Fun with felt!

I had lots of fun with felt this year when it came to wrapping prezzies...

... cutting out felt xmas trees and snowmen for the gift tags...

... using strips of felt as an alternative to ribbon...

... even sticking felt hearts and recipient names to the wrapping paper!

This will be my last post before Christmas so I just wanted to say a BIG THANK YOU to everyone who has contributed to Crafty Christmas Club over the last few weeks and made it such a great resource for festive giving inspiration. I never thought it would get so many members so quickly and lots of people have told me they're amazed at how many posts are going up each day. Well done everyone! And until next year!

Love from Tilly x

Christmas Wrapping Ideas & Quick Tutorial

As per my last post, I've been playing about with making pleated paper bands with which to embellish our gifts this year. I'm rather pleased with the result and have kept it simple by just adding a narrow ribbon and neat bow to finish.

If you like the idea, it's really easy. To make the band I measured out some guidelines on the back of a length of contrasting wrapping paper. But you can do it by eye as well. (I'm rubbish at that though!)

I spaced them about an inch apart and used the edge of my metre rule to fold them smooth along the edge. Folding one way, then the other, to create a concertina effect.

I then pressed the band under a pressing cloth using a warm, dry iron. Just to sharpen the folds really, and  keep it nice and flat.

I wrapped it pretty snug around my gift, (don't want it sliding off or moving about) trimming of the excess and securing it at the back with sticky tape.

I added a very simple bow in a contrasting colour to finish. I'm alternating the green and turquoise ribbons on different gifts to tie in with the main wrapping paper.

To make these bands for EVERY gift would be too time consuming for my liking (and for the time I have left!) so I've compromised by alternating between plain (see right) and pleated bands on different gifts.


Now I know what I'm doing, should have it all finished by tomorrow!

Wrapping is underway.....

It's funny how writing about the things that you do, makes you realise "stuff" about yourself. I am pretty methodical when I approach projects. Sometimes I look at the ordered manner of things in process and think "wow, that girl has control issues!!" Then I remember that "that girl" is me,and put it down to simple efficiency!

When I'm wrapping lots at once, I  keep everything pretty uniform and identical. It's quicker that way. Much as I get a kick out of gift wrapping, I don't have the time or inclination to spend days on it! I'll wrap everything first, then embellish and label them all in one go. (I use trusty post it notes to keep track of who's gift is who's). .Here they are all stacked, labelled and ready.

Next phase will be to add tags and embellishments. I have my handmade tags all ready to go as per the tutorial I posted. I have all my ribbon ready as well. I've just bought some red matt metallic paper that I'm going to try as pleated bands wrapped around each gift. Not sure of the detail yet, or whether it will work out, but that's the plan for tomorrow. Would love to see other peoples wrapping on here!

http://portialawrie.blogspot.com/search/label/Crafty%20Christmas%20Capers

Scrap Buster: Gift Pockets!

Want to make something cute with those holiday fabric scraps?  Make a little gift pocket that you can hang on your tree to hold money, candy, or miniature ornaments:

These are easy, quick, and fun to make.  Get the details at Serendipity Handmade blog.

Perfect Gifts for Fellow Sewists (inc Tutorial)

Today was my last day at college until the new year. I wanted to give my fellow dressmakers a little something. Some time ago, I'd stumbled upon this tutorial on Martha Stewart's fabulous site, and decided they'd be perfect. And they were. Cute AND quick.

I used some of the fabric left from my Christmas aprons, as it's such a pretty floral. I made up the pincushions as per the tutorial, substituting the "leaves" in Martha's version, for pretty vintage buttons on mine, top and bottom. I secured the buttons with the embroidery floss, wrapping the loose end around the thread shank and tucking it undeneath the button to finish it.

I wrapped them in some polka dot cellophane (from my local florist) tied with a white ribbon. If I do say so myself, they looked soooo cute. All done in one evening, whilst relaxing in front of the TV with a glass of Rioja! Thanks Martha! I rather fancy making a giant one of these for myself.....


