Never-On-Time Christmas Packages

Last summer I participated in a craft fair at which one of my cousins also had a booth.  Her small daughters arrived and popped in several times during the day.

They loved coming over to see me and all my fun and colorful products.  The littlest one was particularly enthralled with a lovely, ruffley baby dress (we had to explain that it was too little to fit her).

When it came to my Dum Dum Warriors (and other toys), the oldest daughter was most definitely hinting,

“What are these for?”

“They are for people to buy.”

[in a rather dejected tone] “Oh. I wish I could buy them.”

So I took pity on the girls and told them, “tell ya what. You leave these here for people to buy and I’ll make you each one for Christmas.”  While technically, Christmas has come and gone, most of my Christmas gifts/fudge/etc. are never on time anyway.  Mostly because I am simply always late.  But I have recently thought of a brilliant excuse: people enjoy gifts whenever they receive them AND the fudge is likely to be more greatly (and less guiltily) enjoyed when there are not quantities of other Christmas goodies clamoring to be consumed.

But, unfortunately, after I told them this, I suddenly realized that it wouldn’t be fair to make only one set of children toys-not when most of my other cousins have children too.  So, it turned into a much larger project than I had originally anticipated (but I had a blast making them all).  It is going to be a surprise for everyone - with the exception of one cousin.  There are so many food allergies in that family, I had to consult her before creating and shipping off a toy with candy someone wouldn’t be able to eat.  And it turned out to be a good thing I asked; her littlest one is allergic to corn which means she cannot have any kind of sucker (at least none that her mom has yet been able to find).  So, since the warriors kinda require a sucker, I decided to make her an extra special toy to make up for not being able to have the candy.

Personally, I love the way this kitty turned out — if I weren’t a “grown-up,” I might decide to keep it for myself 😄  So, if my li’l cousin is like me, she won’t miss the candy at all... though if she has the same sweet tooth as my sister, nothing could possibly assuage the lack of candy... 🙄



All the toys are ready to go — so tonight I get to start packaging the fudge and toys and prepare them for mailing.  I am so easily entertained -- I had so much fun posing them all for this picture.