Keeping Christmas {Let it grow, let it grow, let it grow!}

"I will honor Christmas in my heart...and try to keep it all the year" ~Charles Dickens

Hello and welcome to April's installment of my Keeping Christmas series! I was so happy to receive a few emails from some readers that have been participating in the "Keeping Christmas" challenge! Thank you so much for playing along! It made me so happy!

I am excited to share the project that I have been working on for this month. Back in 2001 or 2002, I made potted gifts like this for friends and family. It has been SO long, I decided it was time to re-visit the idea. It isn't any secret that I love play on words, punny gifts and coordinating themes; hence today's post "Let it grow, let it grow, let it grow."

Each pot will hold a trio of paper white narcissus or an amaryllis bulb. I won't be able to get those until it is the right season, but I am so excited to get the pots and tags done.

I had the idea of making "Christmas Tree Seed" tags last year but didn't get around to it. I am so glad that I waited and was able to use it with this gift idea.

The "Let it grow" portion was computer generated onto Always Artichoke card stock printed in black ink.

I was able to find my stash of rusty jingle bells which was the perfect addition!

I white washed 6 pots and 6 saucers and made 6 tags. 

The tags were created using the "Garden Variety" stamp set and "Oh Tannenbaum" from PTI. I was so thrilled that the Christmas tree was the perfect size to peek out from the seed packet opening. If you aren't interested in making the "let it grow" portion, this is how they would look.

Before you begin, make sure that your saucer fits the top of your pots perfectly since this will be the lid for packaging. This is how the finished white washed pot will look.

To begin, get a cup of watered down white acrylic craft paint and a sponge brush. Make sure you remove the sticker from the bottom of the saucer, since this will be the lid and you will see it. I struggled getting mine off, so I had to spritz the sticker with water and rub the adhesive off with my finger. It is important to get it all off, because if you don't, the paint will adhere to the adhesive differently than the rest of the pot and you will be able to see it. Hmmm...I wonder why I know that?! Ha Ha! Make sure you paint a little bit inside the rim of the pot because you won't be putting the potting soil all the way to the top. Also, don't forget to white wash the inside of the saucer as well, because when it is in use, you will see the inside. I let mine dry while I worked on the tags.

I diecut the seed packets using the coordinating die from Garden Variety and stamped it in Palette Black in. The "Green Thumb" portion was stamped in Smokey Shadow ink as well as the sentiment at the bottom.

I made a rough measurement where the tree needed to be stamped on the white paper underneath. It gave just enough room that I could add the additonal "pot" for the tree. I fussy cut it and adhered it with foam squares. Each tag was threaded with red and white baker's twine so that it can be tied to the ribbon. I also laced a big, rusty jingle bell on as well.

This project was perfect for this time of year when you want to be planting! 

I hope you will find some time to join me this month! Let me know what you make by using the hashtag #keepingchristmas on Instagram or linking your blog in the comments! It really has been so much fun and I know that I am going to have a ball this Christmas as I give all of these gifts to my loved ones! It will be like Christmas for me as I revisit each of the ideas I have shared. They are all being stored in my storage room. Thanks for fluttering by! Have a Merry April!