Wednesday, November 17, 2010

the symbols of Christmas: a giveaway

Surprise!

I mentioned that there were going to be a few surprises throughout twelve (plus) days of traditions and this is one of them! 


My friend Chris, the creative blogger behind Pickup Some Creativity, has been had at work creating a new pattern for an amazing set of tradition ornaments.  Her inspiration for these ornaments stems from the traditions of her childhood.  But rather than me drone on and on about Chris' inspiration, I asked her to tell you about it in her own words.  Take it away Chris:

An important Christmas tradition while I was growing up was our Christmas Eve family gathering. After going out for Mexican food, we gathered around the Christmas tree and discussed the true meaning of Christmas. There were distinct activities we always did. My dad would read from Luke 2 in the New Testament. Then one of my brothers or I would take turns removing little trinkets from a bag that represented familiar sights at Christmas time. Did you know that there is symbolism in most of the familiar shapes and colors of Christmas?

Wanting to keep that remembrance alive for my children I began a quest. I used several versions of stories similar to what we used when I was a child, and came up with a simple narrative and accompanying ornaments. The culmination is my new pattern. I feel the need to teach children true principles is ever increasing. It is my earnest hope that this simple set of ornaments and story will help children remember the true meaning of Christmas.

To help you start this tradition in your own home, Chris is giving away a ready-made set of ornaments to one twelve crafts reader and a pdf pattern (which includes instructions, ornament templates/patterns and a printable explanation sheet to reuse year after year) to another reader.  That's right . . . there will be 2 winners. 

And don't worry . . . if you don't win, you can buy your very own pattern to make these ornaments and start your own family tradition.  Order from Chris' blog shop.

Here's how to enter:
**leave one comment for each entry

1) Be or become a follower of twelve crafts.
2) Be or become a follower of Pickup Some Creativity.
3) Link up a tradition post/idea to the linky below.  If you link up more than one, tell me how many you linked. One entry for each link.
4) Tell me what your favorite holiday symbol is.
5) In the spirit of Thanksgiving, tell me one thing you are thankful for.

**The first name drawn randomly will get to choose between the ready-made set or the reusable pdf pattern.  The second name will receive the remaining item.  Giveaway ends Wednesday, November 24, 2010 at 11:59 PM (CST).**

If reading through a reader, click here to add your own tradition post.

99 comments:

Annette W. said...

I follow you!!! (AND I WANT TO WIN!)

This is so awesome!
derekannette at gmail dot com

Annette W. said...

I want to link up, but the linky isn't showing. Would you please let me know when it's up? Yea!!

Annette W. said...

I am incredibly thankful for my family's health. Both of my children have had serious problems...but both are doing quite well, thank God!

Sarah@sweetpeaandjojo.blogspot.com said...

I'm a follower!

Sarah@sweetpeaandjojo.blogspot.com said...

Hmm favorite symbol. I think the star.

Annette W. said...

The STAR. Imagine-God put a special star in the sky to lead the men to Jesus! The star even moved!

Sarah@sweetpeaandjojo.blogspot.com said...

Today I'm thankful for my husband. He works hard so I can stay home with my kids. Thinking about him lots as he heads out of town for the next week and is facing a possibly scary medical issue.

Rebekah said...

I subscribe to Twelve Crafts Till Christmas.

rebekahricker at yahoo dot com

Rebekah said...

I subscribe to Pickup Some Creativity.

rebekahricker at yahoo dot com

Rebekah said...

My favorite holiday symbol is the North Star.

rebekahricker at yahoo dot com

Rebekah said...

I am grateful for 3 beautiful, healthy, spunky daughters, and for the opportunity to be their mom.

rebekahricker at yahoo dot com

Hallie said...

I am follower!: )

wpooh_9 at hotmail dot com

Hallie said...

I have so many things to be greatful for....being able to live the country homeschooling life that we have dreame of!

www.ourbrokenroad.blogspot.com

Annette W. said...

I now follow Pickup Some Creativity, too!

Lyndee @ A Recovering Craft Hoarder said...

