Color and Cut-Out The Paper Santa Claus

This paper doll requires brads for it's assembly.

Description of Coloring Page: A Santa paper doll, Santa's suit, moving parts, bag of toys, snow white beard, big black boots

Don't forget to drag the png. or jpg into a Word Document and enlarge the image as much as possible before printing it folks. If you have a question about this coloring page, just type into the comment box located directly below this post and I'll try to get back to you as soon as I can.

 

 A Holly Song by Mary E. Butts

Oho! for the holly, the shining holly,
Green when the year is old;
Brave and bright in the winter light,
Glad in the storm and cold.
Oho! for the holly, the faithful holly,
Like the heart that is true and bold.

White are the drifts in the bleak December;
Red is the holly fruit;
Deep in the woods in the Christmas splendor
When the noisy winds are mute,
We gather the holly, the shining holly,
For its joy doth the season suit.

Then oho! for the holly, the brave, bright holly;
Oho! for the winter cold!
May we never forget our due and debt
To the Christmas Day of old;
But warm with love the patient earth
Wrapped in the snow's white fold

Hey kids, here are kids from WhatsUpMoms making three great Christmas cookies on their own in the kitchen! Learn how to make the holidays delicious all by yourself, well... maybe you will need a little help from Mom.

Christmas Holly

Holly berry wreath, Christmas greetings. drawing by kathy grimm

Christ child with manger and holly.

A basket of Christmas holly.

A Victorian child holding holly.

Mistletoe and Holly

by Thomas A. Daly

THE  mistletoe  is  gemmed  with  pearls,
Bed  berries  hath  the  holly.
Remember,  all  ye  modest  girls,
The  mistletoe  is  gemmed  with  pearls,
And  when  it  hangs  above  your  curls,
Away  with  melancholy!
The  mistletoe  is  gemmed  with  pearls,
Eed  berries  hath  the  holly.

Since  mistletoe  is  hard  to  find,
We  do  not  need  it,  Mollie,
O  do,  I  beg  of  you,  be  kind,  -
Since  mistletoe  is  hard  to  find,
Pretend  that  you  are  color-blind,
And  kiss  beneath  this  holly.
Since  mistletoe  is  hard  to  find,
We  do  not  need  it,  Mollie.

Holly And Ivy

Holly and Ivy

Holly standeth in ye house

When that Noel draweth near;

Evermore at ye door

Standeth Ivy, shivering sore

In ye night wind bleak and drear;

And, as weary hours go by,

Doth ye one to other cry.

"Sister Holly," Ivy quoth,

"What is that within you see?

To and fro doth ye glow

Of ye yule-log flickering go;

Would its warmth did cherish me!

Where thou bidest is it warm;

I am shaken of ye storm."

"Sister Ivy," Holly quoth,

"Brightly burns the yule-log here,

And love brings beauteous things,

While a guardian angel sings

To the babes that slumber near;

But, O Ivy! tell me now,

What without there seest thou?"

"Sister Holly," Ivy quoth,

"With fair music comes ye Morn,

And afar burns ye Star

Where ye wondering shepherds are

And the Shepherd King is born;

'Peace on earth, good-will to men,'

Angels cry, and cry again."

Holly standeth in ye house

When that Noel draweth near;

Clambering o'er yonder door,

Ivy standeth evermore;

And to them that rightly hear

Each one speaketh of ye love

That outpoureth from Above.

by Eugene Field

"A Merry Christmas To All" fun page

Description of Coloring Page: portrait of St. Nickolas, holly berries and leaves, text "A Merry Christmas To All" big beard

Don't forget to drag the png. or jpg into a Word Document and enlarge the image as much as possible before printing it folks. If you have a question about this coloring page, just type into the comment box located directly below this post and I'll try to get back to you as soon as I can.

       Did you know that holly grows in practically every country in the world, as there are more than one hundred and fifty varieties, so that some flourish in every climate. The custom of using holly at the winter festival is of great antiquity and is believed to have come from the ancient pagan festivals. It was used at Christmas by the early Christians. According to tradition holly is the bush in which Jehovah appeared to Moses.

"There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in flames of fire from within a burning bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up." Exodus 3:2

 

 

       To see what Santa sees, take a pencil and, starting at dot one, draw a continuous line from dot to dot in consecutive order. Where two numbers appear beside one dot, use the dot twice.

Deck The House With Green Boughs and Wreaths

Hemlock displayed over the mantle with a traditional holly wreath, with red bow, in the center.
Pine boughs are hung above the windows and picture frame. Holly wreaths are mounted on the 
window panes and a sprig of mistletoe is hung between these...

