Christmas in July - #4

Did you catch Christmas in July on QVC today? I couldn't resist the Jim Shore Sleigh Basket with 4 ornaments. I have a few other Jim Shore items--the nativity and 3 angels. As a quilter, I just love his stuff! So this will be featured in my Christmas decorations this year.

If you're looking for an easy project to whip up for a gift or for yourself, how about a nice tablerunner? This one was easy, very Christmasy, and simple enough that whatever I put on it will be the centerpoint.

And for some reason, I haven't put up my little Dept. 56 Christmas Village in awhile, so it was fun to bring it out this past December. I  love my little white birch trees, but I think I'd like to add some evergreen trees this year.

They had the cutest snowman cookie jar for sale on QVC today, but I'm holding out for one that looks like a gingerbread house. This one was available last year at Dillards and Target. I wonder if I'll be able to find something similar this year?!

I hope you're enjoying your Christmas in July. I've really enjoyed reading some of the Christmas blogs out there. You all are so creative! (I need to drink more frozen lemonade so I can save the tops to make ornaments!)

Till next time, Christmas blessings to you and yours!

Mary

Crafty Christmas Cards

This may sound like a blatant advertisement, but I am having so much fun with the Cardmakers monthly card-making kit from Paper Wishes that I have to show you some of the cards I have made with the materials they send me each month. Once a month they send me 10 blank cards, 10 envelopes, a 6-page colored instruction sheet, papers, trims...everything except the glue and tape. I've also bought a special kit with only Christmas cards in it.

See the cute shaped card on the left? Instructions for this card and 120 others are available on the CD.

You can't really see the dimension on these cards (below), but this is a technique called "paper toile" where there are 4 or 5 layers to the cover design. You simply punch out the artwork pieces and layer them with dimensional foam tape.

I'm looking forward to December decorating...I'm going to hang some of these cards from a clothesline across my mantel or stairway.

Rudolph and Clarice say hello! We hope you are enjoying your Christmas in July fun. And till next time, holiday blessings to you and yours!

Mary

Colonial Williamsburg Christmas

One of our favorite places to visit is Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia. We love it so much, it was instrumental in our decision to leave St. Louis, Missouri and make Virginia our home. Of course, having our 2 sons, 2 daughters-in-law and 2 grandchildren in Virginia might have had an even bigger role in our decision to move east!

One year all the kids went out of town for Christmas, so hubby and I went to Williamsburg to spend some time. Each year CW has a door wreath decorating contest. All the materials used in their outdoor decorations must be natural. We enjoyed snapping some photos, talking with some of the costumed interpreters and just looking at the gorgeous architecture. These are some of our favorite wreaths.

We could not resist getting a photo of the dog in the cart, with the dog pulling the cart! So cute!

This darling couple spent the day talking with visitors and sharing some local customs.

We enjoy seeing the animals out and about too!

This is my interpretration of a Colonial Williamsburg door wreath! I used all natural silk flowers (ha!) and a folk-art inspired Santa.

My china is called "Liberty Blue" and was introduced during the bicentennial (1976). Hubby and I have purchased it a piece at a time at antique stores during our vacation travels. The glassware is from Colonial Williamsburg, as are the berry napkin rings. 

  

My CW Byers Carolers collection. My favorites are the ladies in their toile dresses.

That's a CW paint color on the fireplace, and homemade stockings. The greenery has little lights and wooden berries that look like cranberries. Our cat would eat the real thing, so that's a no-no.

My little Santa collection makes me smile. Here they are in the dining room near the stairway with more stockings for Santa to fill!

I hope you've enjoyed a little peak into my world. And till next time, holiay blessings to you and yours!

Mary

Christmas Open House

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpqz2_kkEEk&feature=relmfu

I am really enjoying the Gooseberry Patch cookbooks and website. I happened to stumble across this Open House You Tube video, and it couldn't be more fun! It should really get you in the mood for our Christmas in July celebration.

Holiday blessings to you and yours!
Mary

Gingerbread

As hubby likes to say, "we're havin' fun now!" I found this darling gingerbread Christmas table theme at http://ladykatherineteaparlor.blogspot.com/. (See her post for December 2009.) This woman seriously knows how to have a good time! This is how she sets the table for her grandchildren when they come for breakfast on Christmas morning.

The Gingerbread House was purchased from Bed Bath and Beyond.

The Gingerbread Chef is from Cracker Barrel.

The sideboard with some of the serving dishes.

The silver Hershey kiss is ready for dessert...chocolate fondue!

Another sideboard with the little tree decorated with ribbon candy and shiny red ornaments. Do not miss the little Gingerbread Train going 'round the tree!

This tray contains the "teapot" that is filled with hot chocolate for the children.

For the adults, how about adding some Peppermint Schnapps!

And of course, you must make some gingerbread cake (tastes great with cream cheese icing), or gingerbread cookies. Or brew yourself a cup of gingerbread tea. I can almost smell it now!

Be sure and visit the forums at http://magicalholidayhome.com/ and join the fun on Rudy Day (the 25th of each month) or anytime you need a Christmas fix! And, another of my favorite blogs is http://rudolphday.blogspot.com/. Join us!

