The 12 Days Of Kitschmas

I got this lovely book for free, and it has provided me with hours of shuddering enjoyment.

Look at the subtle use of ribbons in 1986’s décor.  Ain’t it lovely?  Even better is the book’s advice on this subject:

Or consider this delicious project:

Oh, shades of taffeta glory!

The ensemble, of course, could not possibly be complete without these:

Or these:

1986's Motto:  You Can Never Have Too Much Lace

And none of which is as meaningful without the background description of the project:

(I WAS just going to type that out for you instead of posting the picture, but my fingers were sort of puking at having to recreate the words).

If that project doesn’t float your boat, imagine making this for that cherished child in your life:

If THAT doesn't give your five-year-old nightmares, you're obviously not trying hard-enough

And I have definite plans to complete this soon for Mr. C:

Family Therapy, Here We Come!

I so enjoyed rolling in the Christmas kitsch glory I could create with the projects in this book.  Ahh, 1986; how fun to feel superior to your poor fashion choices!

I must admit, however, that the book DID inspire me to think more about Christmas this year, which led to a trip to my local library to borrow more modern books on Christmas projects.  I am sad to report that many of the more recent books are already, sadly, outdated: I can just see Christmas crafters in 2033 gathering around these books and snorting at the delusional ideas of style possessed by us 2010’ers.

 I have decided not to complete any of the crafts in these books I looked at, though, so all my friends and family can rest easy that they will not be receiving gift tags made from recycled tea bags, magnets from glass buttons, or ornaments made from old beer bottles (all of which would be fine . . . were I able to complete them in any other style besides my own, patented Ghetto-Chic approach).

What I’ve decided to do, though, is concentrate on giving a few simple gifts this year.  And what I’m also trying to do is make the holidays more meaningful for my immediate family (meaning Mr. C and Bee).  So I’ve started a 12 Days of Christmas program. 

For Mr. C, this means that I try to think up a new, “special” activity for each of the 12 days leading up to Christmas.  It doesn’t even have to be particularly Christmassy, which explains why today’s activity, in which I am currently employed, sees me hanging out at the local Burger King so Mr. C can play on their play structure for an hour.

Yesterday we had hot chocolate while watching a movie.  In a few days we’re going to try to go ice skating.  And I’m very-much looking forward to the “driving around looking at Christmas lights” activity. 

For Bee, the 12 Days Of Christmas means getting one small gift each day instead of a few moderate ones on the 25th.  This is my second year doing this for him, and it’s actually been one of my brighter ideas: Bee has always championed for opening gifts early, in the spirit that it makes the event last longer.  I, however, have always been frigidly staunch in my belief that one must wait for the Official Day, with the thought that the expectation is part of the fun AND that, should I have opened gifts early, I will therefore have very little on the Official Day, causing it to be a pathetic letdown.

Thus far, Bee’s gifts this year have included: updating his computer background with a new picture of me (not THAT kind), a small gift card to a local book store, a dvd copy of The African Queen off of ebay, a voucher for a night of sampling beer at a local pub, and a new mug to replace a favored-style he broke.  Still to come: baking his favorite cake, a set of drumsticks, a t-shirt with his business logo on it, bringing home his favorite type of donut from his favorite donut shop, etc.

He seems to be much more pleased with all these small gifts than he’s been with the gifts I’ve chosen for him in the past.  Of course, maybe that’s because – unless I’m buying him an iPod or a drum set – I don’t often choose his gifts wisely (“What?  You DIDN’T want this shirt from the thrift store?!”).  (Although, may I selfishly point out that NONE of my gifts have ever lived up to the craptacular-ness of what S.B.gave him a few years ago: a box of pencils and a guppy net.  I kid you not.)

I enjoy putting forth the effort every day to make the season of giving and community and love last a little longer for us.  It’s been fun.  And hopefully all the rest of my family will appreciate the simple gifts I made for them:

(Sadly-enough, as a 1986 Girl Scout, I actually DID make several earrings similar to this)