Sleigh & Carriage Images from 1900 ~ Free Printables

Aren't these stunning?? I came across them in a book from 1890 about Etiquette.

So much fun and fancy! Just perfect for Christmas crafts I think.

Here is a close up of my favorites...

Enjoy! (feel free to 'pin' them if you love them!)

xoxo~

Abbie

Vintage Christmas Poinsettia Images ~ Free Clipart

Marilyn commented on my last post about already starting work on Halloween projects. If you truly craft, for resale or serious blogging, you do need to be thinking seasons ahead.  Here is a vintage  poinsettia image to get the holiday wheels turning! Think 'Christmas in July!'.

Enjoy!

xoxo~

Abbie

Antique Christmas Postcard ~ So many versions!

I love the above postcard.. more for its versatility than anything. You can crop and clip and change the feel of the graphics to evoke a whole new season, feeling. Examples below.

Springtime..

 Perhaps a bit more autumn feeling..

 And, of course, Christmas, but without the children.

 With the stars and stripes on the left side along with the children, to me feels very patriotic.

What do you think?

Free Reindeer Sprinkles Craft and PDF Download

A last minute gift bag stuffer for little and big kids, this is sure to spark the holiday magic on Christmas Eve... I remember sprinkling this outside and tossing a couple of carrots in for good measure with my 'daughter' who is now almost 21! She loved it! It most definitely helps bring in Santa's reindeer as he has never once missed our home.

 

Click on the above image for your free Reindeer Sprinkles printable cards. 

Recipe:  Take a large scoop of oats (I use quick oats) toss in some sugar crystals, cookie sprinkles in red and green, tiny pearls, anything that the birds and deer might fancy. Years ago we actually used glitter, but of course, that would be rather faux pas now as it is not going to dissolve in the snow and rain the way that candy sprinkles should.

Mix together, put a small scoop in a plastic baggie, cotton baggie, whatever you have on hand and tie with a bit of string, ribbon, yarn, you get the idea. Cut out the 'tags' from above and Voila! Sprinkle and enjoy!

Have a very merry holiday season! I'll be back after this weekend..

xoxo~

Abbie

Christmas Advent Calendar Craft Project

*This is a reposted from my blog from Dec 1, 2009*

I saw something similar to these (not quite as embellished) somewhere out there on the vastness of Bloglandia... PLEASE, if you know where, let me know,  I want to give them credit!!

As I said, I found this great idea for an advent calendar using toilet paper rolls (or cut paper towel rolls).  She did not completely cover them as I do here, but I loved the idea immediately!

Start with paper rolls, 24 obviously.. sheet music or wrapping paper (I used sheet music.. noticing a trend here?) tape, glue dots, scissors, images, ribbons, etc...

Cut four slits at one end of a roll up about an 1 inch and half. (equally spaced around the roll)

Fold over ends and tuck them, paper box style, into each other. (below)

Tape the folds shut.

 

Rap the roll in a paper of your choice leaving a 2" overhang on the open end and just enough to wrap the closed end neatly. 

I used tape. You can glue the paper, for me that took too long.

On the closed end, fold in the paper and secure with tape, glue or glue dots (my weapon of choice).

 Flip your tube over and cut small slits in the paper that hangs over the tube, making fringe. I was originally going to curl this out, but it was too fussy and froo froo for me. As you can see above, I trimmed the fringe slightly and tucked it IN, thus making a cover. The kids can't see in, but they can easily reach in a grab the contents! (and it can be used over and over.. just refluff the fringe) Sometimes I amaze myself...  ;)

Use what you have on hand to decorate the tubes. The numbers came from the fabulous Cathe at Just Somthing I Made and can be found HERE.  The poinsettia image is from Dawn at
The Feathered Nest. 

 I poked a hole in the back of the tube, strung a ribbon and hung them that way. You can poke two holes, opposite each other and string them in line. (what the clever lady did in the post that I cann't find again) 

These would also be cute as small gift holders at the holidays, like Christmas Crackers..

I wanted to make this because I have 3 kids.. and did NOT want to make or buy 3 calendars. AND I wanted to be able to choose the 'prize'.. such as the candy or treat. These tubes are larger enough to hold three notes, three candies, you get the idea...

Where does the chocolate come from that is in the 2$ advent calendar's in the grocery store? (because I'm not sure I want my kids eating them! )  Hhhmmm...

 xoxo~

Abbie