Camels at Christmas

Ever since I was a child I have been fascinated by Nativity crib scenes at Christmas. Even at the Winchester Christmas Fair a few weeks ago we saw one where children could dress up and be part of the scene. Since our early married days my Hb and I had a little set of plastic nativity figures we brought out at Christmas. Some years ago we bought a "stable" to display them in. Last year I "upgraded" and found a sweet wooden one, on 2 levels, more a barn!

Again over the years we have "upgraded" our plastic figures and bought beautiful carved wooden ones from the German Christmas markets in Cologne, Frankfurt and Nuremberg.

Our Nativity crib sits on the archway between the hall and our dining room and I love to look at it from where I use the computer and also when we sit and eat at the table.

 It's a tradition every year that my Dad cuts me some holly and greenery from his garden and I add it to my nativity scene.

Here are the steps where I placed my goats and chick. The sack, hay fork and rusted bucket were also bought at the German markets.

As you know I adore pigs, so of course I have to feature them in my little scene...I have male and female wild boar with a stripey piglet who stands with the shepherds. The shepherd at the back is one of my original plastic models.

I do not yet own any wooden kings. If we get back to a German market in the next few years these are what I will buy. I make do with my originals, which look fine. However we never had a camel in that set so for years I have put my childhood "walk down an incline" camel there. This really makes us laugh each year, He must be 45 odd years old and still "walks" if you put him on an incline.
Say hello to Humphrey...

I bet he made you smile ;0) 

I think even if we eventually get a wooden camel, Humphrey will still have to stand on the arch. He is part of our Christmas and when Daisy gets bigger she can have fun "walking" him down an incline.

My card today is my last Christmas card of 2014 and features another festive creature, the dear Robin.  I have used a sweet Nicecrane image which is available here. This vintage bird set has some great images and I made up some great last minute cards with them.

The holly die cut is Cheery Lynn and the sentiment is LOTV. The papers are ancient from my stash.

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges;

Pile it on anything goes Christmas/holidays

Deep Ocean Christmas is all around
Creative Inspirations Christmas/New Year
Loves rubberstamps Holiday blitz anything goes
That craft place anything goes
Totally Gorjuss love at Christmas
Crafty Boots winter wonderland
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas whatever is still urgently needed for Christmas
Crafty Hazelnut's patterned paper anything goes
Papertake weekly pick a fave I have chosen a nice easy, anything goes one!

Tomorrow is my final posting for my countdown to Christmas as yes we will have reached Christmas Eve. I have a really special project to share with you so if you get a chance do pop back and take a peep.

Back tomorrow,

Bye for now,

Jane x