Christmas in November #11--Wrapped Paper Packages

I found these miniature craft boxes at one of my local art craft stores. I bought them without knowing what I was going to do with them. I still don't know what I want to do with the final pieces but they simply make me smile. Being so small, I wondered if I could wrap them using traditional/modern bookbinding techniques. In previous posts, I discussed using the one sheet wrapping method to cover boxes. I wondered, if I could adapt the methods to such a small scale. The short answer is YES.

Materials Needed
Craft Boxes
Holiday themed scrapbook paper
Glue (I used Nori Paste by Yasutomo)
Scissors

Assembly
Simply follow the instructions listed at the above link and you have miniature wrapped boxes.

Notes
I used the Nori Paste by Yasutomo because it was easily portable since I was doing this project at the theater. These is no smell and the paste is designed to work well with paper products. Also, it cleans up with water. The most important aspect of this paste is that it doesn't add a whole lot of moisture to the box and paper. Working on such a small scale, water can easily warp the materials when drying.

While drying, I assembled the pieces so they would dry together to ensure a solid fit. Just be careful when removing the pieces from each other for the first time. They pieces will be snug for the first couple of times. Do not force them apart or together.

I still don't know what I will do with these wee packages but they simply make me happy.

Project #45--Disney Projects: Bambi

This is a continuation of my Disney series. Bambi was one of my favorite Disney movies as a kid. I might try and turn this into a holiday card.

Envelope #314

November 10, 2014

Christmas in November #10--Button Felt Stockings

Felt/Button Stocking

For one my Iron Craft Challenges, I created a felt mitten with crystal decorations (seen here). I really wasn't quite happy with the outcome. I had originally tried to embroider French knots as a decoration but used hot fix crystals instead.

Here is a much more successful felt ornament. I decided to create a felt stocking and use some of my Christmas colored buttons to decorate.

Materials Needed
Felt (use craft felt rather than wool felt which is thicker)
Buttons of various sizes
Fiberfill
Embroidery Thread
Needle
Stocking Template (I used a felt ornament from Michaels for a template)

Assembly
Trace your template onto your felt and cut the shape. Make two.

Take one of the cut out shapes and sew your buttons onto this top layer. Be sure to leave 1/8 to 1/4 seam allowance so you can sew the top and bottom layers together.

Once all of the buttons are sew on, sew the top and bottom layers together. Leave about a one inch gap. Stuff the ornament with fiberfill to the desired thickness.

Sew the one inch gap closed. If you want to hang the ornament, sew a loop out of embroidery thread onto the top of the ornament prior to closing the one inch gap.

Envelope #313

November 9, 2014

Christmas in November #9--Button Wreaths

Button Wreaths

This is one of those projects that shouldn't even count as a project. The only problem is that I am not quite happy with the way it turned out. I reserve the right to update this project at a later date.

Materials Needed
Matching Buttons (I used white buttons of the same size)
Ribbon, Thread, Butcher's Twine or Embroidery Floss (any of them will work)
Needle (I used an embroidery needle)

Assembly
Thread your needle with the material of your choice (I used ribbon and Twine above).

Thread your buttons using the same hole for each button. I used four hole buttons. Buttons with shanks will not work.

When the wreath is the desired size, tie a knot. Make a hanging loop and tie a knot or bow as desired.

Notes:
I will try this again but will use something more solid as the threading material. I will try with wire and Mizuhiki. The problem is that the wreath loses its shape when it hangs. I want a rounder wreath and right now the weight of the buttons makes them sag into a tear drop shape. If you place the center on the wreath on the branch it will alleviate this problem.

I chose to use identical buttons but I am sure that this would look cool if you used different sized buttons.

Envelope #312

November 8, 2014

Christmas in November #8--Punched Paper Ornament

Materials Needed
Styrofoam ball (I used a 3 inch ball)
Color Ball Pins (I used the leftovers from this project)
Flower Paper Punch (there are several on the market but I used Recollections 1" punch)
Card Stock or Decorative Paper (I used Christmas themed scrapbook paper)
Ribbon (Optional)

Assembly
Punch out the flowers using decorative paper. I cut the paper in strips a little larger than the flower. I then turn the punch over and punch the paper from the die cut side of the punch so I can minimize waste.

