Awe! Stamping world, you made me feel so glad that I actually DID share my outpouring of thoughts, truths and struggles in my weight-loss post! I feel so happy about it now. I realize MANY of you DO know how hard that was to put myself out there (especially the photos! EEK!) and to hear so many of you get inspired for TODAY (making TODAY be your tomorrow-not next week , or next year……….) seriously made me so proud of YOU. I have gotten so many amazing stories and emails from many as well and I want to thank you each for putting yourself out there too, and sharing.
Now I took a day off from posting yesterday, as I had Noah’s birthday party Sunday. He really loved when I read him all your wishes and thoughts on his project using All Boxed Up!! I also had some deadlines to meet. AGAIN limited time. I have to stamp to actually be able to share stuff right? This is a hectic time of year for everyone.
So let me share a holiday tradition in my house.
I’m sure if any of you do the “Santa” thing, that having your children write a letter to Santa every year may be something YOU do too. So here is my letter idea for this year.
Dear Santa letters, to be filled out.
Each child gets their own.
They use to cut/paste photos from magazines, now they are older so I try to get them to WRITE the letters. I didn’t want to do that BEFORE I shared the project though 😀
TIP: You can let your child ACTUALLY go to the post office and MAIL it! Just put Santa’s address on the envelope, and your return address label in the upper left corner! The post office will send it back to you. Then you can get it back, hide it, and save it for years to come 😀 Just make sure your kids don’t check the mail the next day! I also like to put a current photo with the year, and child’s age on it, for future reference.
Anyway, the letters to Santa is a real BIG deal in my house. I always try to get the kids to pick their favorite things to ask for BY Thanksgiving. Santa shops on Black Friday, so he needs their lists early! LOL! Speaking of which Thanksgiving is NEXT WEEK! WHAT!!! UGH!! I better get crackin. They also get to pick what Toy for a Tot that will be put in the box, OR we take a Wish Card off the tree at Walmart. My kids have so much stuff, the LEAST I can do is give a gift from each of my children to someone else. I am seriously cutting back this year. They don’t need so much stuff. We are trying to focus on thankfulness and the things that matter, like health and love of family stuff. We are waiting to hear back about when we will be volunteering this holiday at the hospital 😀 Its a way my family can give back while the kids are on vacation. Jason saves some vacation days for the week of Christmas, so he has extra time off. I think it will really fill us with the real spirit of the holidays. I always swore once Alexa was healthy enough we would do our part to make a difference. I can’t wait.
OK back the the letters!
When I saw the latest release by C.C. Designs called SugarPlum North Pole ,I knew it was perfect for this years Letters to Santa! So I got to work.
I wanted the heading to read ” Dear Santa”, and have a neat, yet hand written look to it, so I used my Curlz Font from JustRite Stampers, and purposely made my letters off set using the Harmony rectangle wood block. I think its cute.
I used the Pretty Papers in Winter Wonderland by Lizzie Anne Designs as my inspiration. The colors also matched the old red SU! use to carry (sorry the name escapes me. but it doesn’t matter since its retired)
These can HANG on the Christmas tree too.
I usually do that until the week of Christmas. I tell my kids the elves have to make the toys first so there is plenty of time to mail them.
Now for the “details”.
So, I colored him with Copic markers. Silver pen for the buckle.
I used Liquid Applique on the hat puff, rim and coat cuffs. For his beard I chose a white liquid pearls, for a nice look.
The “snow” is that chunky cheap glitter I bought at Michaels and have been using on EVERY winter card I have made this season! It sells for $2.99 for a large jar. Its near the kids crafting section, and way cheap!! I am in love with it. Its perfect holiday snow.
These 3 letters took a whopping 20 minutes to make. Not bad. I *may* remake them and let the kids decorate them as THEY want. We will see! LOL! Sounds like another great afternoon time craft 😀
Well I am off to do my exercise video. I hope you squeeze SOMETHING in today too. No more putting it off. Oh and get some stamp time in as well 😀 That is when crock pot meals come in handy 😀
Till tomorrow.
41 Responses for "Dear Santa,"
Such a sweet idea Lauren! Love the liquid pearls on Santa’s beard! I need to pull this stamp out and use it!!
