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I'm really not trying to "cheat" by dating this post in December. I was working on it when I was struck down by a nasty infection, and slept away about 10 days of December in a medication-induced haze. I'm back in the saddle again, but I just wanted it in chronological order!
We were planning for some guests at our December meeting in Olathe, so I selected a supersimple thank you note and matching envelope project (thanks to Monique for bringing this simple layout to my attention recently). Aren't they striking? And the beauty of it is, that you can so easily make a gift of your thanks by packaging several blank cards together so that the recipient can keep the gift of gratitude going.
These cards measure 4.25" and can be mailed in our standard-sized envelope (decorated to match) or hand-delivered in an envelope made from coordinating DSP - watch for future posts!
-KathyStamps: Daring Adventure and Thank You Kindly
Ink: Crumb Cake and Cherry Cobbler classic
Paper: Very Vanilla, Basic Black and Cherry Cobbler CS; Timeless Portrait DSP
Accessories: Basic Pearls
This is such a creative use of Pocket Silhouettes! And of course I always like the fresh look of a "clean & simple" approach. I CASEd and tweaked from something I saw on Joanne Friend's post on our demonstrator web site. The sentiment from Welcome Christmas was perfect, suggesting a medallion with a single, simple impression. Cherry Cobbler has become my favorite color this year, but even if that weren't so a simple knot of the scallop dots ribbon gives the composition "pop".
I hope you can find simple solutions to your many tasks in the coming days. -Kathy
Thank you to my faithful and generous club members who gave their time and skill in helping me create the decorations for our tree, and to my husband Mark who helped me haul it to the display site. I am thrilled to report that our efforts brought $500 dollars to the total of nearly $38,000 raised to benefit The Shelter, Inc. As a former foster parent, I am thrilled to be able to help maintain the existence of a safe place for kids who have to be removed from their homes suddenly and often without basic necessities.
May it one day become unnecessary. -Kathy
Want to reclaim that sense of childhood wonder for just a bit? Get yourself to the Lawrence Festival of Trees! Located in the historic former Opera House (now Liberty Hall, 642 Massachusetts in downtown Lawrence), the darkened auditorium absolutely sparkles with all manner of visual sugarplums. Admission is just $3 (kids are free) and there are 56 trees to inspire you, from our traditional sparkling snow-in-the-forest look to a mosaic from broken dishes, a tree made from retired street light globes, a moving sculpture tree, a tree of stars, and many themes in all colors - plus 25 wreaths/small objects! I could hardly bear to leave when set-up was done, I just wanted to sit down in the middle of it all and soak it in.
Viewing:
Monday, November 28 10am-8:30pm
Tuesday, November 29 10am-5pm
Wednesday, November 30 10am-8:30pm
Thursday, December 1 10am-8:30pm
Auction:
Tuesday, November 29 7:30pm
(admission $35-50, I have two free passes to share if you want to see what our tree brings and report on it! We're #15)
Proceeds from auction and viewing benefit The Shelter, Inc., which provides emergency services for youth in the Lawrence community.
And don't forget the traditional Old-Fashioned Christmas Parade, Saturday December 3, 11:00am. Owners of antique horse-drawn conveyances from as far away as Texas bring their decorated horses and buggies along with costumes for themselves. Such a charming tradition and a great way to get in the mood! -Kathy
I know you've been wondering what our folded German bell ornaments would look like. I finally finished them last night as I was working on our Festival of Trees Entry, so here's a close-up, all painted and accented with ivy and berries. Let this be a lesson to you skeptics who thought yours wouldn't look good...! They were the perfect contrast in shape and size to the petal cones we made first.
Apologies to the Olathe gals, I managed to forget the materials we needed so they didn't make bells. However, you can find the instructions at http://www.allthingspaper.net/2009/12/folded-german-bell-tutorial.html and make your own! We used 6x6" squares of DSP, which I then spray painted a pale green. -Kathy
I'm going to post this one for Lori while their family gets settled into a new house. Did you notice these items at the Open House in October? I thought they were definitely worth a second look!
These papers are from the Mocha Morning specialty designer series paper pack. It is simply scrumptious. I'm thinking of using it for all my holiday themes from here to the new year!! On the left is a little "pocket" - you can make it any size that meets your needs - with the seam up the back and a little crimp at the bottom edge. It could hold napkin, cutlery, a name for the Christmas gift exchange, poem/message, photograph of guest, packet of tea/chocolate... any number of things, all dressed up.
On the right are two Hershey nuggets wrapped in strips of paper, then attached via glue dot to two scallop circle punches and tied with 1/4" satin ribbon. I just happen to be putting together table settings for a banquet in two weeks. Give you one guess what I'm going to CASE! -Kathy