Till next time, holiday blessings to you and yours,
Mary

Themes and Gingerbread

Happy June Rudolph Day to you all!



The Rudy Day theme for June is "Themes." I'm not exactly sure where other people are taking this idea, but when I think about Christmas themes, I think about the years I had an angel tree...a beautiful tall Christmas tree full of an assortment of angel ornaments. Then there was the year I focused on poinsettias...poinsettias in my fireplace garland, individual silk poinsettia blooms on the Christmas tree. One year we focused on music..my husband is an organist and plays the electronic keyboard. We had musical notes and different instrument ornaments on the tree.

One of my favorite Christmas themes is "Gingerbread." I have loved gingerbread ever since I can remember. I used to love getting my December issue of Good Housekeeping, they would frequently have gorgeous Gingerbread Houses that were the recent contest winners. I loved the architecture created with candies and icing, the landscaping that resembled real trees, shrubs and flowers. How I wish I had the talent to create such masterpieces! 

If you would like to join the fun in adding some gingerbread to your Christmas decorating, you will find miniature gingerbread ornaments available for sale at numerous website stores, including

http://www.christmas-decorations-gifts-store.com/store/PPF/parameters/794_37/more_info.asp

You’ll also find a history of gingerbread at this website which claims ginger has been used dating back to 2000 B.C. It’s a spice that originates in Malaysia, a peninsula of Thailand. There are certainly some cute pieces out there to add to your collection!

Pinecreekceramics.com has a kit that you can purchase with 6 cermaic ornaments that you paint however you would like. They have nativity sets too!

You can even use your gingerbread ornaments to decorate a wreath for the front door or over the fireplace. These particular ornaments are made of fabric. See the wonderful tutorial that Debbie Mumm has provided on her website:  http://www.debbiemumm.com/Projects/Crafts/2008/12/

http://audreypettit.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/gingerbread-man.jpg

You can carry the theme as far as you would like!  Audrey Pettit has a darling gingerbread boy tag you can make for your Christmas packages.

When you don’t have a “real” Christmas tree, how do you get the wonderful scents of Christmas? Barbara Crews (at About.com) suggests you make your own non-edible gingerbread ornaments using this recipe. The scent will last for 2 or 3 years.

Non-Edible Gingerbread Ornaments

¾ cup applesauce

1 cup cinammon

1 TB nutmeg

½ TB cloves

2 TB white household glue

1.      Stir all ingredients together in a glass or metal bowl until well mixed and smooth—several minutes.

2.      Take a portion of the dough and roll out between two pieces of waxed paper to the thickness of a cookie.

3.      Cut out dough with a gingerbread cookie cutter. Use a straw to make a hole for adding ribbon later.

4.      Let dry on the wax paper for a few hours until easy to handle, then transfer to a wire racks to dry at room temperature for a few days. I usually flip them over several times a day which will make them dry flatter.

5.      When ready to use, tie a ribbon through the hole and enjoy the wonderful smell—but make sure no one tries to eat them.

http://www.bonappetit.com/recipes/1996/12/building_the_perfect_gingerbread_house
If you'd like to take your hand at making your own gingerbread house, check out the photos and tutorials at Bon Appetit.

Be sure and visit the forums at http://magicalholidayhome.com/ and join the fun on Rudy Day (the 25th of each month) or anytime you need a Christmas fix! And, another of my favorite blogs is http://rudolphday.blogspot.com/. Join us!

Till next time, holiday blessings to you and yours,
Mary

May Rudy Day #2 - Christmas Meal Notebook

I promised you another post about the Christmas Notebook I am working on to keep my favorite Christmas recipes. I enjoy scrapbooking very much, I guess playing with colored paper is kin to playing with colored fabrics! I thought I would share with you how my notebook is shaping up. Here is the cover...The colors did not scan very well. The background for "Joy" and "Holiday Meals" is a deep Hunter Green. The cover sheet gets placed in the clear plastic front of a 1.5 inch 3-ring binder. Most of the papers and stickers are from a Gooseberry Patch kit. The remaining papers I purchased at Michaels. I used two Martha Stewart punches; the first is called "Sunburst" and the second is called "Apron Lace." The font is cut at 1.5 inches from my Cricut; the cartridge is called "From My Kitchen."

So far I have made 7 divisions, and will be able to add more if needed. They are:
1. Appetizers
2. Breads
3. Desserts
4. Main Dishes
5. Salads
6. Sides
7. Tablescapes. I love collecting pictures of different Christmas dishes, centerpieces, napkins, themes, the whole thing!
I already realize I need a beverage catagory, so I can add my warm apple cider and sangria to my list of keepers.

These are the recipe cards I will use to include my favorite recipes from family and friends. This notebook is obviously a work in progress, and it will take more time to complete it, but I love the idea of having everything in one place.

And here is the notebook...ready for a cup of tea and some time to decide what I want to make next...I think apple strudel!

Be sure and visit the forums at http://magicalholidayhome.com/ and join the fun on Rudy Day (the 25th of each month) or anytime you need a Christmas fix! And, another of my favorite blogs is http://rudolphday.blogspot.com/. Join us!

Till next time, holiday blessings to you and yours,
Mary