Category Archives: Christmas Craft

Winter Wishes

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Crafts ’n things Craft of the Day

 

Adorable, easy-to-paint wooden snowmen can be displayed or reused throughout the winter season.

Materials

  • Midwest Products Co., Inc. Basswood: 3/16”x3/8”x24”, 1/8”x3”x24”
  • Glossy royal blue gift bag
  • White cardstock
  • Papers: black-and-white gingham, blue-and-white snowflake print
  • Small black brads, 18
  • Black alphabet stickers
  • Black-and-white gingham ribbon

Tools

  • Drill with bits: 1/16”, 3/16”
  • Midwest Products Co., Inc. Easy Cutter Tool
  • Acrylic paints: white, black, orange
  • Black dye ink pad
  • Adhesives: paper glue, glue gun and glue sticks, Plaid Paper Mod Podge

Basic Supplies

paper trimmer, scissors, ruler, pencil, black fine-tip marker, fine-grit sandpaper, foam brush, round paintbrush

Directions

Prepare Wood

1. Cut three 4-1/2” lengths from wide basswood strip. Cut one 6” length from same piece for tag. Cut two corners from 6” piece to create tag shape; set aside.

2. Cut three 4” lengths from narrow basswood strip. Cut three corners from remainder of same piece for snowman noses.

3. Sand all pieces. Using round brush, paint 4-1/2” pieces white, 4” pieces black, and noses orange. Let dry.

4. Cut three 3”x2-1/2” gingham paper pieces. Adhere pieces to top half of each white snowman for hats. Adhere black wooden hat bands across snowmen as shown; let dry.

5. Using drill and 1/16” bit, drill four holes for mouth and two holes for eyes in each snowman. Insert brads; bend ends at back to secure. Adhere nose to face. Draw eyebrows with marker.

6. Cut three 2-1/2”x1-1/2” white cardstock strips; ink edges and adhere to hats.

7. Ink bottom edges of snowmen.

Card

1. Make 5”x6-1/2” white side-fold card. Cut 5”x6-1/2” snowflake paper panel; adhere to card.

2. Adhere snowman to center of card using glue gun.

3. Cut three 5” ribbon lengths; adhere two lengths to top and bottom of card. Knot remaining length in center; adhere beneath snowman’s chin.

4. Apply stickers to white cardstock to spell “Winter Wishes.”

Tag

1. Trace basswood tag onto back of snowflake paper; cut out paper tag and adhere to wood tag using Mod Podge and foam brush. Let dry. Ink tag edges.

2. Using drill and 3/16” bit, drill hole in top of tag.

3. Adhere snowman to center of tag using glue gun.

4. Cut two 5” ribbon lengths. Thread one length through hole in tag; knot ends together. Knot remaining length in center; adhere beneath snowman’s chin.

5. Apply stickers to white cardstock to spell “to” and “from.”

Gift Bag

1. Cut 4”x5” snowflake paper panel; ink edges and adhere to gift bag.

2. Adhere snowman to center of snowflake paper using glue gun.

3. Cut 6” ribbon length. Knot center and adhere beneath snowman’s chin.

4. Apply stickers to white cardstock to spell “For You.”

Tip

Adhere a magnet to the back of the snowman before adhering to surface with double-sided tape. Recipient can add it to the fridge for a fun winter decoration.

by Melony Bradley for Midwest Products (www.midwestproducts.com)

Ho, Ho, Homemade Santa

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Creating handmade holiday home décor doesn’t have to be a complicated process.

It’s Jill Cornell here today with a quick and easy idea to make a whimsical Santa to add to your holiday décor. All you need to get started is a foam cone shape, pipe cleaner, hot glue gun, cotton balls, cardstock, paint, pom-pom trim, and your favorite patterned paper collection and embellishments. (I’m using the Welcome Christmas Collection by Pebbles Inc. for my Santa.)

Cut the cardstock to a half-circle and wrap around the cone. Hot glue is a great adhesive for this type of project. Do the same with a piece of patterned paper for Santa’s hat. Santa’s face was easily added by painting a flesh-colored spot on the cone, adding punched black circles for eyes, a brad for the nose, and a border sticker for the mouth. Santa’s beard of cotton balls was simply hot glued to the cone. Add some alphabet stickers to make your Santa extra “merry. “

Adhere a border sticker for the hat and pom-pom trim. A pre-made felt embellishment and flag help dress up Santa. Finally, add some cotton balls to the top of Santa’s hat.

