Vintage Paper Christmas Wreath

Inspired by these projects on Pinterest I had a go at making my own vintage paper Christmas Wreath.

(Well technically it's a more of a round starburst than a traditional circle with a hole in the middle)

I used pages from a set of old encyclopaedias that I thrifted at the local Vinnies. ($20 for 15 books!)

It's really quite a simple project and there are no rules so you can should let your imagination run wild

I used double sided tape to roll the pages into funnel shaped cylinders

It took me a few tries to get a good shape and the paper was quite aged so I recommend the wider size tape if you can  - for better grip

You then attach the paper rolls to a circular piece of polystyrene or even strong cardboard in a fan shape ... I used tacky craft glue and it worked really well ... 

In the middle of mine I glued a fabric flower and some black feathers from my chicken run

I also used some glitter glue to add a touch of bling

I really do apologise for not taking more photos of the process itself but there are clear instructions on the pinterest link above ... as well as many more great Christmas DIY ideas I might add...

On the back I used ribbon, glue AND thumb tacks to make sure that it wont come crashing to the ground - I fear that would tear or break the aged paper so I urge you to do the same.

... and there you have it... 

An unpcycled, recycled vintage paper wreath

Full of character and completely unique.

I plan on making some bunting (of course) with the same paper and then mixing in some linen, burlap, botanicals and bling... as you do.... for an Aussiefied Christmas

What do you think? 

If you love a homemade Christmas then check out Melissa's blog for her "Get Your Christmas Craft On" posts that ALWAYS inspire me

In the meantime ... only 40 sleeps peeps .... (squeal) 

♥♥♥

Christmas, New Year... and all in between.

Wrapping, making, preparing, hiding, ♥brown paper & string♥, excitement, chocolate (too much chocolate), noise, laughter, music, prayer, happiness, joy and love ... and heat .... a LOOOT of heat. 

Ok just to be clear I'm talking 40 degrees and no air conditioning peoples. Still ... it was Christmas and it was good. Better than good ... better than the best. We have little kids in the family now (big kids too) and they make the day all that more innocent and valued and sacred. 

Now? Here I sit (and it's still VERY hot) and I'm already planning the menu for New Years Eve. 

Wow.... talk about the "blink of an eye" 

How was your Christmas lovely people? What are your plans for Old Years Night? Ours involves alfresco dining, iced tea, Prosecco and the pool. The little kids will get glow sticks and the big kids will get sparklers. I will get teary. 

It's been such an amazing year and I am super excited about taking on new challenges and facing old fears and making new things and trying out old dreams. What will 2013 bring? I have some ideas but in truth a new year always brings with it a few unexpected surprises, a few old habits and a whole lot of "I'm not so sure but I'm going to give it my best shot anyway" 

So to wrap up the year I thought I'd share a little of my festive fun... 

Until we see each other in the New Year ... Light & Love to you all ♥♥♥

Have you heard of Instagram?

Says Sister A to Sister B (I'm Sister B by the way) 

Sister B: "Well yes I have but I have my blog"

Sister A: "You'd love it"

Sister B:  "I love Hipstamatic - there are more effects, lenses etc"

Sister A: "You'd love it"

Sister B: "Yeah but..."

Sister A: "I just think you'd love it"

Sister B always hold what Sister A says with high regard but still lingers ... I mean do we really need MORE social media? 

(Aside: More people learnt of last weeks tragedy in America through Facebook then through any other media form... Twitter next... CNN last - Am I the only one who finds this monumental shift in our collective unconsciousness craaaayzeee?)

Then Sister B finds out you can follow celebrities on Instagram ... 

Style celebrities that is.

Sibella, Pia, Amy, Zooey, Rebekka, Todd, Megan, Rachel, Melissa, Jamie...

(insert exclamation marks here)

... and of course... Gorgeous talented and super spunky Sister A.....

Needless to say, Sister A is now an Instagrammer.
A few facts - the front door is mine, the pooch is mine and this gate below ...

.... is mine too. Blessed? I think so.

****

How are your Christmas plans coming along peoples? I had a minor hissy fit when I heard that it would be 40 degrees here in Perth. FORTY DEGREES peoples. My constant background playlist consists mainly of crooners singing about snow in one form or another..... hmmm.... the irony.

Still, I am safe, I have family, I have a pool, I have love. 

I keep thinking about the families who have lost a tremendous amount (in the spotlight of the media) and I'm reminded of how useless any complaints ever are. I guess that's another reason to embrace social media - it allows us to connect instantly and the more of us that post, tweet, blog or gram anything positive the more we tip the scales in favour of hope. 

