season greetings

It is a tradition that goes back centuries, and even with the invention of email, many millions of Christmas cards are still sent through the worldwide postal network each year. Carry on the tradition and invite your family and friends to a Christmas Card-making party. Not only will it be an excuse to get together for some seasonal fun but the card recipients will receive stunning personal wishes.

INVITATION

Happy Holidays
Send your guests a simple blank card on the front, and the party details written inside. State in the card that arts and crafting goodies including the actual cards and envelopes will be supplied, but ask them to bring any additional items that they would like to also swop and share for some card-making fun. And to bring along their imagination of course!

Retro Christmas
For a real easy invitation, purchase and print out the Paper&Cake "Happy Holidays" card and write the party details inside. You can also use this in addition to the Christmas cards that you make to send to your Christmas Card List.

Retro Christmas Collection
Need something for that holiday party you're hosting? We have the perfect solution that will save you time and money from www.paperandcake.com.

This Downloadable Tablescape includes a pdf file that enables you to print-out, then cut-out:
Holiday Greeting card
Cupcake Toppers
Paper Cup Wrappers
Napkin Rings/Candle/Vase Wrappers
Wine Glass tags
Place Cards
Menus
Food Label Cards
Christmas Tree Paper Chain
Gift Tags
Door Banner
Pennant Banner
Favor Box
Full Sheets of patterned paper (great for wrapping small gifts)

All items featured in this collection are formatted to be printed on A4 paper. Within 24 hours of receipt of payment, you will be e-mailed the pdf. files that include all the above. Just print out as many as you need...and voila...fa la la la la!

INTRODUCTION

Card Wreath
Make an original statement with by using coloured cardboard, and our holly leaf template to construct this holly wreath with bright red button punch outs for berries.
Template at www.ingoodcompany.co.za/GOODTIMES/DOWNLOADS.

DECORATION

Bright Bunting
String up a fun banner that coordinates perfectly with the rest of the Retro Holiday Printable Party Collection.

Let it Show
A good idea is to also demonstrate creative ways in which cards can be displayed - that way they can use similar ideas when they receive their stash in the post come Christmas time. Family and friends will be delighted to see their cards on display.

Card line
Tie a ribbon from one end of a window or bookcase to the other, and then using either large or miniature clothes pegs, "hang up your cards" as you would the washing.

Card Tree
Have you cards hanging like ornaments from an arrangement of graceful winterberry branches - or supported by a ring of whimsical handmade wire clips crowning an evergreen wreath base.

Card Holder
We heart wire cardholders, great for Christmas cards, but also all year round use as a memo board or photo album. See ours in the IN GOOD COMPANY SHOP.

TREE

Bright Sight
Decorate a Christmas tree in simple plain baubles, felt and tinsel decorations, but in bright colours: red, yellow, green, pink and turquoise. It might be all cold and white at the North Pole but inside make it warm and bright! Visit our Christmas Shopping Weekend 27th - 29th November at our showroom to buy some of our very bright decorations or go online.

TABLE

Craft Corner
Lay the table with an oilcloth tablecloth (that way the table and your linens are protected from glue). Set up a place setting for each guest and provide each with a few blank cards (extras can be placed in the centre) tie this with ribbon and a tag saying "Merry Making!" Then place alongside some scissors, glue, tape, ruler and pencil. Then create a "buffet" of arts and crafting supplies in the centre of the table by placing all the goodies in bowls, boxes, baskets and trays.

Ideas Library
In a lounging area, away from the main table, set up a coffee and drinks tray. This is the perfect spot to create a pile of card-making books, magazines, and card samples for inspiration.

Pretty Paper
To decorate the refreshments station, use Christmas themed scrapbooking paper or old Christmas cards to make a table runner. Also, these can be made into thick paper strips and wrapped around cylindrical vases as vase wrappers or candle wrappers. Thinner strips can then be used to make paper napkin rings. The Retro Christmas Collection includes funky napkin rings as well as patterned paper to make some or all of these table eye candies.

Paper Chains
Traditional paper chains are easy to make and look great made in festive paper for Christmas. We used our Paper&Cake Happy Holiday decorative paper, but they would work equally well in red and white, gold and silver patterned wrapping paper or even icy blues and silvery tones.

MATERIALS
Scissors
Decorative Paper or Old Christmas Cards
Pencil
Ruler
Glue
Stapler (if desired)

DIRECTIONS
Cut the wrapping paper into pieces that are at least 20cm long. Using a pencil and ruler draw lines on the back of the paper, making sure that each one is approximately 2cm wide. Repeat.
Use the scissors to cut out the paper stripes. Bend the paper to form a loop and apply a dab of glue to fix it together. Press flat and allow glue to dry. You can use a stapler instead of glue, which is quicker, but the staples will be visible. Thread the end of a second paper strip through the first loop and glue the end together. Continue threading paper until you made the required length of paper chain.

MENU

Rainbow Delight
Serve food and drinks that can mostly be prepared beforehand, so no need to prep during the party; and your guests can enjoy these throughout the afternoon. Continue with the bright colour scheme and serve foods that will also contribute as decorations, a fun idea is to pick one specific food item and hint at that in your invitations that way your guests will know what to expect in the case where a full meal is not being served. For example: Make your own waffle & soda floats.

Waffles
These are surprisingly very easy to make if you have a waffle iron. Alternatively, already made waffles can be purchased from Woolies and require only a few minutes in the microwave. Set up a condiments station and include toppings like:
Ice cream
Chocolate Sprinkles
Smarties
Jelly Tots
Golden Syryp
Chocolate Sauce
Caramel
Cherries and Berries
Banana slices
Whipped Cream

Drinks
Besides the typical tea and coffee station, have a colourful Soda bar - this is an especially a good idea if kids are in attendance. If you have one, set up your Soda Stream machine, alternatively, buy all the different coloured name brands in bottles, remove the labels and set up a rainbow effect. You may need to decant some of the drinks into empty bottles so that all the bottles look alike.
Red Sparberry
Orange - Fanta Orange
Yellow- Lemonade or Dry Lemon (unless you can hunt down some Mello Yello)
Green - Crème Soda
Blue - Blue Energy Drink
Purple - Fanta Grape
Pink - Pink Lemonade
Brown - Coca Cola
White - Sprite

For additional food and fun, set alongside a tub of vanilla ice-cream and make Soda Floats!

FUN & GAMES

Card-making
The options are endless. Check out a few of our ideas under IN GOOD HANDS, but also look through Christmas issues of magazines, books from the library and the Internet. In our IN GOOD COMPANY LIBRARY, we have a wonderful range of books and magazines all about card making and as a member you can loan these for free. See our website GOOD BOOKS for more details.

FAVOURS

FOR KIDS

Colossal Crackers
Christmas is coming and our giant Colossal Crackers are the biggest and best crackers to have at your celebration. Brightly coloured and brilliant fun for all your family or friends this Christmas.

FOR ADULTS

Long Lists
Give notebooks designed to coordinate with the holidays, perfect for your guests to write down their long Christmas lists of things to do (and wish list to Santa!). Cover a blank white notebook with the Retro Collection Christmas Patterned Paper, add a small pen or pencil and attach a pretty tag, also included in the collection.