Holiday Handouts: Easter Goodies

For those of us who celebrate Easter, it is a joyous weekend ahead.  I know that in Canada, Friday is a stat holiday, so for us here, it is a long weekend.  If you are in PEI it is an extra long weekend because Easter Monday is considered a provincial holiday and apparently it is optional in Alberta. My understanding of Quebec is that either Friday or Monday must be observed.  Of course, anyone working in the federal government gets Friday and Monday off.  Now I learned something new about my own country today when researching this.  I was always under the impression that Easter Sunday was a stat holiday but it isn't.  Stores are often closed in different municipalities around the country but it is not considered a National holiday.  Huh!

As far as the rest of world goes, interestingly enough, Good Friday and Easter are not holidays at the National level for my friends south of the border, in the US.  Some states observe Good Friday as a state holiday and many businesses do close down on Easter Sunday so I guess it depends on where someone lives in the US as to whether this is a long weekend.   In the British Isles, France and New Zealand, it is my understanding that Friday and Monday are national holidays too.  In Sweden and Germany, the public holiday falls on Good Friday, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday.  Greece shares the same three holidays but they don't celebrate them until the first weekend of May which I found very interesting!   In South Africa they get Good Friday off and the Monday after Easter but it is referred to as Family Day over there.  Now, have I forgotten anyone?  I have tried to cover all the places that I know of for sure where I have readers from.  If I have missed your location, I'd love to learn what days are observed in your country. 

 Obviously, Easter is both a Christian and pagan holiday from the spiritual side of things and I know we are a world made of many cultures and religions.  So, even if you don't celebrate the actual holiday of Easter, odds are the majority of you out there will be getting a little extra time off this week.

I have a couple Easter treats for you.  I realize it is too late for any Easter projects you may be putting together this year, but there is always next.

All of these creations were made using images from the ever-talented Romiposer 11.  I just love her stuff and have so much fun putting together digital designs based on her work.  Keep in mind though, that these combined images are for PERSONAL USE ONLY.  No selling is allowed because of the TOU of both Romiposer 11 and the creators of some of the fonts used.

 Fonts:  Scriptina Pro-CU and Academia SSI-unknown

 

  Font:  KG True Colors-PUO

  Fonts:  Alex Brush-CU &  Oil-CU

Now based on that same theme but without the Easter related symbols...

Fonts:  Cupid de Locke-PUO

Now for those of you who absolutely have to be able to sell what you use, I offer you some phrases in different colours...

 Font:  Bunnywunny-CU

  Font:  Easter Bunny-CU

 Font:  Easter Sunrise-CU

Wherever you are, what ever you do this upcoming weekend, I wish you the best.  May you spend it doing what you love surrounded by the people you love most.

Until next time,

 

Combined Images and Sentiments

Please note that due to the nature of these designs, you may not use them on products you intend to sell since several of the fonts and ALL the images are for personal use only with no profit generation.  If you use any of these combined images and sentiments, please ensure that you also credit Romiposer 11 for her part of the design. 

Fonts Used: 

Click the font names to take you to a download location.  CU-commercial use allowed.  PUO--Personal use only.

If you are not sure how to copy the image, check out the download instructions page.   If you haven't already, please become familiar with my terms of use found in the copyright tab at the top of this page.  Quick summary of Terms of Use:   

• Do not claim the image as your own.
• Credit 'Decosse's Dynamite Doodles' & 'Romiposer 11' somewhere on your creation for any of the combined images and sentiments.
• Do not share my images with family, friends, etc.  Additionally, do not post any images to file sharing services like Pinterest®, 4-Shared®, etc.  Instead, please direct people to my blog so they can grab the image for themselves.
• If I have signed an image, do not delete my signature.
• Leave a comment on my blog.  It is currently the only way for me to know if any of my freebies are being nabbed.  Additionally, it will help to inspire me to continue to create and offer future freebies.

 

Final Holiday Handout and a New Year's Day Message

It is a brand new year filled with possibility and promise.  What does the new year hold for you as an individual, as a family, as members of your community, your nation or as a member of this world that grows smaller each and every day?

Do you have new year's resolutions that you set and keep, or not keep as the case may be.  Or, do you set achievable goals like I do?

What plans do you have for the months and year ahead?

