Blogmas Day 6: Mini Christmas (Note)Cards

So last year I made mini cards out of note cards, and I thought I'd do it again this year since they turned out so cute in 2015. This time I did an adorable simplified reindeer. I folded 5x8 index cards so the lines were on the inside, then decorated each one with a Rudolph. For his nose I used my finger to stamp some red ink. The eyes were drawn with micron pens, and the antlers with a brown colored pencil. I wrote a personal note inside each one, and I will give them to my friends the last day of school before break. And that's all there is to it!

**note-- original idea modified off Pinterest. Original design here. All credits to original artist.

Blogmas Day 5: It Doesn't Snow Here

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Where I live

By the coast, by the sea,

Where great waves brush the soft sand, thrumming, pulling, breathing, the Earth's heartbeat

It doesn't snow

The air is too warm, they say

The weeds of the chaparral croaking in thirst

The scream emanating from the dry brush

I scream with them

Silently,

There are no sound waves here

No atmosphere to carry my cry

From my house I can see both

The mountains, which stand, heralds, watchers, peering down at us below

There is white sugar on their peaks

I cannot reach it

Below I see the ocean

Forever trapped in its irregular rhythms

Beating the sand

Crumbling the land slowly

I cannot reach it

I look up at barren, white skies

The clouds are so bright I can only squint

And I raise my palms waiting

Watching

But nothing

It doesn't snow here

There are no temporary crystals nestled among my hair

I needn't wear boots because the ground is dry concrete and asphalt

And I watch as the sun pulls up the moon and stars cascade from the clear night

I cannot reach them either

And still

It doesn't snow here

I breath 

Or try at least

The air, it's stifling

Filled to choking with moisture and uncertainty

My lungs cry in protest

And I long for the chill,

My body aches for the feeling

Of cold, clarity down my back

Even if it would hurt in the moment, even if my dry skin would scream in protest and pain, even if the icicles would dig into my heart and the sensitive pads of my fingers

It would be better than this

This trap, this cage, this encompassing blanket of warm, suffocating, inconsistencies and paradoxes and loops

Because this in between is too confusing

I look to the water, to the peaks

And then where I stand

In the middle

Where am I?

It doesn't snow here

Amidst inconsistent capital letters and sad attempts at free-verse poetry that will somehow tell you

Tell me?

Just what's going on

Because it doesn't snow here and yet everything is white and bright and cold and glaring and my eyes they burn and I feel the clouds that should weigh nothing pressing aching pulling me dragging me down into more clouds and more mist and there's nowhere to go and I'm stuck somewhere between the mountains in the sea

And it doesn't snow here

But how I wish it would

xx

I am rooted but I flow. --VW

Blogmas Day 4: 3 Gift Guides

So for day four of Blogmas I thought it might be fun to do some gift guides. I'm going to do one for an artist, one for a bookworm, and one for that one very aesthetic friend you have and it's just like how can I buy this person something that will meet their aesthetic standards (you know the one). So let's dive right in!

The Artist
-Stabilo pens
-A Copic marker in their favorite color (they're expensive--your artist friend will understand if you can only afford one or two, don't worry. It's the quality that matters)
-A small travel sketchbook
-A gift card to the local art store
-Washi tapes
-soft drawing pencils
-gel pens

The Bookworm
-books (duh)
-gift card to local book store  (again duh)
-bookmarks-- it could be fun to do handmade ones
-mugs (because who doesn't like a nice tea and read day)
-fuzzy socks
-one of those personal library kits (ok not going to lie I've always wanted one of those so yeah please get that for me thankssss)
-a special edition or illustrated copy of one of their favorites
-offer to take them to go see the movie adaptation of -(insert book here)- when it comes out
-a nerdy book T-shirt (because like those are the best, yes I have literary T-shirts, yes they are my favorite things ever)

The Aesthete
-a polaroid camera
-buttons or patches with unique sayings
-a Kånken backpack
-some unique laces for their Dr. Martens (if they have them)
-baseball caps with fun embroidery
-literally anything space related
-a fancy notebook
-records of their favorite albums (if they have a record player-- or if you are feeling extra generous or looking for a bigger gift then you could throw that in too)

Blogmas Day 3: December Obsessions

Some rather festive things I'm a little bit obsessed with this month:

Christmas Socks
I'm really just obsessed with socks year-round, but festive socks are just yes.

