Gettin' Crafty

For the past few years I have endeavored to create original homemade Christmas gifts.  I have done so with varying degrees of success but this year I found that my gifts went over quite well, which makes me quite happy.  So I thought I would share a few pictures!

I started by locating pictures of letters.  I found ones from nature, ones that were more architectural, and some that were letters isolated from signs.  I was able to locate nearly three whole alphabets.  Then I used photo editing software to put them together to form the words.  The tricky part was getting them printed out.  I found the frames on clearance sale at Michael's and therefore needed a certain size.  After research and experimentation I ended up printing them on Snapfish, using the collage option.   After everything the total came to less than $20.00 per picture. 


This is the one I made for Bear's sister.  I guess you can tell what she does for a living.  The quote says "Education Is Not the Filling of a Pail, But the Lighting of a Fire" from William Butler Yates.    She called me shortly after she opened it and told me she really liked it.  Given that she is not generally one to sugar coat thing I feel like I did a good job!

 This is the one I made for my mother.  It says SHALOM and the caption below is a description of the aspects of Shalom.  It says Contentment, Completeness, Wellness, Well-Being, Harmony, Health, Complete Peace, Wellness, Safety, Selflessness, Tranquility, Prosperity, Perfection, Fullness, Rest, Harmony.  I believe that it is her goal, her hope to achieve shalom in her life and I wanted to give her a reminder.  She loved it and immediately started figuring out the place it would best remind her! 



This is the one I made for the Bear's brother's wife.  The quote says "The love in our family flows strong and deep, leaving us memories to treasure and keep."  I don't who wrote it, I found it in a magazine and it was so cute I felt it would be a good match for her.  I didn't get to see her open it but I hope it went over better than some past presents I have made for her.  

This is the that I made for Mama Bear.  Bear grew up in one of the historic peace churches and Mama Bear fully believes in the doctrine of peace.  Hers was one of the first words I knew I would use.  I used a gold/light brown backing for her pictures so that it would match many rooms in her home.  The quote is Romans 12:18, If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.  I was actually at one of my parent's churches when they were preaching on this scripture.  I wrote it out for myself and when I knew I was using the word Peace I also knew I was going to use this scripture.  Mama Bear called me three times during the week she ogt her gift to let me know how much she liked it... I was so happy to have created something that resonated so well with her.  


This one I made for the best man in my wedding and his lovely SO (significant other).  I feel like you can probably make this one out, but in case you can't it says Dream and give yourself permission to envision a you that you choose to be - Joy Page.  I again wasn't there when this got opened given that it had lottery tickets and a starbucks gift card taped to the back I'm guessing that the overall affect was positive!



Well, that's what I made.  A little bit of creativity, a lot of time and patience. Overall, great outcomes and really nice to get my creativity flowing again.  Sicne I finished these I have also been able to make a couple crochet scarves a hat, and a few other small things.  My next project... I think...  will be a scrapbook of my Halloween parties.  I loaded all the pictures from the past four years onto the computer this week so that a good first step.  :)