Paper Angels Six

My family and I are very into Christmas. We like the ritual associated with the festival and it's because of this fascination, I designed and wrote Paper Angels.

Illustration from Paper Angels by Emma Calder

Since my children were both very small, they have always made all their own Christmas cards. If you look carefully at the night time spread (above) in Paper Angels, you can see some tiny little Christmas cards that my daughter made. Most years I scan in my children's Christmas creations and these came in very handy, when I came to do this illustration. I just popped them into the drawing using my computer. 

Christmas Cards by Coco Cripps at age eleven, 2007

In our house my children generally begin making their cards in October. That's weeks of concentrated activity after school, which I don't even have to supervise any more, I just provide the materials and the right sort of encouragement.

Between the two of them this year, they have made over 60 cards so far and below are a few of my nine year old boy's. I gave him glue, stickers, coloured paper and envelops bought second hand on a car boot fair and he used his own good quality colouring pencils. 

Christmas cards by Oliver Cripps age nine

When my daughter and her best friend were in year four or five they started a Christmas Card workshop every day at their primary school, this was a great success and meant that everyone got lovely home made cards instead of boring, shop bought ones.

So get the cotton wool and glitter out and have fun!

And here is a card I made with Oliver when he was two or three. It's a fold up card see if you can work out how it goes. Clue, you cut the rectangles out...

 Santa card by Emma Calder circa 2003

Paper Angels Five

I am a big doll fan and dolls did inspire me when I was creating my book Paper Angels. 

Russian Dolls Picadilly

Here are two photographs of some Russian dolls that I spotted in a shop in Piccadilly, London a couple of years ago. They have nice faces and beautiful hand painted decorations.

 Russian Dolls Picadilly

When I was designing the angels for my book I spent almost the most time designing their faces as I wanted their personalities to come across in a very particular way. 

 Illustration from Paper Angels

On the theme of faces, here are some Father Christmas scraps that I bought on the Christmas flee market in Stuggart, Germany.

 Father Christmas Scraps 19th Century

I love these serious faces, very different from most of the santas we see now a days. all cheerful, fat and jolly.

Paper Angels Four

I have been looking for the first paper angels that I made a few years ago. Unfortunately they haven't shown up yet. Instead I found these little fellows, that I made at the same time.

Santas by Emma Calder

All you need to make your own Santas are two circles, one for the face and one for the body. For the face could just use a circle sticky label if you have one around. Add arms if you want, but they look fine without. A compass and some pinking sheers would be handy but not essential. If you have cotton wool, other little stickers and sequins use these too. Be creative and when you have finished your decorations, pop some cotton through the hat and hang up from your Christmas tree.

Paper Angels Three

This is a short stop frame film, of an eight year old cutting and making up a paper angel from my book Paper Angels. See how easy it is. Don't forget to send me your own handmade paper angels for my special Christmas competition. Template downloadable from side of page.