Happy Christmas all, With Love & Best Wishes, Portia.xxx (Miss P)

Wrap Star

The wrapping has begun. And in true budget fashion too. Brown parcel paper and ribbon has always been my gift wrap of choice, but I thought I'd try something different this time.

I've used free newspapers to wrap, and then strips of lace (old net curtain) and faded raffia (bargain!) to tie. It's pretty, eco-friendly and cost me next to nothing. Even better, I avoided my old nemesis - Sellotape!

Hope this was helpful.

Happy crafting!

Becca

knithappens.

Re-Usable Chalk Board Gift Tags

Hi! My name is Jessi from over at Common Threads. Here a quick and affordable way to put a unique spin on your gift wrapping! Not only are they cute to look at, but because they are chalkboard they can be re-used!

What you'll need:

1) A roll of chalkboard paper (available at  most dollar stores!)

2) Cardstock

3) Scissors

4) Ribbon

5) Hole Punch

Step One

Stick Chalkboard Paper to card stock

Step Two

Draw your label shape

Step Three

Cut Out

   

Step Four 

Punch hole in tag

 

Step Five

Attach Ribbon and attach to gift!

 

If I had thought about it I would have not made them in front of the kids and used them as my Santa tags!

Biscotti

Last weekend my friend Anna hosted Craft Club, where we baked hazelnut and chocolate orange biscotti. They were surprisingly easy to make and taste scrummy! We ordered some bags to wrap them in off ebay, bought some brown paper luggage tags from WH Smiths, used Anna's vintage typewriter to write the labels (with no delete button, there was much cursing and blinding involved), and tied them up with pretty ribbon. Perfect for those random relatives you need to get Christmas prezzies for but don't really know very well (eg. my sister-in-law's step-gran)!

Love from Tilly x

Super Quick Handmade Gift Tags - Tutorial

I wanted to add a handmade touch to my shop bought wrapping paper,and these are REALLY quick and straight forward to do! I already had everything needed either in my stash, or by making more use of what I had already bought for my wrapping scheme. So not only will they match inperfectly, but they're low cost too.

Once you've assembled all your supplies, you could run a dozen of these up in 15 mins (not kidding, that's all it took). They're so so simple to do, and you can vary the materials to give dramatically different looks. You'll need: wrapping paper, pencil, scissors/craft knife, glue/spray mount, tags/card,buttons, ribbon/cord. (/=or)

First step is to cut your wrapping paper shapes . These can be as simple or as complicated as you like. Being a bit of a slave to a theme though, I decided on geometric Christmas trees. I drew the design out on the back first, layered several scraps of paper and cut them all in one go.

Then glue the shapes to your tags or card. You could add other embellishments. Beads, sparklies, glitter, you name it. Whatever tickles your fancy or ties in with your scheme.

Loop ribbon or cord first through the button, then through the tag, then loop the loose ends of the ribbon through itself behind the button and gently pull tight, until the button sits snug against the tag. Et voila! Simple cute and unassuming.

Christmas Colour Palette

I bought my Christmas wrapping paper weeks ago. I don't tend to use "normal" wrapping paper. Preferring in the past to use poster paper, wallpaper, parcel paper, and florist cellophane to name but a few. I tend to like my wrapping to be a little outside the norm and look handmade. As if it's taken alot of time, thought and effort (which it usually has) if not alot of money (as we're seemingly always short of this!)

However the wrapping paper in question (above) was a mere 99p per 10m roll from Aldi (gotta love Aldi). So my money saving credentials remain intact. I've made my own gift tags to match (tutorial to follow) so my handmade credentials are also intact. Handily, I don't have to spend time agonising over a colour palette. It's all there in the wrapping paper.

A quick trawl through my supplies turned up these metallic red bells left over from last year's wrapping scheme.I incorporated them in my present toppers, so every time someone picked up their present, it would jingle in a festive fashion. Cute. I wired them with tigertail & bead crimps, so they're ready to use. Bit of time saved there, as that was a REALLY fiddly job last year!

