Sunday 23 December 2018

A Christmas Angel and Cards

Hello friends,

As Christmas draws closer I'd like to share with you the few hand-made Christmas cards I managed to complete this year, and most of which will be received after Christmas since I am not a good time planner!

The first card features gold foil I saved from the tops of butter, put through a Cuttlebug with an ornate die cutter.

http://lace-age-girl.blogspot.com/2018/12/a-christmas-angel-and-dawn-chorus.html


It's finished with scraps of old music, hand-made paper, lace, a script scrapbook paper, a wedding lace motif, a scrap of lace, some gorgeous striped silk shot with gold and two rusty bells. I put two holes in the top of the card for ribbon so it can be hung. 




 I love this tender image, and used photoshop to make it monochrome with a purple tinge.








The next card uses the same image but in a pinkish tint. I love this pink gumleaf that gives it an Australian feel. I painted the background with shades of pink and mauve watery paints and shimmery gold spray. 




Some frayed open weave fabric, pieces of brown and white lace, some old sheet music and gold leaves to compliment the gold butter foil, again put through a cuttlebug.




The card below on the right is my daughter many years ago as a little angel. The left is a found image, using butter foil wings.




Some baby fairies and a lovely mother and child image feature on the cards below.




What magnificent dahlias have flowered now. I picked them just before it rained.




The card below has a stamped and glitter-embossed angel, on a glitter embossed dark background. I used an old book spine for an aged look, some silver butter foil embossed, a crochet scrap, a striped gold and cream silk scrap, gold leaf trim with a white button.




The angel below right is the same stamp, but embossed with black ink and powder over a dark embossed background. Some starry gold sheer fabric, more embossed butter foil, old sheet music, a scrap from an old red dress belt with a flower petal, crochet scrap and button are layered over a scrap of a grey silk blouse with red stitching and some black ticking stripes.

The baby angel is done in a pink, gold and black theme, with tiny rusty bells on the wooden star.



I experimented with a beige and red theme here. The fabric has red roses on a beige linen, and the angel was stitched on through the layeres, something Suzy showed me to do. The angel is stamped on in brown on coffee-dyed paper. Thanks, Suzy! The gold fake diamantes came on a large roll, so I cut a strip to give it a festive feel.





I also spent time altering a cheap Christmas angel which I purchased at a garage sale. I didn't think to take a photo of her before I started re-dressing her. She was a simple hanging glass heart bauble, with a skimpy skirt at the sides made of white gauze netting, with plastic glitter outlined wings. Definitely an under-dressed angel, so I spent an enjoyable morning giving her a new dress and wings.




I used scraps of mauve lace cut from old clothes, a doiley dyed pinky mauve, and some vintage doilies in cream and white. An ear ring is at her waist, some old broken beads hang down with two small golden bells on the ties.




This flower hat decoration clipped onto her dress with its sweet feathery bits hanging down. 




The feathers to cover the plastic wings were found on a bush walk.




These old bells I had were used on our fire truck for the Christmas Eve Santa Run. I sprayed them pink with mat chalk paint.



Now for a very Australian Christmas ritual...

These large Christmas bells were tied into the front of our local fire truck one year for the annual Christmas Eve 'Santa Run', when we take the trucks out filled with volunteer fire fighters wearing Santa hats. Santa himself sits in the passenger seat, and the volunteers throw lolly bags out for the children as we drive along every street in the neighbourhood, dividing the trucks into different areas.

Santa used to ride up on the back of the trucks, but due to changes in safety regulations he now sits in comfort inside the cabin of the truck. This ritual takes place across Eurobodalla, with many local volunteer fire brigades joining in. It's a time to remind people to donate to their brigade so they can afford various extra equipment such as navigation instruments, electronic hose reels, sunhats, folding chairs, drinks and snacks to pack on the trucks for fire-fighting.

As Santa rides around with sirens blasting out to call the children out excitedly, families gather to wave from their footpaths and driveways. While the children line up with arms outstretched to catch the lolly bags, adults toss their donation envelopes into buckets held out of the truck by the volunteers. Often packs of beer or bottles of wine are put into the bucket as thanks for helping to protect the area from bushfires.

In 2009, I got to be a Santa! I had the fun task of sweating in a Santa suit in the Summer heat as our brigade drove around one Christmas Eve. 

I put on a very deep gruff fake voice and Santa laugh, and totally covered by the Santa outfit, I don't think many recognised Santa's gender change!!! Even my own children, then quite young, didn't recognise my deep 'Ho Ho Ho'. Not even when I saw they'd left their own street without permission and commented gruffly, "Does your mother know you are not in your street?". They high-tailed it home, in time for the fire truck to arrive there, ready to catch their lollies. 





I wish you all a peaceful and happy Christmas, and hope your 2019 brings you closer to your dreams.





