Tuesday, November 30, 2010

GIVEAWAY WINNER!

Thank you to everyone who entered this amazing giveaway. 
According to a Random Number Generator, the winner is...
Melifaif, email me so I can give you the details and Keren can contact you. 
So excited for you!
For the rest of you, check out our sweet winner's gorgeous blog here.

Gift Wrap Ideas: Day 2



I love the simplicity of these wrapping ideas because they can be made from such everyday and natural materials. And I like the purity of neutral color schemes. It is calming, peaceful...just beautiful. 
(And you don't need to sew to make them...YIPPEE!)
 This vase is actually wrapped in cheesecloth. Really.
The white texture is both delicate and a little shabby.
I love how it looks simply tied with twine.  A great way to wrap a hostess gift.
 This pretty gift is wrapped in plain old newspaper and wrapped around the middle with some burlap
Then I topped it off with a sweet tissue paper flower to soften it up.
 I did the same thing here with the newspaper flower on the takeout box.  It looks different since the paper is not as thin and a bit stiffer.  I also added some silver glitter paint to glam it up a bit. :)

Here is how you make these flowers:
Use 8 layers of tissue/newspaper and trace a circle (I used a bowl) and cut them out in a stack.
 Poke two holes in the center of the stack of circles with a pin.
 Using a twist tie, twist the ends and poke them through the holes.
 When both ends are in the holes, twist them in the back to tie it off.
Begin forming a flower, layer by layer by scrunching up the bottom.
  Don't squeeze too much or the flower will look too crushed at the top.
 Newspaper Flower
Tissue Paper Flower
 Isn't this rolled newspaper rosette fun?  
I usually roll fabric so doing it with paper was a little bit tricky for me but once I got the hang of it, it worked really well.
The two leaves are cut from stiffened glitter felt.

 How to make this flower:
Take a length of newspaper and roll it up into a skinny tube.
Twist it tightly.
Tie a knot on one end.
And begin to roll the knot in a spiral.
I used hot glue every few rolls since the newspaper is pretty thick as you roll it.
When you have rolled it all the way up, hot glue the end piece to the back.  
Add some sparkle with glitter paint and there you go!

Day 3 tomorrow!

{It's the last day to enter my giveaway from Pretty Things for You.}
**Giveaway CLOSED**

handmade projects
A Crafty Soiree

Monday, November 29, 2010

Gift Wrap Ideas: Day 1



I am so excited to share some simple and frugal ideas for gift wrapping presents that can be ideas to use throughout the year!  I am still not done with the week's line up but I plan to have a few tutorials throughout the week showing you how to make some easy little gift adornments.


Day 1 is so ME because I have a complete obsession with anything fabric and felt.  Which is odd for a somewhat novice sewer like myself but I am drawn to comfy, cozy textures.  They speak to me.  And this year, I decided to incorporate that into the gift wrapping for my nieces and nephews...5 nephews and 3 nieces. (2 nieces were just born a month ago and are twins...so FUN!)

So I decided to make them... 

ornaments that are also gift toppers  
(and matched the wrapping paper too)
I have not decided if I am frighteningly type A or just a wee bit creative but you be the judge...

Do you remember this teaser photo?
A cutie patootie little birdie on a branch!

I can honestly tell you that this is probably my absolute favorite idea of the entire week.  And apparently my philosophy is not to save the best for last but kick the week off  with a bang!

This bird was pretty simple to make...  
I just used pink fleece (from a blanket) and cut out the shape (2) of a bird freehand, stuffed the bird with a little polyfil and used a blanket stitch and some scrap felt for the beak and wing.  The eye is a colored bead.   The twig has felt leaves and brown yarn wrapped from one end to the other.  I secured it by slipping it under the knot and used matching yarn to tie off the gift. 
  For my nephews, I bought this cute wrapping paper and made a car and truck to match.
I love how the black, felt ribbon looks like a road.  
But I wanted to add some extra whimsy so I added exhaust clouds too...

