ALL THINGS CHRISTMAS CORNER: Cards as Gifts

Cards as Gifts

This month we are doing something a little bit different for our monthly 'informative' post on the 12 Months of Christmas. While we spent our first two years discussing various holiday traditions, offering up some recipes last year, and then sharing some crafts in the earlier part of this year, we've decided to consolidate. This new monthly post will highlight All Things Christmas, from decorative ideas, crafts, recipes, traditions and everything in-between. And we're starting with an idea so amazingly simple you'll shake your head and say, "why didn't I think of that?"

The idea came to me as I was listing out the various family and friends to whom I give gifts. My best friend (not a crafter) loves when I send her cards, and one year she asked me to gift her with a set of cards instead of a "present".

Why didn't I think of this sooner? Almost everyone uses cards, to send birthday wishes, notes of thanks, or to cheer someone up. I still have friends who write letters inside cards to update me on what's going on in their lives. So this got me to rethink the way I create my cards.

Often when I make a card, I'll print the image I'm using twice, and make two cards instead of one. This gives me a surplus of cards on hand when needed, or in this instance, to put together as a Christmas gift.

For my grandmother, I used to follow the calendar with each family member's birthdays, creating a card for my Gram to give to all of us in the family. I even put the cards in their envelopes and set them in order from January through December. That way she only had to pull out the first card, write a personal note inside and sign the card, knowing that it would match the person whose birthday was coming up.

For my co-workers, I've created sets of monogrammed cards, matching my designs to their own personal styles. Since I worked in a school, there were always kids and families who gave us each a little gift at Christmas time, and those cards came in handy for thank you notes.

A gift of themed cards, like Get Well or birthday cards, is a cute idea. Another is to just create a couple of each type of card into a set. However you mix them up, you can cross names off your list while giving your family and friends handmade, beautiful gifts that you know will be used. I love getting a card in the mail from a friend for whom I've created that particular card!! 

The great thing about this kind of gift-giving is that you can start at the beginning of the year, creating cards when you have the time (just like you're doing here by creating Christmas cards all year 'round). I especially like to make and give Christmas Thank You cards, since almost everyone receives gifts.

Sometimes I will create a specific type of card for all the challenges I join and DT cards I make. At the end of a month, I can end up with eight or nine Thank You cards, and the next month have a dozen Birthday cards that I can use and put away for gifting.

When it comes to the "wrapping", you can package them in an already-decorated box or decorate one yourself with goodies from your holiday stash (think boxes that quick meals come in like Mac & Cheese boxes, etc.). Another great idea is to make your own card box out of your leftover supplies. There are several tutorials on YouTube whose videos I have linked in this paragraph.

Another simple way is to make or use a gift bag. Put your card set into the bag, fold the top over and punch 2 holes in which to thread some festive ribbon. You can add some jolly jingle bells or an ornate ornament. Or you can just stack your set of cards and tie them up with an organza ribbon and call it a day. 

Even in this age of social media, people still like to send cards to friends and family to stay in touch, congratulate them or wish them a very Merry Christmas. Just like we all do!! So spread the love by sharing your artwork as presents and everyone will have the merriest Christmas.

Christmas Traditions - Holiday Superstitions

"He sees you when you're sleeping, He knows when you're awake; 

He knows if you've been bad or good So be good for goodness sake!" 

-from the song "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" by Frank Gillespie

Everyone has heard of countless superstitions, old wives' tales and myths, but I was surprised to find many holiday ones circulating around the globe. Just look above at the refrain from the popular Christmas song. Thousands of children looked behind them when they did something wrong, hoping that jolly old man didn't witness their crimes.

I grew up with a weather superstition: "If it snows by Thanksgiving, we'll have a white Christmas." My sisters and I would anxiously look out the window every day in November in hopes that there would be snow for Christmas. I found another weather myth at The Holiday Spot. "Snow on Christmas means Easter will be green."

I know better than to walk under a ladder or to cross a street after a black cat has crossed it, but some holiday myths threatening bad luck were new to me: 

"Singing Christmas carols outside of the festive season is unlucky."

I personally think this warning should be extended to the month of November. In Chicago we have a radio station that starts playing Christmas Carols on Thanksgiving Day - and that's all they play until Christmas Day! 

I think this next one came from a disgruntled child:

"Never give shoes to someone you love during Christmas 

or they can walk out of your life in future."

In Greece, some people burn their old shoes at Christmas time to prevent bad luck in the coming year. I know someone who lives in Greece, so I'll have to ask her about this.

I don't know how kissing under the mistletoe originated, but somebody must have been refused that holiday kiss because one myth is that "If someone avoids the kiss under the mistletoe they will have bad luck." Again, my personal opinion is that you could have bad luck even when you kiss the guy, so beware!

Here are just a few more superstitions and old wives' tales that might remind you of your childhood, tickle your fancy or raise the hairs on your arm:

"A blowing wind can bring good luck during Christmas." 

"The dog who screams on Christmas Eve 

will go mad by the end of the year." ???

