Sunday, January 16, 2011

Christmas Neighbor Gifts



Check out my new blog Ivory Bloom!


Lots of FREE printables, creative ideas and an art community.


For Christmas 2010 we gave our neighbors some fun gifts. 
We used metal keys and attached a poem with them.


The Innkeeper’s Key
“Mary and Joseph had come to stay
But each lodging place turned them away.
At the last place they tried, still no room at all
Except for a simple hay-filled stall.
Thanks to one man’s kindness to those needy strangers
Jesus’ life began, safe in a lowly manger.
This innkeeper’s key is a symbol of 
How a simple act fills the world with love.
Keep this key, and remember God’s love is the reason
We are filled with blessings each Christmas season.”*
But wait, is that enough –
Just keep the key to remember the reason for the season?
Rather, shouldn’t we keep the key – yes 
Keep it where we might always be able to see - 
For the sad, the lonely, the ill and bereaved 
Have no certain season to show forth their need.
We have a key like the Innkeeper did.
Jesus gave each of us one when he said
Love one another as I have loved you.
Imagine keys being used all over the world
Opening the hearts of men like
Endless waves of clear water hitting against the shore
Till acts of love and service permeate the entire earth.
Why not turn your key and let him in.
Ione Mortensen  *original text by Les Hollowed







On Christmas Eve you hang your key outside your front door. 
It is a symbol that you are inviting the Savior into your home on Christmas Day.

You can download these JPEGs and make your own tags.






Another fun idea is to give fleece blankets with the quote "Fleece Navidad"


Download this JPEG to make your own fleece tags.
3 tags per 8.5" x 11" sheet of paper.




You might also like
Nativity Blocks



Another Great Christmas Gift Idea
Custom Christmas Pajamas



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39 comments:

  1. UnknownSeptember 1, 2012 at 6:19 PM

    where did you get your keys/ ebay, etsy?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anna JeffsSeptember 4, 2012 at 1:45 PM

    I did a search google search for "skeleton key" and then viewed the "shopping" results. I did the less expensive brass keys for the large group I did gifts for and then the nicer heavier keys for close friends and family. I just ordered online and had them delivered to my house. Hope that helps!

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  3. TrishaOctober 24, 2012 at 1:40 PM

    What font did you use for "Let Him In"?

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  4. Anna JeffsOctober 26, 2012 at 11:15 AM

    Let and In are Trajan.
    I couldn't find the font I used for "Him". I had already outlined it :)
    But I'll post a sheet you can download and print.

    ReplyDelete
  5. tbishyerOctober 29, 2012 at 6:57 AM

    That would be AWESOME! Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  6. MerryNovember 8, 2012 at 3:34 PM

    Please tell me what the page has on it with the ribbon winding around it? Is this available to download? Than you it's a wonderful idea!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anna JeffsNovember 9, 2012 at 6:26 PM

      The page with the ribbon is the actual paper the poem was printed onto. The paper came in a pack of 50 sheets and I bought it at FedEx Kinkos. I'm not sure if they have any more :)

      Delete
    2. sharileeDecember 2, 2012 at 6:04 PM

      Can you please share the downloads for these great ideas?

      Delete
    3. Anna JeffsDecember 2, 2012 at 6:57 PM

      I sure can :)
      Which items are you wanting?

      Delete
    4. AnonymousDecember 3, 2012 at 5:00 PM

      Anna,
      I love your ideas! Could you possibly share your download for "Fleece Navidad?"
      : ) Diane

      Delete
    5. sharileeDecember 3, 2012 at 7:46 PM

      The InnKeeper's Key and the Let Him In handouts. Thank!!!

      Delete
    6. sharileeDecember 3, 2012 at 7:48 PM

      And Fleece Navidad - Love your ideas!

      Delete
    7. Anna JeffsDecember 3, 2012 at 10:05 PM

      Fleece Navidad tags are up and ready to be downloaded :)

      Delete
    8. sharileeDecember 4, 2012 at 9:03 PM

      Thank you so much for sharing!

      Delete
  7. MelanieDecember 10, 2012 at 2:50 PM

    For some reason when I click on the Let Him In tags and try and print, they get cut off on the sides. Do you by chance have a download for this or a word file?

