Christmas Tree Pin Brooch

This idea for a Christmas brooch/pin follows the Christmas tree decoration experiments of last week.

It’s only very small, measuring just 1.5ins x .5ins, made using a domino piece from a Christmas set found on E-bay which was a cheaper idea by far than buying ready cut MDF shapes, which is pretty mad really and why I always look for old sets in charity shops. It doesn’t matter if there are any pieces missing, they are still a bargain.

I started by painting the back and sides of the domino with white emulsion paint and covering the front with scraps of blue paper and white glitter card, plus a few tiny silver stars and a sprinkling of translucent white micro glitter.

On this first attempt I attached the tree using a glue gun, and then filled in the front with a good layer of Ranger Glossy Accents ………

…….. however, when I make another batch lot, I will put the Accents on first and leave to dry thoroughly before adding the tree as I think it might look neater.

With all that done, I just needed to add the pin/brooch fastening to the back, using an epoxy resin type glue to ensure that it would be fixed securely if/when worn.

I now need to come up with a simple idea for a presentation card on which to attach the brooches when I give them as small Advent presents at the start of December just to make them look a little more professional.

Christmas Tree Inchie Brooch

My apologies this little brooch was a nightmare to photo.

I love inchies and was wondering if, using a 1 inch MDF square as a base, I could combine the idea with a Christmas brooch.  I took small scraps of paper to create a background, shaded them around the edges with a pale taupe pen and then added some faux stitching using a black fine liner pen, before adding some tiny stars in the sky.

The glittered Christmas tree was from a pack of 6 or 8, I can’t remember where from, but they are a perfect size for the square.  Once glued in place I applied two liberal coats of Ranger Glossy Accents to the whole thing.

The last thing to do was attach the brooch pin using super glue to make sure it didn’t come off when wearing.  If I am honest, I don’t think the pictures do the finished item justice.  It looks a little dull in the light.

I think I will make a few more inchies, but explore whether I can make some sort of Christmas tree decoration with one or two.  As it is, it would get lost on a tree but perhaps if I could layer it on a bigger square, or encase it in some sort of box frame????  ………. hmmmmmmm

Very Simple Christmas Lights Card

This card measures 6ins x 6ins and uses a pre-scored blank card from a bulk pack from Hobbycraft.

My humblest apologies, I know this card is truly basic, but it was the paper what made me done it!  It’s a Helz Cuppleditch design from her Christmas Village 6” x 6” pad.  I adore it and really didn’t want to do that much to it, as must be clearly obvious, it also fits nicely in with my quick and easy Christmas card theme for this year.

I simply covered the whole front of a card blank with the design and then mat and layered the silver glittered, wooden embellishment (Hobbycraft)  on black and then silver card, before adding a scattering of small, clear, flat backed gems. Simples. 

I also quite like the idea of black as the main colour of a Christmas card for a change, I picked up a couple of paper pads using that theme last year from Poundland and ( I think) The Range so I have no excuse not to continue with it. 

Blast From The Past - New Years Eve Crafty Gifts - Midnight Feast Box

I was thinking about New Year and First Footing and came up with this really daft idea for a New Years Eve favour - as my sister would say “You have too much time on your hands!”

It opens up to reveal a Midnight Feast – in this case two shortbread biscuits, because I always think of Scotland at New Year, but you could put anything you like in with a New Year/Midnight Feast idea

The box is made using my Sizzix Bigz Shaker Box Die (No. 655134) in a dark blue cardboard. I have doodled on it using a white gel pen and highlighted the date on the scalloped calendar tab which is from Sarah’s Cards.

As I said this is a daft idea but I thought it might set other peoples imaginations off……, you could adapt it for a sleepover party for example.

A Blast From The Past - Sweetie Test Tubes From Christmas 2009

I can't claim that this is my own idea. I found lots of test tube favors when Googling and thought I would have a go at making one myself.

I bought the test tubes off e-bay, but when they arrived I was disappointed because the top was hollow, but, after much head scratching and rifling about in my drawers, I found some extra large gems that fit over the hole perfectly..... a bit of a fiddle fart, but it did the trick.

Thirteen jelly beans (the posh ones - 100's of different flavours) fit in each tube. The ones in this tube are in Christmas colours, but because of the huge variety of beans it's easy to do different combinations, like black, orange and green for Halloween, yellow,orange and green for Easter, all you need then is a co-ordinating ribbon and tag. I've used a Papermania metal rimmed tag (the ones that come in a box of assorted shapes and sizes)

I am now on the look out for corks that would fit into the top of the tube for a different look and also larger tubes that could fit bigger sweets ....... I'm never satisfied!

Blast From The Past - Christmas Cookie Cutter Gift From Christmas 2009

This idea has been going around for quite a while and I thought it would be nice to have a go at doing my own version .

There are lots of variations on the poem I have used which can be found easily on various crafting websites and forums.

I have typed and printed the verse, cutting it out in a tag shape, adding faux stitching round the edges and tiny silver stars.

The red ribbon is fastened through the tag and I have glued the ends together, rather than tie them for a neater finish.

The idea could be varied for birthdays and other occasions, with different shaped cutters.

