Christmas in July 2022 - Day 25

 

CIJ day 25

MERRY CHRISTMAS IN JULY!!!

Hope you enjoyed the Christmas-card theme and that you get to enjoy some Christmas fun today. 

Thinking of ideas for next year.  Any suggestions?

 

Christmas in July 2022 - Day 24

 

CIJ day 24

A cute card to make with kids.

Christmas in July 2022 - Day 23

 

CIJ day 23

A beautiful simple card  - gor

geous

Christmas in July 2022 - Day 22

CIJ day 22

Friday night at the movies!

Christmas in Evergreen – Letters to Santa

Starring: Jill Wagner and Mark Dekin.

It is part of The Christmas in Evergreen – Hallmark movies.  I like this series of movies, hope you have a chance to watch them.

If you wish to watch the movies in order, you should watch them as follows:

• ·        Christmas in Evergreen (2017)
• ·        Christmas in Evergreen: Letters to Santa (2018)
• ·        Christmas in Evergreen: Tidings of Joy (2019)

Drink recipe to accompany the movie: https://www.thinkmakeshareblog.com/watch-party-recipes/

Great instructions and step-by-step pictures if you follow the link

EVERGREEN CREAM COCKTAILS

Evergreen Cream tastes like Christmas! Irish cream liqueur and white chocolate make it sweet and creamy—and créme de menthe and a candy-cane garnish give it a double hit of peppermint.

Evergreen Cream Drink Recipe

• 1 oz créme de menthe
• 1 oz vodka
• 3 oz Irish cream liqueur‎
• 1 oz half and half

Peppermint Rim

• 4-8 small candy canes
• 1/4 c white chocolate chips

Start by preparing your glasses:

Crush the candy canes to small pieces—not quite to dust—in a saucer or shallow bowl.

In a shallow bowl large enough for the tops of your beverages glasses to fit, microwave the white chocolate chips until melted. (Start with 15 seconds, then stir.)

Dip the rim of your beverage glasses in the white chocolate, then the crushed candy canes. Let set.

While the candy rims set, mix your drink:

Add all liquid ingredients to a strainer with lots of ice and shake really well to chill thoroughly.

Strain Evergreen Cream into glasses and serve.

Christmas in July 2022 - Day 21

 

CIJ day 21

I like the idea of a cup of tea… and maybe add this poem :

On Christmas Day,
At half past three,
Make your self a cup of tea,
I’ll think of you,
You think of me,
Underneath the Christmas tree

Christmas in July 2022 - Day 20

 

CIJ day 20

Another beautiful snowman… but this one needs a bit of drawing and paint or coloring crayons.  So beautiful and sweet

Christmas in July 2022 - Day 19

 

CIJ day 19

I like cards with snowmen. I don’t know why but I find they are easier to make than others.

Christmas in July 2022 - Day 18

 

CIJ day 18

Now is the time for a little more work on these Christmas cards – A card to draw and color.  I don’t know if I would be able to do this one but sure worth a try.  Lovely isn’t it?

Christmas in July 2022 - Day 17

 

CIJ day 17

 

I found this tutorial about making easy Christmas cards!  Lots of fun and beautiful – easy cards.

(14) Pinterest tutorials

Hoping the link works!

Christmas in July 2022 - Day 16

 

CIJ day 16

 

A simple yet elegant card – what do you think of this one?  Twigs, and cardboard will do the job.

Christmas in July 2022 - Day 15

 CIJ day 15

 

Friday Night at the movies!

Christmas Love letter

When relationship advice columnist Amalie Hess receives an unsigned love letter in a Christmas card, she returns to her hometown to solve the mystery of who sent it and maybe find true love.

Starring: Ashley Newbrough, Tilky Jones and Izzy

Let’s have a little drink with the movie

 The Lit Reindeer The Lit Reindeer | Elle Talk

 Prep Time 3 mins

Cook Time 2 mins

Total Time 5 mins

 

A Martini meets Cape Codder like cocktail using cranberry sauce (not gelatin based) leftovers.

Course: Cocktail, Drinks

Servings: 2 Drinks

Ingredients

8 ounces Homemade Cranberry Sauce

2 ounces Lime Juice

4 ounces Vodka or Cranberry Vodka

1 ounces Simple Syrup optional if your cranberry sauce is not sweet to your liking

Rosemary Sprig

Enjoy!

