Christmas Round up

Christmas unfolded on the South Coast. It was full of good things and I'm forever grateful for every Christmas we spend together in good health.

We made Cinnamon ornaments for the tree and around the house.

We made bubble wands. They worked a treat and everybody loved playing with them.

We decorated our little house.

We went tree hunting at the Parma Christmas Tree Farm.

The choice can be ... overwhelming!

We set our old canvas tent for the Christmas Eve feast.

We made a Gingerbread House. This time straight out of a packet (Coles) and the kids were able to make it all by themselves. They were very proud of the result!

Once more Christmas was simple, a little exotic under our tent and loads of fun!

The Christmas Paper Birds

I have noticed, scrolling down my pins on Pinterest, that this year, birds are really the it things. Unless it's just me that has developed a sudden obsession ... Anyhoo, it seemed natural to make a few for the Christmas tree ...  and around the house.

They multiply fast and are easy to make.

What you'll need:

- Scissor
- X-acto knife (blade/hobby knife)
- Small punch hole (optional; this is just to make a neat hole for the tie)
- Paintbrush
- Mod Podge (or mix of  50%PVA glue and 50% water)
- Lots of pretty papers, double sided ones for the wings and tails
- Twine or string for the ties

Start with the body. The shape is pretty simple. If your not confident in your drawing skills, check in  children books or simply image google for bird template.

Use template to trace and cut out cardboard.

Use your cardboard bird shape as a template to cut out paper. Cut 2 for each bird. Flip the cardboard template to make sure you have both sides of the bird.

Apply PVA mix (or Mod Podge) on both the cardboard shape and the paper one and stick them together.

Let dry, repeat on other side.

Once both sides are dry, apply a layer on top. Put it aside and let it dry.

Now for the wings and tails.
It works best with a strong, double sided paper (colours on both sides)

For the wings, cut a square. For the size of my bird, (approx 3"x 2")I cut a 5"x 5".
For the tail, cut a rectangle. I cut a 6 "1/2 x 2"3/4.

Fold each piece on itself in  a "accordeon"(like a fan) way.

Trim both ends, in a pointy shape for the wings (the square). For the tail, do the same but nip the pointy end.

Left: pointy for the wings. Right: roundish for the tail.

Don't restrict to plain paper for the wings and tails. (But remember that the back will show just as much as the front.)

Fold each piece in half. Fold them back flat (So you can slide them in the openings you'll be making in the next step.)

Using an X-acto knife, carefully cut two openings. It should be just wide enough for you to slide in the wings and tails. Be careful not to cut too wide as the fit must tight to keep wings and tail in position.

Slide wings and tail through opening and open up. Glue or staple together the tail but keep wings opened.

Punch a small hole on top on the bird back and add string.

Et voila!

Hang them in the tree,

in the garden,

Pulp Creation

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

The 10 mns Christmas Stocking

Time is a tricky friend, isn't it? I'm quite ready to believe someone is actually making the clock ticking faster comes December. So much to do, so much to do, and really no time to panic ... or start any lengthy projects.
We need easy, fast, effective.
So, here is a quick tutorial on the most easy, fast and cute looking Christmas Stocking you'll ever make.

Make one, make twenty; they are made in a flash with no tricky parts.

All you need is fabric and twine.

I've found this lovely fabric on the market for $2 a metre. The beautiful neon pink twine is from Pulp. The colours are perfect match to my Christmas Angel and the Spaghetti feathers the kids have made.
You can check them out here.
(For a maximum Woa effect, choose a fabric that compliment the rest of your Christmas theme.)

For template, I've used one of the stockings I bought last year from Typo.(I was disappointed they did not make any this year).
I'm sure you all have an old stocking somewhere you can use as a guide, and if ever you don't, why don't you try drawing it yourself? It's real easy; just make sure to put a bit of curve on the sole and above the heel.
This stocking is only about 30 cm tall x about 15 cm wide. It's only intended for small treats and will be given to all my guests at Christmas. But regardless of the size this is how to:

With fabric folded in two, trace and cut around template. You should have two pieces looking like this.
If you are making more than one, I'd suggest you do all of your cutting first, then move onto the sewing part.

Flip the pieces over (wrong side facing) and press a small dart (2.1/2") on each inside top corner. (On the heel side of the boot. The Typo Stocking has it's tie poking out at the front=toe side, I prefer having it hanging from the back=heel side.

With right sides together, start stitching just below the dart and all around the boot, leaving the top raw edge open.

Zig zag stitch or overlock top edge. (Do not stitch sides together or "close" the boot, just stitch all along top edge. Obvious for most, but just in case.)

Fold and press a small gutter (about 3/4 ") and stitch just above the overlocking (or zigzag) stitch line.

Time to turn stocking inside out and thread twine through the gutter, leaving enough out to knot and hang.

Et voila! All Done!

Super easy, super fast!

Since these are not intended for retail, I didn't bother overlocking the whole thing or make a proper hem at the top. I did try however to make name tags; with Hessian (Burlap) and felt.

But I wasn't so keen on the final result and since it (considerably) lengthen the execution, I gave up, enjoying the look of the"bare"stockings.

I let you be the judge.

With.

Without.