CREATIVE CRAFTING

Posts Tagged ‘Holiday Crafts’

I like crafts that use items I have laying around the house collecting dust.   The odd vase is a perfect example.   This particular idea could be used for many different seasons not just the Christmas holidays.

I made mine from some silk poinsettias 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!

When illuminated, these votive holders cast an eyeful of moody shadows on the walls.
CRAFT MATERIALS:
Glass votive holders
Black construction paper
Hole punch
Mod Podge
Paintbrush
Black paint

Time needed: Under 1 Hour
1. Tear a sheet of black construction paper into about a dozen small rectangles that measure roughly 1¼ inch by ½ inch. Use a hole punch to add two eyes to each piece.

Step 2  Brush a portion of a plain, glass votive holder with Mod Podge, affix a paper rectangle, then paint more Mod Podge over it. Add the other pieces the same way, making sure the edges overlap.

3. When the candleholder is dry, use a tiny paintbrush and black paint to add little round pupils inside the eyes.

I found this little craft at Family Fun, which is a great source for crafts for kids.  But when I saw it I thought how this doesn’t necessarily have to be only for Halloween.  Using different colored construction paper you can adapt it to Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, Valentines Day or any gift giving time.  You could even get different colored tissue papers glue them to the back of the construction paper and then proceed as usual.  Hint:   I  found that using marker for the “eyes” was easier than trying to paint little dots!

I found this craft about a month ago and decided to try it. It was so simple and so much fun and it looks great. This is a great addition to any Christmas decorations you already have.

I have also been giving some thought to making a few for gifts, different holidays, or just for everyday living. The principles involved would be the same for all occasions.!

Copyright © 2007-2008 Jane Lake All Rights Reserved

Use small ornaments and Christmas figures to make a Christmas scene, with shifting snow, in a shadow box. This would be a nice activity to do with your children – let them play with the figures until they create a pleasing arrangement, then help them to glue everything in place.

You Will Need

* shadow box – at least 1½ inches deep (available at craft stores or dollar stores)
* assorted Christmas figures and small decorations
* optional: alphabet blocks
* strong craft glue or glue gun and glue sticks
* crystal snow or fine artificial snow

Project Instructions:

Remove the back of the shadow box and set aside.

Collect an assortment of Christmas figures and decorations and, working from the back, start to play with different arrangements until you create a Christmas scene that you like when seen from the front.

BHG Crafting

With a few inexpensive embellishments, you can easily make high-quality Christmas cards from the old Christmas cards that you have received in previous years. Before you dismiss this idea as too chintzy for words, consider – what else are you going to do with those greeting cards? Are they destined for the wood fire or, worse still, the wastepaper bin? If so, please do Mother Earth a favor and take the time to recycle those cards into something useful once again. We have other great ideas for recycling greeting cards. But here, I’m going to show you how to use old cards as a resource for making new ones that are arguably superior to store-bought versions. Firstly, each card is homemade which means the design and sentiment is truly one-of-a-kind. Secondly, the crafting techniques combine decoupage, collage, scrapbooking and basic paper tole – all wonderful crafting skills worth trying at least once. Finally, this card project is just plain fun because you can pick from many appealing Christmas pictures, combine them into something new, then add your own personal touch of glitz, sophistication, humour or elegance.

Supply List:
# used Christmas cards
# standard white or colored card stock
# medium weight paper for the envelope
# ruler or straight edge, and a pencil, for measuring and marking
# tacky glue
# scissors – sharp, fine-nosed embroidery or needlework scissors for detail cutting; sharp household scissors or paper cutter for straight lines
# pinking shears or craft edging scissors – optional, but useful if cutting fabric or paper shapes