P. Kelly Smith
Welcome to Freebie Friday! I love this special time of year. Not only am I mesmerized by the magic of the season, but I love how everyone seems to have a little more patience, a little more kindness and a little more love for their fellow man.
Just this week Brandy announced our new joint venture with Creating Keepsakes magazine called “Creativity Heals”. The objective is simple: donate your time, creativity and supplies toward improving the lives of others. We’ve partnered with Operation Write Home, whose mission is to support our nation’s armed forces by sending blank greeting cards to write home on, as well as cards of gratitude to encourage them. Thanks to all who have already sent off cards to OWH and to those who are organizing their shipments right now.
Around the office, we also get into the spirit of giving. Last year a few of us participated in a Secret Santa exchange. My little elf just happened to be “Matthew McConaughey” and every day he would leave me a gift, along with a cute note. What was so remarkable was how well he knew me…he left me bottles of Coke, KitKat candy bars and even little treats for my dog Lexus.
Just a few of the goodies my Secret Santa left under my tree.
Since I know you’re all dying to see the “note”, here’s a close-up view:
Who knew Matthew had such a sculpted...sense of humor!
It turns out my Secret Santa was actually the sneaky Miss Susan R. Opel. At the big reveal, she presented me with a gorgeous card she had made. Inside was a gift card to one of my favorite stores. And while I was sad to see my daily visits from “Matthew” disappear, it sure made my holidays a little bit brighter. Just another reminder that gift giving can be so much fun – especially when it comes from the heart.
I recently stumbled across our Simple Sentiments from Holiday Cards & More, Volume 4. One of my favorite quotes by Hamilton Wright Mabie is: “Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love.” And, of course, you can’t go wrong with good ol’ Dr. Seuss…
If you would like to download these festive sentiments, please click HERE. Ready for today’s giveaway? I’d love to hear all the fun ways you’ve spread Christmas cheer to your fellow man. Leave “Santa” a comment and he’ll pick three winners to take home a copy of Holiday Cards & More, Vol. 4, plus some fun paper crafting product. All comments must be received by midnight (MST) on Sunday, Dec. 13.
Happy Friday!
Kelly
P.S. It’s time to announce the two winners from Teri’s Christmastime is Ornament Swap Time post!
1. Savannah O’Gwynn (Dec. 9, 9:12 a.m.)
2. Shirley K. (Dec. 9, 7:28 a.m.)
Congrats, ladies! You’ve each won a snowman ornament from Teri! I’ll be contacting you shortly to get your mailing addresses. Thanks to all who left comments!
P.P.S. Here’s another freebie for everyone! This holiday, we invite you to share the inspiration of paper crafting with a friend or relative–at a GREAT DEAL! Subscribe or renew your subscription to Paper Crafts at our special low rate and we’ll give a one-year gift subscription to a friend absolutely FREE! That’s two subscriptions for the price of one! This special holiday offer won’t last long…so click on over today! Offer valid in the U.S. only.
I haven’t done these two thing yet but they WILL be done
-Donate some toys for the needy families our office has adopted – one family has 7 kids! I have the things, just have to bring them in.
-Send some cards to the Operation Write Home site. They are made, I just have to send them.
Always looking for more ideas. And I DO try to do this year round, although opportunities seem more plentiful this time of year.
Last year we made this really yummy hot chocolate for all our neighbors!
Hope they enjoyed it!
donate clothes and or toys that my kids don’t need!
I try to do little “favors” for my co-workers, helping them out when they are feeling the time pinch or overwhelmed. Sometimes staying an extra 10 minutes to help them out actually means 10 minutes less in traffic–so I’m happy to help out. I and my family are also involved in our church music program, this weekend we are all involved in a cantata–it means extra rehearsals but the whole family is either playing an instrument, singing or running the sound board!
This year I made different, unique cards for the forty + people on my Christmas card list. And they even get a card if they send me nothing or if they just send me a Christmas letter!
Cookie baking and trying to give to a couple of charities. I really try throughout the year to listen to family to pick gifts that fit their needs and likes. Love this time of the year!
We’re doing a secret santa in our office this year too- and the person that I get to play santa to likes practical things, but I overheard her talking about possibly doing a more eco-tree this year- so the night before the exchange started I went home & strung popcorn & cranberries on thread. She was so surprised when she opened it!!! It’s been fun creating things for her little surprises- a notepad, cookies- I’m going to make some gift tags for her today! FUN!