My Santa is currently sitting on my fireplace mantel among a collection of Santas – all handmade by me over the years. I even have papier-mâché and wooden versions that I made in elementary school. And this would make a great project for older children supervised with the hot glue.

Jill Cornell from Blessed Scrapper (www.jillcornell.blogspot.com)

Holiday Glasses

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Crafts ’n things Craft of the Day

 

Painted holiday ribbon and pine bough mugs will create a festive atmosphere for your next holiday party.

Materials

  • Glass mug, 5” tall
  • Plaid FolkArt Enamel Paints: Engine Red, Coffee Bean, Fresh Foliage, Green Forest, Metallic Pure Gold
  • Plaid FolkArt Clear Medium

Tools

  • Plaid FolkArt One Stroke Mini Brush Set

Basic Supplies

tape, oven, newspaper (to cover work surface)

Directions

STEP 1

Clean mug. Print and cut out pattern; tape to inside of mug.

STEP 2

Paint ribbon Fresh Foliage and stripes Engine Red. Mix equal parts Green Forest and Clear Medium; shade ribbon. Paint stripes and dots Pure Gold. Paint stem Coffee Bean and needles Fresh Foliage. When dry, add Green Forest needles.

STEP 3

Follow manufacturer’s instructions to bake mug.

by Holli Long for Plaid Enterprises, Inc. (www.plaidonline.com)

Christmas Tree Pillow

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Crafts ’n things Craft of the Day

 

Add some holiday spirit to your décor with this warm and fun Christmas Tree Pillow. There’s no complicated fabric piecing to tackle. You can make this pillow by simply fusing, then stitching!  

Materials

  • Cotton fabrics: burgundy check, 3⁄8 yard; ivory, 6”x9”; light brown, scrap
  • Green wool felt scrap
  • Pillow form, 12” square
  • Fringed trim, burgundy, 1-1⁄2 yards
  • Flat buttons: off-white, 1⁄2”, four; assorted colors, 3⁄8” to 3⁄4”, four
  • Burgundy embroidery floss

Tools

  • Embroidery needle
  • Iron and pressing surface
  • Therm O Web HeatnBond Ultrahold Iron-On Adhesive

Basic Supplies

scissors, ruler, straight pins

Directions

Size

12″ square

Pillow

1. Print and cut out pattern. Cut pieces from adhesive slightly larger than tree and trunk. Follow manufacturer’s instructions to fuse adhesive to back of green felt and brown fabric. Cut out tree and trunk, adding 1⁄4” to top of trunk as shown on pattern.

2. Remove backing; fuse shapes to center of ivory rectangle, with tree overlapping trunk. Transfer dotted lines to tree. Use three strands floss to blanket stitch around tree as shown.

3. Cut 6”x9” rectangle from adhesive; fuse rectangle to back of ivory rectangle. Cut 5”x8” rectangle from center of ivory rectangle; remove backing.

4. Cut two 12-1⁄2” squares from burgundy-check fabric. Fuse 5”x8” ivory rectangle to center of one burgundy-check square. Use three strands floss to feather stitch along outside edge of rectangle. (Note: If desired, use blanket stitch instead.)

5. Use floss to sew off-white buttons to corners of ivory rectangle and remaining buttons to tree dots.

6. Beginning and ending in a corner, sew trim (with fringe facing toward center) around pillow front, 1⁄4” from edges. With right sides facing, sew pillow front to back along trim stitching, leaving 10” opening along bottom edge. Trim corners; turn pillow right side out. Insert pillow form into opening; hand sew opening closed.

by Mary Ayres

Christmas Star Ornament

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Crafts ’n things Craft of the Day

 

Give paper scraps star quality when you bring them together in this charming ornament.

Materials

  • Bazzill Basics Paper Papaya Puree Medium Cardstock
  • Karen Foster Design Christmas Collection Papers: Ornaments, Christmas Bells, Home for the Holidays Collage, Poinsettias
  • Metallic gold floss

Tools

  • Computer and printer
  • Scoring tool
  • Small star punch
  • Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Pine Needles Ink Pad
  • Ranger Stickles Gold Glitter Glue
  • Therm O Web Adhesives: Zots Singles Small, 3D Foam Squares, SuperStik Glue Stick

Basic Supplies

paper trimmer, scissors, ruler, pencil, white printer paper

Directions

Size

7-3/4”

Ornament

1. Print pattern front and pattern back onto orange cardstock. Print second front pattern onto printer paper. Cut out patterns; set aside back pattern.

