A new-to-me-mailbox card for the last day of July

 

 If you have read here much at all, you know it's no secret that I love Christmas cards featuring designs of mailboxes.  Recently I was sorting through some Christmas cards and readying to sell them in my Etsy shop, and came upon this beauty I hadn't seen before.

I've often said that I don't know why these cards speak to me as they do.   I guess the main appeal for me is of a more innocent time; that people would send gift-wrapped, string-tied parcels through the mail and they would actually arrive safely; that sprigs of holly or evergreen, snipped from the sender's yard, would be tucked in with packages, so simple, yet such beautiful enhancements.

This pretty red mailbox is mounted upon what looks like a fence post. It appears that pine and holly were planted at its base, for sprigs of both seem to be growing there.  A small wrapped gift is also at the mailbox's base.  

There's not a package or letter to be seen in this mailbox; instead it is stuffed with poinsettias and holly tied up with red ribbons.  A pair of cardinals adds yet another touch of red to this festive scene.

What a July this has been!  When I started in to post for Christmas in July 2026, I really had no idea if I would be able to post every day.  To be honest, it didn't seem likely.  But God gave me ideas and in His timing and strength I was able to post daily.  I hope this has been as enjoyable for my readers as it has been for me!

 

Beautiful printable gift tags

 

 Why would you ever make your own gift tags rather than buying a package of them in the store?  Well, I can think of several reasons.  For one thing, it saves money.  Even though you might purchase gift tags for not much money at all if you wait and buy them after Christmas, you can make them from last year's Christmas cards for free, as I've done for the assortment in the photo above.

Or you might choose to design your own or print some free printable tags, in which case there would be some expense for card stock and ink, but it would be minimal.  

And that brings me to another reason for making your own -- you can customize them as you like if you design them.

Or, if you use free printables you can choose from a large array of possibilities.  Yvonne at Stonegable has selected a variety of printable tags to choose from, and all are lovely.  Here is but one example:

 And there are many more -- snowmen, gold trees, blue and lavender snowflakes just to name a few!  Here is the link: printable gift tags.  Enjoy!

A few minutes in the Christmas room

Last Thursday we took a wonderful outing with friends -- a train ride along a lake shore where we met up with a cruise ship and took a lengthy cruise and narrated tour of Lake Winnipesaukee.  If you are interested in learning more, go here: Rail and Sail.

After disembarking, we wanted to go out for ice cream and decided to go to a reliable year-round favorite, Kellerhaus.  They make their own ice cream and candy and are absolutely worth a visit if you find yourself in New Hampshire's Lakes Region.

Long-time readers may recall that this is a favorite destination for some of our local grandchildren.  They enjoy looking at the toys and also the Christmas rooms and candy shop after we enjoy our ice cream sundaes each December.  A couple photos from previous visits are below.

Our friends had not visited the Christmas room when we brought them there before.  So this time, we all browsed the Christmas room, and I thought I would share a few photos with you all.

One corner in the Christmas room.

I especially liked the icy tree at left and the scalloped felt tree at top center.

An ornament bargain bin

These are jingle bell ornaments resembling snowmen and are personalized.  One would have to spend a long time searching for specific names.  They were only 50¢, so it might be worth it to take that time.

Part of the ornament wall

Christmas dishes and felt poinsettias

This platter and pitcher above may be my favorites of the Christmasy things we saw.

And that's how we happened to be in the Kellerhaus Christmas Room -- and some of the pretty things we saw there -- on July 23.  It seemed our visit needed to be documented here on my Christmas blog!

Lovely Christmas stamps

 It may sound strange, but even as a believer in Jesus I tend to shy away from traditional "religious" Christmas stamps.  I think they are often not very attractive.  I am much more drawn to stamps like those above featuring winter birds.  I like the idea of stamps featuring the Madonna and child, but the reality is that the ones I have seen I really didn't like very much.

The ones currently available, however, are different.  I love these and will very likely order some.

Here is a closeup:

Here is a screenshot of the description from the USPS website:

It's good to know the names of the artists who worked on this stamp,  I really like how Mary looks like the teenage girl she was and that she has no unnecessary halo.  This portrait seems light-filled rather than the darker look of many of the "religious" Christmas stamps.  It's just a very lovely stamp.

What kind of Christmas stamps do you prefer?

Christmas fabric focus week 4

 

I just love Christmas fabric.  There are so many ways it can be used!  The photo above shows how I trimmed pillow cases with a lovely Christmas scene.

For this week's Christmas fabric focus,  I chose Merry Happy Christmas by Bluebellgray for Lewis & Irene Fabrics.  It is bright and fun and just so festive.  

Here are some of the fabrics I especially liked from this line.  

Winter White main yardage

Winter White Festive Foliage

Black Forest Holly

Red Christmas Tartan

Winter White Christmas Tree

Pine Holly Jolly

Pistachio Holly Jolly

I can think of some fun projects I'd love to make with this cheery fabric.  How about you?

Today's vintage Christmas card

 

Here is one last vintage Christmas card church for the last Sunday in July.  

The red border around this scene sets it off nicely, but I think I might have used a metallic gold.  The white church with its green doors stands sturdy and tall at sunset on a winter afternoon.  In December the sun sets around 4:30 here in New England, and I love the moody winter look of this scene as it is so true to my own experience.  The church is lighted in anticipation of folks who will enter.

Already a group is singing carols around the outdoor Christmas tree.  Others are on the way in a sleigh or on foot.  I imagine that more will join them and that then all of the congregants will go in for cookies and hot cocoa -- or maybe even a potluck supper.  

I love this nostalgic image and hope that my readers will too.

Fun and festive yarn for Christmas crafting

 

Summer is definitely the time of year to sit at the beach (or on the porch with a glass of iced tea or iced coffee at hand) and work on crocheting smaller projects for Christmas.  I often make hot mats, dish cloths, coasters, and even ornaments.  It's always fun to find a festive new yarn to use.

 

The variegated yarn above has gold sparkles in it.  

The tree motif above is made from this pattern in a sparkly green yarn.  I still want to do a bunch of these and make a garland.

I just used a festive variety of regular cotton yarn in the hot mat above.

Imagine my delight to see in my email this morning a message from Yarnspirations featuring a new yarn simply titled "Festive"!  It is a new color way from Red Heart Super Savers Bitty Stripes.  You can save 35% now on this yarn with the code XMASINJULY.  

For a closer look at this pretty new Christmas yarn, go here: Bitty Stripes Festive.  Happy shopping and crafting!