12 Days of Home for the Holidays: Tammy Tutterow

My guest today is Tammy Tutterow for the 12 Days of Home for the Holidays.  Tammy is another crafter
and  "Pubster" from Two Peas in a Bucket Pub I've "met."  Tammy works for several top manufacturers including: Tim Holtz, Ranger Ink, BasicGrey, Pink Paislee,Therm O Web, ProvoCraft/Cricut, Prima Marketing, Glitz Design, and Tattered Angels. Her work has been published in several books, magazines, and product catalogs and has been featured on television. Tammy teaches in crafting stores, conventions, and online both on her own blog and at Big Picture Classes.
Tammy recently did a wonderful tutorial for Ranger.  The tutorial is for creating a Frosty De-boss.  Her website and blog is full of inspiration and instruction.

Welcome Tammy! 

Tammy Tutterow

Three years ago, my youngest daughter Emma (now 7) got a glow-in-the-dark skeleton from her trick-or-treat bucket. She loved that silly little rubbery skeleton and played with it all the time. When we were decorating our Christmas tree that year, you could see she suddenly had a bright idea. She got super excited and ran to her room. She came back with that little skeleton and announced that she wanted to hang it on the tree. We tried telling her no, that you don't put skeletons and Halloween stuff on Christmas trees but she insisted. She said that Santa would be "flabbergasted" when he saw it. She wanted him to have a surprise and wanted to make him laugh and she was sure that seeing that skeleton on our tree would do the trick.  Who can argue with that?  So we obliged.

That little skeleton hung there and glowed among the lights and ornaments and gave us each a giggle as we walked past.  The anticipation of what Santa would think made Emma so excited for Christmas.  She kept asking us all what we thought Santa would say and if he would laugh.

When Emma went to check out the tree on Christmas morning she was surprised to find a note from Santa telling her how flabbergasted he was. She was delighted and so proud that she could surprise Santa and make him laugh.

When it was time to pack the tree away, she insisted the skeleton be put away with the ornaments that Santa would expect to see him on our tree next year. And so last year when it came time to decorate the tree, the little glow-in-the-dark skeleton took his place front and center among the more traditional ornaments and again, we all giggled at the sight of it there.

And so the tradition continues that we hang that skeleton on our tree and anticipate the giggles and surprised responses from all who see it there.  I think even more than what it means to Emma to give Santa a good laugh, it means a little something more to us. It is about the magic in a little girl's heart in wanting to give something back to Santa and that we should all take the time to be flabbergasted with the wonder and joy of the season more. Sometimes it takes something simple like a little rubber skeleton to remind you of that.

About my flabbergasted holiday decor:

This past July I was creating projects for summer CHA.  As always, the summer shows usually feature products for the fall and winter holiday seasons.  As I created samples using Tim Holtz's new Kraft Resist Paper Stash, I immediately focused in on a paper with a skeleton.  It immediately made me think of our family's flabbergasting holiday story.  I so very much wanted to make a Christmas project featuring that skeleton.   

Since I knew no one would get the reference, I instead created a Halloween themed project with him. (Tim Holtz)

It was always my intentions that as Christmas time came, that I would re-make the project and make it a fun little flabbergasting mix of spooky and merry.  

 I love the final piece that mixes a Santa Skeleton with a festive tree with real twinkling lights. 

I love when a piece of handmade art makes you smile, and this one does just that!

Tammy Tutterow
Designer, Instructor, and Craft Blogger

http://www.tammytutterow.com 

Remember to leave Tammy a comment.

Thank you Tammy for making me giggle.  Thanks Emma for starting one of the most fun and memorable traditions.

This has been another great, inspirational, fun 12 Days of Home for the Holidays 2011.  Thank you everyone that visited, left comments and questions.  Thank you for making all my guests welcome. 

Appreciation Giveaway *GIVEAWAY CLOSED*

To express my appreciation, all those who left comments will be put in a drawing for one person to win a pack of Prima Paloma Collection Botanical Flowers.  It is not too late to leave comments for my guests. I'll draw a winner this Friday.  Thanks again everyone.