Christmas in July 2022 - day 14

CIJ day 14

Card inserts.  I’m always on the lookout for card inserts that are thin (expensive postage!!). 

 

Some things I have done:

• ·        Recipe
• ·        Felt ornaments (had made ugly sweaters – 2 layers that needed to be glued by the person who received it)
• ·        Tea with poem (however tea cannot be sent from Canada to the US…. Unless no one knows 😉 )
• ·        Christmas tags
• ·        Christmas word puzzles
• ·        List of self-care ideas
• ·        Christmas stickers

 

Additional ideas

• ·        Bookmark
• ·        Drawing
• ·        Poem
• ·        Handmade coupons
• ·        Gift card
• ·        Newspaper or magazine clipping
• ·        Event tickets
• ·        Coloring pages
• ·        Photos
• ·        Packet of seeds
• ·        Pressed flowers
• ·        Tatoo
• ·        Music List. Put together a custom playlist on Spotify and send an access link.
• ·        Unique (or Christmas! ) postage stamps 

What other ideas do you have?

Christmas in July 2022 - Day 13

CIJ - day 13

Another beautiful card.  I really like this one and it is quite simple with cardboard.  This one I might try at some point too.  I love the simplicity of it.  Source: Pinterest

Christmas in July 2022 - Day 12

CIJ day 12

Now is the time to write something in those cards.

I’m not a writer (as you might have noticed 😉) so mine are plain and simple… Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Found these sayings for cards: 110 Christmas Card Sayings for Every Style | Minted

Short sayings without the word Christmas in it

• ·        Wishing you the happiest holidays and a wonderful New Year in 2022!
• ·        Sending you peace, love, and joy this holiday season.
• ·        Spreading holiday love this festive season!
• ·        Happy holidays from our family to yours.
• ·        Wishing you the best this season and always! Happy holidays.
• ·        Warm wishes for a happy holiday.
• ·        Happy everything this holiday season.
• ·        Heartfelt holiday greetings to you and yours!

WAYS TO SAY MERRY CHRISTMAS

• ·        Have a very merry Christmas and the happiest New Year!
• ·        Wishing you and your family a merry and bright Christmas.
• ·        It’s the most wonderful time of the year! We hope you have a very merry Christmas and enjoy the warmth and magic of the holiday season.
• ·        Married Christmas! Holiday wishes from the official couple!
• ·        So very merry! Warmest wishes from our growing family to yours for a happy holiday season!
• ·        All of us wish all of you a Christmas that’s merry and bright!

FUNNY CHRISTMAS WISHES

• ·        Have a Meowy Christmas and a Happy Mew Year.
• ·        Wishing you peace, love, and happiness in the New Year. Champagne is an excellent start. Cheers!
• ·        ‘Tis the season for leftovers and stretchy pants. Best wishes during this delicious time. Happy holidays
• ·        Cheers to 2022, I sure need a drink.
• ·        Let’s make this a December to remember.
• ·        May all your sweaters be ugly and bright!

FOR FRIENDS

• ·        Happiest holidays to you and yours.
• ·        Merry Christmas, and here’s to many more coffee dates and long walks in the New Year.
• ·        Cheers to the New Year! Wishing you lots of love, happiness, and champagne.
• ·        Your friendship is the best gift I could ask for. I’m so thankful for you!
• ·        Fa La La La La… whatever, you get it. Merry Christmas.
• ·        Good food, good wine, good friends… hope your holiday is #blessed.
• ·        Here’s to good friends who always bring wine to the Christmas party!

CLASSIC

• ·        We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
• ·        Have a jolly holiday.
• ·        From our home to yours, we hope you have a happy holiday season and a prosperous New Year!
• ·        Wishing you and yours a happy holiday season and all the best for the New Year!
• ·        Wishing you love, light, and laughter for Christmas and the New Year too!
• ·        May your days be merry and bright. Happy holidays from all of us!
• ·        May your heart be filled with all the joys of the season.
• ·        Season’s greetings, from our house to yours!
• ·        Wishing you peace and joy this holiday season and in the New Year.

SENTIMENTAL

• ·        Wishing you peace, love, and laughter in the New Year.
• ·        May the holiday season bring you special moments and happy memories.
• ·        The greatest gift of all this holiday season is a loving family and close friends.
• ·        Find joy in the little things this Christmas.
• ·        Keeping you in our hearts this holiday season, and always!
• ·        Our holidays are more joyous knowing you’re part of our world.