What a super cute project!!!! You are such an organized mommy!!!!
I love your idea of ‘giving back’ during the holidays… My kids are now 9 and 10 and I think a visit to the hospital is a great idea…
Adorable! I looove the liquid pearls on the beard! Of course, I wouldn’t want anyone to write on them 😉 I think we’re going to drop our letter at Macy’s this year…for every letter dropped in their ‘special santa mailbox’ they will donate $1 to Make-a-Wish…cool huh? here’s the site if you want more info…
http://www.macysbelieve.com/?gclid=CMHu_7v6_pYCFQETGgodyzCMXg#/PostOffice
I know not everyone has a Macy’s near them, but if you do, hey – every $1 counts, right? 🙂
Hope Noah had a great time at his party – and I hope you all have a terrific day!!
Hope Noah’s party was awesome
Adorable, Lauren!!! I love his hat and beard! 🙂
BTW, you look gorgeous!! Congrats on the weight loss!
Very cute idea – love Santa’s beard! We’re gonna do a Macy’s letter to Santa this year with the Brownie troop. I’ll never understand why the post office requires postage on a Santa letter ~ geesh!
Very cute Lauren. Your weight loss story hit home for me. I too have struggled in adult life. I get motivated for awhile..and then in about 4 months, I get out of the habits..I need to jump back in head first!!
Hi Lauren, I just read your weight loss story, (I’m a bit behind in blog reading). It’s a very recognizable story. I also gained a lot a weight when my husband was in Hospital for 7 weeks with a tumor on his pancreas. This year after the summer vacation I passed the 70 kilo mark and that is for me the limit. I joined a weight loss class where you learn how to chance your eating habits. So you never go hungry but you do have to watch the calories. I lost 3 kilo’s so far and I feel better already.
You look very good now. I like that picture of you. And I like the projects you made. I wish the shipping wasn’t so expensive from the US to here, otherwise I would order lots of goodies from PTI.
Eveline.
Oh those are cute Lauren! And an awesome keepsake for when the kiddos are older. Nice idea… I may have to ‘lift’ this one :D. Thanks again for sharing such awesome ideas with us all!
just darling and such a cute idea, makes me wish my daughter was still young!
These are adorable!!
How fun! You’re actually going to let them write on it?! Love his fluffy beard. What a good mom you are.
[…] Original post by My Time, My Creations, My Stampendence […]
I love your Santa card it is so cut I think I will have to make some What size is your card I love it
Lauren these are so sweet and what a great memory for your children. Also this is a great way to get them motivated to get their lists done.
I also have that glitter from Michael’s and it is great for snow. I am glad I stumbled upon it last year and it was a great value.
Hope you have a wonderful day and TFS.
Debbie/Phx AZ
Love this idea! Very cute!
Just a quick note: if you live in Canada you don’t get the letters back. But if you want to receive a letter from Santa, send it to: Santa Claus, North Pole, H0H 0H0 Canada
All letters are answered by Santa’s elves and my kids love waiting for them in the mail! It does take a few weeks to get them though so make sure you leave plenty of time. This is good for children from all over the world!
(note: the letter is a printed out letter but it is personally signed, I don’t think my kids ever noticed because it seems like everyone emails anyways!)
Love this idea! Very cute!
Just a quick note: if you live in Canada you don’t get the letters back. But if you want to receive a letter from Santa, send it to: Santa Claus, North Pole, H0H 0H0 Canada
All letters are answered by Santa’s elves and my kids love waiting for them in the mail! It does take a few weeks to get them though so make sure you leave plenty of time. This is good for children from all over the world!
(note: the letter is a printed out letter but it is personally signed, I don’t think my kids ever noticed because it seems like everyone emails anyways!)
Thank you for sharing your story yesterday. I have a problem with procrastination and now a problem with weight. I never did before. When I got married I was a whopping 100 lbs, great, but since having my two boys I have put on quite a bit of weight and even after almost 3 years (my youngest is almost 3) I still haven’t gotten any of the baby fat off. I keep saying I will but I don’t. I hope I can get to that point that you are now.
