Good tidings of comfort and joy...

 

I have a 4" X 6" stack of Christmas papers, and I try to use a few of them every year on my holiday cards. The patterned paper you see on this card was cut from a sheet in that stack.

After matting and adhering my patterned paper, I cut a large banner, stamped it with my "Good Tidings" sentiment and added a little die-cut ornament, popped up on a foam square. 

Finally, I also popped my banner up on foam tape and then stamped a sentiment panel for the inside.

I thought I would also share with you a photo of the cookie platters and containers we gave away to a few neighbors and family members. The snowman tin you see in the back is also full of cookies and was given to my brother.

Here is a picture of one of the Christmas crackers I made to have at each place setting on our Christmas table.

I only had to make nine of them, as we had two store-bought crackers left over from a previous Christmas. I put those two at my husband's and my place settings. 

My crackers were gender specific. The females all received a pair of earrings, a nail file and a lip gloss. 

The male crackers contained a Chap Stick, a small comb, and a mechanical pencil with extra lead.

All the crackers contained a tissue paper crown, a Christmas joke and some candy.

I watched May May's video on how to make them, using my envelope punch board, but made mine longer to fit what I had purchased for them. I also put a stopper at each end so that the items inside wouldn't fall out. The stopper is simply a punched circle glued in place.

I may now have to make these every Christmas, as my family members MUCH preferred them over the store-bought ones. Oh-oh. That's all I need is another craft item I am expected to make at Christmas time. It sure is a great way to use up some of that Christmas paper, though!

I hope your Christmas was as full of family, fun and love as ours was. I wish you all good things in 2024.

Thanks so much for stopping by, and remember to laugh--a little or a lot--every day.

Cheryl