I am a follower of twelve crafts. Thanks so much for a seriously awesome giveaway!

Lyndee @ A Recovering Craft Hoarder said...

I already follow Pickup Some Creativity.

Lyndee @ A Recovering Craft Hoarder said...

My favorite holiday symbol? Wow, that's kinda hard. I've never really thought about it. I guess it would be the candycane or shepards hook.

Lyndee @ A Recovering Craft Hoarder said...

I am SO thankful my husband has a job and that we're not having to job hunt another year in a row. SO THANKFUL!!!

Annette W. said...

I linked to 2 traditions! The Jesse Tree and the Advent Calendar with Baby Jesus.

Grace said...

Ooo, please enter me!!! I follow! I HEART YOUR BLOG!:D

Grace said...

My fav. symbol for the holidays would either have to be the dove, candy cane, or snowflake!:)

CraftyMummy said...

I'm a follower of Twelve Crafts

CraftyMummy said...

I just added a link to my new tradition - making a Christmas ornament each year.

CraftyMummy said...

My favourite symbol of Christmas would be the star - and I take every opportunity lately to ask the kids why we have stars at Christmas

CraftyMummy said...

I'm a follower of Pickup Some Creativity too

CHERI said...

I love Christmas ornaments and would adore having these. Thanks for the opportunity to win. I am now a follower!

Ule Logue said...

I follow you and love all your stuff!!!!

ulogue at msn dot com

Ule Logue said...

Following Pickup Some Creativity!

(and I really want to win!)

ulogue at msn dot com

Ule Logue said...

My favorite symbol is the candle, it reminds me how Jesus is the light of the world.

ulogue at msn dot com

Hayley said...

I am a follower!

Hayley said...

I am thankful for my daughter.

April said...

I follow...:)

Hayley said...

A simple tradition we have is that whenever we go get our tree my husband kisses me on the forehead while I take a photo. Now that my daughter is with us, we also take a photo of us kissing her on the cheeks. Don't know why. Just something we always to do to show our love.

Tanya said...

I'm a twelve crafts follower!

Nancy said...

I follow you.

Nancy said...

I am thankful for my salvation, my church, and my family.

Nancy said...

My favorite holiday symbol is the star.

Tanya said...

My favourite Christmas symbol is the tree. There's something about Christmas trees that is just magical.

Tanya said...

I'm thankful for the health of my boys. Love them to pieces!

Nancy said...

Now following Pickup Some Creativity

Beverly {Flamingo Toes} said...

What a great ornament set!!! I am a follower. :)

Kayla said...

I follow twelve crafts.

Kayla said...

So very thankful for my husband and DD (18mts) :).

ajoy181984 said...

I am a follower.

ajoy181984 said...

I follow PickUp Some Creativity.

Anonymous said...

I follow you.

Amanda @ Sew Retro, So You said...

I follow 12 Crafts Till Christmas as your blog is such an inspiration. Once my thumb is healed I am definitely crafting until Christmas as I've seen so many wonderful ideas here and on the links. I especially love the stocking stuffers.

Amanda @ Sew Retro, So You said...

My favourite symbol of Christmas is the star.

Jill said...

follower

Jill said...

My favorite symbol is the star. I love just going out and looking at the stars. It keeps me grounded.

Jill said...

I am thankful for a healthy daughter, a loving husband, our new home, and a good family. Wait, that was more than one, but, oh well!

KJ@letsgoflyakite said...

I have been following both your blogs are some time now. Wonderful giveaway!

My favourite symbol is an angel!

Whitney said...

I am a follower!

Whitney said...

I am thankful for my amazing husband and the eight months I have left with him before he deploys. I am thankful for my beautiful son and daughter.

Whitney said...

My favorite Christmas symbol is the star.

Kristin said...

I follow you!

Kristin said...

I follow Pickup Some Creativity!

Kristin said...

I am Thankful for my family this year. We feel so blessed this year with the addition of Lily to our family.

DANA said...

I am a follower! danajeanward@gmail.com

DANA said...

