Ransom Recycles

Perfume is Poison challenges the idea that perfumes, colognes or scented products of any kind make acceptable Christmas gifts. These toxic chemicals damage the health of the wearer and those who must suffer the stench. Over thirty percent of the population reacts negatively to perfumes and scented products with symptoms as common as headaches, respiratory congestion, joint pain, rashes, depression and irritability. Fifteen percent of the population have been forced to adjust their lifestyles to avoid the poisons in order to live in a world saturated with this toxic stench. Yet the rest of the population buys, wears, and selfishly contaminates the air we must all share without any regard for others. Perfume, cologne and scented products are popular Christmas gifts designed to make the wearer feel good about themselves, The average person uses 515 toxic chemicals per day. Please stop! Size: 8 x 5 1/2 inches, bound front cover inside back cover

Save the Trees is a commentary on the materialism of the Christmas season and our entitled sacrifice of living plants for seasonal ornamentation. Granted, I realize there are tree farms that cater to this need, but why is it a requirement of Christmas to have freshly cut trees and wreaths? With so many creative alternatives, why is this still acceptable? I will be the first to admit, I am as guilty as the next person. For the past fifteen years every December I hiked down to the blackberry patch in the wilds where the evergreens grown. Every year I trim the low hanging branches for my one and only Christmas token - a handmade wreath. This year, however, I finally realized I've been slowly cutting away all the low hanging branches and there is nothing left except blackberry vines! How could I be so oblivious to my destruction? This card represents my own selfish and careless regard for resources. I know I am not alone in my self-centeredness. This year I'm making my homemade w...

Think Before You Stink illustrates the materialism of the season and the very bad gift choices some people make either out of ignorance, apathy, or manipulation. As a very small child, buying Christmas gifts for parents and grandparents who seemed to have everything was a challenge. Maybe it was the overabundance of advertising or maybe I knew it was fashionable for the women in my life to stink like French whores, but my constant go-to purchase perhaps inspired by my father since he was paying for it, was cheap perfume. It came in a pretty box and I thought it appropriate at the time. I don't ever remember my mother or grandmother wearing the perfume let alone opening the box, so I'm sure it ended up in a closet. Now that I am chemically sensitive and perfumes or colognes are toxic and poisonous, I look back on my childhood and wonder who instilled in me the gift of bad gift giving? Size: 4 x 5 1/2, bound front cover inside back cover

Nature's Gift highlights the natural beauty of the season: snow, wildlife, trees. Do we really need all that materialistic stuff in order to celebrate what should be a holiday of happiness, goodwill, and peace? Nature in its glory is the epitome of these gifts. Size: 4 1/2 x 6 inches approximately, folded front cover inside back cover

Keep Christmas Green is a decorative theme on seasonal ornamentation. Although it might question our overuse and sacrifice of living plants for our own personal, selfish, and entitled holiday needs, I'm torn. I love nature and I love having it around me, but at what cost? Decorations are glorious especially if they are made from free or recycled materials. Little mini Christmas trees are placed at the apex of a roof on newly constructed Swiss homes to symbolize happiness. Christmas should be about happiness and love, not materialism. Size: 3 x 5 approximately, bound front cover inside back cover

Season's Greedings & Happy Hoarding addresses the consumerism of the holidays. It used to be giving was the theme of the season, but getting now rules as it feeds our modern sense of self-esteem. Does owning more make people feel better about themselves? Do they feel loved surrounded by possessions? Do expensive objects give them more social status? Is shopping really a form of therapy? Size: 5 x 7 approximately, bound front cover inside back cover

The Worship of Want challenges the materialistic focus of the season and the unnatural worship of buying, getting, and owning useless stuff just for the sake of accumulation. Why has consumerism become the true meaning of Christmas when peace, love, and joy should be enough? Size: 5 1/2 x 7 inches approximately, folded front cover inside back cover

The Most Christmasy Card Ever! was inspired by a friend who told me my Christmas card last year wasn't Christmasy enough.* She couldn't see anything holiday-ish about it, oblivious to the patterns of Christmas trees, snowflakes, and holly. Granted, it was painted in various shades of blue and definitely not red and green. No Santas, snowmen, poinsettias, cookies, wreaths, presents, mushy messages or baby Jesus. I've made up for it this year although to me it screams materialism which I find offensive. I think she'll be really happy! Size: 5 1/2 x 7 1/2 inches approximately, bound front cover inside back cover * Last year's Christmas card with plenty of Christmasy things: