Tag Archives: Easy Christmas Crafts

Snowman Christmas Tag

Posted on by
1

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

Posted on by
2

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

 

12 Tags for 12-12-12

Posted on by
22

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)

Wooden Nativity Ornament

Posted on by
1

Crafts ’n things Craft of the Day

 

A simple Nativity is the perfect ornament gift to help reflect on the true meaning of Christmas!

 

Materials

  • Flat wooden items: small circle; three medium circles; two large circles; large oval; two XXL ovals; XXL triangle; XL star; two mini craft sticks; two craft sticks; five jumbo craft sticks
  • DecoArt Americana Acrylic Paints: Lemon Yellow, Lamp Black, Sable Brown, Milk Chocolate, Mocha, Orchid, Olive Green, Baby Blue, True Red, White Wash
  • DecoArt Dazzing Metallic Emperor’s Gold Paint
  • Hemp cord, 10” length
  • Raffia, small amount

Tools

  • Permanent markers: black dual-tip (fine and bullet); brown fine-tip
  • Thick craft glue
  • Drill with 3/32” bit

Basic Supplies

scissors, ruler, paintbrush, small stencil brush, paper plate (for palette)

Directions 

(Note: Adult supervision is needed when using a drill.)

1. Drill hole in one point of star. For stable, adhere jumbo craft sticks together side-by-side with ends even; adhere regular craft sticks to back at an angle for support. Let dry. Paint star Lemon Yellow, stable Milk Chocolate, triangle (stable top) Sable Brown, mini craft sticks (roof) Lamp Black, small and two medium circles (faces) Mocha, large oval (blanket) Baby Blue, one XXL oval (Mary’s robe) Orchid, remaining XXL oval (Joseph’s robe) Olive Green, remaining medium circle and large circles (halos) Emperor’s Gold. See photo. Drybrush cheeks on each face True Red; add White Wash highlight dots. (Note: To drybrush, dip stencil brush into paint, stroke on paper towel until almost dry, and brush surface in a circular motion.)

2. Refer to photo to add accent lines. Use bullet tip of black marker to dot eyes and brown marker to draw hair. (Note: Draw longer hair on sides of face for Mary.) Use fine tip of black marker to outline star, stable top, stable, halos, blankets, and robes; draw star rays, halo rays, blanket, and robe lines as shown.

3. To assemble the ornament, refer to photo. For Jesus, adhere small face to one end of blanket and medium halo to back. Adhere medium faces to front of one end of Orchid robe (Mary) and Olive Green robe (Joseph); adhere halos to back. Adhere Mary and Joseph to stable, 3/4” from bottom and 1/4” apart. Adhere Jesus to Mary as shown. Adhere stable top to stable, roof pieces to top and at each side of stable top, and star to center top of roof. (Note: Drilled hole of star should be at center top.)

4. Cut several strands of raffia into 1” lengths; adhere to bottom of stable. For hanger, thread hemp cord through star hole and knot ends together.

by Mary Ayres

Felt Snowman Bag

Posted on by
2

Crafts ’n things Craft of the Day

 

This cozy tote is perfect for all your little essentials. It’s fuzzy. It’s fun. And it’s oh-so-easy to make!

Materials

  • Wool felt: light blue, 1⁄2 yard; white, grey, scraps
  • White flat buttons, 1⁄2″, five
  • Black beads, 1⁄8″, six
  • Bright blue 6-strand embroidery floss
  • Black pearl cotton
  • Cardboard, 2-1⁄2″x8-3⁄4″ (optional)

Tools

  • Embroidery needle
  • Beacon Adhesives Liqui-Fuse

Basic Supplies

scissors, ruler, clothes dryer

Directions

(Note: Use three strands floss for all blanket stitching and one strand pearl cotton for all stem stitching.)

1. Wet felt; dry in dryer for “crinkly” look. (Note: For best results, wet colors separately and wring out excess water before placing in dryer.)

2. Cut the following light blue rectangles: two 8″x9″ (front and back); two 3″x8″ (sides); 3″x9″ (bottom); two 1″x8″ (handles). Print pattern. Cut snowman (in one piece) from white and scarf from grey.

3. Use Liqui-Fuse to adhere snowman and scarf to front of bag. Transfer details. Blanket stitch around snowman edges and over scarf. Stem stitch mouth and arms. Use pearl cotton to sew beads to eyes, nose, and chest. Use floss to sew button to scarf.

4. Blanket stitch sides to bottom ends and front and back to side/bottom strip with right sides facing out. Blanket stitch across top edges of bag.

5. Fold handle in half lengthwise; blanket stitch along raw edge. Use floss to sew buttons to handle ends, attaching them to top front and back of bag, 2-1⁄2″ from sides.

Tip

To make bag stand, place cardboard rectangle in bottom of bag.

by Mary Ayres

Holiday Sock Ornaments

Posted on by
5

Crafts ’n things Craft of the Day

 

Wrap foam balls with holiday socks or tights to create ornaments with cozy appeal.

Materials

  • Dow STYROFOAM Brand Foam Balls, 3”
  • Holiday socks, one per ornament
  • White cording
  • Satin ribbon, 3/8” wide
  • Felt scraps
  • Assorted embellishments: pearl-head pins, sequins, tiny pom-poms, etc.

Tools

  • Wooden chopstick or skewer
  • Straight pins
  • White craft glue

Basic Supplies

scissors, ruler

Directions

Size

3″ tall

Ornaments

(Note: Omit straight pins and dimensional embellishments from ornaments if small children will have access to ornaments.)

1. Use chopstick to hollow out large hole at center top and bottom of foam ball. Rotate chopstick outward so holes are slightly wider at surface of ball.

2. Cut toe from sock. Insert ball into toeless sock so 1/2” of fabric extends beyond bottom of ball. (Note: Easiest way to do this is to hold ball in hand and pull sock up over hand and arm until ball is covered; slide hand from sock.)

3. Apply glue into hole in bottom of ball. Push cut edges of sock firmly into hole using pointed end of chopstick. Pin fabric in place until glue dries; remove pins.

4. Pull sock up over ball so fabric is tight and smooth up to top. Cut away sock’s ankle so 1/2” of fabric extends above top of ball. Repeat Step 3 for top of ball.

5. If desired, cut felt embellishments to complement sock designs, such as penguin’s scarf; glue to ornaments. Let dry.

6. Apply glue to ends of pearl-head pins; insert into ornament. Add sequins to some pins before inserting into ornaments. Let dry.

7. Cut 8” cord length for hanger; knot ends. Apply glue to end of straight pin and insert through knot into ornament. Tie small ribbon bow; adhere to top of ornament over pin. Let dry.

Tip:

Try this technique with non-holiday socks, too; it’s a great way to get rid of all those lone socks sitting atop the dryer.

by Kathleen George for The Dow Chemical Co. (www.styrofoamcrafts.com); (www.CraftsnCoffee.com)