2. Using straight edge, scoring tool, and pattern as guide, score orange cardstock front piece along dashed lines. Gently fold “mountain” peaks on star points to center; folds will come toward you. Gently fold “valley” peaks from center to opposite edge; folds will point away from you.

3. Do not score printer paper star. Align it with orange cardstock star, rotating shape for best fit. Once stars are aligned, number corresponding sections on both stars from one to 10.

4. Cut numbered sections from printer paper star; use sections as templates to cut pieces from assorted patterned papers. Ink edges of each piece with Pine Needles ink; adhere to corresponding section on orange star using glue stick.

5. Stack and apply four foam squares to center of back star; apply foam square in middle of each point. Apply small adhesive dot at tip of each point.

6. Cut gold floss length for hanging loop; knot ends and press to adhesive at top point. Adhere front and back orange stars together.

7. Punch small star from orange cardstock and adhere to ornament center; coat star with glitter glue and let dry.

Tip

Using a glue stick to adhere individual pieces of paper gives you a bit more drying time to get them in position, compared with using other types of adhesive.

by Alice Golden (www.alicegolden.typepad.com)

Snowman Christmas Tag

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Crafts ’n things Craft of the Day

 

This dimensional tag is a special addition to presents and works great on scrapbook pages after the holiday.

Materials

  • Polyform Premo! Sculpey Oven-Bake Clay: Pomegranate, Orange, Accents Frost White Glitter
  • Papers: green/white dot, red/white dot
  • Red/white polka-dot ribbon

Tools

  • Polyform Sculpey Clay Conditioning Machine
  • Oven
  • Ceramic tile
  • Stamps: Stampendous! Small Typewriter Alphabet, Inkadinkado Ornate Christmas Cling Set
  • Large acrylic block
  • Tsukineko StazOn Jet Black Ink Pad
  • Adhesives: paper adhesive, 3M Scotch Brand Quick-Dry Adhesive

Basic Supplies

paper trimmer, scissors, ruler, pencil, hole punch, craft knife, toothpick

Directions

(Note: Start with clean hands and work surface. Good work surfaces include waxed paper, metal baking sheet, or disposable foil. Knead clay until soft and smooth. For best results, clean hands between colors. Shape clay, pressing pieces together firmly. Bake on oven-proof glass or metal surface at 275° F for 30 minutes per 1/4” of thickness. For best baking results, use an oven thermometer. Do not use microwave oven. Do not exceed above temperature or recommended baking time. Wash hands after use.)

1. Begin by preheating oven to 275 °F. Test temperature with oven thermometer for perfectly cured clay.

2. For best results, condition all clay by running it through Clay Conditioning Machine several passes on widest setting. Fold clay in half after each pass and insert folded side into rollers first.

3. With Clay Conditioning Machine on #2 setting, roll half of Frost White Glitter clay into sheet. Place sheet on ceramic tile.

4. Stamp black snowman image onto clay sheet. Using craft knife, trim around snowman. Roll three tiny Pomegranate balls and place over berries on stamped hat band. Shape small Orange tapered coil and place over nose on stamped snowman. Using toothpick, add crosshatch marks to carrot nose. Bake as directed above. Allow to cool and set aside.

5. Cut two 2-1/4”x4” green dot paper pieces; adhere tags together back to back. Punch hole at one end. Trim two top corners to create tag shape.

6. Stamp “be merry” on red dot paper strip. Adhere strip to tag on an angle; trim ends. Adhere snowman to tag with Quick-Dry Adhesive; let dry.

7. Thread ribbon through hole; knot end together just above hole.

Tip

Look for stamps to create dimensional elements like reindeer, Christmas trees, and more.

by Iris Weiss for Polyform Products (www.sculpey.com)

Penguin Bookmark

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Crafts ’n things Craft of the Day

 

Here’s a perfect, quick-and simple design to create if you’re new to cross-stitch or need a last-minute gift idea.

Materials

  • Charles Craft White 18-count Fringed Aida Bookmark, 1-7/8”x6-1/4”
  • DMC 6-Strand Embroidery Floss

Tools

  • Tapestry needle, #26

Stitch Type

Cross-stitch: 2 strands

Basic Supplies

scissors

Directions

STEP 1

Print pattern and key.

STEP 2

Stitch design centered on fabric.

Tip

To find center of bookmark, fold in half and in half again in opposite direction. Mark center with contrasting thread.

by Charles Craft

 

Gift Card Jar

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Crafts ’n things Craft of the Day

 

Worried that a gift card may not be so personal? Be creative by presenting your card inside this adorable snowman to show that time and heart went into creating their unique gift.

