Christmas Traditions

Earlier in the month I taught My Heritage Scrapbooking Workshop...The topic of discussion was the importance of Family Traditions. We all have traditions that have been passed down from generation to generation and these traditions do evolve and change.

This year I had to change a family tradition...I figure about the middle of March I might be over the trauma I have been going through with this change of tradition.

 I grew up with a live Christmas tree and when I got married we continued the tradition...only my darling husband and I went out in the woods (with permit in hand) and cut down our Christmas Tree.

It became our tradition. 

 This year the tradition changed...we purchased an artificial Christmas Tree. I was about in tears over the whole ordeal. An artificial tree does not have the same look, feel or fragrance as a real tree. It doesn't even decorate the same! I reminded myself that I'm a floral designer and It's my job to make botanical look good. We did get the tree up (2 days before Christmas) and it looks...Okay. But I don't think I will ever it comfortable with the idea of an artificial tree. Hopeful I won't break into tears next year when we pull it out of the box. Oh great...now I need to find a place to store the darn thing!

Tinsel Hanging on the Christmas Tree

We got a great new embellishment in at Scrapbook Barn, It's a tinted tape by Vintage Street Market. The tinted tape is a easy way to add a fun layer to you scrapbook layout, card or ATC. 

I designed a layout using the "linen" look tape. It has the appearance of an age Scotch tape that you may find in a vintage family photo album:

 I used a few retro looking patterned papers and a 1950's Christmas photo edged with the tinted tape.

 The text border was made by pressing the linen tinted tape onto vintage book paper, and gently peeling it back up, lifting the book paper onto the tape.

Check out all the tinsel hanging on the tree...do they even make that anymore?

Holiday Stress

Tis the season...candy is made and placed in tins to pass out, parties have been attended, the house is semi-decorated, tree is trimmed, gifts are packed up and shipped off, Christmas cards are made and mailed, shopping is done...can you say "Holiday Stress"!
Now I told you that story to tell you this story...
As I was rushing past the sun room on my way to the next seasonal chore, I spotted the cat napping. Not a cat nap mind you...but a curl up in the sunshine to get warm, with not a care in the world nap. Didn't this cat know that Christmas was only a few days away, and there was "stuff" to do!?!

I sat down on the stool and proceeded to chastise her on all the reasons that nobody has time to be napping in the middle of the day this time of year...she could care less. I'm sure she was secretly laughing a me...I would never admit it to her...but I was really envious of her nap in the sunshine...what a way to spend a day!

PS...for all of you that have asked why I haven't blogged more often...please re-read the first paragraph!

Paris, Ostriches and Clark Gable

New York has the life size fiberglass Cows...San Francisco has the over size fiberglass Hearts and Chandler Arizona has 6 1/2 foot Ostriches. Why Ostriches...because back in the early 1900s women wore big fashionable hats loaded with Ostrich feathers. The founder of Chandler...Dr. A.J. Chandler raised Ostriches...so we have decorated 6 1/2 foot Ostriches placed here and there in Historic downtown Chandler.
When mom was here last weekend to took a field trip downtown to see the decorated Ostrich in the lobby of the famous San Marcos Resort. This Ostrich was decorated by Ann, one of the very creative students in the Heritage Scrapbook class I teach at Mystic Paper, and Diane, an artist friend of hers.
The Ostrich was title "Clark Gable on the Golf Course". All dressed up in golf shoes, plus fours (old style golf pants), golf club and a bow tie. And as a matter of fact Clark Gable did visit the San Marcos Resort and no doubt played a round or two of golf there.

From there mom and I took a short walk down the block from the resort to "The Art on Boston" an art gallery...on Boston Street.
Lisa, another very creative student in my class, had made decorations for a "Paris" Christmas Tree displayed at the gallery. The tree is part of the local merchants "World of Trees" contest. Lisa had some glittery frames she embellished with red Dresden trim, and inserted a image of Marie Antoinette to hang on the tree. She also made red, white and blue die cut Eiffel Tower ornaments decorated with Sticklers.

Mom and I each took a ballot and voted for the "Paris Tree".