        Of the many ways in which we can give expression to the Christmas spirit there is none more lasting than the attractive decoration of the house. The pleasure of exchanging gifts is soon over, as is the enjoyment of each of many festivities, but the home decorations remain throughout the holiday season, always reminding us that it is Christmas and of what the season means.

Mistletoe sprigs are nailed above the door frames and wreath. The wreath is 
made using bay leaves and dried cranberries. Two hardy laurels are on either
side of the hutch. Lovely formal red ribbons adorn the plants.

       On this post are shown a few simple suggestions which can be inexpensively carried out. Holly wreaths are always identified with Christmas, but in connection with them very effective use can be made of other evergreens, such as hemlock and laurel. Why not try to make the home more Christmas-like this year than ever before?

Above is a long pine garland draped down the banister of the staircase.
Small clusters of holly and berries also between the garland. 

Festoons of Christmas greenery also decorate more mantles in this home and pots filled with
 hemlock and small conifers.

Christmas Greetings

Christmas Greeting

 

We hope your Christmas will be merry,

And each farewell by Santa Claus.

All care and trouble try to bury,

Let Joy and Pleasure be your cause.

Your presence gives us happy hearts,

The world is bright before us.

May life be full of cakes and tarts,

And all good things come o'er us. 

Christmas Greeting in full color,
holly berries and leaves.

Christmas Greeting in green,
holly berries and leaves.

Christmas Greeting in burgundy,
holly berries and leaves.

Have a question about the illustration? Just type it in the comment box and I'll get back to you as soon as possible. I only publish content that is closely related to the subject, folks.

Color the wind in his beard...

 

Description of Coloring Page: St. Nickolas, snow, wind, holly frame

        Don't forget to drag the png. or jpg into a Word Document and enlarge the image as much as possible before printing it folks. If you have a question about this coloring page, just type into the comment box located directly below this post and I'll try to get back to you as soon as I can.

 

       Once you have colored Santa and the holly wreath for fun, why not try drawing a wreath all by yourself? 

Left, "A circle is an artist's friend, you lat it on the desk and then."
Center, "You draw another one inside, some ribbon lines that flare out wide,"
Right, "Some holly leaves with edges fine, and here's a wreath for Christmas time!"

More Links to Christmas Wreaths:

• Christmas wreath and many other designs made with pattern blocks... 
• Simple chenille stem Christmas wreath craft for doll play...
• DIY a Christmas candy cane wreath for a doll.
• "W is for wreath" alphabet coloring pages

Victorian Christmas Bell Clip Art

       The following Victorian scrap, Christmas bell clip art was restored by Kathy Grimm in 2012. Please read Terms of Use before downloading the graphics; they are free for personal use only.

Red Christmas bell, church in the
snow and holly with berries.

Victorian white bell with holly/berries
 and "A Merry Christmas" script

Brass Bell, holly and berries, pink pom poms

Have a question about the illustration? Just type it in the comment box and I'll get back to you as soon as possible. I only publish content that is closely related to the subject, folks.

Christmas Wreaths

       Two small clip art illustrations of Christmas wreaths and two restored wreath graphics are by Kathy Grimm. Read the Terms of Use before downloading and printing for personal use only.

Traditional Christmas wreath with jingle bells.

A little girl standing in front of a very large Christmas wreath.

Christmas wreath made from pine cones.

Large holly wreath with a vibrant red bow.

Have a question about the illustration? Just type it in the comment box and I'll get back to you as soon as possible. I only publish content that is closely related to the subject, folks.

More Christmas Wreath Clip Art:

• Holly Wreath With Giant Bow
• A Candle Stick and Holly Wreath

Include Cotton Batting and Powdered Mica in Your Christmas Decor!

Novel Ways of Trimming Interiors For The Holiday, 1899 American Press Association

      A Christmas without snow is not always a pleasant season. With our variable climate and the passing away of the good old fashioned winter of our grandfathers the "beautiful" can no longer be relied upon as an accessory to Christmastide celebrations.

      A New York artist who has the happy faculty of thinking out such things for himself has adopted a plan in his own house which has always a congenial Christmas within doors, no matter what the weather may be without.

      This plan for converting a home into a grotto of boreal attractiveness is as follows: When it is decided in which room the Christmas tree is to be erected, a white sheet should be spread over the carpet, covering the entire floor of the room. The picture molding should then be draped with bunches of cotton batting and sprinkled with powdered mica to represent snow. About the sashee of the windows also should be bunched masses of this glistening cotton wool.