RELIGIOUS

• ·        May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13
• ·        Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17
• ·        A merry heart does good like medicine. Proverbs 17:22
• ·        And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. Luke 1:14
• ·        Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men. Luke 2:14
• ·        Count your blessings and embrace the joy of the season.

 

And you can find many more here on the Hallmark site Christmas Wishes: What to Write in a Christmas Card | Hallmark Ideas & Inspiration

What are your favorite sayings / quotes for your Christmas cards?

Christmas in July 2022 - Day 11

 

CIJ – day 11

This one is a little more work but so cute!  You will need ribbon, cardboard, buttons.  It doesn’t have to be exactly the same but it gives you an idea.  I think I would make the stockings out of felt and probably wouldn’t add the red rick-rack around it.  Source: Pinterest

 

Don’t forget to tell me at the end of the month which one was your favourite!

Christmas in July 2022 - Day 10

 

CIJ day 10

Holiday envelopes for handmade cards.

Found these printables with a tutorial:

Printable Holiday Envelopes • this heart of mine (thisheartofmineblog.com)

And another set here: Printable Christmas Envelopes - Easy Peasy and Fun

Have fun!

Christmas in July 2022 - Day 9

 

CIJ day 9

This one I find very cute:

CAS merry little christmas CKM by LilLuvsStampin at Splitcoaststampers

It was done using stamps but could easily be done without.

What do you think?  

Christmas in July 2022 - Day 8

 CIJ day 8

Friday Night at the Movies!

I suggest Open by Christmas.  I watched this movie a few weeks back and I liked it.

Starring: Alison Sweeney, Erica Durance, Brennan Elliott, Michael Karl Richards.

Synopsis:  When Nicky finds an unopened Christmas card from a high school secret admirer, she and her best friend Simone search to find and thank the anonymous author.

Thinking a Christmas summer drink would be nice with that:

Easy Holiday Mai Tai Cocktail - Julie Blanner

Mai Tai

A traditional cocktail recipe with a twist for the holidays. This fruity dark rum cocktail is a twist on the original and made with pineapple juice.

Prep Time 3 minutes

Servings 6 servings

Calories 143kcal

 

Ingredients

12 ounces pineapple juice

12 ounces orange juice

6 ounces dark rum flor de cana

6 ounces amaretto

crushed ice

Instructions

In a pitcher, whisk together juices, rum and amaretto.

Pour over glasses filled with crushed ice.

Notes

Make it traditional with rum, Curaçao liqueur, orgeat syrup, and lime juice.

You can mix the liquids together an hour or two ahead of time and keep them in the fridge.

Garnish with fresh cranberries on a toothpick.

Virgin Mai Tai

Replace rum and amaretto with 1/3 cup almond syrup, 1/3 cup grenadine and top with sparkling water to taste.

ENJOY!!

Christmas in July 2022 - Day 7

CIJ day 7

Cards … how many do you send?  Do you use snail mail or the internet?  Do you buy Christmas stamps?

I send out about 10 to family members and 12 to friends with the snail mail.  Would send more but boy is postage expensive nowadays!

Five facts about the first U.S. Christmas stamp, issued in 1962.

1. The 4-cent stamp was issued in panes of 100. The image by Jim Crawford, a postal artist, depicted two lit candles near a green holiday wreath tied with a red bow.

2. The stamp was a big hit. The Postal Service, then called the U.S. Post Office Department, initially issued 500 million Christmas stamps — the largest number produced for a special stamp at that time. By the end of the year, with demand soaring, 1 billion of the stamps had been printed and distributed.

3. But the stamp was controversial, too. Critics argued a stamp honoring Christmas, or any religious event violated the Constitution, which prohibits the government from favoring one religious faith over another. Others contended the stamp’s modest image was uninspired.

4. The United States was late to the Christmas stamp game. Several other countries — including Hungary, Cuba, Haiti, Luxembourg, Spain, Austria, Liechtenstein and Australia — had stamps honoring the holiday before the United States.

5. The stamp started a tradition. The Postal Service has continued to extend seasonal greetings with stamps honoring secular and religious holidays — including the 2019 Holiday Wreaths stamps that evoke the 1962 release that started it all.

Christmas in July 2022 - Day 6

 CIJ - Day 6

I also found this Kraft card on Pinterest, it brings us to Выход из тени | little things, which is in another language.  

But the card is pretty straightforward so it would be easy to do and very cute. - Another great kid craft.