The New Year offers so much promise and possibility, we just have to commit to living each and every day as it hits in order to recognize and tap into all the blessings that come our way.  I want to wish all of you a happy, healthy, and rewarding New Year in which you fulfill your fondest dreams. I found a poem which expresses everything I'd like to share with you:

My happy New Year wish for you
Is for your best year yet,
A year where life is peaceful,
And what you want you get.

A year in which you cherish
the past year's memories,
And live your life each new day,
Full of bright expectancies.

I wish for you a lovely year
With happiness galore;
And when it's done, I wish you
Many, many more.

(Author Unknown)

And finally, we come to the last holiday handout of the season.

Welcome to a brand new year.  The canvas is empty.  What are you going to draw?

Until next time,

Holiday Handout: Day 22

It is New Year's Eve today.  Along with the traditional New Year's Eve parties and events taking place throughout the world, this day also has significance in two very different parts of the world:  Japan and Scotland.  

Did you know that the New Year celebration is one of the most major events in all of Japan? In Japan, Omisoka  refers to New Year's Eve.  I've learned that each year the Japanese spend many hours shopping and cleaning their homes to get prepared for the new year.  It is supposed to represent the idea of eliminating the past and starting the new year afresh.  Shogatsu is the celebration of New Year's day itself and it is a time when Japanese people decorate their homes and gift their children with toys and money.  It is also a time when greeting cards are shared with family and friends. Food delicacies such as fish cakes, boiled seaweed, mashed sweet potatoes with chesnuts, soybean mixtures and other items are all a part of the festive spread.  When midnight strikes on the 31st of December, bells ring out in the Buddhist temples a total of 108 times. After the bells finish ringing a feast of soba noodles takes place which everyone partakes in.

Over in Scotland, Hogmanay is celebrated starting today.  The celebration of Hogmanay, the Scottish word literally meaning 'the last day of the year' begins the night of December 31st and lasts throughout the night carrying on until the 'Ne'erday' which is January 1st.  Depending on the location in Scotland and possibly even the household, the celebration sometimes carries on until January 2nd, which is considered a bank holiday in Scotland.  

Apparently the customs associated with Hogmanay are different for different locations within Scotland.  In the north-east part of Scotland in Stonehaven, a 'fireball swinging' custom takes place.  People make balls of chicken wire, tar and paper and then people swing the balls over their head while walking through the streets. It seems that the main attraction of the day is casting the burning balls into the harbor which apparently makes an impressive display in the evening.  It is meant to signify "the power of sun to purify the world by consuming all evil spirits" (New Year in Scotland).  Then, over in Burghead in Moray, the burning of the clavie is common.  This is an ancient Scottish custom where a bonfire of casks is split in two (The clavie) and then lighted on January 11th which is the first day of the year according to the Julian Calendar.  One of the casks is rejoined together with a huge nail, filled with tar, lighted and carried around the village while it flames.  Finally it is carried up to a headland where the ruins of an altar stand.  Here it forms the centre of the bonfire built up of the split casks. When the barrel of burning tar falls into pieces, the people scramble around to get a lighted piece so that they can kindle the New Year's fire in their cottage hearth. The charcoal of the clavie is then collected and put up the cottage chimneys "to keep spirits and witches from coming down" (Wikipedia).

Isn't it amazing what you learn when you start interacting with a world wide audience?  I have gained so much knowledge over the course of the last 22 days in an effort to learn about holiday traditions in different cultures and religions around the world and I am a better person because of it.  I have tried to be as inclusive as possible.  I know that I missed a few traditions at the beginning of December and promise to touch on them next year.  When I started the holiday handouts 22 days ago I had no idea as to the extent that I was going to cover.  I certainly never intended to offer so many of them or delve into so many different traditions but as each day went by it became more and more important for me to continue until the new year was upon us.  I hope that you have enjoyed the freebies and have learned a thing or two along the way about the people around you.  If there is someone interested in teaching me about their own cultural or religious traditions as they relate to the holidays, I would love for you to send me an email.  I intend to continue down this path next year but hope to expand it to be more inclusive of the new people in my world.

Wherever you are, I hope that you have a fun filled but safe day.  What are your family traditions for New Year's Eve?   Traditionally, my husband Raymond and I sit around, watch movies and nibble on hors d'oeuvre for two days straight--well I suppose we do take time out to sleep in between.  This year Raymond will be working for part of today so we'll be starting our celebration a bit later than usual.  We started this tradition because when we were first together, I could never go to any dances or parties because there was alway smoking at them (I have asthma and am highly allergic to smoke) and, well these days, while there is no longer any smoking allowed at public events it's kind of difficult to dance with two canes and a broken down body so we just stick with our made up tradition.