Ok.. thats' my cheesy soap box moment. I'm off to feed my chooks and get ready for my Christmas work function ... Only 4 more sleeps peeps! ♥♥♥

Looking back....

In the festive season I find myself looking back. As though something lurks.

Have I forgotten to do something?

Have I remembered to give something?

Do I remember the last time we did this or we did that?

My mind is a blur of lists, loves, longings and learning curves....

Recent events ... sad events ... events that tear up hearts and break open souls... they are what some families will look back upon now.

They are the memories that scar this special time for those who have just lost a loved one.

Truth is we face this every day. Some will pass away on the day itself.

Always there are those left behind who look back...

This post is for you. I hope that as you do look back you see past the darkness and remember the times when the lights shone brightly and the sparkle of Christmas made your heart sing.

Love and light to you all.

♥♥♥

Christmas.....

We have had a real tree before.... and I loved it. The tradition of a branch began when we had a puppy in the house who insisted on dismantling anything below knee level. The fact that I'm obsessed with a White Christmas (even though I've never experienced one) is definitely the main influence when it comes to my decorating choices. Hubby brought home two miniature Hilliers Plum Puddings for me - which he had to get at a gas station because our local supermarket no longer sells them (insert un-ladylike cussing) Young Prince was most understanding when I made very specific suggestions as to where the baubles, bells and shiny bits should go - I have OCCDD*

I've taken to writing a "letter to ourselves" when I pack all the decorations away. Then come the following Christmas we open our treasures box and read it together. It usually details what the year held for us and what we hope to achieve in the new one. We lost a few souls this year gone by... so this letter was shared with tears. Hubby and I stayed up late laughing and giggling and eating chocolate. Young Prince stumbled off to bed calling out "Night Mum... Night Dad... Love you guys...."

Christmas is about so much more than I can ever put into words. ...

♥♥♥♥

*Obsessive Compulsive Christmas Decorating Disorder  - and there is apparently no cure.

A Homemade, Handmade Christmas...

If you are anything like me, when it comes to making things, then you want results ... well....NOW.

Although I do tackle projects that require some patience from time to time, I usually favour the ideas that don't demand an awful lot of fuss... or skill ... or money.

Yep... I like it cheap, cheerful and easy.

So here are a few of the things I've made thus far.
Bunting using nothing but ....

... a packet of paper doilies, some glue, a few festive stamps and twine.

(Inspired by this lovely lady)

next up.... bling bunting!

So you want make cheap, pretty ... oh and not to mention "completely unique" gift tags do you?

Well all I did was take a cute Christmas figurine (in this case my trusty Kitsch Deer - bought here)

and laid it over some vintage music paper (which I thrifted).....

Then I took a Hipstamatic photo & processed it again using Lumie....

.... then I took my image to Officeworks and printed a whopping one hundred for only nine dollars.

(A tip: Hipstamatic images are of course square, so you need to go into edit mode and zoom

out so that the image is not incorrectly cropped) 

Trim edges, punch a hole in the top, add some twine and .....

Voila... your one of a kind gift tags.

I plan on using some as place cards and Christmas postcards too.

Next up... lanterns...

I used the same vintage musical paper & made a few A4 sized colour photocopies...

(You could use any image that allowed the candle light to shine through)

Then use some double sided tape to create a tube, pop a tea-light in a glass container 

(this is a must for safety peoples) and there you have it...

.... too easy...

.... and a great way to create a festive atmosphere.

If you're planning on using these outside then you can always secure a strip of

paper along the bottom end and secure this with easy-tac to the base of the candle holder.

Well what do you think peoples? Fun, affordable and did I mention EASY?

Of course kids can get involved and you can make a whole day of it. 

My son is somewhat lacking in enthusiasm for paper doilies (at age 14 I do not hold this against him) however I can imagine younger kids would certainly enjoy an afternoon of treats, music and crafty fun.

Why not invite a few of their friends over and reward them with pizza and a movie - a great start to the school holidays. If kids are scarce then have a craft-a-thon tea party? 

Cucumber sandwiches, cupcakes and these guys....

Enjoy peoples.... 

Next post... THE TREE!! 

(excuse all the exclamation marks ... I know, I know... when used in excess they lack punch, it goes against blog-law, it's tacky, it's grammatically incorrect..... blah blah..... I'm sorry but I just don't give a toot.... after all it's CHRISTMAS TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!)