Friday, December 31, 2010

Say Goodbye To '59!

Should you be inviting some auld acquaintances to your house for a little New Year's Eve soirée this year? If so, you might want to Ring In The New Year with some of Gay Head's suggestions in Party Perfect (1959), that pocket-sized party planning guide.




Madcap merrymakers





Curly Wurly wishes you a happy and healthy 2011!

Thursday, December 23, 2010

I'm Dreaming Of...


From my table to yours, warm wishes to all my readers!

Gifts Of Christmases Past


No mantelpiece? Don't have enough room for a lineup of stockings? Here's the solution: Pocket Full Of Stockings. And fill each tiny pocket to the brim with Hostess Cupcakes!


If your father knows wurst, sew him up a nice hat and apron ensemble so he can pose in awkward family photos like this one!


Or make Kevin Nealon a typewriter cover. I'm sure he'll appreciate it!


Remember when Brigitte Bardot was on the Soupy Sales holiday show?

[All gift ideas from Things To Make For Christmas (Fawcett Publications, 1965)]

Monday, December 20, 2010

The Pickle On The Hearth


O Pickle Tree - This is officially my favorite gelatin salad ever! It's made using gelatin, mayonnaise, horseradish, pickles, apples, tongue, green peppers! It's gorgeous! You're welcome!


The Festive Pickle Glazed Yule Log (ham) covered in briny 'mushrooms'


What's your Christmas table without a nice Santapiece?


Or, perhaps, Scott Towels' Jack In The Box Choir Boy is more your style? (He's guardian of the Almond Brittle)


Make holiday cards using seasonal seals available at Woolworth's


Or use scraps of gift wrap to make these really nice paper candle cards. I love the Futurist Noel design!

[All crafts and food items from Things To Make For Christmas (Fawcett Publications, 1965)]

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Season's Eatings!


Santa's embarrassing summer job as gift walker


This poor reindeer has both snail-y hind legs and reindeer pox!


DAK Angel


Hors d'Oeuvre Memory Game! Can you spot Moon Face and Sardine Supreme?


Punting on the Yuletide at the annual Stollen Regatta


You, too, will be Mince Meat if you sneak a piece of one of these fruit bundt cakes before the guests arrive!

[All crafts and food items from Things To Make For Christmas (Fawcett Publications, 1965)]

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Fawcett's Holiday Bizarre!


They call this one Blue Plastic Angel, so I suppose it was influenced by Marlene Dietrich. Can't you see the resemblance?


A Trio of Eerie Faceless Angels


Dumbledore lives!


Cousin Itt meets a blonde bombshell yeti


The Snowman "Plaque" is just paper plates and black masking tape? Now, that's just lazy!


Tissue Box Pantomime


Bozo the Totem Pole Clown


George Nelson's Starburst wall hanging

[All crafts from Things To Make For Christmas (Fawcett Publications, 1965)]

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

The Worst Noel


A Very Cubist Christmas


Six Flags: North Pole


Have a Holly Jolly Christmas as you laugh in the face of danger with this burr and ivy Christmas tree in lieu of the traditional fire hazard.


Didn't I see these guys on an episode of Dr. Who? Don't look into their eyes!


We Three Kings of Orient are bearing gifts... bric-a-brac, sequins, and felt!


Con-Tact paper makes the best sort of gingerbread house: inedible!


Neuschcanstein Castle, one of the most popular destinations in Europe, is located in the German state of Bottlevaria close to Germany's border with Austria.

[All crafts from Things To Make For Christmas (Fawcett Publications, 1965)]

Monday, December 13, 2010

Mistletoe Miscellanea


We have a lot of these downstairs, but I usually just squash them rather than fashion them into a wreath.


Want a Christmas Cracker?


He's got Pac-Man Eyes. This Santa Party favor is The Scream reimagined by Scott Paper Towel company.


Top hat, white snow, and tails -- A Continental Snow Man


The Reflector Tree uses Christmas tree light reflectors (available at your local five and dime). One of the nicest hand-made trees I've seen!

[All crafts from Things To Make For Christmas (Fawcett Publications, 1965)]

Christmas Faux Pas La La

'Tis the season for sacrilegious Christmas crafting, and does the ninth issue of Things To Make For Christmas (Fawcett Publications, 1965) have some doozies! For the remainder of 2010, I'll be counting down the worst of the season with advertising and crafting ideas from this and other publications, so check back daily for seasonal inspiration! Here's a little preview:


Up on the caketop reindeer pause and out jumps good old Santa Claus


Your own personal cathedral courtesy of Con-Tact Brand Adhesive Con-Tact Paper


The Great Ham Creche? Jesus Christ Superstar Armour Ham?

Apparently I missed the part in the Bible where the reader was instructed to 'Apply blue wax to Virgin's robe, filling out hips,' and to 'Spray Virgin's robe and Joseph's shawl very lightly with glitter.' Err.. also.. 'To attach Virgin to Child, press 2 or 3 fine needles into Virgin and impale Child on them.' You'd think they could come up with a more innocuous description!