Here is your holiday handout for today.

Only one sleep to go before a brand new year...

Until next time,

References:

 Author Unknown. (unknown). Burning of the Clavie. Available: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burning_of_the_Clavie. Last accessed 30th December 2012.

Author Unknown. (unknown). Hogmanay. Available: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hogmanay. Last accessed 30th December 2012.

Author Unknown. (unknown). New Year In Scotland (hogmanay). Available: http://www.happywink.org/newyearfestival/new-year-in-scotland.html. Last accessed 30th December 2012.

Putatunda, Rita. (2012). Winter Holidays Around the World. Available: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/winter-holidays-around-the-world.html. Last accessed 30th December 2012.

Sim, Martin. (2006). About the Fireballs. Available: http://www.stonehavenfireballs.co.uk/history. Last accessed 30th December 2012. 

Font Used: 

• Nocker 

Click the font name to take you to a download location.  This font is free for commercial use.

Image information:

The curling ribbon images are from Pixel Scraper and since I downloaded them with the 'free for commercial use' license, my guess is that it also extends to you if you use them on cards that you intend to sell. 

If you haven't already, please become familiar with my terms of use found in the copyright tab at the top of this page.  I have included a quick summary below.   If you are not sure how to copy the image, check out the download instructions page.  
 
   Quick summary of Terms of Use:   

• Do not claim the image as your own.
• Credit 'Decosse's Dynamite Doodles' somewhere on your creation.
• Do not share my images with family, friends, etc.  Additionally, do not post any images to file sharing services like Box®, 4-Shared®, etc.  Instead, please direct people to my blog so they can grab the image for themselves.
• If I have signed an image, do not delete my signature.
• Leave a comment on my blog.  It is currently the only way for me to know if any of my freebies are being nabbed.  Additionally, it will help to inspire me to continue to create and offer future freebies.

Holiday Handout: Day 21

Now and the whole year through...

There is a bit of a story behind this one.  One of the regular blogs I follow, Sweetly Scrapped, shared a template for angel wings that she found at the About Crafts website.  She showed us how to create really cute ornaments using the template and cutting out the design on pretty papers.  That got me thinking about doing the same type of thing only using digital paper instead of the tangible kind.  So I painstakingly created my own set of wings and then used a pretty paper from Far Far Hill, reduced the transparency, added a solid backdrop and then a quote.  A few hours later I was finally done and was relatively happy with what I had created.  I thought, "Yeah! Technically, I created something new that I haven't exactly seen anywhere".  I decided that I'd wait and post the new image towards the end of my holiday handouts.  Two days later Sweetly Scrapped came out with 138 pairs of her own.  Oh well, at least for a day I had something new before everyone else, unfortunately no-one else got to see it before someone else published the same concept.  138?  It took me a few hours to do just one.  I can't wait until I'm that proficient that I can crank out so many in one instance.

I can't believe tomorrow is New Year's Eve?  Where does the time go?

Until next time,

Please note that due to the nature of this design, you may not use it on products you intend to sell since the paper backdrop is for personal use only with no profit generation.  If you use this image please ensure that you also credit Far Far Hill for the paper. 

Font Used: 

• Jempol

Click the font name to take you to a download location.  This font is free for commercial use.

If you haven't already, please become familiar with my terms of use found in the copyright tab at the top of this page.  I have included a quick summary below.   If you are not sure how to copy the image, check out the download instructions page.  
 
   Quick summary of Terms of Use:   

• Do not claim the image as your own.
• Credit 'Decosse's Dynamite Doodles' & 'Far Far Hill' somewhere on your creation for this specific design.
• Do not share my images with family, friends, etc.  Additionally, do not post any images to file sharing services like Pinterest®, 4-Shared®, etc.  Instead, please direct people to my blog so they can grab the image for themselves.
• If I have signed an image, do not delete my signature.
• Leave a comment on my blog.  It is currently the only way for me to know if any of my freebies are being nabbed.  Additionally, it will help to inspire me to continue to create and offer future freebies.

Holiday Handout: Day 20

Well the new year is almost upon us.  How has your holiday season been so far?  Did you slow down enough to actually enjoy it?  Did you find some quiet time to sit and meditate on what the new year may bring?

As the holiday season winds down and we start to maneuver towards our regular routines, my wish for you would be that you carry the joy of the season with you all year through.

