Winter Memory Photo Ornament With a Special Quote and Tiny Envelope

The ingredients:
1. Inspiration
2. Photo
3. Quote
4. Sewing machine and thread
5. Tiny envelope punch
5. A bit of paper

Now I generally don't start off my posts with a materials list, but that's kind of the Tip of the day.

In our busy lives making time to craft, especially for the holidays can be a real challenge. But this is how I solve that problem. By deciding what I am going to make and then gathering the supplies, then the making is generally the easy part. I really find the first two can be the most challenging.

So number 1 was inspiration and my favorite and most handy answer to that is, BOOKS!

Today's inspiration is from

True Vision
Authentic Art Journaling

By

L.K. Ludwig

**Featuring the artwork of over 25 leading artists**

As art journaling grows in popularity (even attracting a new breed of scrapbookers who call themselves "life artists"), there is a movement afoot toward creating more authentic, personal, what some people call "raw" journals. These journals are filled with not just attractive, well-composed pages, but pages that are filled with personal, meaningful content.

True Vision is focused on ways to bring authenticity and meaning into one’s art journaling. The book examines themes and topics common to all while offering activities and exercises to create rich meaningful content. Each chapter highlights familiar subject areas such as life events, spirituality, childhood, and even an artist’s favorite writings. Within each topic, readers are given guided activities and exercises for developing content, provided one or two artistic techniques, and are shown inspiring examples of work by a variety of talented art journal artists.

L.K. Ludwig works predominantly with mixed media artist books and photography with a strong inclination toward creating personal intimate works. Her artwork has been featured widely in books, magazines, and galleries and is held in private collections. She is also the author ofMixed-Media Nature Journals: New Techniques for Exploring Nature, Life, and Memories

I should also back up just a wee bit and say I wanted to make an ornament for my Mom for her Birthday. The constraint was it needed to be light because it was going on a tree that could only support light ornaments. Paper it was!

And I am all about old photos these days (if you haven't figured that out by now)

In True Vision, Chapter 3's Title is "The Written Word" and that really sums up my mom these days, she likes to write letters to the editor and has to write important documents that effect people's lives.

The quote on the page was perfect!

"But words are things, and a small drop of ink, falling like dew, upon a thought, produces that which makes thousands, perhaps millions, think."

-Lord Byron, Don Juan, 1819

So, with picture and words I was all set!

I printed them both out.

Then I stitched them together with the back sides together. I purposely did it in an irregular line since I know I wouldn't get it perfect I figured really wonky would look more "artsy".

I punched out a tiny envelope with the Marvy Clever Lever Giga Square Envelope Punch and glued it onto the back. This was the perfect place to write a tiny note to my mom.

This is what the front looks like:

 

Now on to day 8 of our:

15 days of Holiday Goodness Giveaways!

Simply leave your answer to each day's question in each day's comment section and we will randomly pick a winner of a book from each day's commenter. You can enter every day but you are only eligible to win 2 times! (You can go back and answer previous day's questions. We will be drawing the winners after the first of the year.)

8.  Do you tend to make a whole bunch of the same thing or do you create unique gifts for everyone on your list?

My Answer: Both. For the people I tend to see as a group, co-workers, book club, extended family etc. I do a similar gift.

And for close family and friends I do unique things. Special request are my favorite. I love when someone asks me to make them something. I feel a bit like "Handmade/custom Santa" It is kind of funny when they get what they consider picky, I say that's the whole point of me making it, I can do it just the way you want!

Be sure to read the comments of others, maybe you can pick one up a good idea that will make holiday crafting a bit more creative and personal!

And be sure to sign up for our Electronic Newsletter, (top right) to get more crafty goodness!

Comments

[Doreen aka LuniLadi]

I'm also in the "both" category. When I do make things for a group...teachers, coaches, etc...it just easier to get, say, half-dozen of the same supplies. I did this with pretty jars I stamped, embossed and turned into oil lights.Or I might make the same type gift, but different versions. If it's an individual gift, well then, of course it's personalized.

[Doreen aka LuniLadi]

I would have to be included in the "both" category. When I've made gifts for groups...teachers, coaches, etc...I've made the same gifts. It's just easier when you've got a bunch to get done to buy, say, half dozen of the same supplies and do it assembly line style. Sometimes I'll make the same type of gift but done differently. Of course it it's for an individual then it's personalized.

[Aimee]

I'm an OOK girl--One of a Kind. Sometimes I'll make two, but each is a variation on the theme.

[Gayle Richmond]

Each year everyone gets their own personalized ornament and the current year's gift. This year, for my family members, I am creating calendars. I have a feeling that they will become as popular as the ornaments and will probably become a tradition. If that is the case, I will start earlier and personalize the calendars as well as the ornaments.

[Gayle Richmond]

Each year everyone gets their own personalized ornament and the current year's gift. This year, for my family members, I am creating calendars. I have a feeling that they will become as popular as the ornaments and will probably become a tradition. If that is the case, I will start earlier and personalize the calendars as well as the ornaments.

[Gayle Richmond]

Last year I made ornaments for everyone on my list and personalized those to special friends and family. This year, besides the ornament, I will be giving calendars. I didn't think about it in time to personalize them this year, but if they get the same response as the ornaments, I may have to personalize them for next year.

[Rachel]

This is so sweet, I love it! I'll be linking.

[jamowa]

Over the years I've become the de facto Photo Librarian so I make calendars for the family. I save all the electronic photos family members send and used those to personalize my calendars. I try different calendar styles every year so I don't get bored and to challenge myself creatively. This year I found a great deal on plastic CD-like cases that will hold 12 calendar sheets. Each month will have either group pictures or some just for the recipient. The challenge this year is that I made all the pages via Photoshop Elements using a collage style. I certainly learned how to use PSE better!

[Josie]

When I bake...lots of folks get the same thing. Yummy cookies wraped up nice. But for craft items I tend to make unique one of a kind treasures.

[Lori]

I usually make individual gifts, but sometimes they're all in the same category, such as ornaments made from paper mache forms covered with lace and then painted and beads added. This year, I'm making art-y fridge poetry kids with inchies for several on my list.