Tag Archives: Christmas Craft Ideas

Quick & Easy Holiday Gifts… It’s Never Too Late!

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We all need them, don’t we??? Well, I know you think those “holiday gift-giving times” are over now that Christmas is past… however, you may find that you have a few “forgotten friends” that you had meant to give a gift to and you don’t want to wait ’til next year!!! I thought I would share with one of my “go to, quick & easy” gift ideas:

A Double Chocolate Mint Cocoa Gift Kit

Not only is it festive, but it’s “Winter-themed” vs “Christmas-themed”!!!  As you can see, the ingredients are simple and relatively inexpensive. Two packages of cocoa, a baggie filled with chocolate chips, and four starlight mints… if there are still candy canes available, they make a great addition in place of the mints… but you can get the mints year ’round… so no worries if your local shops are out of candy canes already!

So to begin, you slip all of your kit ingredients into your clear bag. See how cute my mints look all lined up?? ***TIP: Use a bit of adhesive or a glue dot and STICK THEM TO THE COCOA PACKET!!!! :) Keeps ‘em looking all cute and in a line!!!

Once you have placed all your kit ingredients into your bag, seal it up and make a paper topper. To do that, simply cut a piece of cute paper 3″x the width plus 1/4″ of your clear bag. My bag was 6-1/4″ wide, so I cut my paper 3″x6-1/2″. Fold it in half and staple it over the top of the clear bag. Next, the fun part – EMBELLISHING!!!

As you can see, I have used two different types of ribbon here. I first wrapped a length of Ivory Grosgrain around the bottom edge of the paper topper and glued it in place. I then layered on a cute red-printed ribbon from October’s Monthly Ribbon Club Pack and then glued it in place. And then I tied my bow using the Ivory Grosgain again with the help of the handy dandy Bow Easy Tool.

 And you know me and my fetish for embellishments… it was cute with the dual ribbons and the bow but oh why not throw a totally cute Snowman Button from Buttons Galore & More onto the center of the bow for that perfect finishing touch? :) I hope you like this little guy, cause you may be seeing a few more projects with him or his friends over the next few weeks! I mean, Christmas may be past, but we have a WHOLE LOT OF WINTER left for crafting!!!

Happy Holidays to all, and a very Happy New Year, too!

by Keri Lee Sereika (www.pinklemonade.typepad.com)

Festive Holiday Frame

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Crafts ’n things Craft of the Day

 

Capture your Christmas memories with a photo of your family on Christmas day and display in this Festive Holiday Frame. 

 Materials

  • Cardstock or construction paper: red, white
  • Cardboard or chipboard, 8-1/2” square, 3”x8-1/2” strip
  • Christmas day family photo

Tools

  • Craft glue

Basic Supplies

scissors, ruler

Directions

Size

8-1/2″ square

Frame

1. Measure and cut 8-1/2” white paper square. Cut out 3” square in center of frame (for photo opening).

2. Print and cut out patterns.

3. Measure and cut four 2-1/4” red paper squares. Fold squares diagonally in half. Cut star design from squares, placing line on fold, and cutting on dashed lines. Open up design and adhere on corners of white square, leaving 1/4” border on edges.

4. Measure and cut four 2”x3-1/4” red paper rectangles. Adhere rectangles between corner square designs.

5. Measure and cut 3”x9” white paper strip. Fold strip in half lengthwise. Cut four large heart shapes from folded strip, placing line on fold, and cutting on dashed lines. Open up designs and adhere on centers of red paper rectangles. See photo.

6. Measure and cut 2-1/2”x7” red paper strip. Fold strip in half lengthwise. Cut four medium heart shapes from folded strip, following directions above. Adhere medium heart shapes on center of white heart shapes. See photo

7. Measure and cut 2”x4” white paper strip. Fold strip in half lengthwise. Cut four small heart shapes from folded strip, following directions above. Adhere small heart shapes on center of medium heart shapes. See photo.

