I am using these on the tree, to decorate packages and a bowl of “fake” ones on the table in a candy dish.  I have no small children coming to my house, so I don’t have to watch for anyone wanting to eat them!

Click on picture for more instructions

Design by Marie Redmond

Last year around this time I was just starting my exploration of Polymer Clay. I knew from the start that this was something I would enjoy for years to come. One of my favorite aspects of clay is the miniature scenes, characters, and villages one can make. I like doing things in a small size.

I ran across this on my favorite Polymer Clay site Sculptey.com. The complete instructions for this and other crafts are there for both novices and experienced alike.

Happy Holidays!

The pavers might be hard to find this time of year, but you can use the same principle and use Styrofoam forms and use it as a window decoration instead.

Use your imagination…isn’t that why we craft?

Materials

* Keyhole-shaped paver (available at many home improvement stores) *
* Paintbrush
* White and black acrylic paint
* Orange modeling clay
* Superglue

* Fleece
* Pipe cleaner
* Two 1 1/2-inch pom-poms
* Rubber band
* Felt

Instructions

1.Rinse off the paver to remove any loose bits of dirt or cement. Paint it white and let it dry. If needed, apply a second coat and let it dry completely. (if using Syrofoam cover it with white felt or white cotton)

2.Lay the paver flat and paint on the eyes, mouth, and buttons. Let the face dry, then mold a clay nose and affix it with superglue (a parent’s job).

3.Cut a fleece scarf (ours measures 1 by 22 inches) and tie it in place. For the earmuffs, bend a 5-inch piece of pipe cleaner into an arc. Superglue the ends to either side of the head and the pom-poms over the ends (a parent’s job), then wrap the rubber band around the snowman?s head to hold the earmuffs in place until the glue dries.

4.To protect indoor floors, superglue a small piece of felt to the base of the snowman.

Merry Christmas!

I made mine from some silk poinsettas I had laying around from years gone by, went out to the yard and clipped some branches off the pines trees (they needed trimming anyway) and gathered some pine cones.

Again, I am sorry I don’t have a picture of the one I made.  The camera is still on the blitz.  I have one on my Santa’s list, hopefully Santa will remember I really need one!

Make a vase filled with evergreens more stunning by covering it with fresh flowers. Remove the heads from roses or other seasonal flowers and then hot-glue them to a glass vase or other vessel.

Before purchasing any of the items, look around your house for items you can reuse.

Happy Holidays!

Straightforward red pillars play into the peppermint scene when decorated with polka-dot ribbon or candy-cane sticks. Heavy-duty double-stick tape adheres the embellishments to the candles.

I love candles at Christmas; who doesn’t? Candles add a warmth to the season like no other decoration. No matter where or how you use them these are a economical addition to any holiday decor.

I did make these, but the picture is not mine. My camera is having trouble taking pictures, so I gave it a holiday.

I made some with holiday ribbon and some holly leaves from the craft store. They turned out beautiful and no one will notice they are handmade, and if someone does then take it as a compliment to your wonderful craftsmenship (is that a word? It should be!)

What You Need

• Pillar candles
• Double-stick carpet tape
• Candy canes
• Holiday Ribbon
• Holly, Small Pinecones, Small Bows (use your imagination)

Happy Holidays!

For those who are not regular readers, I am big on handmade gifts. Whether for the Christmas holidays or anytime of the year. Nothing says I care more, than something you made. So in keeping with that thought over the next several weeks I will try and post one craft a day leading up to December 25. Then I am taking a short holiday to get ready for Valentines Day.

So here is my first entry into the 21 days of crafting!

This pretty-as-a-package pincushion is the perfect gift for a crafty friend. Cover a foam square with fabric (wrap it like a gift) and secure along the edges with fabrics glue. Glue on beads and tie on a ribbon bow.

I also thought how great it would be to take this same concept and instead of a pincushion, pin candy or other special treats to the present. You could put it on a side table for when the grandchildren come over (just don’t put chocolate on there..what a mess that would be).

I will be the first to admit I get most of my ideas from online, magazines, Michaels or sometimes one of my friends has made something and I will “steal” the idea.

This pincushion is an ideal gift for the people in your life who love to sew. Teachers, Grandparents, friends, anyone! It is also a easy project for the kids to make themselves, providing there is parental supervision.

So enjoy and be sure and come back tomorrow and hopefully I will have another one set and ready to go for you.

Happy Holidays!

With the current economic conditions the cost of buying the cards and then the postage to send them can equal the cost of two or three meals for the family. While we all can agree that sending a greeting card is a great way to liven someones holiday, it is not always the most cost effective.

I have had to do a lot of tightening of the belt in the past, and still do, so years ago I came up with the idea of having our children make the Christmas cards for family. The grandparents loved them and the kids had a great time making them.

Of course now they are older and purchase their cards, while I still make them. I enjoy it; and each card I make and send has a lot of love built right in.

This is the one I am making this year. I purchased a package of card stock for my printer for under $5.00, with it I will print out patterns, embellishments, letters all from free scrapbooking sites. I also purchased from my local office supply center a package of plain envelopes and will make the cards to fit the envelope. I have a couple of stamps with the words JOY, MERRY CHRISTMAS, HAPPY HOLIDAYS, so I will use them for some of the messages.

So here is the basic idea for making your own cards. You can use the pattern or use it as a pattern for your own colors, embellishments and words.

Materials and Tools

* White card stock cut to 11 x 5 inches, plus extra card stock
* Boldly patterned green and red paper
* Glue
* Metal snaps
* White embroidery floss
* Adhesive foam
* Eyelet word with appropriate sentiment (available in craft or scrapbooking stores)

Instructions

1. Fold the white card stock to make a 6-1/2-x-5-inch card.

2. Cut a narrow strip of the green paper and a larger strip of the red paper. Adhere to the front of the card with glue. Cut a narrow strip of card stock and glue it to the card, covering the seam between the colored papers.

3. Use glue to adhere five evenly spaced snaps to the white strip.

4. Cut a short length of the embroidery thread and use the adhesive foam to adhere the ends to the back of the eyelet word. Hang the eyelet word from one of the snaps and attach it to the card with more adhesive foam.