CHRISTMAS SCRAPBOOKS

Years ago I was at a friend's during the Christmas season, and saw a scrapbook she had made. She had covered a 3-ring binder with cloth (slightly padded) and made pages of family photos and the Christmas card photos for each Christmas for many years,
I loved it so much I made my  own, scrounging past pictures and cards the best I could. I also make my own Christmas cards and include one of those. I have filled 2 books now, and just finished making a 3rd for next year's Christmas (although I couldn't find Christmas material anywhere so opted for this dark blue with stars) and I thought I'd enjoy the idea. I used a yard of material, which allowed me to make a cover that sips over the ends like a book jacket. Leave enough seam allowance and sew in your padding, such as a heavy pellon, as you go. Scrapbook the pages any way you wish,but I always do mine with the aim to fit as much on a page as I can, and if I have 2-sided photo cards, I put them into clear page protectors just like that. 
I do use clear page protectors on every page, though. I also cut up other Christmas cards and use pieces of them here and there in the little empty spaces that won't hold anything else.
We love these books that hold so many wonderful memories of friends and family.

WOOD CALENDAR

Someone came to me quite a few years ago and told me she wanted a wood calendar. Her dad had offered to make 3 of them and if I would paint his and hers, I could have the 3rd one for me, so I made them a deal that I would, and this is the result. The numbers and special squares all side in and you change the month and days each month. I pretty much quit using this when my kids left home, so we had a family drawing for those who wanted it. There may be a day in the future when I add patterns, but I free handed these and don't have any right now. But I thought I'd let people take a look at it.

FLAT FELT DOLLS

These are on the order of paper dolls, only they are made of felt. If you want to stiffen them up, cut out a body pattern from a plastic lid, such as what you find on a shortening can, but you cut it enough smaller that you can stitch the outsides together. I have drawn basic patterns and you can embellish them as you wish. These are "sister dolls". The baby's bottle is from a package of tiny bottles I found in the baby shower section at the dollar store.