 Christmas Piano Music
It's so relaxing and lovely for studying to.

My Reindeer Shirt
I HAVE BEEN WAITING ALL YEAR TO WEAR THIS SHIRT JUST LOOK AT IT

My Holiday Sock Monkeys
So I may or may not collect sock monkeys. And I may or may not have eight Christmas ones. ((hey I never said I wasn't weird))

That Pinterest Christmas Aesthetic
You know exactly what I'm talking about.

Hot Tea
I'm so happy it's cold again so I can enjoy hot tea. I've been particularly enjoying some lavender chamomile lately.

Fuzzy Blankets
My mom got me a very fuzzy, very warm blanket from Costco. Needless to say it's wrapped around my shoulders pretty much 24/7 on the weekends ((although my dog enjoys it too--hence the photo)).

What are your guys' December obsessions?

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Blogmas Day 2: Holiday Sketchbox

Hello readers!

It's been longer than I would've liked, school...ughhh. Anyone else ready for winter break?

But a cheerful spot in the midst of school stress-- I received my Holiday Sketchbox! I'm so excited about this box, and it came with a whole bunch of things that I've wanted for quite some time and am so excited to try out!

Contents:

Custom Sketchbox+ Stillman & Birn Mini Sketchbook--awesome for travel sketches, plus it's adorable

MOLOTOW Liquid Chrome 20 Year--uh oh a fancy pen--I'm a little addicted to fancy pens so this is perfect I cannot wait to mess around with this

Copic Sketch Marker (dark pink)-- YES!! I HAVE WANTED A COPIC MARKER FOR SO LONG AND NOW I HAVE ONE AND I'M SUPER EXCITED

Daler Rowney Watercolor Travel Set--This is probably the item I'm most excited to have received, as I have wanted a set of nicer watercolors for some time, and the size is perfect for me to take with me to school and out and about

Princeton Heritage Synthetic Brush (size 8 round)-- This brush is a really nice thing for me to receive, as I only have one high quality watercolor brush. Having another size in my set will be really awesome.

Van Gogh 10ml Watercolor Tube (olive green)-- Ooh, a real watercolor tube. I've only ever had cake watercolors. I'm very excited to try out this brand, although I'm a little afraid of how much I think I'll like it, as tubes of watercolor can be very expensive ((winces as I watch my money fall out of my wallet and into the Michaels cash register))

Cretacolor Graphite Aquarrell Pencil (8B)-- I can always use another sketching pencil

Sketchbox Sticker-- As usual. I've been having a lot of fun collecting these and sticking them all over my life. Stickers are great.

So there's my Holiday box! Let me know which items were your favorite :)

Also, I'd be interested to know if you all enjoy these sorts of posts-- art supplies hauls and box openings and whatnot. I have a Sketchbox subscription again this year, so if you enjoy these I can start doing opening posts again after Blogmas? Let me know :)

Blogmas Day 1: A Christmas List+Blogger Gift Exchange

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the smell of pine needles

warm slippers

glowing lights
silver bells

handmade cards
reindeer sweaters

wishes

cold fingers

shiny ice skate blades

paper snowflakes

gingerbread men

tinsel
caroling voices

colored paper

snow globes

shiny ornaments

rosy cheeks

fuzzy socks

cocoa

crackling fires

joy

xx

My dear friend Vanessa at Simply Me has created an opportunity to do a blogger gift exchange! Check out the link if you are interested in signing up-- I'm participating :)

BLOGGER GIFT EXCHANGE

Blogmas Day 0: Intro

It's December, and every blogger knows that that means that...

BLOGMAS IS HERE!!!

I am so excited to do Blogmas again this year! I've decided to do my 12 Days Of Christmas Series again, as I had a lot of fun with it last year. Feel free to participate on your own blogs, or just read along. I can't wait to celebrate Blogmas with you and read all of your winter-y posts as well! Enjoy!