"If a rooster crows at midnight on Christmas Eve, it's a good omen" 

"If Christmas Day on a Sunday fall

A troublesome Winter we shall have all."

"The doors of a home should be flung open at midnight on Christmas Eve to let out any trapped evil spirits. You can also use a broom first thing on Christmas morning to sweep out any trouble."

Who would have known how many superstitions hover over the holidays. I hope they have made you giggle and get into the holiday spirit.  Do you have any interesting myths, old wives' tales or superstitions you grew up with (or are starting with your children LOL) that you can share with us? Wherever you are in the world, holidays are special times and sure to bring us cheer.

Holiday Tradition: SCIS--Santa Came Investigation Services

Hello everyone!  I'm popping in today to share a Holiday Tradition from Pat, one of our Merry Maidens! This time around Pat is sharing another special family tradition that she and her husband started with their children--something that will speak to the child in all of us!  This is such a fabulous idea and maybe one that you can pass on and share with your own families with small children!  I hope that you enjoy reading about Pat's special tradition as much as I did!

SCIS: Santa Came Investigation Services

While Santa is much too experienced to leave evidence of his home invasions, my children were starting to doubt at an early age. The half-eaten cookies routine was getting old, so I had to form the SCIS (like the TV show NCIS), which stands for Santa Came Investigation Services. The kids were thrilled to be detectives the morning after Christmas, and gave mom and dad a chance to actually drink their morning coffee before the wrapping paper went flying.

The first year we set a “trap” by making reindeer food. The recipe is simple: mix a ¼ cup of oats with a teaspoon of glitter. On Christmas Eve, spread the “feed” over the lawn. Whether there’s snow or not matters not, the glitter sparkles in the light from lamp posts and Christmas lights. The kids were positive the reindeer would stay in front of the house long enough for them to catch Santa at his game. Unfortunately, the kids were just too sleepy to stay awake, and mom’s camera needed charging, so we talked about plans for next year as we enjoyed Christmas morning. Overnight a light snow fell and the oats and glitter weren’t visible any more.

The second year the kids forgot all about SCIS until they woke Christmas morning to discover that Santa had left “magical” footprints on the carpet, magical because the snow hadn’t melted (made by shaking talcum or baking powder around a pair of boots, then returning said boots to closet). That morning we all talked about what we loved about the holidays as we opened our presents. The kids said that Santa must be slipping since they found his footprints.

The next year, Santa really slipped up. When the kids woke up Christmas morning, we heard shouts from the sliding glass door near our kitchen. Santa left so quickly, his pants got stuck in the door and he didn’t have time to rescue them! We all laughed as we imagined what he did after our house. The kids’ answers were funny and creative, ranging from his having extra pairs of pants in his sleigh to a pair being parachuted in from the North Pole by Mrs. Claus.

Throughout the years of belief and doubts and disbelief, the kids continued to look for clues at Santa’s “crime scenes” just for the fun of it. A family tradition had been born. So when my son married and had his own children, he and his wife took the tradition into the 21^st century, re-creating their own SCIS every Christmas morning for their kids. To this day, Santa continues the legend as he leaves little bits of evidence for the grandchildren to discover, even at Grandma’s house. And to this day, Santa has never been caught, but his clues lead us all on a merry chase of wonder and belief.

Holiday Time Recipes: Cheesy Bacon Monkey Bread

Hello all.  We're starting something new this year.  Instead of focusing strictly on sharing Holiday Traditions, we'll be also be sharing some Holiday Time Recipes.  Generally, Monica will be sharing a recipe during the third week of the month and Pat one of our Merry Maidens will be popping in when she can with a Traditions post.  However, this month Monica is away from home on business; so, Pat is stepping in and sharing one of her traditional recipes.  While the ingredients may be specific to North America, hopefully you'll be able to find an equivalent ingredient in your area of the world if you are interested in trying the recipe out.

Christmas morning is a special time for my family. We gather from all parts of the state (Chicago), often arriving in our pyjamas, for Christmas cookies, breakfast and presents (not necessarily in that order). One of my family’s favorite breakfast foods is what I call “Cheesy Bacon Monkey Bread.”

Ingredients
You will need:

• ½ lb bacon, cooked and crumbled
• 2 tubes of the original Pillsbury biscuits
• 2 TBSP butter or margarine, melted
• 6 oz. Cheese Whiz
• Bundt or Angel food cake pan*

*(if you don’t have one, place an oven-safe glass in the middle of a pie pan)

Instructions

• Heat oven to 375 degrees F.
• Spray your pan with Pam or other spray oil. Mix melted butter and Cheese Whiz until blended. Pour into pie pan.
• Cut biscuits into four pieces each and sprinkle onto cheese in pan.
• Bake for 15-17 minutes or until browned on top.
• Take out of oven and immediately flip onto large plate, letting cheese drip onto ring of bread.
• Top with crumbled bacon.
• Serve as pull-apart bread, or slice. 

Yum!