for my Advent Calendar.  This provides a 6 x 6 inch clear box for it to be stored in every year which will reduce the wear and tear on the pages. A jute cord and pins are used to display all the cards a once. The crystal bead marker allows folks to track the count down to Christmas Day by moving it to the next pin every day.  The list of suggested Advent activities is included.

The left inset shows the calendar with all the parts in the box.

The right inset shows the marker on the pin for a given day

Here's a link to the other one in a frame.  Leave me a comment as to which one - frame or box is more appealing to you.  Looking forward to your feedback. Thanks.

The Advent Calendar Kit - Cards Only is available on my Calendar page.

Advent Calendar

I've been working on an advent class which I will be teaching in the fall.  Keep an eye out for more on that later.  Christmas is never from from my mind all year long.  I always have it's music at hand and I enjoy it often. I also do a Christmas Card challenge on this blog every month to ensure I will have the cards I need on December 1st.

This is an advent calendar I have designed for people who want to be more intentional in preparing for Christmas.  There is a scripture reading for every day.  All the cards stay together as when you have completed one day you just flip the card over to the back and the next day is waiting for you.  It is designed to be used starting on December 1st.

The background for this card is my own art work of Bethlehem with a blue starry sky. The card measures 3.5 x 5 inches.  The 25 cards are held in the center of the pedestal frame with a book ring.  Each card has a reinforcement on the hole at the top in a contrasting color. 

I encourage individuals/families to do activities for each day of advent.  With that goal in mind, I have put together a list of activities under several categories such as Serving Others, Faith Based Activities, From the Kitchen, Outdoor Activities and a few more.  You will find the list at the bottom of this post as well as on my Freebie tab.

The calendar is designed so you can choose your daily activity which may be influenced by the members of your family and their ages. I have included an Activity Log for every day in your calendar which corresponds to each card. It is designed for you to record your chosen activity for that day. There are 12 slots on each log so you will have a record of your Christmas activities for that day over 12 years.  How wonderful it will be to review this list of memories from years past as you pull this calendar out every Christmas season.  This log is filed behind it's corresponding reading on the ring.

Merry Christmas to all of you!  I hope you have a great day with family and friends.  Enjoy good food, the great weather, and take a walk.
This nativity is part of a larger fabric Advent Calendar my sister made for me last year! It was good to count down by adding another figure each day.  The angels, the star, sheep, shepherds, the stable animals, the wisemen, the camels, and finally Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus.  The panel was designed by Nancy Halvorsen.