Christmas wrapping paper project - part I

My shoulder is infected. Or some nerves and muscles around the shoulder, to be precise. And it is hurting like...well.  Tried working a little on the computer yesterday, and couldn't. So I thought: I'll just take the day off (being self-employed it was kinda quiet and fast discussion ;))! As running a webshop without being able to use your computer is kinda like a weekend without electricity and water. Or something. Can't do much, is my point.

Took some pain-killers (for the pain), laid on the couch (for the pain) and took a hot bath (for the pain). After a couple of hours I was kinda bored with my day off, and started working again. And while doing plans for next year I thought - well, we actually haven't tried the printing blocks (you find them HERE) with the kids yet!

We had home already some white wrapping paper (I think the IKEA drawing paper roll for kids would be perfect for this, as well) and the printing blocks, of course, so after picking up the kids we dropped by a paint store and got us some red, light grey and dark grey paint and a fine paint roller. With these we arrived home and started our project - It was so simple and fast! I thought we wouldn't be able to do it proper, but the end result is really nice! Especially our 6-year-old son thought this is the best thing - printing sea star and sting-ray skeletons on paper :D (no, their imagination doesn't have any limits).

Just a few hints:

1. Make sure to buy water-soluble paint (especially if you wish to try this with the kids)
2. Pour a small amount of paint on a plate (we used paper plates) and get the paint evenly on the roller from the plate.
3. Place some tissue paper under the paper you wish to have the prints on - this way the block subsides a little and the end-result is more even and precise
4. Wash the printing blocks promptly after use just using a brush, water and soap

The detailed photos in the next post - bye for now :)!

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paperinpainanta, paperin painatus, joulupaperi, itse tehty joulupaperi

Hand-made Christmas cards from Mahaguthi

Hand-made Christmas card, made by Mahaguthi

It's starting to be time...every year we have a project with the kids to make Christmas cards, MANY of them. This year we'll take it easy and use partly these beauties made of the world-famous Nepalese paper.

The Cottonhut cards are designed in Finland by Nina Perkiö, and hand-made in Nepal by Mahaguthi, Craft with conscience.

Hand-made Christmas card, made by Mahaguthi

Have I told you before the story of Mahaguthi? It was established by the late Tulsi Mehar Shrestha, a Nepali Gandhian, in 1984 (pls. read the whole story here). Mahaguthi is dedicated to the betterment and upliftment of widowed and destitute women in Nepal, and Weranna's is very happy to support the organization in our moderate, but hopefully growing, way.

In 1977, Tulsi Mehar received the Nehru Award as recognition for his social service, and donated the whole amount to establish a residential type training and rehabilitation center for the betterment and upliftment of widowed and destitute women of the society. The center has living quarters, a small hospital, production workshops and facilities for children. The Ashram offers a 2 year program free of charge with training in weaving, sewing, knitting and literacy classes to destitute women as well as education for their children. Today, the center is financed by 40% of Mahaguthi's annual profit and has approximately 80 women each year in its training program.

Hand-made Christmas card, made by Mahaguthi

These cards made by Mahaguthi ladies are so pretty, aren't they?

Hand-made Christmas card, made by Mahaguthi

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joulukortti, nepalilainen paperi

O Christmas tree

Modern Christmas tree

Looking for some new ideas for a Christmas tree? Here you go :).

I had this picture in my mind (those are a bit scary, they NEVER leave voluntarily) of a white Christmas tree, and was really keen on spraying a real spruce/fir, but was told it doesn't work out at all with the natural oil on the needles. So lovely lovely Paulina Arcklin came up with this idea.

As I received the idea among many others, I realized - we are taking down the old birch trees on the yard as we speak. Even material is available there on the spot!

It required 6 quite large nails and some fishing line and a bit of measuring (AND my father-in-law). But unlike the usual projects (you know after saying 'please come, it will only take 30 minutes' we are still going strong after 8 hours...) this actually took only about 30 minutes.

Grey Chrismas

All hand-made (or soon-to-be-hand-made ;)) products seen are available in the store (the basket made of banana tree, the felt slippers, the door mat made of pompoms, the chip baskets, grey xmas balls, the simple Knit Hit Kit cushion cover and the Knit Hit Kit chunky knit cushion cover, as well as the washi tapes) for your feel-good grey Christmas.

PS. I have to have the real Christmas tree, as well. If we are at home and then at the summer place, we have it in both places. Cause I love Christmas. Love. Love.