      The Christmas tree itself should stand in a snow bank, and its boughs should be laden with flecks of the "beautiful" spread about as generously as though it were standing in a Maine forest in midwinter.

      The effect of such unique and at the same time inexpensive decoration is marvelous. It brightens and lights and cheers a room in a most wonderful manner. If there are a number of pictures in the room, the frames of these can also be done in white cotton wool and touches added wherever such would in crease the wintery illusion.

      This sort of decoration should be most acceptable in the south, where Christmas often comes without snow. It must be remembered, however, that this sort of decoration should not be left up after Christmas day. The white cotton very soon becomes dusty and draggled, and when once in this condition the charm is lost. The accompanying illustration will give a good idea of the general effect of a room so decorated.

      It is also fit and proper that the dining room should be well decorated on Christmas day. Ropes of evergreen, which can either be made at home with very little trouble or purchased from the dealers, should be suspended from the chandelier in the center of the room and caught up at its four different corners. The frames of the pictures should also be decorated with greens, and if there happens to be any old Dutch plates hanging on the walls a very pretty effect can be obtained by surrounding them with a holly wreath. These wreaths should be so made that the green will be on the outside of the circle and the berries inside next to the plates.

      Another unique idea is to have a number of well made holly wreaths in which to set the plates on the table during the Christmas dinner. Somewhere about the room, of course, should be the indispensable spray of mistletoe. If it is put on the chandelier over the table, the best part of the Christmas celebration is likely to be missed, as one can scarcely expect a young lady to climb up on a table, no matter how much she --well, we need not say the rest, but it stands to reason that the portiere or the arch over the door is the best place for the white berried parasite.

      Holly wreaths should also be hung in the different windows. In doing this a very fine wire should be used, tying the wreath to the window fastener so that it will hang exactly in the middle of the lower casement.     

Novel ways of decorating with cotton and bling today. Watch Annabelle's Cotton Candy Christmas Tree. The tree is white and flocked and filled to the brim with sweet long lasting treats!

More Decorating With Cotton:  

• From Snowy White Chairs to a Pimped Out Staircase: How to Decorate Like a Celeb This Christmas
• Ultimate Christmas Room Inspiration!
• How to flock a Christmas tree
• Cotton Batting Christmas Ornaments
• Craft an Old World Cotton Batting Santa

DIY a Yule Log Centerpiece

Steps to assemble a Yule Log centerpiece.

 "The old north breeze thro' the skeleton trees, is chanting the year out drearily; but loud let it blow, for at home we know that the dry logs crackle cheerily." Albert Smith

       The Yule Log was a great log of wood, sometimes the root of a tree, brought into the house with great ceremony on Christmas Eve, laid in the fire-place, and lighted with the brand of last year's log. While it lasted there was great drinking, singing, and telling of tales. Sometimes it was accompanied by Christmas candles; but in the primitive cottage the only light was from the ruddy blaze of the great wood fire. The Yule Log was to burn all night; if it went out, it was considered a sign of ill luck.

• Read more about the Christmas Yule Log Traditions of England
• Craft a Cotton Batting, Birch Yule Log Ornament
• Make a Yule Log cake candy container

Supply List:

• a dry log
• drill press - woodworking tool
  
• candles tapers or other sizes if you prefer
  
• bit to fit the press that is the same size of the candles
• greenery collected together to trim the log: pine cones, red berries, holly etc...
• optional feet cut from branches to stabilize the log
• thin wire for attaching greenery
  

Step-by-Step Process:

1. Select a clean, dry log of medium size for decorating the center of your Christmas table.
2. This log may have a flatish bottom or your may need to cut pegs from scrap branches to keep the log from rolling while on display. (see photos)
3. Choose a drill bit the same diameter as the candles you wish to use inside of the yule log and drill several inches into the log. If some of these are deeper than others and the candles don't fit exactly, just stuff cotton down inside of the holes to even the candle heights in the beginning.
4. Wire in Yule Log greenery in an attractive fashion.
5. You may also wish to display a Yule Log inside of your fire surround or fireplace instead of burning logs. This always adds a romantic touch during the holidays and is far less messy!

Yule Log Plant & Candle Meanings:

• English Ivy - symbolizes eternal life
• Holly/Holiday Berries and Mistletoe - good luck, protection
• Pine Cones - symbolize resurrection
• Juniper Sprigs - symbolize healing
• Candles - white symbolize "light", red symbolize determination, green prosperity

Close up of plants used to trim our Yule log.