8. Tape photo inside opening on back of white paper square. Adhere white paper square to 8½” cardboard square.

9. To make easel for frame, cut 3”x8-1/2” cardboard strip. Bend strip 2” from end. Adhere 2” end, aligning top edges, to center back of frame.

Tip

Be sure to date your frame. Continue this as a Christmas tradition each year as you’ll love these precious mementos in year to come.

by Mary Ayres

Die-Cut Ticking Fabric Ornaments

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Simple supplies such as red and green ticking fabric purchased at most fabric supply shops lend a charming, rustic feel to handmade ornaments such as these charming stuffed bird ornaments that were cut from a Sizzix BigShot die-cut machine and this beautiful bird die from Brenda Pinnick from Sizzix.

Simply die cut two layers of ticking fabric using the BigShot machine and ticking fabric for each bird ornament.

Fuse red wool felt to webbing and free hand heart shapes with scissors.  Iron in place on front shape.

Use two strands of embroidery floss and cross-stitch edges in place.

For the wing shape, cut a 3” teardrop shape and use it to trace two shapes from natural burlap. Cut the shapes out with scissors.

Use alphabet stamps for a short and sweet sentiment like “joy, “peace” or “noel” and stamp on fused burlap. Cut out sentiment and fuse to one of the burlap wing shapes using an iron and pressing surface. I used tiny alphabet stamps for my sentiments but you can use whatever holiday-themed words you might have on hand.

Sew the muslin in place with black thread and a straight stitch. Place the wrong sides of the wings together and sew 1/4” from ends, leaving a tiny opening for stuffing. Stuff wings with Polyfil Fiberfill Stuffing by Fairfield and sew opening closed.

Repeat this process for the bird. Be careful not to overstuff the bird or it will be difficult to machine sew closed.

Finally adhere the wing to the bird using a fabric glue such as Fabri-Tac by Beacon Adhesives. Embellish bird as desired. I adhered a tiny pebble bead for the eye and added some felt die-cut flowers.

 

The possibilities are endless. These birds look sweet hanging from a mantle or even as a special package tag.

Melony Bradley (www.mel-designs.typepad.com)

Snowman Cocoa Hugger

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Crafts ’n things Craft of the Day

 

This whimsical snowman can’t wait to wish someone a Merry Christmas with a scrumptious chocolate hug! After all, who doesn’t like a nice warm cup of hot cocoa on a cold winter’s night.

Materials

  • Glass pint jar with lid
  • Craft foam: white, one sheet; brown, green, orange, scraps
  • Fabric of choice, 2”x18”
  • Cocoa mix

Tools

  • EK Success Zig Memory System Millennium Markers: Pink, Blue, Green, Brown
  • Black fine-tip permanent marker
  • Small stencil brushes, four
  • Beacon Adhesives Kid’s Choice! Glue

Basic Supplies

scissors, pencil, ruler

Directions

Size

6-1⁄2” tall

Snowman

1. Cut out patterns. Cut craft foam as indicated. (Note: Use long, smooth strokes when cutting foam and turn foam instead of scissors as you cut.) Remove jar lid and trace onto white foam; cut out.

2. Use bullet tip of pens to shade edges of foam. While ink is still wet, use stencil brush to blend and shade toward center. Shade snowman with Blue, nose and trunk with Brown, and tree with Green. Drybrush cheeks with stencil brush and Pink pen.

3. Transfer details to face and lettering to foam circle. Use black marker to draw details. Fill in eyes, draw eyebrows, and outline foam pieces with wiggly lines. Trace over lettering as shown.

4. Adhere foam circle to lid. Adhere nose to snowman and trunk to back of tree. Place rubber band around jar. Position snowman’s arms under rubber band. Slide tree in between snowman’s hands. Spot glue hands to tree using rubber band to secure until glue dries.

5. Tie fabric around neck, knot, and cut fringe at ends. Remove rubber band and fill jar with cocoa mix

Other Options

Use brown craft foam to make a gingerbread jar hugger. Fill with gingerbread mix and a cookie cutter or mulling spices.

by Barbara Matthiessen

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)