I also love these traditional candy canes, so Ill fit these into my scheme too. Probably hanging on the tree ( but not on the door wreath!!). For some reason I'm loving childhood nostalgia even more since The Little Tornado came along.  This year is his second Christmas,and I just know he is going to be sooo excitable come the big day.

I bought the ribbon  from Ebay. (£6.20 inc P&P  for 10m each of Red, Green & Turquoise and 40m of narrow white ribbon. Bargain I think!) I was a little worried about trying to colour match from an online photo but needn't have worried. They match perfectly, and she's a great seller.

I also dug out these china teacups that I've had stashed for a couple of years (yes, I know. My name is Portia, and I am a hoarder.). I think they'll make great festive teacup candles (tutorial here) and will fit beautifully into the scheme. I 've a few other things planned. Mostly with a bit of origami and some papercraft.  Snowflakes, paper chains and the like. And so it begins.......!

"Green" Giving

Yesterday I checked out this craft book from the library called Simply Green Giving by Danny Seo (2006). Like any good crafty book there are nice big pictures.

And like any good craft book there are a few ideas that are just plain silly. But the important thing is getting the creativity going! 

At the house, we are brewing a giant batch of beer for gift giving ease. I am personally the most excited about wrapping and labeling the bottles. This book has several ideas for wrapping bottles. Even if you don't make your own, any kind of alcohol is good for giving! I have already started to make giant ribbon bows using this tutorial via Natasha via Crafty Christmas Club.

They were so easy to make! I want to make them more and more huge... muahaha

Cheers!

-renee

Fun with felt!

Are you ready for some fun with felt? I've come across quite a few wonderful tutorials online that I think will be perfect to share with you fellow Crafty Christmas Clubbers.

The first felt tutorial I would like to share is from The Purl Bee. I worked on these rose barrettes this weekend and am very pleased with the finished project. The tutorial includes a print at home pattern and easy to follow instructions.
So far I've made nine roses. I plan on turning some of the roses into barrettes for my beautiful little cousins, and may turn a few into brooches for the more grown up people on my list.

The second tutorial I would like to share is from Twig & Thistle. I discovered this tutorial for felt gift bows last year and have been using it ever since.

The final tutorial that I would like to mention is also from The Purl Bee. I haven't tried it yet, but I think these felt gift tags are a great idea. I would like to make a set that can be used year after year at my house.

I hope these tutorials leave you inspired to get started having fun with felt!

Holiday Treat Box

Whether you call them biscuits or cookies, they'd sure look cute in a holiday treat box like this one:



They're simple and inexpensive to make. Here's a video tutorial:



I've got a few other ideas for wrapping treats on my blog too, but this is by far my favorite.

Funk up your bottles

Everyone's ideas in this blog are so inspiring - I am loving reading them all! Thank you everyone, & thanks again Tilly for setting it up :-)

I wanted to share something very simple to spruce up a bottle gift, because I don't know about you, but it's sometimes the only thing I can think of getting for the man who has everything (or who I don't know that well). However, rather than just pop it in one of those ready made stiff paper bottle gift bags I wanted to personalise it & put some effort in.

I made this as a Chrimbo example & others out of silver foil too for a special 40th gift, but this is something that can be completely personalised. It could be easily glammed up with beaded chain & bead drops - just think how blinged up it could look with Swarovski crystals!! The photos don't show the writing off in its full copper-coloured glory... sorry about that...

I raided my stores of crafty bits & found some copper foil (aka relief foil) that can be embossed. A quick search online found it stocked here. It's brilliant stuff - you can emboss it with patterns, pictures, special messages by writing on the reverse (backwards) with a ballpoint pen. It's cuttable with normal scissors. The labels are mounted on card & attached with lengths of jewellery chain & jump rings. If you're interested in more detail about how I did it, have a look at my scruffybadgertime blog.

Bye for now! Have a good weekend!