Paper Source Craft Night

For one night during the holidays, after store hours, all the employees, and some employees past, bring food and a project to work on.
I think the food was the best part. Hot cider, sweets and a variety of cheese and cracker options. yum. We had two cheese and cracker stand outs. The amish garlic and herb brought by a former employee and sweet baked brie by Linda.

mmm....baked brie....Doesn't look great here, almost gone, but it was yummy. To make simply put brie-wax removed-in a baking dish. In separate bowl mix pecans, maple syryp and brown sugar. Cover brie with sugary mix and bake at 325 until melty and wonderful, only 5-10 min.

Sorry don't have exact amounts.

But we weren't there just to eat, we had crafts to get done. We do work at a craft store afterall.

I was very happy to get my cards assembled. Which meant punching holes and hammering in snaps. Oh how cute they turned out. Was almost as happy as I was to put them in the mail box today!

Back to sunday, there was a lot of crafting going on.

At the table I was working at there were three people working on lining envelopes. When hanging with friends, it is the best time to work on that mundane job, afterall.

And these are some crazy people. It was the first time I met Mamanato and her fiance Michael, but I really like them just the same.

Over across the room (oh how I hated not being able to hear their conversation!)...

There was card making by Rebecca. Ribbon weaving by Dustin. Letter glittering by Venessa.
In case you are wondering what the statue of the face with shhh finger is all about, besides all the crafting and eating fun, there was the first appearance of a secret snowman gift. Dustin received this "bust." Something he has always wanted.

There were also a couple people that didn't really bring anything but energy and just made gossip. But they had fun too. My love of scraps was outted to boss Rebecca...

So she gifted me the scraps from her corner rounding. Too bad I didn't have any need for dozens of tiny boomerangs. I do go around picking scraps out of the garbage and scolding people for not saving them for me when I'm not at work. Well, I can't deny who I am...

There were also mini craft lessons. Stephanie taught Linda the "Grandma Bow" and Linda taught Stephanie a basic pop-up card.

Then Linda taught all of us how to make an origami penguin.

HOW CUTE ARE THEY!!! She had been making them all day at a friends' toy store with kids. We were only marginally more skilled and probably whinier. It was also the first time her 8 year old saw a man (who wasn't very nice) change into a santa suit. And the magic was gone. Oh how sad!

I remember when my sister told me there was no santa, showed me the presents hiding in mom's closet already signed "From Santa" in her hand writing. I tried to deny it, but the evidence was overwhelming, it was more than a week before Christmas afterall. No one had ever said anything about Santa making early deliveries.

Anyway we all comiserated and crafted and tried to lighten her heart a little.

So all in all, a fun time. I ducked out after two hours, not the first but not the last to leave. I was ready to get home, completed cards in tow.

The best part of the night?

Being met at the train by my husband and dog. Makes walking home in the cold a little brighter and happier.