Every year on the day after the last day of school, we have a Christmas party for the weekday school staff. I was running out of time and was planning on doing just a half-sheet of basic information copied on the copy machine. After all, we were meeting at a nearby restaurant and everyone would be buying their own breakfast. It didn't have a very festive sound.
But at the last minute I started thinking about how special our staff is and how hard they work. Didn't they deserve more than a half-sheet of cheap copy paper telling them where to be and at what time?
SHOW
So — this is what I came up with. The text was still copied on the copy machine, but on a full-sheet of cardstock instead of paper, folded over so that the inside was filled with information about our annual giving project. (We have always chosen some cause or needy family to support at Christmastime.) Each invitation was then individually hand-stamped — all 27 of them.
And, you know, putting a little time into the invitations made the occasion seem much more special and like something to look forward to instead of an obligation to attend.
AND TELL: stamps are from Papertrey Ink (Tree Trimming Trio, Fancy Flourishes, Banner Builder); cardstock is whatever cheap white stuff we had at school; ink is Stampin' Up (Basic Gray, Wild Wasabi, Regal Rose, Pretty in Pink, Daffodil Delight).
One thing we do at our annual party — and probably the reason almost everyone always comes — is hand out our staff Christmas "bonuses" (a gift-card to the store that each staff member selects for themselves).
Being last-minute me, I decided on Friday morning that I should really fancy up their basic store-folder gift cards by at least adding a simple tag to the outside. And, here's what I came up with:
I used PTI's wreath set with the wreath stamped on scalloped circles punched with SU's 2" punch. I started out stamping the berries with a glue pad and adding pink glitter, but since I began this little project about an hour before I needed to be at the restaurant, the glitter was taking too long so I gave that up and just used rose colored ink. The above picture is of the tags before I attached them to the card folders, giving them that little extra Janelle touch.
So, the whole staff had a nice Christmas celebration all together in a relaxed atmosphere. Just what we needed last Friday before entering into the craziness of getting our own family Christmases in order.
And, speaking of parties and celebrations, I've been holding out on you. Our family has a big event that will be coming up — probably in 2011. Britt & Kenneth are engaged!
The Sunday after Thanksgiving, Kenneth asked Ken for our daughter's hand in marriage. He said something like... "I love her and she's my best friend." And, Ken? Well, he cried. And gave his blessing. :)
Then we waited for two weeks, wondering when the proposal was going to take place. Not telling anyone for that period of time about killed us! And then, after he proposed on Saturday, December 11, we found out that they weren't telling their friends for yet another week. Huh?!? That meant we had still another week where we weren't supposed to say anything. But now that Britt's changed her Facebook status to "engaged", I guess it's OK for me to announce it here, too.
So — we're really happy and know that the coming year is going to be full of new adventures as we begin planning (and paying for!) this event (for which no date or location has been set). You can be sure I'll keep you posted. :)
Thanks so much for stopping by here for a few minutes — and for sharing in our joy. Your visits and comments mean a lot to me. Hope to see you again soon!