Sing some songs & bake some cookies!
Oh, honey, send that Matthew elf to my house! I’ve really enjoyed reading everyone’s comments and their creative way of spreading cheer. I sent some cards to Operation Write Home for our troops – but, shoot, that doesn’t begin to touch all the creative gift giving going on in these comments. You guys are an inspiration!
We donate to our police department, who in turn takes each foster child in our county Christmas shopping. It is a wonderful program and the kids faces as they are shopping…well it is priceless.
I’m a member of Soldier’s Angels and this year my mother and I adopted a military family for Christmas. In fact, I just shipped off their box of goodies today!
What fun Secret Santa is!! I am making my niece & nephew’s holidays brighter this year as they dont really have grandparents that give gifts to them much and their parents are struggling financially. I had so much fun picking them out some beautiful new clothes to wear!! I love giving gifts. I also sent a great big package up to a dear friend of mine in Canada that I met online and she loves to make cards and scrapbook but cant find the good deals up there!!
we usually do service at least once a month by doing something for someone in need or maybe just leaving some goodies at their door! its always fun to be sneaky and let them wonder…
I’ve been picking up kids and taking them to school (to far to walk in cold weather) I’ve also been making scarves (lots of them) to distribute around to those who need them. And I am working 10 shifts over the next two weeks helping out a friend! (I get paid) but she called for help!! So I said yes!! All for the spirit of Christmas!! I could just be sitting at home SBing, but its not as fun as getting out there and giving what you can!! Even a little luvin goes a looong way!!
That is really funny.
I always donate a gift to a charity appeal. I also did a secret Santa with a group of online crafty friends which was great fun. Will be doing some baking with the kids soon to give to preschool friends and neighbours.
I spread the holiday cheer everytime I send out a RAK. They are always surprised and love to receive happy mail. I also plan on making ornaments for my 2nd grade cathecism class as well as my daughter’s 4th grade teachers. I’m in my 6th year of teaching and wouldn’t trade it for the world.
I like to pay coffee to the person behind me at Starbucks!
Every year, a set amount of money is put aside to surpize some unexpecting soul. One year it was our waitress at Denny’s who we knew was a single mom going back to college. This year it is a co-worker whose husband is unemployed.
I love being able to bless someone and provide them a Christmas miracle.
Um…YUM! I love me some Matthew. Yummy!! Happy Holidays!
I love to pick a child’s name off the Christmas tree at church and be a Secret Santa to some of our neighborhood families in need. With this economy, there are many more names on the tree this year.
This year I handmade all my Christmas cards for our friends and family. Doing some baking and trying to give to children’s charities as I can’t imagine a child not getting a gift at Christmas time. Wishing everyone Happy Holidays!!
Haha, love today’s post! How fun to work in such a creative environment.
Dear Santa (aka random number generator),
Please pick me though I cannot really guarantee that I’ve been a good girl or even a mediocre one. Nevertheless, I do my best.
Sincerely,
Marla
I do secret Santa gifts to people I know through the mail, I try to find someone that is going through a hard time or and could use a pick me up.It is always unusual gifts I think they would like…I had somone I knew a couple years ago that was taking care of her sick husband and stressed, I seen everytime she went to pull out her wallet it was duct taped! I went and purchased a nice wallet and wrapped and mailed with no information but Maerry Christmas, she has never figured it was me.Surprises with no ties is the best.
What a great guy that Matthew is, huh? Great post and thanks for the view of your “special” card!!! (just makes me smile!)
The Giving Spirit of Christmas is more important than the receiving. I make lots of baked goods and cards for my neighbors. I also go around asking them for any extra blankets/warm coats or sweaters/gloves, etc. for our local “Coats for Cold” prgram. It provides these items to the homeless and also at the schools for families of need.
It’s the kind of thing that I’m proud to do for those in need. I love giving to anyone…kindness is my mantra!
Well, I’ll probably take my employees out to lunch to thank them for their dedication, and wish them a merry Christmas.
I love to make homemade gifts for all my coworkers. Last year I made snow man soup bags and this year I am making Paper Barn Stars.
What a fun gift exchange!
I like to make handmade gifts for friends and family. I make sure I donate money whenever I see a Salvation Army bell ringers.
Thanks for the giveaway!
I have been trying to spread extra cheer by donating to my favorite charities, give extra tip money to waitresses and tipping my hairdresser and my paper lady.
