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!!!!!!!!!!!!)

I made them!

Well I'm proud as punch! I have made all my Christmas tags this year, and here they are! It was a lot easier than I first anticipated and well worth the effort. I bought kraft clay (Sorry! Forgot the brand but promise to post it soon) then I basically rolled it out like cookie dough and used some cookie cutters to shape. Then after about 48hrs (to be safe) I stamped them. I have alphabet stamps so I can turn them around and put personalised messages on them too! I ADORE stamps so I will have to include a post about my stamp collection and where I bought most of it from! (I've just noticed that this post is full of exclamation marks... I am excited so please forgive!!  - and one more for fun... !)

Thank you to all the fellow bloggers and artists who have truly inspired me! You guys have given me the "Cosmic Slap" I needed! Yes... a gentle but very necessary prod to get off my tush and "DO" not just DREAM! Of course dreaming is very important BUT, I think the doing that comes from dreaming is the most fulfilling of all!