If you are using a ribbon, pin the ribbon to the Styrofoam ball. Using these two points as reference start pinning the flowers to the ball. Overlap as desired.

Notes:
I don't mind the white area of the ball showing through. Although, I might try covering this with ribbon and using a snowflake punch for a future project.

Envelope #311

November 7, 2014

Christmas in November #7--Salted Fruit

Salted Fruit

This is a companion project to the one discussed yesterday. Simply substitute coarse Kosher salt for the sugar (using the exact same instructions and measurements). If you need the impact of a larger grain sugar, this is the look for you.

Colored Salt

For this project, I only needed one coat of adhesive/sugar. I chose to let some of the original fruit to show through.

Envelope #310

November 6, 2014

Christmas in November #6--Sugared Fruit

I have always wanted to do this project and never had the time to figure out the logistics of it. I have always admired those sugared fruit displays in the floral departments of the craft stores but could never afford to purchase them. Maybe it is the Victorian in me or maybe I have been watching too much Downton Abbey but I finally had some time on my hands to figure this out--Sugared Fruit

Materials Needed

Sugar (I used Domino granulated sugar in 4 lb bag)

Food Coloring (I used McCormick Liquid Food Coloring)

Ziploc Double Seal Bag

Toothpicks or skewers

Spray Adhesive (I used Scotch Super 77)

Spray sealant (optional)

Foam Fruit (I bought mine from Michael's)

Assembly

To make colored sugar, place 1 cup of sugar in a resealable bag. It needs to be a large sturdy bag (I used the gallon freezer double seal storage bag. The zipper bag works well too.) Add 15 drops of food coloring (I used liquid food coloring rather than the gel coloring. I found that the liquid coloring was easier to work with and distributed color more evenly). Seal the bag. Massage the sugar and coloring until all of the sugar is colored. Add more color as needed to get the results you prefer.

Colored Sugar

To prepare the fruit, take a toothpick or skewer (you can use a unfurled paper clip as well) and poke one end of the fruit. The primary purpose of this is to give you a handle to manipulate the fruit while using the spray adhesive and sugaring.

Take one fruit and spray with adhesive ensuring an even coating. Immediately place the sprayed fruit in the sugar to coat. Set aside to dry. Complete for all fruits. Duplicate this process until you get the coverage you seek.

Spray with acrylic spray sealant to keep pests away (and to prevent sugar loss similar to glitter loss)

Skewered fruits

Notes:

I used two coats of adhesive/sugar for each set of fruit.

As with anything spray related--lighter and more coats of spray/sugar are better than thicker coats. The sugar will get gummy/clumpy when the adhesive coating is too thick.

I used coordinating colors for my project but I think that different colored sugars could make this even more special.

If you are worried about pests (ants, etc) being attracted to your fruit, be sure to spray with a sealant. It will also prevent some of the sugar from falling off.

These will be displayed in a fruit bowl and as part of a holiday wreath.

Christmas in November #5--Glittered Vase Fillers

It really is funny from where inspiration comes. I was in a home decorating store in hopes of finding some holiday inspiration. I found rattan balls like the ones above and they were covered in glitter. The colors weren't what I was using and they were charging between $1 to $4 per ball depending on the size. I thought to myself--I could probably do that.

Later that week, I found the above rattan balls at a pet store and they were being sold as cat toys. While the price was better, they were still a little too large and they had bells inside. The next week, I was at Michael's and was looking through the floral department when I saw these "vase fillers" that were on sale for $1 for a bag of six. I snapped up one bag and decided to do something with them.

Materials Needed
Rattan/Wicker Balls
Spray Paint
Spray Adhesive (optional)
Glitter (optional)

Assembly

Spray Paint the rattan balls in the colors of your choice.

If you want to stop here, they would look beautiful placed in a bowl or candy dish.

Spray Painted Rattan Balls

If you want to take this a step further, simply spray the painted rattan balls with spray adhesive. I sprayed several light coats in succession to ensure better coverage.

Place fine glitter in a small snap top food storage container. Place the rattan ball that has already been sprayed into the glitter holding container. Tip the container so that the glitter gathers in one corner. Shake the container back and forth so that the ball rolls around in the corner and glitter. If you do it correctly, the ball will roll around and get coated in the glitter.

