Purple blooms spotted on Merriment

Wardrobe update spotted on Ill Said, Ill Said

Marbled paper art spotted on Little Green Notebook

Minisparkle spotted on Oh Joy

Metallic teepee tote spotted on Etsy handpicked items

Oh, the magical Christmas branch. Want to make one of your very own? Go scrounge up a branch, add a little metallic spray paint and attach to the ceiling with hooks and thread. When the lights are dim you can’t see the thread so Ryan says it looks like it’s magically floating. Queue The Final Countdown please.

You didn’t think I would forget to include some garlands on my holiday craft list did you? Maybe it’s because I make these so often but it only took me about 30 minutes to whip them up last night.

Materials:
- felt balls (yes, they’re making their appearance again)
- napkins (I got my striped ones from IKEA) or tissue paper
- yarn (leftovers from the wreath)
- scissors
- needle and thread

For the felt ball garland, simply string the balls with a needle and thread. They’re very easy to string through.Jordan made a pretty one too.

For the snow ball garland, I used this pom flower tutorial.

For the napkin flower garland, I used this tutorial, which is the same process as making tissue poms but you just fluff one side. I liked the idea of using the napkins because they fluff well and don’t tear as easily as tissue paper.

Only five projects left!

A handmade ornament project spotted on Say Yes To Hoboken

Megan is a whiz with color spotted on Mae Mae Paperie

A geometric  whale spotted on Short Story Design

A group ride clad in tweed spotted on Size Too Small

A wall of brass discs spotted on Making it Lovely

Oh man, the Martha Stewart craft fair looks amazing spotted on For Me, For You

I’ve loved all of the DIY wreath projects I’ve seen lately, so much that I couldn’t decide on just one I wanted to try, so I tried four. Felt leaf, felt ball, tinsel and yarn – all made within a few hours.

For the felt leaf:
This one I saw from a friend. All you need is some felt (about 1/2 yard) and a straw wreath form (cheaper than styrofoam). Free cut leaf shapes and hot glue them, layering as you go.

For the felt ball:
This one I used an embroidery hoop and felt balls from Ornamentea. Just a little hot glue and you’re done.

For the tinsel:
Silver tinsel + a weird stick wreath form from the dollar store + hot glue

For the yarn:
I don’t remember where I first saw this type of wreath but it’s super simple and maybe my favorite of all. Wrap yarn around a straw wreath form tightly, going around a couple of times until the form doesn’t show through. I cut the leaves from ribbon and the berries some more of the felt balls.

For the final wall I added a little boxwood wreath and a cardboard moose with earmuffs. Sorry for the poor photo, I’ll take a better one if the sun ever comes out today. Photos updated!

Day four party people – a striped holiday table with mini felt trees and a little granola. A good combination, wouldn’t you say?

Felt trees:
I found this idea on Scissor Variations and I loved the simpleness but cuteness. Styrofoam cones + felt circles + silver pins = a holiday centerpiece.

Table setting:
- Tablecloth aka shower curtain. I like the stripes. Not actually used in my shower beforehand.
- Napkins
- White ceramic ornaments from West Elm and Crate and Barrel

Granola:
Make a big batch to hand out to the neighbors. All you need is a good recipe, a paper bag (available at most craft stores) and a label. Bonus points for including a scoop and bottle of milk.

photos by Katie

That little guy? That’s our Christmas tree this year. Wouldn’t a pretty plant delivered in a fabric covered pot make a great gift for a hostess or neighbor? Here’s how you do it!

Materials:
- small terra cotta pots (about $1 at Home Depot)
- fabric (I used a thrift store sweater and some calico prints)
- plants of your choice (the little tree is a lemon cypress)
- hot glue

For the sweater material, trim the sleeve of a sweater and snuggle the pot in. For the calico prints, Put hot glue directly on the pot, a little at a time, and attach the fabric to fit. Stuff the little extra on top in the pot to create a base for the plant.

Day Two!
Materials needed:
- embroidery circle
- thread
- small ornaments

Knot and stagger. I told you these projects would be easy.

Today I’m kicking off twelve days of Christmas projects that if I can do, you can do. Nothing requiring electric tools or hard to find products. Expect lots of felt, use of a glue gun and metallics.

For today I made an ornament advent calendar and a felt pinecone.

List of supplies:

- cork board

- 1/2 yard felt

- push pins

- ornaments of your choice

- circle punch

- double sided tape

- styrofoam egg

- glue gun

For the advent calendar – cover a cork board in felt, securing in the back with pins or staples. Place 25 push pins in the front and hang ornaments from them. Punch 25 circles out of white paper and label 1 – 25 then use double stick tape to number each ornament. Everyday in the advent you can hang a new ornament on the tree.

For the felt pine cone – Shave off some of the sides from your styrofoam egg to form it more into a pine cone shape. Cut several half ovals (I freehanded this, each was a little different) from the felt. Attach to styrofoam with a hot glue gun, layering as you go. Attach a small piece of twine on top with glue for hanging.

A few items of business:
1. I have a little favorite thing post over at Giver’s Log.
2. Please go vote for my table. It’s super easy, just a couple clicks.
3. Today marks the first day of my 12 Days of Christmas Projects, I’ll have the first post up soonish!