Sweet gift idea with a message ...

Saw this idea today ...

Put some M & M's into a little plastic bag and tie it with ribbon, print this verse out on some cardstock, decorate it if you want and attach it to the bag ...

As you hold these candies in your hand
And turn them,
you will see The 'M' becomes a 'W',
An 'E', and then a '3'.
They tell the Christmas Story-- I'm sure it's one you know.
It took place in a stable A long, long time ago.
The 'E' is for the East, Where the star shone so bright.
The 'M' is for the Manger, where the Baby Jesus slept at night.
The '3' is for the Wisemen, Bearing gifts, with which they came.
'W' is for Worship, Hallelujah!
Praise His Name!
So as you eat these candies Or share them with a friend,
Remember the meaning of Christmas: It's a love that never ends.

Written by Pam Ridenour

Here is another version ...

More Than Colors

These special little candies,
Come in colors bright and fun.
There’s more than color to be found;
A story of God’s Son.
The M’s turn into W’s,
If you turn them upside down.
A few more turns and E and 3’s
Are waiting to be found.
M is for the manger,
Where Mary laid her precious boy.
Little did the world know,
This baby would bring great joy.
The W is for the Wise men, Who followed a bright star.
The star revealed a king was born,They came but, oh, so far.
In Bethlehem they found Him,
Just as they had been told.
3 is for the gifts they brought;Frankincense, myrrh and gold
W is also for their worship,
As they bowed before their King, Salvation is the promise given,
There’s nothing we can bring.
Faith alone is how we come
He died to set us free.
E is for eternity,God’s gift to you and me.

Barbara Hooks' Version

While Googling to find this verse I can across a kids craft site for Christmas stuff ...

http://www.daniellesplace.com/HTML/christmas_page2.html

It also lists the poem above.

i am totally going to try this!!

blog hopping

In my extensive research for this blog ;-) i have been looking at other blogs around the traps.

I have found a couple that make me laugh:

• lollychops
• Cathy Zielske

and check out these cool downloadable Christmas tags from CZ's blog

tags here.

There are also some beautiful downloadables here at the House of 3 (these will cost but OMG they are STUNNING!)

and another thing i found on my travels is this CUTE countdown book from Heidi Swapp.

Christmas Quotes

Have you ever heard a quote about Christmas that really speaks to you? Maybe it is a passage from the bible - about the true meaning of Christmas?

The one that i just adore is from the Grinch by Dr Seuss. This really brings home that the real meaning, and feeling of Christmas and how it gets lost in amongst all that comercialism, that feeling of 'having to buy something for someone just for the sake of buying'. I know i personally am feeling that way at the moment about myself. Greg is asking me what i would like for Xmas and i have no idea! I have all i want at the moment and anything extra would just be unnecessary money spent!

so here is my fav. quote.

And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more. ~Dr. Seuss


I would love to see your comments below about a quote that really talks to you.

Gift card enclosure ...

Image from Hambly Screen Prints blog

http://hamblyscreenprints.typepad.com/screen_prints_blog/2009/12/holiday-dt-tutorial-dina.html

12 tags of Christmas ...

Head over for a look ...

http://timholtz.typepad.com/

Even if the tags are over whelmingly beautiful you may pick up a technique or two!

They are certainly beautiful and I think he has done them for a few years now so check the side bar for more details ... 2007 and 2008.

Christmas card / gift idea

Image from Making Memories blog

http://blog.makingmemories.com/2009/12/leahs-christmas-card.html

This is a great idea!

Kylie - Christmas photo challenge

"Hi Amanda,

Here's a couple of snaps for the 'December Photo Challenge' ...

'Our ChristmasTree' which we excitedly decorated a couple of weekends ago when my parents were visiting. I put the lights on first, then let the kids 'go for it', decorating it with Nana and Pa. There's no pattern or uniformity to it but I don't mind it that way at all, it has the 'kids touch' to it !

and the kids special little 'name baubles'. The boys also have a little ceramic angel each with their names printed on them (a bit hard to see in the bright 'flash') ... they got them from their Aunty Stacey a few years back but she wasn't able to find a 'Bree-Ann' one, not such a common name I guess ! They're very sweet and I make sure they are packaged away carefully with the baubles each year !

Thanks Amanda,

Kylie "



Great shots Kylie! Just for interest sake i noticed a special bauble box in Kmart the other day and thought of all these specially packed keepsakes!

I think we can all relate to the tree and all the bits from kindy and school adorning it!

Wonderful!

Free Christmas gift tags ...

Here is a link to three different free / downloadable gift tags ... I like the first two!!

The birds are lovely.

http://livelifecreateart.blogspot.com/2009/12/free-holiday-tag-downloads.html

Janice - hard and soft challenge

"Hi Amanda,

This is my page for the something soft, something hard challenge.
For soft I used felt and a piece of ribbon.
and for hard I used brads, staples, pearls and the arrow.

Love this photo of Matthew it was taken late afternoon on one
of those hot November days at Point Drummond and it was
absolutely beautiful out there..

Cheers
Janice"

Ooooh i am loving this new size on you Janice! Fabulous idea using felt and oh wowsers at those chip birds = perfect.

Thanks for taking the plunge with this challenge.

***EDITED 7.1.10*****

Massive congrats to you Janice - first acceptance!! What a fabulous page - we all knew it was a winner!

