This pic is a bit teeny, but if you pop over to this post on Sonia's blog you will find how to email Sonia and ask for the cutest printable pdf for Reindeer poop that you've ever seen. It's a sweet little poem, complete with reindeer pics that you can print and attach to your poop just in time for Christmas.
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mmmmmm YUM!
Go here for the recipe of Petrina's home made adults only Very Merry Cordial. If the packaging is anything to go by the cordial should be to die for :)
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A while ago Lina posted a repurposing challenge on her blog. Actually it was way back in July and although I didn't participate in the challenge at the time, it's been playing on my mind ever since.
Anyhow, while peeking at Leslie's good-ness shop (it really is full of goodness!) I came across some delightful Shinzi Katoh Christmas fabric that I just had to have (as well as a few others that just jumped right into my shopping cart *cough cough*).
The fabrics arrived yesterday afternoon and while I didn't completely repurpose an item it felt good to chop up an old pillowcase that was just sitting in the cupboard gathering dust to help make two new ones. Thankyou very much Leslie for the complimentary reindeer fabric, it was just perfect for James' pillow :)
I photographed the pillows on James' bed, but the large Christmas pillow at the back belongs to Bella and the smaller one in the front is for James. They were a big hit last night to use at Christmas story time and then snuggling down to sleep with. We'll take the covers off after Christmas and pack them away with the decorations for next year.
I had a small scrap leftover of the Shinzi Katoh fabric which Bella stapled together to create this fabric basket for her juggling balls that she also made for herself last night (we were out of rice so she added some strips of paper inside lol).
Oh and quote of the night from my little crafty girl "Mum do we have any calico because this fabric basket would be so so cool with a lining inside". Ahhhh I love her :)
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Today's Handmade Christmas idea is another one emailed through to me by the lovely Melleny. The Star boxes would be lovely to hold treats for Christmas.
Materials:
Cardstock, Patterned paper – this is optional, Ribbon, Embellishments
Instructions:
Cut cardstock to 8 ½ inches x 11 inches
If you would like to add some strips of patterned paper add them to your
cardstock before you start to score. Add them as shown.
With the patterned side facing down, score at 1", 3", 5", 7" and 9". Flip the page over
from top to bottom NOT side to side. The left side of the paper will remain in the
same orientation.
With the patterned side facing up, score at 2", 4", 6" and 8" and 10".
Turn your cardstock as shown. Cut at 2 ½ inches. The top part will form your lid and
the bottom your box.
Mark and score at 1 inch on both lower edges. See picture.
Accordion fold, creasing along each fold. Apply double sided tape to the tab and stick
together.
Fold your points right over left and secure with double sided tape. You will have
something that looks like this.
Trace the outline of your star onto the wrong side of cardstock. Cut out the star and
adhere to the top.
Repeat instructions for the bottom of your box.
Gently ease your top half of your star box, over the bottom.
You can decorate your box further if you choose. I have punched holes in the top and
threaded through some ribbon and added some tags.
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Aren't these sweet?! Today Melleny has provided us with another gorgeous and quick idea. You can attach these beautiful tags to your Christmas gifts under the tree. They would also be lovely tied onto cellophane bags with goodies inside. Materials: Cardstock, Scrap patterned paper, Buttons, Ribbons, String, Merry Christmas Stamp, Ink Instructions: Cut cardstock 4cm x 10cm. Cut another piece of cardstock 3cm x 9cm, ink around the edges. Stamp Merry Christmas on the side. Cut a triangle shape from patterned paper and a small piece for the trunk. Adhere to card. Adhere button to the top. Stamp or hand write ‘to’ ‘from’ on the back. Punch a small hole on the side. Thread through string and knot. Tie a ribbon on.
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This beautiful Tri Fold Card was another tutorial emailed through by Melleny. Melleny thankyou so much!
You will need:
Cardstock for base
Pattern Paper 3 ¼ inch square x 2
Ribbon
Embellishments
Cut your cardstock 10 ½ inches x 3 ½ inches. Mark and score your cardstock
at 3 ½ inches and 7 inches. You will have three equal squares.
