Away in a Manger

I'm thrilled to be hosting this week's Little Red Wagon challenge! Initially, I had asked the Girlfriends to help me with commenting as when I chose this challenge back at the start of 2020, I had been planning a family cruise leaving Boxing Day. As I will now be staying put (and not even leaving the house let alone heading to the Caribbean!), I am excited that I'll be able to see all the projects entered into our challenge this week.

I've chosen the theme "Merry Christmas!" I'm looking to see any sort of creation that celebrates Christmas - or any other faith/cultural celebration. I'm happy to have all friends join, regardless of beliefs or traditions.

I used Clearly Besotted's "Nativity Play" for my creation. I just love these sweet little mice dressed up for their Christmas pageant! I had all the little images that I wanted to use coloured up but when I cut them out, the baby Jesus mouse got cut in half for some reason! Mary also had part of her tail cut off. I was able to solve the issue of Mary's tail with a strategically placed donkey. However, there was no solution for the cut Jesus. I could have made excuses for other characters. Mary might have been off getting a snack (shortbread, if she was anything like me). Joseph might have been out buying new swaddling clothes. However, I really couldn't come up with a reason that Jesus would not have been at his own birth. So back to the Copics went I!! 

And for those of you who might wonder about mice at the birth of Christ, I'm posting part of the Love Actually script - a few of my favourite lines from one of my favourite Christmas movies!!

Please head over to Little Red Wagon to see what the rest of the Girlfriends have created - and then link up your own Christmas (or other faith/cultural celebration) creation!

In the spirit of my family's tradition, I wish you all a very Merry Christmas!

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Peace, Love and Paws

Brenda is our fabulous hostess at Little Red Wagon this week and she's telling us that "It's hip to be square". Well, I never used to be a renegade and wasn't the sort to fool around (at least not too much!) so I guess I am a square to some extend. 

I was going to create a square card with some square stencilling in the background but wasn't really happy with how things were going. I used some of the bits that I'd had for my original card and switched things up a bit - well, quite a bit! I do still have a square frame on my card and I think things look better without a square overload. Huey claimed it was hip to be square here, there, and everywhere - but I've decided it's better to be just a little bit hip with my squares!

Please head over to Little Red Wagon to see the rest of the hip cards created by the Girlfriends and then pull out your squares to join the fun!

I'm also linking this up with Simon Says Stamp's Wednesday Challenge - Christmas Critters. 

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Merry & Bright

Jan is this week's hostess at Little Red Wagon and she's calling out "Snow Days!" This used to be a beloved call in our house when the kids were younger as it meant that there was no school for the day due to inclement weather. My husband used to live for snow days too - as he was a teacher!! I have to say that a significant positive for me as I'm working from home this winter due to Covid is that I do not have to worry about driving to and from work in the snow and ice. Even though I prefer sun and sand, I don't mind snow when I'm dressed for it. I just don't like driving through it!

I made a snow-scene Christmas card for this week's challenge. The little snowman and word art are from MFT Stamps. I've had the paper in my stash for years and years! I'm trying to use a bit more of my patterned paper. I used to use it all the time and so purchased heaps, but most of it has been sitting neglected for the past while. 

Please head over to Little Red Wagon to see what the rest of the Girlfriends have created - and then put together your own "Snow Days" project to link up with this week's challenge!

*I'll also be linking up my card in this week's Simon Says Stamp challenge - Let it Snow!

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Warm Birthday

It's Doni's turn to host at Little Red Wagon this week and she's looking for projects that celebrate winter birthdays. The timing is perfect for me as I have a sister who will be celebrating a birthday next week. While technically it's still fall, we are living in a winter wonderland here in central Ontario, Canada. It snowed all day yesterday and we're surrounded by a beautiful sea of white.

Years ago, I gave my sister the nickname "Kami" (for camel). We were on holidays together in Egypt and I kept giving Kami my things to hold as I took photos. She joked that she was my camel, expected to carry all my bags and such. Since then, I always give her cards and gifts that include a camel in some way - and call her Kami. That's the reason I've included a camel on my winter birthday card, despite camels not living in such a climate. As there's also a latte-drinking giraffe wearing a sweater and sitting in the snow on the card, I don't think the camel is too much of a stretch for a winter scene! And I did make sure she was wearing a hat to stay warm. 

Please head over to Little Red Wagon to see the rest of the Winter Birthday projects that the Girlfriends have made - and then create your own in order to join this week's challenge!

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