Day to Day

Day 10 - Little felt trees

I came across this idea in my new Japanese craft magazine (current issue of Cotton Time). They are really easy to make and quite fast.

I printed out the soft tree pattern available from here and then used the photos from the craft magazine as a quick guide to embroidering the white tree onto the felt (I've added some french knots too - an alternative is little beads). Then stuff the tree and blanket stitch the bottom on, adding a little pom pom to finish.  The pom poms are usually available at craft shops or $2 shops.

Photos from the magazine:

Day 9 - Shortbread & wrapping

I usually bake a big batch of shortbread (double the mixture) and then freeze it in ziplock bags to pull out as needed over the festive season.

Ingredients:

300 grams plain flour

120 grams icing sugar

210 grams butter.

How to:

Cream the butter and icing sugar together.  Add the flour and mix well.  Roll into a long sausage shape and cut pieces off with a knife or alternatively use some nice cookie cutters (roll the shortbread flat for this).  You will also need to keep your board and rolling pin nicely floured so that it doesn't stick to everything.

Cook in a moderate oven for 10 - 15 minutes.

Thanks Beth for the lend of the nice cookie cutters!

For something different this Christmas with your gift wrapping, use paper doilies - available at most supermarkets. 

Day 8 - Santa Placemat

I picked up the 'cookies for santa' plate last week at Big W (just $3-95) and decided it would be perfect for an idea I had to make Santa a Christmas placemat.

I constructed the placemat from 2 pieces of calico - the top piece I used as a base and sewed onto this the strips of ribbon, twill and red fabric.  I then added a couple of pockets (also out of calico)  - one for the carrot and the other to hold any letters to Santa.

The finished size of the placemat is 48cm X 29cm.  The finished size of the pockets - 12.5 X 9cm. 

The gorgeous tree twill and black Christmas ribbon I picked up from Fiona's shop - Ribbons Galore. Seriously yummy!

Day 7 - Kids Christmas books

Made with paper or felt I created these little Christmas books for James and Bella to use for their Christmas drawings or stories.  They make really nice keepsakes that you can put away at the end of the festive season and find again the following year.

They also make lovely gifts to give to Nan/Pop, teachers, Dads etc.. with a handwritten note inside and drawings from the child (maybe a photo or two).

I've done several versions - All paper ones in the first photo followed by felt books that have either been machine stitched down or else hand stitched and then the felt has been adhered to the card using double sided tape.  It holds really nicely. 

Here is the tree template - again, I'm sorry but I don't know how to do a PDF file, so simply right hand click the image and save to My Documents.  Print out the template on an A4 sized piece of paper and cut out.

Outside card measurement - 15cm X 27.5cm and then fold in half to create the book.

Cut a series of reflex paper sheets (thin paper) for the inside.  I've used 5 sheets, which once folded makes 10 pages in the book.  Cut these slightly smaller than your outside card measurements.

Fold everything in half, punch or slit holes in the sides and thread with ribbon to finish the book.

You can either adhere or stitch the button on top of the tree.

Nativity Set

We are still ooh-ing and ahh-ing here over this beautiful gift that James' and Bella's nan and pop made for us and delivered on Sunday.  Isn't it gorgeous!!! (Kama, wouldn't Oscar LOVE this).

Nanny Marion knitted all the people and animals while poppy Denny made the stable.  The hay is kind of stuck down so it doesn't go everywhere when it's being played with.

We just love it so so much!

I'll be back later with the next Christmas craft post :O)))

Day 6 - Christmas Pencil Toppers

Inspired by these gorgeous pencil toppers.

Materials:

Felt scraps

Sewing machine

Various ribbon for the bow

small beads or buttons plus a clear glue for adhering (I've used dimensional magic)

Pencil/pin/scissors

Right hand click on the template above and save to 'my documents'.  Then print out on an A4 piece of paper and cut out.  (Sorry I don't know how to do a pdf file, but this should work nicely).

Pin the template onto 2 pieces of felt and cut out.

Machine stitch the two pieces of felt together - ensure that you leave the bottom edge open so that the pencil will slide up nicely.

Poke the pencil up the tree and use a clear glue to hold into position.

Adhere a scattering of beads (or buttons) over the tree.

Tie a bow using ribbon, twill etc.. under the tree.

These make great little gifts and are fast to make.  Ours are going in the advent calendar as little gifts for James and Bella.