Painted and Glittered Rattan Balls

If you have animals or small children, you might not want to display these since they will surely think they are shiny toys. I will place them in a candy dish (like above) or string them on ribbon for a gift topper.

Envelope #309

November 5, 2014

Envelope #308

November 4, 2014

Christmas in November #4--Candy Place Card

Top View

I have always said that decorating doesn't have to be that expensive or intrusive. Today's project is very simple--a candy place card/host(ess) gift.

Materials Needed
Baby food jar and lid
Decorative Paper (I used holiday scrapbook paper)
Decorative Ribbon (I used wire edged ribbon)
Card Stock in holiday colors (optional--I used red)
Candy in holiday colors (I used jelly beans)
Cellophane Tape

Assembly
Sterilize the baby food jars. I bought these off of Craigslist from a mother who was saving them to make her own baby food. When that didn't happen, she was simply trying to give them away. I bought fifty jars/lids for $5.

Cut a strip of decorative paper that will surround the glass jar. Be sure to make the height of the strip a little bit shorter than the bend in the jar. Most of these jars have an area that tapers to the top and bottom of the jar. In order for the strip of paper to stay flat, cut the the paper to size.

Place the name of your guest on the strip of paper. I cut the name out of card stock but you can write the name with marker or use adhesive/sticker letters.

Wrap the strip of paper around the jar and secure with tape.

Fill the jar with candy.

Place the lid securely on the jar.

I cut out a circle to cover the jar lid but that is optional. I used the same decorative paper for the lid that I used for the strip around the jar.

Wrap a ribbon around the lid and tie with a bow.

Side View

I will use these as place settings for a friend's dinner party. Each guest will take this home as a hostess gift.

This idea is so easy I almost feel guilty listing this as one of my projects for the month.

Iron Craft 2014 Challenge #22--Obi Paper Rings (Project 44)

This challenge was another color challenge and we are tasked to be inspired by the autumnal colors of red and orange. There were a variety of different projects that I was considering but I was asked to make some goody bags for a friend's holiday party for children (of which, some had food allergies). I decided to make some dollar rings after watching this video (clicking on the link will take you to a YouTube video).

Deciding that these rings weren't enough, I decided to make some more rings using Japanese Decorative Papers. These rings could be customized to fit my big fat Fred Flinstone fingers and since I didn't have to worry about framing the "one" from the dollar bill, I could make them any size I wanted.

Top View

Side View

I had these papers that featured Japanese Maple leaves which are a symbol of the changing seasons in Japan. There are some metallic elements in the paper that make them shimmer. I also decided to make a ring featuring Kat's favorite plaid paper (which also matches my light switch cover in my bathroom).

I made a whole bunch of these rings and actually wear them on my ring finger on my left hand. I call these Obi Rings since they resemble the obi (sash) that is used to fastened a kimono.

Image found here

Christmas Wrapping Paper Designs

I am very happy to share that my new Christmas Wrapping Paper designs are in stores today. They are being sold in Hallmark Stores, Walgreens and Duane Reade. Feel free to pick up a roll or two. Now hopefully, all of the plaid designs on my envelope series starts to make a little bit more sense. Of the ten designs that I submitted, they chose the five above.

Envelope #307

November 3, 2014

This week is brought to you by: bubbles, circles, or the stone pattern in paper marbling.

Christmas in November #3--Candy Jar #1

Front View

This is one of my favorite decorating ideas. I have an assortment of glass containers that I use to decorate during the holidays. One of my favorite ways to use these is to fill them up with holiday candies, tie a festive bow, and then decorating the lid.

Materials Needed
Glass container with lid
Decorative Paper (I used holiday scrapbook paper)
Decorative Ribbon (I used wire edged ribbon)

Simply fill the glass container with holidays candies. Cut a piece of scrapbook paper that covers the top of the lid. Glue the paper in place. Tie a ribbon around the edge of the lid to prevent people from opening the container.

I usually tape the lid to the jar so people don't open it. There are plenty of candy dishes from which to take candy. These are for decorative purposes only.

Side View