It is the time of year again for Christmas crafts, for making fan-folds of the pretty papers and foils saved from last year, for colouring and cutting and trimming with ribbon. One of our old friends in the craft box is the jointed cardboard Santa, such a good friend that we made a page for him here in our book "Grandmother's Tree", and on the Santa craft page of my website.
It is simplicity itself - colour with pencils and magic marker, cut out the pieces, and fasten with brads. I have taken this little craft to school and library events and of the resulting jolly Santas no two have been exactly alike! Some have been glittery or adorned with angel hair; one thoughtful child made him a paper sack to carry over his shoulder. The traditional round-head fasteners, also called brads, are also available in a dazzling array of shapes and colours. Stars seem to be a nice choice for Santa.
The Santa craft kit will be on my Etsy shop, which is to reopen shortly. More about this in the next post!
The tree is going up soon, with all the paper cut-outs and crafts, long-loved ornaments and fairies. The little one here, one of the tucked-away surprises inside the Illustrated Fairy Gazette's Christmas Celebration, reminds me of the poem by Walter de la Mare,Mistletoe
Sitting under the mistletoe
(Pale-green fairy mistletoe),
One last candle burning low,
All the sleepy dancers gone,
Just one candle burning on,
Shadows lurking everywhere:
Some one came, and kissed me there.
Tired I was; my head would go
Nodding under the mistletoe
(Pale-green, fairy mistletoe),
No footsteps came, no voice, but only,
Just as I sat there, sleepy lonely,
Stooped in the still and shadowy air
Lips unseen - and kissed me there.
Sitting under the mistletoe
(Pale-green fairy mistletoe),
One last candle burning low,
All the sleepy dancers gone,
Just one candle burning on,
Shadows lurking everywhere:
Some one came, and kissed me there.
Tired I was; my head would go
Nodding under the mistletoe
(Pale-green, fairy mistletoe),
No footsteps came, no voice, but only,
Just as I sat there, sleepy lonely,
Stooped in the still and shadowy air
Lips unseen - and kissed me there.
What a lovely idea, just the kind of thing I would have loved to do when I was a child.
ReplyDeleteI bet there is great competition amongst the fairies for the top of your tree!
Wow, I am thinking of all the fun that children and adults have had making these Santas. They are full of personality and possibilities.
ReplyDeleteOf course the tree fairy is exquisite.
I will be back soon to see how Christmas develops round your place. xo
Ok, I have so rarely seen mistletoe I was starting to think it was becoming myth or urban legend.
ReplyDeleteThank your for sharing this.
I wish I had a fairy like your pale green fairy (she is lovely) and a copy of the Walter de la Mare poem. I already have a similar Santa pattern from my primary teaching days. Christmas looks like loads of crafty fun at your place, Frances! The inside of your house must be a picture! Thank you for sharing. =D
ReplyDeleteOh my, I remember commenting on this before, but I must not have hit post, or submit! I'm sorry Frances!
ReplyDeleteI think that your talent is a boon to the season, because you bring to life that which is truly magical, and that is so wonderfully fitting.
I love the Santa kits! I'm sure all small people would adore doing them. I'm going to admit that they made me giggle slightly because my sense of humor can be a bit dark, "Oh my! Santa's had a tragic sleigh accident, clearly. Let's put him back together!"
When seasonal dismembering occurs, it helps to be a figure with much magic to help with the healing ;-)
Truly, they are delightful.
Finally a craft so simple maybe even I could do it. What do you think Linda?
ReplyDeleteWhy are you shaking your head like that?
Well, our grandchildren could anyway.
Have a lovely Christmas Frances, I hope all is well with you and yours. I look forward to visiting again in the New Year.
ReplyDelete