I’ve been baking every weekend & sharing with my friends & family!
Thank you for the free festive sentiments download. I like them very much.
I make handmade gifts for friends and family. This year our Girl Scout troop is going to the local Nursing Home to visit FIFTY elderly folks who have NOBODY to visit them this year!!! It’s kind of sad, so we’ll be there with cards and gifts for every one of them!
I will have to try to learn how to download the sentiments you have for us. Our church has a little girl with cancer and some of the ladies put together a box of fun items she can take to the hospital when she gets treatments for she and her little sister. Thanks for all the ideas.
I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas!
Rebecca:)
I have 7 employees that work in my department. On December 1 I gave them a box to leave on their desk and everyday I stuck a “little something” in the box. Somedays it was sweet (orange, candy, gum), some days it was practical (socks, light, memo pad) and some days it was necessary (can coozie with pop money!). Really fun! I also have participated in adopting Christmas families at work and church – buying the gifts, donating toward fundraising efforts and will probably help with the delivery as I have in the past. We also just hosted a party for my husband’s former co-workers. (he misses his friends!) Love to gather, give and greet! Would love to win the giveaway!
Tami
I do a 12 days of Christmas swap. Each person makes 12 of an item and sends out 11 of them. Everyone is asigned a number, and on that day you open that gift. It’s lots of fun, and you end up with 12 unique, handmade gifts.
We just gave a friend of mine who is going through a divorce and is moving into an apartment some of our furniture. I feel like we’re both blessed by it though because we’re trying to simplify and pare down and she is blessed by something that she really needs!
This year my parents will be coming to my house to celebrate Christmas. To spread cheer to them, I’ve dug out old decorations that were passed on to me from my mom and decorated my house with them. I’m sure that my parents will have fun seeing some of these “antiques” and reminiscing about them!
Wow, you are SO lucky for Matthew to have been your Secret Santa! LOL! This year I have been making small monetary donations to those less fortunate. I realize times are tough, so I do what I can.
A smile and a cheery greeting makes even the snowiest coldest day warmer!
Oh, and Matthew McC is a good way to warm up too! Oh my!
Kim Marie
How funny!
We do a angel gift for a local charity that all goes to kids in my dd’s school district that are less fortunate. Besides that we have decided that we aren’t doing a ton of gift giving for the adults in the family. I’ve also sent handmade cards to everyone on my Christmas card list.
Happy Festival of Lights!
Merry Christmas!
my mind must be tainted by the lovely…. photo card. I do adore that pic… Okay – when you asked how we spread cheer to our “fellow man” do you mean “our man” or… do you mean mankind?
if it’s the first – well, lots of goodies, sweets and uh other things. If it’s “fellow man” – well, lots of goodies and sweets.
I make a lot of goodies to give away to our church family as well as take on some shut-ins to give a little something home-made and a little something to make them more comfortable. It is all about sharing the Christmas spirit
)
I am a card maker and I love your magazine so much. I have been making
cards, invitations, etc. for a long time now. This is my first time to view
your blog. I am so happy I found it. I live donating cards to CARDS FOR
HEROS.ORG and I also donate cards to a retirement home in my town.
That is what Christmas is all about; giving and caring.
this year is special because i will be sending hand-made xmas cards to my friends. I just learned how to make card through the blog 1 month ago.
Toys for Tots is a favorite organization of mine…especially at this time of year. I’ve also spread some holiday cheer by helping my mom finish her shopping.
At work we are collecting for a food and toy drive. We have filled those barrels multiple times already!
Not much to be honest. I still can’t believe it’s Christmas time already!
This year, like I always do I am sending out the Christmas cards. But just recently, I also took up knitting so everyone is getting a candy cane scarf because it gives them something extra and it keeps me busy.
I gave a college mascot and stamp to a friend who is a big fan of her team and will use it for notepapers, cards, and fun! Mittens and gloves went to the Church Mitten tree for United Services. Donations went to the County. Now I must get to work on the cards!
My best friend’s husband is deployed to Iraq. My mom and I sewed stockings for all the soldiers in his unit. My friend and I filled them with goodies for all the guys hoping to bring them a little Christmas cheer while they are away from their loved ones this holiday season.
i try to spread christmas cheer all year long, as i am a big believer in paying it forward….by doing little things for people like giving them my shopping cart with out asking them for a quarter,saying hi to someone i don’t know, little things like that. jen t. merry christmas!!!!