For the Christmas letters that is so gosh darn cute. What a great idea. I will have to do the magazine thing with my kids though as they are still young. I never knew the post office will mail it back to you. I thought it goes in their little trash pile. Thanks for sharing that tidbit, I will have to do that this year. I know my boys will love it.
Aww… Those Santas look so cute!
This is my first visit to your blog and I’m definitely coming another time! 🙂
Greetings from Sweden!
This is such a great idea. Thanks for sharing. It is wonderful how you and your family gives back.
I wish I had thought of using pictures for Santa’s letter when my daughter was young. When your three children are older, they will love seeing what they wanted for Christmas and the card they made.
These are adorable, and what a great idea!! Love ’em, Lauren!!
And yet another fabulous idea! I love your stuff. You are a true inspiration!
Lauren,
These are such sweet letters! I do not have that Santa, but I may have to go make a different one! I just love his liquid applique! I have got to get me some of those!!!!!
I just love your coloring and everything about them! I was so surprised last week when my 6 year old and oldest came home from next door and had written her Santa letter already. It was on whisper white CS, and had lots of mis-spellings, but what 6 year olds who had the guts to try to write their own list would not. I immedeiatly put it in the Baby Book Pile!!!
I am excited you gave me a new idea and can not wait to go try it!!!
I just finally got done last Saturday like 9 days ago Saturdays Sketch done. I am working on this saturdays sketch today. I made Lily and Billy up as soldiers to send to a few new stamping/blogging friends that are stationed far away one in Korea! Lily and Billy look awesome in Camouflage!!!! he he he!
I made Lily and Billy as the two rectangles, but then I ended up putting the two dog tags (the flowers of the sketch in between Lily and Billy! I hope that works. The satin camo ribbon on the other side of Billy is the other flower! Thank you for the layout idea’s every week! I really use them over and over and appritiate everything you share with us! I titled this card Thank You for Our Freedom! It was so fun to design my own Camouflage background!!!
I have got to get busy too! I never had a weight problem before I had my 3rd one, and I had put on 10 lbs right before I got pregnant him then gained 70 lbs on top of that.
With the first two I had the weight off by 6 months with him it was right when he hit a year, but I still had that extra 10 lbs from right before I got pregnant. I started feeling so good about myself I let myself eat whatever I felt like and over the rest of the summer put back on 12 lbs and now a few more! I have never been this heavy non pregnancy and can not really believe it! I need the motivation to get going and quit eating the candy that got me here!!!! I hate my double chin in pictures! Thank you for the kick in the butt! I have to get started and just do it!!!!
Here is the link to last weeks SS I will add the link to this weeks when I get it done!!!
http://heathersheavinlystamptions.blogspot.com
Heather Schlatter
What a clever idea! I would love to make these for my grandchildren! Lauren, I want to thank you again for your post yesterday! Great Job! I have had a battle with the scale for ages and with each decade it gets harder!!!!! You have truly inspired me! Thank you again for your terrific creations! I love the Timeless Templates and your willingness to share with all of us who love the world of paper.
Awesome job as always! And bravo on sharing your weight loss journey. That can probably be hard for many to do. but all the pictures you ever post you always look fab!
These are too darn cute! I love them!
Lauren,
You amaze me, you put your kids first and you still make time for YOU! I am so impressed. I stopped eating my hallowe’en candy and donated them to the church. They then take it down town and hand them out to the less fortunate. The sugar helps them when they are coming off highs. Any how just wanted to let you know that I acted from your inspiration,
Thanks,
R
I loved your post!! Keep publishing your updates in this post, nice ideas. I too try them..
Lauen love the Santa Letters. Brillant idea for the kiddos!!
They are soooo cute!
What a great idea – I love that you include a photo too. I wish I had heard this idea years ago.
hugs, Jami
This is such a neat idea. I am going now to make some for my kids to use. I know I will treasure these for years to come and at some point they will get a kick out of reading their thoughts and seeing how their handwriting has evolved.
Lauren…These are Adorable!!
The kids will love them!!
Cute Santa…
The liquid applique looks Great!!
as always…Great Idea 🙂
TFS
Thanks! it’s helpful to me!
What a excellent resource!
You’ve got your point via a great deal far better than I at any time could, thank you!
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