Images are all the same size when you click on them to save them.  Given how many I'm putting here, I made them smaller to conserve space.  I created a simple small caps version (28 pt) and a flakier all caps version (20 pt).  Take whichever ones interest you.

Just two days to go before we embark on a brand new year!

Until next time,

Font Used: 

• Christmas Flakes

Click the font name to take you to a download location.  This font is free for personal use only.
 
If you haven't already, please become familiar with my terms of use found in the copyright tab at the top of this page.  I have included a quick summary below.   If you are not sure how to copy the image, check out the download instructions page.  
 
   Quick summary of Terms of Use:   

• Do not claim the image as your own.
• Credit 'Decosse's Dynamite Doodles' somewhere on your creation for this specific design.
• Do not share my images with family, friends, etc.  Additionally, do not post any images to file sharing services like Pinterest®, 4-Shared®, etc.  Instead, please direct people to my blog so they can grab the image for themselves.
• If I have signed an image, do not delete my signature.
• Leave a comment on my blog.  It is currently the only way for me to know if any of my freebies are being nabbed.  Additionally, it will help to inspire me to continue to create and offer future freebies.

  

Holiday Handout: Day 19

I don't know where you are in the world, but it is definitely a winter wonderland up here in northern Ontario.  We had a serious snow storm last Thursday and Friday that ensured we had a white Christmas where I live.  How about you?  Is it cold and blustery where you are from or warm and balmy?  If there is a few feet of snow on the ground, then this holiday handout is for you.  I've offered it in three wintery blue colours and one in black.  The snow mounds have individually been coloured in with white so that if you print them out on coloured paper, your snow won't take on the colour of the paper.
 

The countdown to the new year continues...

Until next time,

Font Used: 

• Igloo Laser

Click the font name to take you to a download location.  The license information for this font is unknown.  I'd suggest you contact the author if you want to use it for commercial purposes.

If you haven't already, please become familiar with my terms of use found in the copyright tab at the top of this page.  I have included a quick summary below.   If you are not sure how to copy the image, check out the download instructions page.  
 
   Quick summary of Terms of Use:   

• Do not claim the image as your own.
• Credit 'Decosse's Dynamite Doodles' somewhere on your creation for this specific design.
• Do not share my images with family, friends, etc.  Additionally, do not post any images to file sharing services like Pinterest®, 4-Shared®, etc.  Instead, please direct people to my blog so they can grab the image for themselves.
• If I have signed an image, do not delete my signature.
• Leave a comment on my blog.  It is currently the only way for me to know if any of my freebies are being nabbed.  Additionally, it will help to inspire me to continue to create and offer future freebies.

Holiday Handout: Day 18

Today's holiday handout is respective of any of you out there who might celebrate Kwanzaa.  Kwanzaa is a week long cultural celebration observed from December 26 to January 1 each year by people of African heritage.

The traditional greetings during this time are spoken in Swahili in order to reflect committment to the African culture as a whole.  A different principle and a different symbol are celebrated during each day of the festivity.  Each day the question is asked--Habari gani?  Each day the answer is different based on the seven principles which are founded on a set of ideals created by Dr. Maulana Karenga in the mid 1960's which is when this cultural celebration began.

The seven principles are:

1. Unity: Umoja (oo–MO–jah)
2. Self-determination: Kujichagulia (koo–gee–cha–goo–LEE–yah)
3. Collective Work and Responsibility: Ujima (oo–GEE–mah)
4. Cooperative Economics: Ujamaa (oo–JAH–mah)
5. Purpose: Nia (nee–YAH)
6. Creativity: Kuumba (koo–OOM–bah)
7. Faith: Imani (ee–MAH–nee)

The seven basic symbols are:

1. Mazao (Crops)
2. Mkeka (Place Mat)
3. Kinara (Candle holder)
4. Vibunzi (Ear of Corn)
5. Muhindi (Gifts)
6. Kikombe cha Umoja (Unity cup)
7. Mishumaa SAba ( Seven Candles)

In honour of this celebration I have created the following image:

 

Wishing you and your family peace and blessings in the new year.

The countdown to the new year continues...

Until next time,

Font Used: 

• Jokerman

Click the font name to take you to a download location.  This fonts is free for personal use.

If you haven't already, please become familiar with my terms of use found in the copyright tab at the top of this page.  I have included a quick summary below.   If you are not sure how to copy the image, check out the download instructions page.  
 