Materials

  • Recycled glass jar (with wide mouth)
  • Dow STYROFOAM Brand Foam Ball, 3” diameter
  • Wooden teardrop, medium
  • White construction paper, scrap
  • Black felt, scrap
  • Chenille glitter stem
  • Metal office clip
  • Red gingham ribbon, 12” length
  • Wiggle eyes, two

Tools

  • DecoArt Americana Acrylic Paints: Sapphire, Jack-O’-Lantern Orange
  • DecoArt: Glistening Snow-Tex, Duraclear Varnish
  • Snowflake paper punch
  • Aleene’s Original Tacky Glue

Basic Supplies

scissors, ruler, paintbrushes, toothpick, black marker, newspaper (to cover work surface), plastic spoon or spatula

Directions

STEP 1

On covered work surface, insert toothpick into bottom of foam ball (head). Use spatula or spoon to apply snow texture on head. Let dry. Use spatula to apply snow texture on side of jar. Let dry.

STEP 2

Paint lid blue. Let dry. Apply varnish. Paint wooden teardrop (nose) orange. Let dry. Use black marker to outline nose.

STEP 3

Punch snowflakes from white copy paper. Adhere snowflakes onto side of jar.

STEP 4

Cut two mitten shapes from black felt. Adhere mittens onto sides of jar.

STEP 5

Adhere nose and wiggle eyes on head. Let dry. Cut small piece from bottom of head (so head sits flat). Adhere head onto top of lid.

STEP 6

Insert chenille stem end through loop on office clip. Adhere other chenille stem end onto bottom of lid. Attach gift card on office clip. Replace lid on jar.

STEP 7

For scarf, tie ribbon around jar. Knot ends.

by Melony Bradley

12 Tags for 12-12-12

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What better way to celebrate 12-12-12 Day than with a dozen tags that would be perfect for a last-minute gift? And to top it off, how about a chance to win two sets of printable images from Iralamija’s Etsy shop.

The winner will receive both the Peppermint Tags image that I used for this project as well as another image of their choice. All you need to do to be entered in the drawing is to leave a comment on this post by Wednesday, December 19, 2012. The winner will be posted here on Thursday, December 20, 2012.

I’m always on the lookout for a project that is quick, easy, and inexpensive and this one fits the bill on all three counts. Let me show you what I mean. First, I printed out a sheet of the Peppermint Tags images.

Using a good quality photo paper makes a big difference – this is my favorite brand:

Making the tags can be as simple as punching or die cutting each one, adding a smaller hole to the top, and threading with string or ribbon.

If you have a little more time, you can try inking the edges and adding “To” and “From” using a stamp.

This is a great project for using up supplies you might already have on hand (come on, admit it… you have some eyelets stashed away, don’t you?).

You can keep these tags as simple or embellished as you like. I added die-cut cardstock circles and holly leaves to a few of my tags.

I also have a soft spot for glitter and sparkly brads.

In hardly any time at all, I had a dozen gift tags all ready to be packaged up.

I love to stock up on canning jars since they make great containers for all sorts of gifts. One tip I have for making a jar look full when the item you are putting inside wants to settle to the bottom is to add a piece of crumpled cellophane to act as a support.

Some velvet ribbon and another tag and you are all set.

Supplies

  • Peppermint Tags – Iralamija’s Etsy shop.
  • Premium Presentation Paper Matte – Epson
  • Holly Die – Papertrey Ink
  • Handmade Hodgepodge and Tag-Its #9 Stamp Sets – Papertrey Ink
  • Small Craft Zots Adhesive, SuperStik Permanent Glue Stick – Therm O Web
  • Stickles Glitter Glue in assorted colors – Ranger
  • Antique Linen Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad – Ranger
  • Onyx Black VersaFine Ink Pad – Tsukineko
  • Sparkle Brads – Karen Foster Design
  • Crop-A-Dile Punch – We R Memory Keepers
  • Silver eyelets
  • Silver thread

Don’t forget to leave a comment to be entered into the giveaway!

Happy “12” Day!

Alice Golden from Golden Moments (www.alicegolden.com)

Mambi Prize Package Winner

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It is time to announce the winner of the Mambi prize package from Me & My BIG Ideas offered in my Tabletop Christmas Tree blog post on November 28!

The winner is Macy.

Macy, I will be contacting you by email for your mailing address. Thank you for all your nice comments.

Alice Golden from Golden Moments (www.alicegolden.com)