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    Replies
    1. Anna JeffsDecember 10, 2012 at 8:38 PM

      Melanie,
      I just uploaded a new file with a larger margin. See if that works better! The original file was done in InDesign :)

      Delete
  8. Murphy FamilyDecember 17, 2012 at 10:52 PM

    I would love to use your ideas for a lesson I am doing on Sunday do you have a download for the files...thanks so much

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anna JeffsDecember 18, 2012 at 8:35 AM

      Which files did you want?
      If you click on the photos the wait for the "album" to show-up, then right-click on the image you want, then click "save image as".
      That will get you access to all the files. If that doesn't work, I can email them to you Just let me know which ones you need :)

      Delete
  9. SheriAugust 6, 2013 at 5:03 PM

    Is there anyway I could get the outline you used for your Relief Society program?

    ReplyDelete
  10. ashley @ little miss mommaDecember 16, 2013 at 4:48 PM

    hi anna! this is fabulous and i am going to do this for a bunch of women at church. thank you so much for putting this together. I am having trouble downloading the files onto my mac. Would it be too much trouble to email the files to me at ashley@littlemissmomma.com. I would love the He Has Risen file and the inkeepers key with three on it. thanks so much! i understand if you can't :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ashley @ little miss mommaDecember 16, 2013 at 4:54 PM

      never mind :) I was able to download them from your other site :) thx again!

      Delete
  11. UnknownAugust 23, 2014 at 12:43 PM

    FYI update on bulk keys
    http://aniknition.com/index.html

    ReplyDelete
  12. UnknownSeptember 12, 2014 at 7:08 AM

    how did you attach the innkeepers key poem to the actual key, and let him in tag?

    ReplyDelete
  13. Anna JeffsSeptember 12, 2014 at 9:35 AM

    I used ribbon or twine. You could bundle them together with whatever you have on hand :)

    ReplyDelete
  14. UnknownSeptember 12, 2014 at 2:25 PM

    my church will be selling them at a craft bazaar and we need to know how to package it all together. Can you give me an idea of what you did? the poem is a little large to put on the actual key with the ribbon and the other tag.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Kelly WhiteDecember 15, 2014 at 8:14 PM

    I am hoping to use the printables for the key for our YW but when I print them they come out fuzzy and pixelated. Would it be possible for you to send me the files? They are adorable!
    klwhite8@sbcglobal.net

    ReplyDelete
  16. jenniferDecember 21, 2014 at 9:28 AM

    Thank you so much for sharing!!! I'd like everyone to know that I found a ton of skeleton keys in the dollar section at Michaels. Merry Christmas and God Bless!

    ReplyDelete
  17. UnknownNovember 11, 2015 at 9:27 AM

    could you please share the downloads with me? thank you

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  18. UnknownNovember 11, 2015 at 9:35 AM

    im sorry i need the innkeepers downloads. thank you again

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  19. Anna JeffsNovember 11, 2015 at 10:53 AM

    Hi! I have PDF downloads here: http://www.ivorybloom.com/BlogView.aspx?Type=Printables&BID=113&Cat=
    Let me know if it doesn't work for you.

    ReplyDelete
  20. UnknownNovember 14, 2015 at 11:57 AM

    Thank you so much for the printables . I am so happy to make these projects for my bible study friends and personal friends,

    ReplyDelete
  21. Johnson's Times TwoDecember 1, 2015 at 9:29 PM

    I can't get the Let Him In to download. I was able to get the poem to download. I love the font for the Let Him In with the star and all. I would love to see it with the red and without the red to decide how we want to do it. I tried going to your other site. Could you maybe email it to me? We are using it as a RS gift for our Christmas dinner. Thank you. My email address ashleyscott.johnson@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  22. jonnaDecember 26, 2015 at 6:40 PM

    Thank you so much for sharing these! They are wonderful! I appreciate your talent and generosity!

    ReplyDelete
  23. stevenjocbApril 20, 2016 at 1:10 AM

    good post.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Natasha BucknerNovember 10, 2016 at 9:32 PM

    Will you please email me the "Let Him In" downloads? I can't get it to download. Thanks!

    tasharachelle@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  25. MrsANSDecember 18, 2016 at 1:03 PM

    I love this and printed the Let Him In Lyrics on some paper that I found at Wal-Mart and it goes perfectly! But it appears there is a misspelling in the third paragraph. I believe 'starring' should be 'staring'. I am going to make some of these for all of the kids in my family and I found the keys on Amazon. Thank you SO much for sharing - what a blessing this will be to many families.

    ReplyDelete
  26. LisachemSeptember 19, 2018 at 5:48 PM

    Thank you for this beautiful idea! I'm using this as Christmas gifts for the YW in our branch! Thank you for sharing your talents!!

    ReplyDelete
  27. mollyDecember 7, 2019 at 8:55 PM

    Can you email me file of Let him in and the poem please cindy@buyeasttexas.com

    ReplyDelete

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