 

        "These are glowing today for very joy, each in the measure of its greatness, like the wax candles which burn big and bright if they are big, little and bright if they are little, but are all flaming heavenward in rapture. Christmas is for everybody. To each of us the Child was born, and the world that was redeemed is our world. The merry greetings of Christmas morning are but symbols of that redemption. The children's happiness, the neighborly good-will, the generous deed are at once memorials of that pure dawn of long ago, and prophecies of a day more perfect still. Indeed, when we truly keep Christmas in the heart, the heavens are so near - the earth that the angelic voices are like the voices of those we love, and the faces of those we love shine like the faces of the angels. We forget the poor gift, the half-filled stocking, the anxiety. We think only of the perfection that is so close, after all, to our imperfection. To live but one day in good-will to all men is to anticipate and hasten that day when all men shall live in good-will. It is thus that the candles now lighted in the heart shall also be." Perry

Christmas Gift Tags for Coloring

Eight holly tags for coloring. Write to and from labels for presents.

       Color these simple holly and Christmas tree gift tags. Use your own pens, crayons or colored pencils to match the colors in your gift wrap this year. Punch the hole where shown and tie a colorful twine or ribbon to match your choice of gift wrap too.

Eight gift tags of Christmas trees for coloring. "Merry Xmas" on the labels.

Color a Nostalgic Portrait of Santa Claus for a Christmas Calendar

      Above is a photo of the Nostalgic Santa Calendar in progress. I used a black, felt tip, permanent ink marker to hand letter my calendar numbers. It is traditional to depict only the twenty-five days until December 25th on a calendar such as this. Use white glue and cotton balls to cover each day as it passes. Children will enjoy giving Santa a snowy, white beard by the time he comes to fill their stockings with treats and candy!

      Layer colored pencils in order to create depth in Santa's portrait. On the left, I first chose to emphasize the wrinkles in Santa's face with a dark brown. Then I selected a bright red to draw attention to his rosy cheeks and nose. Then I colored his entire face with a flesh toned pencil. These three color selections will help your colored drawings to look three dimensional. As you improve, you will add many more color combinations to your skin tones. But, these three should suffice for young students.

      Again, as you can see I have selected a lavender and then a ruby red to layer beneath the red of Santa's hat before coloring the entire hat with a fire engine red. You can try multiple color combinations to see how different the portrait will look if you'd like.

      Above is an example of layering color compliments. I chose to green and red for the holly. After cutting out the holly leaves, I pasted a thin strip of foam to the backside of each leaf in order to add extra dimension to the calendar. Glue on a red pom pom or two for the berries.

      Above is a free coloring page of Santa for little one to use when assembling their December count down to Christmas calendar.

Craft Count Down to Christmas Calendars:

• Elf Christmas Countdown Calendar Craft
• Santa's Christmas Countdown
• Christmas Countdown Calendar Craft {with Mini-Stockings}

Quick and Easy Christmas Placecards

Step-by-step process for place-cards.

        A Christmas Place-Card: At Christmas dinner we like to have a card at each guests chair. The drawing, just right, shows step-by-step how to make a card that will hold a candle or perhaps a small sprig of holly.

1. Take a piece of heavy white paper that is six inches long and two inches wide. 
2. Fold it in the middle, like Figure 2.
3. Cut two slits in the fold, near the middle like figure 3.
4. The part you have cut makes a holder for a Christmas candle or holly sprig. Make a card for everyone at the holiday dinner table this year.
   

More Easy Christmas Place-Cards: 

• Mini tree stump Christmas place card holders
• Top 10 Creative DIY Christmas Place Cards

Traditional Gilded Walnut Ornaments

Traditional painted walnuts photographed outside on my patio moss. Next year I will include them on my
German feather tree perhaps? More than likely, my young ones will make off with them before I ever
 get a chance to use them!

Above you can see the boxes I used to spray
paint my walnuts silver and gold in.

       Painted walnuts are very traditional to the Victorian Christmas tree. These ornaments can look so very different depending on how you paint them and what flowers you select for the trimming of the tops of each walnut. I chose traditional Christmas poinsettia in white and red, plus a few silk holly leaves to hot glue to the samples shown here. But these walnuts would be just as lovely painted in pinks and blues with matching trims. You could make walnuts to match your own tree colors exactly, of course.

