Kellso Collage

Christmas ‘wrap’-up!

Here are a few Christmas crafts I have made or finished this year:

A Christmas shadow box I wanted to try…

My muffin tin Advent calendar… (I made this last year)

This Gingerbread house is one of a set of 3 that I started making 2 years ago. They were never quite finished to my satisfaction, so this year I decided to just focus on finishing the biggest of the 3. My 2 favorite parts are the ‘glass’ windows and the clay gumdrops.

This is an example of the wax collage journals I made for the girls in my small group-This one is Meghans

Gingerbread House How-to

This house is a Paper mache house, all made with crafting supplies, nothing edible!
To make the windows in the Gingerbread, I used Glossy Accents. I glued sheets of tin foil behind the windows, then filled each window pane with the glue. I had to let it dry and do at least one more layer, as well as make sure no bubbles developed in the window pane (as you can see, I was not always successful)
The gumdrops are made with FIMO clay, 1/3 color and 2/3 translucent. I baked them, then coated them with coordinating colored glitter. They were too bright for me, so I added a layer of alcohol inks by shaking them all together in a ziploc baggie.

Music musings

As has been previously noted on my blog, I have what could be generously described as a “love/hate” relationship with Christmas. I know, I know, “Boiled with his own pudding”, and “Those Who’s down in Whoville”, blah, blah, blah. I’m sorry! It’s complicated.
However, one thing I do love about Christmas is the music. I may be in the minority here, but the minute 99.9 KEZ starts playing their ‘continuous Christmas music’, even if it’s before Thanksgiving, I’m there! I not only know every single word of every single Christmas song, I know every version-every “doot, doot, doot” and “shoobie doobie doobie”. Having memorized all these songs years ago, I’ve needed something to occupy my brain while listening to them. So…ladies and gentlemen, I’ve put together a list of the ‘Bests and Worsts’ of Christmas Music:

Best, Period: Hark the Herald Angels Sing. I mean, come on, if the lines “God and sinners reconciled” or “Born that man no more may die” don’t hit you right in the gut, then your heart might just be ’2 sizes too small’. It is the perfect summation of the TRUE meaning of Christmas, very humbling, beautiful, and it nearly brings me to tears EVERY time I hear it. **Bonus: Both It’s a Wonderful LIfe and Charlie Brown Christmas end with all the characters singing this song. Perfect.
Worst, Period: The Christmas Shoes. There is a blanket ‘worst’ award for any and all songs that bring a child in to sing the last round of the chorus, but The Christmas Shoes is a true dud. It just tries way too hard. I can’t even listen to it. ** The 12 days of Christmas was saved from this dubious honor by the Muppets version with John Denver.
Most offensive Christmas song Lyric: This one was tricky, but I can’t help but roll my eyes when I hear this line from “Here comes Santa Claus”: “LET’S GIVE THANKS TO THE LORD ABOVE, ‘CAUSE SANTA CLAUS COMES TONIGHT!” Um, you’re NOT welcome?
Best Tearjerker, classic Have yourself a Merry little Christmas. Let’s just be thankful Judy Garland insisted on the lyrics being re-written. The new version is sad enough! (sniff,sniff)
Best Tearjerkers, modern I had to get 2 of my favorites on this list somewhere: “Another auld lang syne” by Dan Fogelberg and “Song for a Winter’s night” by Sarah Maclachlan. Gorgeous, both.
Highest number of ridiculous lyrics: Feed the World by Band Aid. Need more evidence that celebrities are in their own little world? Listen closely to this song. After the first verse touches on such depressing topics as the ‘bitter sting of tears’ and ‘bells of doom’, Bono himself offers up this piece of advice: “Well, tonight, thank God it’s them, instead of you!” “Lord, thank you that these people are in abject poverty…instead of me!” (“You’re not welcome!”) It doesn’t end there: “And there won’t be snow in Africa, THIS Christmastime” Really? Is that because it never snows in Africa (though it does, in parts) or because Simon Le Bon said so and ‘no snow’ would somehow disrupt his vision of the perfect “new world” Christmas? Either.

Do you have any additions to this list, or do you disagree? Please feel free to comment-let the debate begin!

Great sale!

Tons of Grungeboard is on sale for 50% off at Scrapbooks, etc. in Mesa. Great deal!