Thankyou very much for your lovely input on the photos - it was very close, but number 5 photo won followed by photo 4 and then 2 - only 1 vote between those three!  Thanks everyone. See you tomorrow for Day 7 of Christmas craft....farout I can't believe I've been doing this for 1 week already.

Festive Season

We usually put up the tree on December 1st, actually always...but this year we decided to put it up a week early.  The kids always get really excited about doing this and I thought it would be a nice distraction for James who has been off school all this week sick and currently has a very sore ear (from an ear infection).  We always wear the Christmas aprons that Mum made us, red/white fluffy Santa hats and turn the Christmas carols up nice and loud.

Trying on the Santa suit is always fun!

And then the Christmas photo shoot - I always include a photo with some of my Christmas cards and I can't decide which one this year.....which one do you think? The top photo being number 1 down to the bottom photo (number 5)...probably not number 1 actually because Bella is looking away, lol.

See you tomorrow for the Christmas Craft post.

Day 5 - Christmas Rum Balls

I cook these every Christmas - usually around the beginning of December. They freeze perfectly, so are great to make in advance and then take out a few here and there when you need (or desire!) them.

The recipe calls for  3 tablespoons of rum.  I'm not a fan of rum and don't like my rum balls to be really strong, so this amount gives a nice subtle flavour - add more depending on your taste buds!

Alternatively leave out the rum and they make great Christmas balls for little ones to eat.

I always make a double batch - which usually gives me about 55 or so rum balls - ideally I'd like to get 80 out of the mixture, but I always get too carried away and make them larger than expected.

Ingredients:

1 can condensed milk

1 packet of Milk Arrowroot biscuits (by Arnotts).

1 cup coconut (for the mix) plus extra coconut for rolling the rum balls in.

1 1/2 tablespoons cocoa

3 tablespoons rum

Crush the biscuits - either with a rolling pin or in a blender.

Mix the dry ingredients in a bowl together (crushed biscuits, coconut and cocoa).

Melt the Rum and condensed milk in a saucepan over a low heat and pour into the dry ingredients - mix together well. 

Roll into a small ball (beware, this is messy stuff!) and then roll the ball in extra coconut.

Day 4 - Handmade wine holder

A super quick gift packaging idea!

Materials:

*Fabric of your choice (I've used denim) - 43.5cm X 30.5cm

*Ribbon - Approximately 71cm

*Felt scraps for tree

*Sewing machine, needle, embroidery cotton (2 to 3 strands for blanket stitching), pins

*Buttons

Hem the top edge of the fabric - Fold over .5cm then fold over another .5cm and hem (this will hide the raw edge of the fabric inside the hem).

Use the diagram/size chart below (this is the same template from Day 2 - Christmas Trees in Denim) to draw out a template on paper or card. Cut this template out.

Pin the template onto a piece of felt and cut out.

Blanket stitch the tree onto the fabric at the appropriate position - have a wine bottle handy and roll the fabric around this to work out where the tree is going.  Another option is to machine stitch the felt tree onto the denim.

Stitch a variety of buttons on the tree.

Machine stitch up the bottom and side of the wine holder, pop your wine bottle inside and tie into place with some nice ribbon.

Beth has a tutorial for the Christmas knitters (a knitted Christmas bell) over on her blog.

Day 3 - Glitter Playdough

Glitter playdough is a really easy and cheap gift for little ones at Christmas time and also fun to make for your own children.  It makes a great gift to have on hand - simply staple a piece of ribbon (I've used Strano ribbon) onto a sandwich sized zip lock bag and loop it through a couple of cookie cutters before stapling.

It's not messy at all - the glitter stays put in the playdough really well (it kind of sticks into place).   

I know there are some really cool playdough recipes out there, but I've used my old favourite on the saucepan which makes enough to fill two ziplock bags nicely. 

Add glitter once you remove it from the saucepan, work it through nicely until you are happy with the amount of shine!

The recipe:

1 cup plain flour 

1/2 cup cooking salt 

1 cup water 

1 tablespoon cream of tartar 

1 tablespoon cooking oil 

food colouring & glitter!

Mix the flour, salt, cream of tartar and water together.  Pop the saucepan on a medium heat and stir until a large thick ball happens.  Sit aside to cool.  Once cool add the oil and food colouring - knead together on a floured board and work the glitter through.

Beth also has a pretty tutorial on making a Christmas wall collage here if you want to check it out.