Perhaps you, like us, are gearing up for a quieter holiday season than usual. With travel plans postponed indefinitely, we’re focusing on ways to make the holidays feel special, which includes activities we can do together at home. Of course, for all of us on the Accent team, that means having fun with paper.
Here’s what’s inspiring us, from homegrown crafting collaborations to art by our favorite designers.
Image Credit: The Crafty Tube
Paper Ornaments
Some of the earliest ornaments to grace Christmas trees were actually paper streamers — think of these as a precursor to the shiny tinsel we’re more accustomed to today. In 19th-century Germany and Sweden, where there are long traditions of paper cutting, trees often featured more elaborate three-dimensional stars, as well.
We’re following along with this step-by-step video from The Crafty Tube to make our ornaments!
Image Credit: Quarry House Press
Handmade Traditional Prints
For many of us, the holidays evoke specific family and cultural traditions, and symbols of these find their way into our art, whether we’re making cards for loved ones, custom wrapping paper or prints to frame and hang on the wall. We’re especially inspired by artists who use traditional printmaking techniques, like Sarah Reed McNamara of SRMprints, whose linocut of dala horses and doves evokes just the kind of peaceful feelings we’re looking for this season. Speaking of linocut, we also can’t get enough of this Joyeux Noel print by Wendi Dibbern of Quarry House Press.
Image Credit: @holidaywindows12816
Cozy Window Displays
We may all be hunkering down at home for the holidays, but we can still communicate glad tidings to passerby through our window decorations. We’re loving this Instagram feed from a group of residents of Cambridge, NY, where each night throughout the month of December, one home unveils a newly decorated window.
Image Credit: Sarah Dudek
Fun and Festive Screen Prints
It may not be made with paper, but we can’t help but shout out Sarah Dudek’s screen-printed food-themed ornaments, including a pickle ornament! Anyone who has enjoyed the tradition of hiding and searching for the pickle ornament will be charmed by this wooden screen-printed version.
Are you using Accent® Opaque to celebrate the season? Show us what you’re making by using #AccentOpaque on social and we’ll share our favorites!
