Santa in France: Are you naughty or nice?

Santa in France: Are you naughty or nice?

 

In a box full of old books that my Belle Mere gave me I found one with a cranberry red binding with gold letter writing on it. I pulled it out, and thumbed through the pages. It had engravings through out, I thought to myself one of them is going to say something to me. I don't know why I think these things but there you go. The cranberry leather binding made me think of Christmas.

 

 

Santa in France: Are you naughty or nice?

 

The next page had the best of surprises! A Santa looking like guy with two people who could passes for elves. I cut the engraving out of the book, WHICH IS SO UNLIKE ME, and colored it in with felt tip pins. I love how Santa's hand is up in the air, as the elf points to a name in the book. I suppose Santa is saying, "What do you think Naughty or Nice?" Santa is marking it with a feather pen. Or at least that is how I see it. 

 

Santa in France: Are you naughty or nice?

 

 

As the cover wasn't very appealing with its yellow speckled paper, especially as the backside was torn badly. I decided to cover it with a decorative washi tape.

I am not a craft person. This was a new experience for me. As I was creating I thought of things I should have done differently… but oh well it was fun doing it.

Things I should have done differently:

Photo copied the engraving from the book, instead of cutting it out.

Used a photo copy and not the original. Duh.

Painted the cover first, then added the tape… 

 

Santa in France: Are you naughty or nice?

 

Step 0ne: Find a book. An old one preferably.

The cranberry leather binding made the book look extra rich and authentic, the added touch was the title and date in gold lettering: 1789-1815.

 

Naughty or nice

 

Step Two: Cover the book with a Christmas theme.

Complicated my project isn't it. 

 

Naughty or nice

 

 

 

Step Three: Write, or find a typeset, or cut out letters that say:

Santa's List

Naughty or Nice?

Tie a ribbon around it.

My name is somewhere in between, and yours?

 

 

Naughty or nice

 

 

Find it a home. Add names to it of those who come to visit. 

 

Naughty or nice

 

 

The old wooden shoes are French, handpainted, to put out for Saint Nicolas to fill.

I stuffed them with cuttings from the yard.

And there you have it my Christmas Craft project.

 



Comments

10 responses to “Santa in France: Are you naughty or nice?”

  1. So crafty. And I love the vignette. xox, d

  2. Very pretty!

  3. I can tell you have been in the states…and around your Mom. You are creative, regardless what you say. I remember your tray. Amazing! Love your book and the added touches of the red & green. Merry Christmas my Friends! We miss you, and think of you often, Dave & Teresa

  4. Shelley Noble

    Lovely! I had to go back to the top of the post to make sure I was at Corey’s place! HA!
    I say, there’s no wrong way to make your things. Paint first, paint after, use originals, use copies, both have their advantages.
    I say, letting our hands work without our minds understanding what they are doing leads to the most incredible discoveries.
    There is nothing you can’t do.

  5. Ohhh desecration. Such an ancient book, how could you do that!
    The picture of Santa looks good now you have coloured it. Could you not have photocopied it?? Sorry to be critical, but I just love old books (and that one is really old).

  6. xoxoxo Thanks Shelley!!

  7. Hi Hilary, I agree. But for reference sake the book is 1920s not as old as the cover suggests. Plus the back side was destroyed. In the land of many old books, and my mother in law was throwing these away, it doesn’t feel as badly. Though you are right.

  8. Phew – I am so glad it was only masquerading as an ancient tome! The Santa engraving was great when coloured. I love the old books when the engravings have original colour tints.

  9. Rebecca from the (very wet) pacific northwest

    I’m amused by your list of things you shoulda-coulda done differently.
    I think you did a very nice job with the book, btw. I like the jolly red cheeks, and the tape covering, and the button-like letters, and the tie wrap. Very nice.
    And I want to know about the chair all your little Xmas-y vignette (to quote Dede) is sitting on. It looks like a concrete chair made to look like wood. What is it really? What size is it? And where in your house do you have it? (And will I remember to come back here and see if you’ve answered???)

  10. Irene Thomas

    As a person who occasionally took in vintage books for my employer, books have been mass produced for hundreds of years. Unless a book is “flawless” and rare, it is of little value, except sentimental. Yours was already desecrated, and you made into an “altered book”, another art form. You have turned something that was valueless and useless into a working and useful thing. My favorite old books are the ones that have been written in with verses, or used like scrapbooks with photos of their owners, and with loving gift inscriptions.

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