16 comments:

  1. Dearest Jesse, your cards are so gorgeous! You have been so busy and creative, it's a feast to watch. And oh my, that dress you made for the angel, it's heavenly and stunning! Big hugs and warm love, take care dear friend, may your heart be filled with peace. xx

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    1. Thanks, Wen, it was daunting to start, and I knew I'd be too late to send them in time for Christmas, but I so enjoyed stealing a couple of hours here and there to make them. Some have been given away already; it's so lovely to be able to give something hand-made. I hope your Christmas is special and warm in every way.
      Love,
      Jesse XXX

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  2. Beautiful post Jesse, amazing how so many different outcomes can be achieved by using the same stamp. Your Christmas cards will certainly be worth the wait.
    Beautiful remodel of your found Angel. Our Angel is looking very sad and neglected and would certainly benefit from a new outfit and face lift just like this.
    What a fabulous story regarding the Fire brigade, I did chuckle about your children but at least they turned on their heel and made it back home before lolly time hee hee!!
    Sending you Christmas blessing & good will for the new year.
    Creative wishes Tracey x

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    1. Thanks, Tracey! I'm glad you got a chuckle about the kids! I hope you get to upgrade your angel, as it's such fun, just making it up as you go, all glue and no sewing! Hugs to you for Christmas,
      Jesse XXX

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  3. Wen, the mauve/pink angel with the feather wings is gorgeous! She makes me want to start rooting around in all the fabric and miscellaneous paper, etc., etc. that I have to find items to make something similar. One thing I love is the dusty pink colors with the ivory. Just sumptuous!

    All of my holiday cards are not going out before Christmas either! But, of course, they are nothing compared to yours. Actually, in the service of thrift, I am using up all the leftover cards from other years. I tho't I might need a few extras so while I was at the store today I looked at the offerings. Oh, my, was I surprised at the prices! I haven't purchased holiday cards for several years and often from the thrift stores I visit so I was unprepared to see the current prices for new cards. Back to the thrift stores! Or, better yet, make some of my own.

    The Santa Run custom is interesting. I don't think I've ever heard of it being done here in the States. It reminds me of the Fourth of July Parades we have here with fancy floats, etc. Usually there will be participants tossing wrapped candies from the floats to the children.

    Well, I wish you a very Happy Christmas and New Year's celebrating with your family and friends. May you enjoy Peace and
    Happiness in 2019.

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    1. Naomi, thanks for visiting and leaving your friendly comments on my blog. Yes, I was astounded at the price of cards today. I was going to buy my teenage daughter a birthday card I saw but it was $9. I didn't get it! She would like it - she doesn't like my style as it's too vintage. She's into clean modern style. I'll have to make her a clean modern card!

      I love re-using unwanted stuff and turning it into something new and pretty.
      Happy Christmas Eve - it's tonight for us here in Australia.

      Jesse XX

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  4. Dear Jesse,
    Your assortment of handmade cards is gorgeous! Truly amazing and 'frame worthy' to be sure! Authentic vintage feel to all of them and your textures & embossed details (from the butter box!) is so creative and smart~ I love your fresh flowers too : ) Thank you for sharing that fun Australian tradition story! I love to hear about things like that. Thinking of you and prayers too for a good new year ahead. Will touch base with you when I get settled a bit in my travels~ Loving hugs, karen o

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    1. Hello Karen, I'm glad you enjoyed the Santa Run story. I heard the sirens this evening but the children are too 'grown up' to go out and meet the truck, even for lollies, which they still like!!!
      Happy Christmas Eve to you, and hope 2019 treats you well.
      Love and hugs,
      Jesse XX

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  5. Ooops! I wanted to mention that beautiful angel you transformed!! Gorgeous dear Jesse!! She is now properly adorned to do her job : ) <3 Such luscious layers you have given her; and lovely gems and real wings too!

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    1. Yes, she's much prettier now, and I'm enjoying the pink bells too. I did a pinkish theme this year, with my pink Santa.
      Love,
      Jesse XX

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  6. I`m sorry for my absence , but dear Jesse , as you know, my little family have visited already from 21`th so I have been very busy .
    Such very beautiful cards you have created , all so lovely, and wonderful , and I enjoyed reading the story of the firefighters, and you, lol . The angel is simply stunning- wow a gorgeous dress you made her . I wish you a very Happy New YeaR, and all the best for you and your family for 2019 . Big hugs and kisses,- love from Dorthe

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    1. Hello dear Dorthe, Thanks for your visit to my blog. I will be visiting you soon, after my visitors leave. I just peeked quickly at my emails to catch the emergencies -none today, but saw your comment :) Enjoy your holiday break with your family. Love and hugs,
      Jesse XXX

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  7. Wow, what stunning Christmas cards! The layers of papers, lace and images look amazing 😀. I love your Christmas angel, such a transformation and the detail is exquisite! I so enjoyed reading about the bells from the fire truck and your role as Father Christmas, I bet your kids were surprised by the comment although Father Christmas should know where they live ...lol 😉. Thanks for the smiles and I hope you had a magical Christmas! Wishing you a happy and creative New Year too! J 😊 x

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    1. Thanks, Jo, I'm happy you stopped by for a peek at my cards. Happy New Year to you, too, and I hope it's full of fun and creative play.
      Hugs,
      Jesse XXX

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  8. What a lovely post full of Christmas angels - real and imagined. I love that you used the butter papers for your gold metallic accents, and that Madonna and Child image is so serene and beautiful. So many lacy treats. Wishing you a very happy 2019.
    Alison x

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    1. Thanks for your kind comments, Alison. Here's to more time for play and creative pleasures in 2019.
      Hugs,
      Jesse X

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Thank you so much for your friendly comments. It makes my day to hear from you about my artworks and topics.