I am thankful that I am able to go see my family and spend m first holiday season with my new husband! danajeanward@gmail.com

Chelsea Pickup said...

I am a follower of your blog!

Chelsea Pickup said...

I am a follower and SIL of Pickup Some Creativity

Chelsea Pickup said...

My favorite Christmas symbol is a tree!

Chelsea Pickup said...

I am thankful this year for a loving and sweet husband who takes care of me!

Jamie said...

I'm a follower of 12 Crafts!

Jamie said...

I follow Pickup Some Creativity!

Jamie said...

My favorite holiday symbol is the star

Jamie said...

I am so thankful for my family. They are so dear to me!

Shannon said...

Im a follower. Thanks, mamatkins@hotmail.com

Shannon said...

My favorite christmas symbol is the star! Thanks, mamatkins@hotmail.com

shannon said...

Im am so thankful for my husband, he is so amazing. THanks, mamatkins@hotmail.com

VickiT said...

I am a follower of Twelve Crafts and am loving that I am. Great stuff posted here.

VickiT said...

I also follow Pick up some Creativity as well via email subscription. I loved the "Symbols of Christmas" when it was posted the other day.

VickiT said...

I am thankful each and every day when I get up to see my name is missing from the Obits page of our newspaper. HA
kidding.....

I'm thankful that I found such an amazing man about 10 yrs ago and that he decided I he wanted to keep me around and asked me to marry him. It's been THE BEST 10 yrs of my entire life with the exclusion of the years in which I had my beautiful three children from a previous marriage.

VickiT said...

My favorite holiday symbol is the Christmas tree. Each year it just doesn't feel like the holiday season until that tree is up and we have turned the lights on. Once my tree is up my entire attitude is changed and I'm ready to do my holiday baking and planning for my big meal.

Pam said...

favorite symbol: star

Pam said...

I'm thankful for good health...well, I will be when I get better.

michaela hoenigman said...

I am a follower!

michaela hoenigman said...

I follow Pick Up Some Creativity!

michaela hoenigman said...

I am thankful for the first breath that I took, and for every one since then.

michaela hoenigman said...

My favorite Holiday symbol is the Christmas tree. Nothing else says it all better than an evergreen tree.

teampr8 said...

I am a follower!

teampr8 said...

I follow pick up some creativity!

teampr8 said...

my favorite symbol is our tree, every ornament has special significance to a family member, an accomplishment, memories of family vacations, a handprint made in school. We love to sit and talk about each moment and memory!

Amanda @ Sew Retro, So You said...

I'm a follower of Pickup Some Creativity.

Amanda @ Sew Retro, So You said...

I'm a follower of Pickup Some Creativity.

Kelly O. said...

I'm a pickup some creativity follower

Kelly O. said...

we always do an advent wreath at Christmas

Kelly O. said...

I love candles at Christmas as they remind me of the light of Jesus in our lives

Papgena Made It said...

I'm a follower of TCTC

Papgena Made It said...

I'm also a follower of Puckup some Creativity!

Papgena Made It said...

I link a post about my nativity scene http://papgenamadeit.blogspot.com/2010/11/presepio-nativity-scene.html

Papgena Made It said...

My favourit symbol is the nativity scene! :) but my favourit of those are showing is the tree (or the star, not sure what is the favourit)

Papgena Made It said...

I'm thankful for my family (my husband and daughter). It was necessary a long way to build this family, so I'm very grateful that we could make it!

Karen said...

I'm so thankful for my family and also all the little things in life - like peanut butter.

Karen said...

My favorite holliday symbol would have to be the star.

Unknown said...

I'm a follower!

Unknown said...

I think my favorite holiday symbol would be the star... it captures everything: holiday memories around the star-topped Christmas tree, the beauty of the twinkling stars in the cold winter night sky, and the reminder to be "wise" and follow the light to find Christ. Plus, I can draw it on my own which makes it sooo much easier to craft with ;)

Unknown said...

I am thankful to have so many things to be thankful for... a warm home, an amazing husband, a perfectly mischievous son, a budget with some leniency for craft supplies... this list goes on and on... :)

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