Tiff - christmas tree photo

Tiff has sent in a photo of a special little ornament - isn't she cute!

"My sister in law makes each family member an angel each year. They are all unique to each person and for each year. Last year she made me this pasta angel that now proudly adorns my Christmas tree. There are about 20 family members, so as you can imagine, there's a bit of thought process involved.

cheers
tiff"

Chrissie Cards- Sue

Lucky for me having holidays last week i was able to get my cards made. Inspired by some ideas in the ScrapTrends card magazine... I loved using the cuttlebug embossing folders for a quick easy effect!

First one:



And another one:


Now just to write them out and pop them in the post!!

More Christmas ideas ...

Isn't this beautiful?

Images from Write.Click.Scrapbook

http://www.writeclickscrapbook.com/write_click_scrapbook/2009/12/its-write-click-scrapbook-for-the-holidays.html





And these are a very simple Christmas tree decoration ...




http://www.writeclickscrapbook.com/write_click_scrapbook/2009/12/fun-weekend-craft-add-something-new-to-your-tree.html

Sandra - busy creating!

Sandra sent in some pictures of some works that she has completed lately.

The first is a very cute gift! The instructions can be found here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuKkRqH3Dk0&feature=player_embedded

Isn't it adorable and very clever.

Next up is a card featuring some very snazzy quilling. This looks really amazing Sandra. Lots of time has gone into these gifts - what lucky recipients.

Thanks for sharing Sandra. Lots of creative juices flowing for you atm!

Advent calender ... for next year ;-)

Photo from Making Memories blog

http://blog.makingmemories.com/2009/11/advent-calendar.html

I have seen these around before ... people use a baking tray as the base so that if you use magnets they "stick on".

Decorate the tree ...

Photo from Hambly Screen Prints blog.

http://hamblyscreenprints.typepad.com/screen_prints_blog/2009/12/overlay-garland-gift-wrapping.html

Christmas gift idea ...

Just found this link over at Facebook, posted by Ange.

http://magic-boxes.blogspot.com/2009/05/origami-box-with-wrap-lid-tutorial.html

The basis of the idea is the boxes that a lot of people made last Christmas!!

If you have seen a great free project that would be a quick gift idea leave a link in the comments section of this post to share with us all.

December Sketch Challenge

Howdy everyone,

With the hussle and bustle of this time of the year i have kept the sketch for December quite simple so you can do a page quickly with minimal fuss. When i saw this page i thought it was ideal for a quick and easy page, which i then turned into our sketch. (i am into quick, easy and simple lately)....so you can add as much as you like to it or leave it simple & sweet!

Have fun with it and i can't wait to see all your pages!!

Here is my example:

I have loved this photo of Evan with Mace, and has been sitting amongst my 'to be scrapped pile' since April.......it was one that just needed adding to my memory collection!

Hope everyone has fun preparing for Christmas, take a step back and just enjoy the moment...for tommorrow this moment is a memory!

xx Sue

Hellooooooooo December

eeek - hasn't the last few months come around quickly?!


Sorry for the delay in getting this next month's challenges up and running, but here they are! We hope you continue to be inspired by what we post : challenging yourself and your scrapping.

Sue, Meredith and I would like to thank everyone for your encouragement this year. You have been very supportive of us, the retreat and this blog.

Sue's Sketch

Stay tuned - i know Sue has a beauty in store for us.


Amanda


Something soft, something hard.


Incorperate something soft AND something hard onto your page. Soft may include fabric, feathers, blossoms, ribbons. Something hard may include metal book plates, staples, brads. Mix it up a bit, think of something new and show us what you come up with.



I would love to see both elements on one page.



Photo Challenge

Show us your Xmas tree!

This also extends to cards, home made decorations or websites you have found for Xmas inspiration (see post below!)

These are some i have found - click to access!
Martha Stewart
The Crafty Minx

when i think of Xmas, scrapbooking and craft one of the first things to come to my mind is this amazing album i saw in a For Keeps magazine a few years ago from Suz Doyle.

Here it is for you to have another look at. Lovely stuff.


oops forgot this one who i always refer to as 'super mum'

Mel Goodsell

Please share your Christmas inspiration with us. Take photos of your tree - creative ones or just snaps with the kids infront. Share your crafty Xmas cards with us.

We all love to look and comment!



Meredith's Challenge

Stay tuned to be tested to your creative BEST.

Xmas Quiz

Ok time to brush off those cobwebby comment fingers : In the comments section below please tell us your favourite Christmas carol and why.

(to save time i will write that mine is Oh Holy Night - i just love the part where they sing ' Ohhhhhhhh niiiiiiiiiiiiight diviiiiiiiiiiiiiiiine, oh holy night.... ' - shiver down spine stuff for me!)

***

We hope everyone tries to take a little time out for themselves during this busy, silly season. It can be so hectic and draining. Look after yourselves by taking some time, doing what you love, remembering what this season is all about and enjoying this lead up to Xmas.



On behalf of Sue, Meredith and myself = Happy December!

Christmas project ... check this out ...

Image taken from the Kenner Road blog.

Wow check this out ...

http://blog.kennerroad.com/2009/12/tannenbaum/

There are instruction of how to make this and I am sure that it could easily be adapted without the kit.

It looks amazing!