17th - First Publication of A Christmas Carol - in 1846. If you are still making Christmas cards then A Christmas Carol could provide some last minute inspiration. Take a look at these A Christmas Carol quotes from About.com Classic Literature - A Christmas Carol Quotations.
18th - Birth Anniversary of the famous clown, Joseph Grimaldi - in 1778. Clowns add a bit of humor to rubber stamping projects. If you are looking for some educational activities for youngsters during the holidays then perhaps they could incorporate a joke or two into a stamping project. There are a range of clean jokes at the kid's section of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
19th - Last Minute Card Making - finding the right words to write in cards or on gift tags can sometimes be difficult. See Christmas Sentiments for ideas and inspiration.
20th - First Successful Cotton Mill in the US Starts to Operate - in 1790. Cotton is an ideal fabric for stamping on. To learn more see Fabric Stamping. This could be a challenge for the new year!
21st - First Cross Word Puzzle Published - in 1913 by Arthur Wynne. A puzzle can be a good addition to Christmas cards. Puzzles are particularly good for children's cards as it gives them an activity to keep them amused - even if it is for a short period of time! If you don't have a crossword puzzle to add to a card then take a look at some of these Christmas themed puzzles.
22nd - The Winter Solstice - this is the shortest day. From tomorrow the days will start to get longer. If you have not made your calendars for next year then there is still time to do so. Here are some Free Calendar Templates that you can customize with rubber stamps.
23rd - Festivus - a non-denomination holiday created by writer, Dan O'Keefe. It was made popular through a 1997 episode of a Seinfeld episode. A Festivus card would be sure to surprise recipients. For more information about Festivus see the website - Festivus.
24th - Christmas Eve - if you have just realized that you have missed someone off your card list and the stores are shut, never fear! Digital stamps are often available (check terms and conditions) for instant delivery and they can be a great way to produce a last minute card or even sent as a gift to a stamper.
25th – Christmas Day - if you celebrate Christmas then you are likely to be much too busy to think about stamping. If you don't, then why not take advantage of the holiday to plan some stamping and craft activities for the new year.
26th - Start of Kwanzaa - the celebration runs until January 1st. Kwanzaa is a celebration that honors African heritage and culture. The week celebration lasts for seven days and features amongst other things, the lighting of kinara candles. Make your own Kwanzaa decorations using this candle template. Use red, green and black paper or inks to make your own decorations.
27th - Thank You Note Day - Thank You cards are a good post-holiday activity. Give children some rubber stamps and card to make their own cards. Here are some more ideas - Thank You Card Ideas and Sentiments for Thank You Cards.
28th - The Endangered Species Act is passed in the United States - in 1973. Many species are becoming threatened because of environmental issues. There are many things that we can do to help reduce our impact on the environment and crafts are an ideal way to recycle paper and cards that would otherwise end up in the waste system. See Rubber Stamping and Recycling for more ideas.
29th - Prepare for New Year's Parties - paper bag luminaries can add a pretty touch to New Year's parties. Use them to add light to the drive or to give candle light outside. Use your rubber stamps to personalize and customize the luminaries. For more information and a template see Rubber Stamp Luminaries.
30th - Make a Gift Bag – this paper gift bag is easy to adapt and can be made in any size. This gift bag makes a great party favor and is ideal for New Year's parties - Paper Gift Bag Instructions and Template.
31st - New Year's Eve - it is a little known fact that rubber stamping can help you keep your New Year's resolutions, whether it's saving money or losing weight. See How Rubber Stamping Can Help You Keep Your New Year's Resolutions for more ideas.
Note: This list has been compiled from a number of websites and not from any official sources, therefore no guarantee can be given as to the accuracy or authenticity of some of these dates - particularly some of the more unusual celebrations.
