It snowed today. And then it rained, thereby canceling the town tree-lighting ceremony. This was to be the first year we bothered to go. I heard they were going to have a cookie table, a school band and fireworks. I’ve heard mention of this event every year, and I never envisioned it to be all that interesting. But then, that was before I heard there were fireworks. Any event with fireworks has to be something special, doesn’t it? I guess we’ll find out next year. For today, we’ve hot chocolate, a fireplace, and paper chains.
Each of the boys and I took a sheet of glitter paper and cut it into strips. Aidan had white, Eamonn had green, and I had red. We numbered each of the strips, one for every day left until Christmas, and then linked them together into a chain. We’ll rip off one ring every day, until we are left with one ring on Christmas Eve.
We just need a good place to keep it now. As cute as this is, it just isn’t practical 
Polymer clay took over my dining room table for the last week and a half, but this afternoon, I put it all away and got out the sewing machine. I wish I had a big studio, with a station for each craft, but at the moment, I have to live with cleaning one craft up in order to do another. Anyway, I made a small set of napkins. These are in some Heather Bailey Freshcut patterns, and are part of a trade (I’ll be getting a bit of snazzy jewelry for my trouble). I originally thought I had eight distinct patterns, but upon closer inspection, I discovered that two of the pieces of fabric I was going to use were not big enough to make a napkin. So, I needed to do three in one pattern. I can live with that. Frankly, I’m impressed that I was able to make these from my stash with no fabric shopping at all. I’ll make more room in that box yet!
I also made my Christmas apron tonight, but I can’t photograph it until I make the ever-important coordinating polymer clay button for the pocket. It’s half finished, just out of the oven, but I lack the drive to get any further on it today. Next up is the Christmas napkin project. I may not be able to get it together enough to have my tree up until a couple of days before Christmas, but I’ll be damned if I’m going to wipe my mouth with pumpkin napkins too far into December. Bring on the Christmas Past fabric and let’s get cracking!
I remember making the paper chains when I was young but we never numbered them. what a great idea, this way when they ask..you tell em to count loops.
love the christmas past fabrics! they should make loverly mouth wipers.
Yeah, come to think of it, I don’t remember ever numbering them before either. I must have subconsciously combined a paper chain with an advent calendar, since I’m trying to avoid getting one of those 😉
I had plans to make an advent calendar with all kinds of nifty homemade trinkets and coupons inside, but it never happened. If I have to buy one, no doubt the boys will expect something like the one we had last year – full of chocolate. They’re rambunctious enough lately, thankyouverymuch!
Hey! I was just browsing Christmas Past on Fat Quarter Shop this morning. I must make myself some napkins, you keep reminding me, haha. Love the chain idea. I’ve got a little Christmas chain in the works myself.
Ooh, you gave me a neat idea – making one out of fabric and velcro (or snaps) instead of paper & tape. Then you could reuse it every year! Hmmmm… I like that idea. Wish I had more hours in the day…
what a great idea with the paper chain/advent calendar combo! Brilliant… absolutely brillant.
And what fun to tear them off one by one
Well, I don’t know about *brilliant* but it is fun 🙂 All we have to do is actually remember to pull off the links. So far we’re one for two in that department…