Supply List:

• English walnuts
• metallic spray paints: gold and silver
• tiny Christmas pics
• wires for hanging
• hot glue gun and hot glue sticks
• cardboard boxes 

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1.  Make sure your walnuts are clean and free of dirt.
2. Purchase several pics to cut apart and reuse in the decorative applications on top of each walnut. I chose a traditional poinsettia and holly leaves. 
3. When you spray paint your walnuts, make sure to do so outside in a well ventilated area. I chose to do so inside of cardboard boxes because it makes it easier for me to clean up the mess. I just break down the boxes and toss them into the recycling bin when I've finished with the spray paint.
4. Insert the wire hangers and glue these into place.
5. Hot glue your silk flowers to the tops of each walnut to add a nice finished touch of decoration.

Left, you can see the silver painting on top of newsprint and Right a few close up shots of the old-fashioned ornaments.

More About Gilded Walnuts:

• Gilded Walnuts - How to Make Victorian Christmas Decorations 
• Homemade Christmas Tree Decorations: Easy To Make Christmas Ornaments
• Victorian Christmas: Gilded Walnut Ornaments

Craft Vintage Inspired Cone Figures

Finished vintage inspired, cone angel figures.

       Tiny cone figures were frequently produced by mass industry at the end of the 1940s, primarily by the Japanese or in Germany for the North American market place. Catalogue companies like: J. C. Penny, Wards and Sears sold cone figures by the thousands through the mail, while five-and-dime stores like Woolworth's and made small fortunes by supplying the same kinds of factory made, inexpensive holiday ornaments directly from store displays and shelves.

      My vintage inspired angels are made the old-fashioned way, by hand. Factory made ornaments became popular after the first and second World Wars. Prior to that time, most ornaments were either made at home or supplied by various cottage industries throughout Western Europe and The United States, wherever Christmas trees were most popular. I've posted some examples of these manufactured angles below.

       To make cone shaped angels, your will need the following supplies: cotton batting balls (for heads), decorative papers (tiny Christmas designs), scrap cardboard, trim for bottom of skirts (lace and rick-rack), acrylic paints for heads and arms, thin wire for arms, tiny novelties for angels to hold (see pictures), white glue and hot glue.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Roll heads from cotton batting and white glue. 
2. Cut out skirts from patterned Christmas papers. 
3. Shape and paste the paper skirts into cones. 
4. Glue the head on top. 
5. Stuff the cone shaped skirts with acrylic batting. 
6. Glue a cardboard disk to the bottom of the cones.
7. Glue the pom pom features to the top of the head(s), one or two.
8. Wrap the string around the pom poms and above the forehead areas to make the hair design.
9. Cut the wings from decorative papers and glue these on.
10. Wrap cotton batting around thin wire and let dry.
11. Cut small pieces of that wire for arms and attach these with hot glue.
12. Hot glue tiny gifts for angels to carry: holly and berries, bows for presents, snowflakes, bottle brush trees etc...
13. Smear on touches of white glue and sprinkle angle wings with glitter.
    

      Left, roll heads from cotton batting and white glue. Center, cut out skirts from patterned Christmas papers. Right, shape and paste the paper skirts into cones, glue the head on top. I stuff the cone shaped skirts with acrylic batting and glue a cardboard disk to the bottom of the cones.

Left, tiny cone angels hold: holly, bow and snowflake. Center several have bottle brush
 trees. Right, one has wings cut from a doily... and many have transparent glitter stuck
  to their wings.

Left, my tiny vintage cone angel ornaments. I hang these on my feather tree every Christmas. Right, old catalogue page shown. Elf-like figures. Pine-cone dwarfs, Santas, angels, snowmen. Cotton felt. Stand or hang from tree. Set of 15. From Japan. Shipping weight 12 oz.

 

 

Close up of a tiny vintage cone angle from the 1960s. This tiny angel has a metallic paper skirt and embossed gold wings. She carries two candles in her small chenille stem armature. Her head is made from cotton batting. She has a beaded collar and hair made from tinsel.

Close up of a tiny pink vintage cone angel from the 1960s. Her dress is made from painted pink cardboard sprinkled with silver glitter. She has white chenille stem arms and holds a tiny sprig of green to represent a tree. Her wings are embossed and pink, her head is a cotton batting ball and her yellow hair is made from a silky strand of yarn.

Left, are miniature angels with tulle skirts playing harps. Right the very same hold lights, seen in catalogue.

Pattern for making a cone angel and one version of wings.

More Examples of Vintage Figures from The 1960s:

• Pink vintage angel made with chenille stems
• Vintage, retro lot of Christmas collectibles 1960s
• Favorite vintage finds of the week
• Christmas Decorations for seven generations