   Quick summary of Terms of Use:   

• Do not claim the image as your own.
• Credit 'Decosse's Dynamite Doodles' somewhere on your creation for this specific design.
• Do not share my images with family, friends, etc.  Additionally, do not post any images to file sharing services like Pinterest®, 4-Shared®, etc.  Instead, please direct people to my blog so they can grab the image for themselves.
• If I have signed an image, do not delete my signature.
• Leave a comment on my blog.  It is currently the only way for me to know if any of my freebies are being nabbed.  Additionally, it will help to inspire me to continue to create and offer future freebies.

References:
Author Unknown. (1996-2012). Kwanzaa. Available: http://www.history.com/topics/kwanzaa-history. Last accessed 21th December 2012.

Author Unknown. (unknown). Kwanzaa Greetings. Available: http://www.shape.org/kwanzaagreetings.html. Last accessed 10th December 2012.

Author Unknown. (1998-2004). What is Kwanzaa?. Available: http://www.kwanzaaland.com/generalinfo/. Last accessed 10th December 2012.
 
Williams, Nancy. (2000). Forum Topic: Kwanzaa - What is the proper greeting during this holiday?. Available: http://melanet.com/uncut/forums/messages/23/923.html?TuesdayJuly1020010258am. Last accessed 10th December 2012.

Holiday Handout: Day 17

Happy Boxing Day!  If you are from Austria, Balearic Islands, Catalonia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Germany, Ireland, Wales, England, Italy, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Montenegro, Norway, Denmark, Estonia, Sweden, Finland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia and Poland, happy St. Stephen's Day (reference Wikipedia).  The true tradition on this holiday is to give gifts to the poor and needy.  In some places, there is also the tradition of giving gifts to people who work in the service industry.  Wherever you are and whatever version of the holiday you celebrate, don't forget to...

The countdown to New Year's Day has begun...

Until next time,

Please note that due to the nature of this design, you may not use it on products you intend to sell since the image of the gift box (Romiposer 11) and the images of the hearts (Far Far Hill) are for personal use only with no profit generation.  If you use this image please ensure that you also credit the other artists appropriately.

Font Used: 

• Belshaw 

Click the font name to take you to a download location.  This font is free for commercial use.

If you haven't already, please become familiar with my terms of use found in the copyright tab at the top of this page.  I have included a quick summary below.   If you are not sure how to copy the image, check out the download instructions page.  
 
   Quick summary of Terms of Use:   

• Do not claim the image as your own.
• Credit 'Decosse's Dynamite Doodles', 'Romiposer 11' & 'Far Far Hill' somewhere on your creation for this specific design.
• Do not share my images with family, friends, etc.  Additionally, do not post any images to file sharing services like Pinterest®, 4-Shared®, etc.  Instead, please direct people to my blog so they can grab the image for themselves.
• If I have signed an image, do not delete my signature.
• Leave a comment on my blog.  It is currently the only way for me to know if any of my freebies are being nabbed.  Additionally, it will help to inspire me to continue to create and offer future freebies.

  

Holiday Handout 16: Merry Christmas!

To anyone who celebrates this most special day of the year, the wish is simple...

Until next time,

Please note that due to the nature of this design, you may not use it on products you intend to sell since one of the fonts and the image of the presents and the Merry Christmas part of the sentiment is for personal use only with no profit generation.  If you use this image please ensure that you also credit Romiposer 11 for her part of the design. 

Fonts Used: 

• Jenna Sue
• Janda Happy Day 

Click the font names to take you to a download location.  While Jenna Sue is free for commercial use, Janda Happy Day is free for personal use only.

If you haven't already, please become familiar with my terms of use found in the copyright tab at the top of this page.  I have included a quick summary below.   If you are not sure how to copy the image, check out the download instructions page.  
 
   Quick summary of Terms of Use:   

• Do not claim the image as your own.
• Credit 'Decosse's Dynamite Doodles' & 'Romiposer 11' somewhere on your creation for this specific design.
• Do not share my images with family, friends, etc.  Additionally, do not post any images to file sharing services like Pinterest®, 4-Shared®, etc.  Instead, please direct people to my blog so they can grab the image for themselves.
• If I have signed an image, do not delete my signature.
• Leave a comment on my blog.  It is currently the only way for me to know if any of my freebies are being nabbed.  Additionally, it will help to inspire me to continue to create and offer future freebies.