Merry Making!

We've been busy little elves this month, baking and crafting
up a storm - oh, SO much fun!! This is the display on top
of our mantel. I made the banner with the kids' poster paper
and a permanent marker (and a little distress ink to give the
edges some definition). I love the way it looks but, more
importantly, the way it keeps us focused on what's really
important this season. Often in the midst of a last-minute
cleaning, gift-making, packing, wild-children-whooping-and-
racing-through-the-room rush I'll look up and see our banner...
It's such a good heart-check and reminder. Is what I'm doing
bringing Him glory? Where is my heart in the midst of all
the preparation...stressing out over the details or rejoicing
in the celebration of our Saviour's birth?

Alas, with all that said, here's some of the merry-making
we've been up to...

Gift basket with homemade cookies, boeterkoek,
canning and some chocolate-y goodness.
Lots of stamping and cute twine on the tags.
Love it!

Gracie Jo LOVES using my stamping stuff and
did such a cute job making Christmas cards for
all of her classmates and teachers.
A girl after my own heart!!

Even Silas joined us down in the Scrapyard
and made this card (using the Snow Swirled
stamp set from SU!) for his best friend, Thorn.
Isn't he just so sweet?


















I've been wanting to try and make one of these flowers made
out of scrap fabric forever and a girlfriend's birthday a couple
weeks ago was the perfect excuse to finally give it a try.
I wasn't totally thrilled with the final result...I'll do a
couple things differently next time... but I'm happy I
finally did it. And, judging by the look on Gracie Jo's
face when she tried it out for me, I'll be making a few
of these for her stocking I think :)

Gingerbread cupcakes.
With marshmallow cream cheese frosting.
And peppermint dust.
Seriously??
We made them for the teachers, our local (AWESOME) librarians
and the bus driver. I can't tell you how difficult it was to
not just eat them all myself. SO GOOD!!!
I packaged them all in little mason jars wrapped with
baker's twine, Christmas-y fabric and a cute little
tag (didn't get a picture because I was definitely finishing
them in a mad rush on the last day of school...)
but I think they just might become a tradition
around here - if I don't eat them all before I
can give them away!

And here's the teacher's cards that went with their
gift certificates. The school has a really awesome program
where the teachers all choose a project to sponsor and instead
of buying them Christmas presents, you make a donation.
This year the money went to a program that builds
shelters for families in Haiti. How cool is our school?

I got the apple stamp in one of my Unity Kit of the Months
and have been wanting to make a teacher card with it.
Not really a traditional Christmas card, but I thought
the teachers would like it :)

Anyways, hope your holiday preparations are bringing
joy and you're finding a good balance as you celebrate
this Christmas.
Lots of love and all the blessings of the season,
from the Scrapyard
xo