Long ago and faraway there was a little dark-haired girl in Maine who just couldn't wait to see what "special" artsy-craftsy activity her classroom teacher had planned for the Christmas season.
You see, the little girl lived in a very isolated area, and had almost no spending money of her own, so these handmade treasures created at school meant the world to her, for they allowed her to place at least one gift for "Mama and Daddy" under the family Christmas tree.
Eventually the little girl grew up and married a fourth grade teacher. Imagine how horrified and heartsick she felt the first year she asked him, "So what are you having your kids make for Christmas this year?" and he replied, "Oh, I usually just put out some drawing paper, and tell them they can make cards."
Well, I'll spare you the "You gotta be kidding!" tirade, but that was the LAST year the poor, now enlightened teacher ever said that! It was also the first year Little Susie T. started "Santa's Workshop" out of gratitude for what different teachers had done for her, and a sincere belief that it might still mean the world to someone else...
For quite a few years, until things got super busy, I used to schlep Eli and all the necessary supplies out to Mark's school, and lead the activities myself, but for the past few years, we've had to make some changes... Now I simplify a proposed activity, make a sample, prepare the "kits," and type up directions so Mark can execute the activity, solo.
Why, just the other day someone was praising him (especially as a man) for doing such crafty things with his students... Hubby told them (and notice he made sure to tell me he told them ~wink, wink), "The credit all goes to my wife. I just follow instructions that are written so even a monkey can do them." Hmmmm.... Is that a compliment??? or did I marry a monkey???
Anywho, on to one of this year's projects:
Bet you can't find the stamping on this card, but it's there... UNDER all the punchies!
It's the circle frame from this set. In fact, this is one of the reasons I designed FRM-02 Trio -- Use the images as guides for punch placement, or even stamping placement, and you'll get perfect wreaths every time.
Here's how to use it with punchies:
Choose a very light color of ink, and stamp the circle onto the base of the card. This top-folded white base is a 5.25" x 5.25".
Notes: Versamark ink is probably the best to use, but for kids, it needed to be more visible, so this one was done in Memories Soft Leaf.
I always use my Stamp-a-ma-jig for exact placement, but if well-trimmed, this stamp is also fairly easy to eyeball.

Prepare some punchies. For this particular card, I used an oak leaf punch by McGill -- (8) punchies with stems snipped off, but for something Christmasy, almost any leaf punch will do. You can also use flowers, or snowflakes, or stars, etc. Just keep in mind the size of the punch will dictate how many punchies you need.
Now adhere the punchies around the circle like this (I use small dots of tacky glue applied with a toothpick):
Add a few punchie flowers - this card uses the Kikyou flower by Carl ... Glitter glue the centers... Add a bow of choice, and voila!
For hubby's students, this card became a customized gift for treasure when they adhered final copies of individually composed Christmas poems inside.
And yes, Mark tells me, as always, there was at least one little girl for whom doing the activity meant the world... Who knows, maybe someday she'll "remember," don an elf hat, and pay it forward.
Off to stock up on bananas,
Susan T.
P.S. To use this frame as a guide for a stamped wreath- Stamp image on scrap in black, and place a light-colored card stock base over image. Image will show through the paper. If difficult to see, a lightbox will help. You can also use removable tape to temporarily adhere the image behind the base.