 These cute circle ones were very simple to make and I was inspired to do this since most of my gifts are mailed up north where all of our family lives.  Bows usually get squashed in the box so I figured I would make some of these that are quick to make and package easily.
But get this...

My good friend spied the circle gift topper during a play date and actually asked me to make her some and offered to pay me!
Whaaat?
I refused payment until she said she would not accept them unless she could pay me.
I finally said I would do it and got started.

And guess what happened?

As I made them I suddenly knew that my year long yearning to open an Etsy shop may be realized.
 Breathe. Breathe. Throw up a little. Breathe.

Who knew God would use my sweet friend to spur me on when I have been trembling with fear to do it?

But I am still scared.

I finished the 10 gift toppers she asked for and she was so excited when I showed them to her at church!  
I was a bit nervous because I went outside the circle idea she initially saw but she said she trusted my creativity.  
Sooooooo...
 I made these!
She asked for a brown, blue, and green color scheme and I just went nuts making all of these.
Some are flat, some are like little pillows, some have ruffles, some are flowers, some are pom poms. 
Aren't they unique and fun?  
I feel sad to even part with them!
 Hope you liked DAY 1 of gift wrap ideas.
(Let me know what you think)
 Tomorrow is Day 2!!!!!

 P.S. Don't forget to enter my giveaway! It ends tomorrow.

handmade projects

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Gift Wrap Ideas Coming Soon!

 

Oh My Word Y'all!
I can not believe we are upon the HOLIDAY SEASON!

I mean...
THANKSGIVING is TOMORROW!  
And I don't know about any of you but we decorate the day after Turkey Day which is so fun that I almost want to climb up in the attic and haul everything down right this instant!

But I will maintain some self control since THAT job belongs to the HUBSTER.
I will just makes things pretty. :)

In the meantime, I have been trying to come up with some fun ideas for gift wrap.  
Are they all practical?  
Maybe.  Maybe not.  
Some may be a teeny tiny bit ambitious.  
Some are a bit whimsical.  
Some are just unique and simple.

But totally worth checking out.

 Here is a sneak peek of day one...
Oooohhh...I can hardly wait!


P.S.  Don't forget to enter the giveaway 
for 
(Leave a comment for each entry)

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Last Minute Turkey Craft for Kids

Today, us girls had a play date with my good friend Jenny and her sweet as pie kids.  Yes, I am mentioning once again that my good friend Jenny is the one who did the UP costume on Halloween.  Officially, this is the last time I will mention it. The end.

Anyway, her adorable kids came over and we played outside but stopped to do a quick craft for Thanksgiving.
 Wooden Spoon Turkeys!

I originally got the idea from the great blog Ramblings of a Crazy Woman.  I was excited to do this and only changed it up slightly from what she did.  I am planning on bringing this craft for all the kids to do on Thanksgiving Day.

It is super easy if you prepare it ahead and put all the materials in separate bags.  Then, all you will need is glue for the actual craft on Turkey Day. My goal is to NOT use paint.
Materials Used:  
1 wooden spoon
6-8 multicolored craft sticks (or paint your own)
triangle beak and wattle cut from felt
googly eyes
small woven trivet (pack of 3 from dollar tree)
(You can leave out the trivet or maybe cut our felt or paper for the back)
Start by gluing your eyes on the front of the spoon.
This would be Ella's artistic interpretation.
Next, glue on your gobbler thingy. It's called a wattle but I had to look that up. 
Or is it a snood? I seriously have no idea.
I'm going with gobbler thingy.
Then glue on the beak. Let it all dry.
Then turn the spoon over and glue the sticks in a fan pattern.
Put a whole mess of glue on the back...
Then glue your trivet (or felt/paper piece to the back).  
Do not turn over until completely dry!
 Cati's fabulous turkey!
Ella's Picasso Turkey. :)

Happy Turkey Making!