Blast From The Past - First Footing - New Years Eve Crafty Gifts

I am still thinking about New Years Eve and First Footing, and have had another one of my ideas, but what the heck .....

It’s traditional for a first footer to carry a lump of coal ……... well I have substituted coal for liquorice! But you could easily swop liqourice for coconut macaroons or nutty cluster!

I got the footprint stickers from the US ages ago, I must have had about 20 packets but I have used them on so many projects, I shall be looking to order some more in the New Year as I only have a few left, I just hope I can find them again.  I think they are from Stickapotomus.

I thought using the white/silver glitter card on the topper would represent a good frosty New Years Eve path!

Blast From The Past - Candy Cane Mouse From Christmas 2010

Google “candy cane mouse” in images and you'll get lots and lots of results, this is my version.

I initially downloaded a template from this site:-http://dawnsstampingthoughts.typepad.com/dawns_stamping_thoughts/2008/11/candy-cane-mouse.html (Thank you Dawn), but when I started making it I decided to change the colours, ears and face a little bit.

I’ve added large googly eyes and faux sticking, hoping to get a soft patchwork toy sort of effect. The ears are stuck on using a sticky foam pad for extra dimension.

This is my protype, the tape looks awful! It will be replaced by a thin strip of foam pad under the cane, that won't be seen.  I was just in too much of a hurry to get the mouse photographed.  So my apologies for the shonky and very unprofessional finish!!!

A Blast From The Past A Few Ideas For Christmas Sweetie Bags From Christmas 2010

 
There is a link to the 3 x 5inc cello bags I have used in the sidebar. They cost £1.99 for 50 plus £1.00 P & P.  I like to put about 50 to 60 grams of good quality sweets in each bag and this size is idea.  I use dies from Nestabilities Label Set 8 for my toppers. Most of the stickers are from various Poundshops, except for the wooden reindeer ones, which are from HobbyCraft, that I have altered a little to fit the blue nose theme.

Blast From The Past - Penguin Sweetie Bags From Christmas 2010

My sweetie bags are always popular but this year I have decided to drop the “poop” and use the word “drops” instead, as I think the more refined of my friends were a bit put off by the original idea .

I’ve used a die from Nestabilities Label Set 8 and my Stampin’ Up scalloped and plain punches to make the topper  with Anita’s Laser Penguin Stickers (Penguin Party,  99p - £1.50 depending on the shop) to embellish.

I have put 50 grams of Cadbury white chocolate drops in the bag and would sell this for 75p.

Blast From The Past Jar of Jingle Beans From Christmas 2009

I love Poundland and Poundworld, you never know what you’ll find.  It takes me ages to go round as I have to really look at the stuff they have and then think “What could I do with that?”

I got these jars yesterday, would you believe a pack of 3 for a pound?

I have used my Stampin Up scallop and plain circle punches for the top, front, back and tag and added a snowflake punchie to the top with a clear gem.  Around the lid of the jar I have put self adhesive ribbon, slipping the thread from the tag under it to keep it secure.

The jar is filled with red, green and white jelly beans. You can get these beans in many different colours, so you can mix and match them to go with your them.  Blue and white ones would look brilliant too!

Other ideas could include, bonbons for snowballs, chocolate nibs for reindeer poop, aniseed balls for Rudolph noses, jelly lips for Christmas kisses and jelly hearts for Christmas love …… (hearts and lips are available from W H Smith and Thorntons Pic n Mix)

A side affect of crafting is also looking very carefully at sweets to see what they could be used for …… and then of course you have to sample the goods ……!

Blast From The Past - Sizzix Christmas Favour Box From Christmas 2013

I have been wracking my brains trying to think of a festive idea to use as a gift idea for all the bags of starlight mints I bought back from Las Vegas …..that filled my suitcase to bursting point!
And then I remembered my Sizzix Bigz XL Shaker Box Die (Item # 655134), that hasn’t seen the light of day for at least two years!!!  OMG, it was perfect!

I used it to cut the red striped card from Payper Box I got a few weeks ago which just spelt Christmas to me!  Not wishing to waste any scraps, I stuck the piece that came from the window in the bottom of the box as a background to the sweets.

The inside of the box didn’t look quite right, it needed a little something else …..

…… but it had to be flat,  so I decided to punch some red scallop edged hearts and then add a Christmas message using a white gel pen, sorted!

I used Marc’s band idea from his Christmas cards to make one for the boxes to stop them flapping open, using a strip of contrasting red card …… and creasing it using my box maker board.

I then made the sentiment decoration using my Stampin’ Up scalloped punch, scraps of card and gold, white and silver  Christmas circles from Craftwork Cards http://www.craftworkcards.co.uk/products/1585/in-circles-christmas-gold-silver.html

The felt holly leaves and berries were from this years Hobbycraft Christmas collection  but I just couldn’t find them on the website to make a link! I think a tub of 12 cost about £2.99/3.00.

I made twenty six boxes in all, some of the decorations on the band vary, because I ran out of the holly, so it was an excellent opportunity to use up all my other bits and pieces that have been hanging around in my Christmas embellishment box for far too long!