Add a diagonal score to the outside squares as shown.
Prefold your scored lines. First fold the left square in, then the triangle down.
Next fold the right square in, then the triangle up.
Cut a two squares of patterned paper 3 ¼ inch square x 2. Adhere one of the
squares to the inside of your card. Cut the other square in half diagonally.
Adhere to the outside as shown. Fold your card up.
Tie a ribbon around your card. You can secure the ribbon on the back with a
little bit of glue if you like.
Cut a square of cardstock 2 ¼ inches. Decorate. Add adhesive diagonally, to
one half, of the back of your square. If you add adhesive on the entire piece,
your trifold will be taped shut. Adhere to your card.
**Note** you can try different sizes as long as you have three equal sqaures
to start with
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Another awesome idea from Melleny! Following on from yesterday's homemade gift, I think this would also make a lovely present idea for a child to give out at Christmas time.
Materials: Photo 7cm x 7cm Patterned paper Cardstock Transparency String Ribbon Embellishments Instructions: Cut a piece of transparency 11cm x 11cm. Cut a piece of patterned paper 11cm x 11cm, cut a 10cm square from the middle of this piece, this will give you a frame. Adhere to transparency. Mount your photo onto some cardstock and adhere to your frame. Add embellishments. Punch a small hole in the top, middle, thread through string and tie a ribbon.
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Salt dough decorations are a great gift idea for your little ones to give family and friends at Christmas time. They're super easy too and once baked will keep pretty much forever. Bella is wrapping these up individually in cellophane bags, tying with a ribbon and adding a handmade tag to give out as her Christmas gifts to our close family. To make up a batch of salt dough you will need: 2 cups of plain flour, once cup of table salt, one cup of water, one tablespoon of lemon juice (this helps the dough dry nice and hard), and one tablespoon of olive oil. You will also need a cookie cutter in the shape of your choice, a straw (to punch out the hole in the top) and some food colouring if you wish to colour your dough. Another option is to paint the decorations once they are dry. Mix all the ingredients together in a bowl as shown in the above photo. Seperate the mix and add add a few drops of food colouring to each salt dough ball - you'll need to work the colour through the dough with your hands. On a floured surface roll or push the dough out flat and use a cookie cutter to cut out the desired shape. Our trees were about 1cm thick. Decorate with more salt dough and use a straw to poke a hole in the top of the decoration for hanging. Transfer the decorations onto a cooking tray (we lined this with baking paper first to prevent sticking). Bake on a very slow oven for a couple of hours until dry/hard. Our oven temperature was 120 degrees.
Once they are dry add a layer of varnish or mod podge - we added some glitter to ours as well. Tie a ribbon or twine through the hole at the top and you're all done :)
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Free Patterns! There are oodles of free patterns ready for download on Amy Butler's site. Here are just a few of them that I love:
To download these patterns (plus heaps more including quilts, business card keeper, fabric necklace, yoga bag, pillows, napkin rings and napkins) go here to the Amy Butler home page, scroll down until you see the category 'free patterns' and select which sub category you would like. All the patterns will then open in a new screen for you to download and print.
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This idea came from a comment that Jacqui left here on my blog - a felted ball garland for the tree, only we made a mini one to string above the Christmas books in Bella's room.
The felted balls are an easy activity that you can even do with your little ones. You can find a fabulous You Tube video which gives great step by step instructions on how to wet felt a ball here. It's a simple process using just water and detergent to felt the ball.
Once our balls were dry we threaded them onto some pretty silver twine (I bought mine from Ribbons Galore). You will need a thick needle for this (I used a darning needle). It's quite hard on the hands to pull the needle and twine through the ball, so work it through slowly twisting the needle from side to side as you go. Tie a knot either side of the felted ball to hold it in position on the twine and string it up to look pretty :)
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I live with my husband and 2 children in Tasmania, Australia. I love to make nice things, spend time with my family, go camping in our vintage caravan, bake yummy treats, read pretty craft books, give handmade gifts, toast marshmallows in our wood fired oven & veg out at home.
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