Tidings of COMFORT & JOY - Ornament

This is one of the simplest ornaments I have made.

SUPPLIES - 

- white, red, & green cardstock

- green ink 

- Christmas greetings

- red glitter pen

- ornament paper punch

- gold cord

- pearl bead

- double sided tape/Mono Adhesive

INSTRUCTIONS- 

STEP 1 : Stamp your Christmas greetings onto the white cardstock. 

              You should have a front & back for each ornament.

STEP 2 : Use the red glitter to accent the stamped images. Set aside to dry.

STEP 3 : After the images are dry, punch them out using the ornament punch.

              (I used Stampin' Up's ornament punch.)

   

STEP 4 : Then punch 2 red & one green for each ornament you want to make.

STEP 5 : Adhere the layers together with the double sided/Mono adhesive.

STEP 6 : Use a large needle or piercing tool to poke a hole in the top.

STEP 7 : Put the gold cord through the hole and then through the bead.

              Knot the gold cord at the top.

STEP 8 : Fold the white and red cardstock a little so that the ornament is

              no longer flat, but 3d.

(I made these ornaments as a gift for our Ladies Christmas Tea.)

Joy Wreath - Ornament

In review of the lesson from the week before & the Wreath Card,

we made this cute ornament.

We reminded the kids that JOY comes from knowing Christ as Saviour. 

Then we talked about the joy and rejoicing surrounding the birth of Christ.

SUPPLIES:

- 16 green "pony" beads

- 7 smaller skinny red beads

- 3 small round red beads

- 8in piece of craft wire

- "JOY" charm

- 6in piece of red ribbon

- wire cutter

- long nose pliers

INSTRUCTIONS:

STEP 1-  String your beads onto the wire.  

              Hold one end of the wire, so that the beads will not slid off.

              2 green, 1 sm. skinny red, 2 green, 1 sm. skinny red, 

              & repeat pattern till all the beads are used.

*Tip: We did this craft together.  I had a bunch of review questions to ask and as they answered them, everyone got beads to put on the wire, until all of the beads were on.

STEP 2 - Make your wreath shape by twisting the wire together at the top.

STEP 3 - String the 3 small round red beads onto one side of the wire after it

               is twisted in place.

STEP 4 - Attach the "Joy" charm just below the red beads.

STEP 5 - Cut the wire shorter and use the pliers to curl the wire behind the 

              "Joy" charm.

STEP 6 - Curl the other side of the wire into a hanger for the ornament.

STEP 7 - Make the bow by forming it like the picture below.

STEP 8 - Put the bow in place and attach it by twisting the wire hanger around                   the bow to hold it into place.

Now you have a cute little ornament to remind you 

of the Joy of knowing Christ as Saviour

 and the symbol of everlasting life (the evergreens) 

and the blood of Christ (red berries) shed for you!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Luke 2:10 & 11 

"And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, 

which is Christ the Lord."

Dresden design #1 - Felt Snowmen

I made these cute little snowmen the other day,

just in time for the Saturday snow.

After all, it is still Winter, so I am allowed to make snowmen!

They were so easy to make.

You need the following supplies:

white/off-white thick or furry felt

black embroidery floss

sewing needle

scraps of red plaid and solid green material

black brads

stuffing

gluegun

Step#1 - cut 2 Dresden pieces out of felt

(I used Stampin Up's new Dresden design die in my Big Shot Sizzix machine)

(Tip:it is best to cut thick or furry felt one layer at a time)

Step#2 - sew around your snowman with a blanket stitch leaving the head unfinished and the curved bottom separated.

(Tip:notice, I started around the bottom curve of one side 

and went all the way around to the other curved opening.)

Step#3 - stuff your snowman

Step#4 - cut strips of your solid green scrap material for the hat

I think I cut a piece that is about 2x6in.

(Tip: make sure it is wide enough to go around his head 

and long enough to fold over twice.)

Step#5 - using your glue gun, pipe hot glue in a line 

along the edge of your fabric.

Step#6 - immediately fold just enough of the material 

over to cover the glue.

Step#7 - repeat step5&6

Now you have a fold for the bottom of your hat.

Step#8 - Now hot glue the hat to your snowman's head.

Step#9 - Wrap & glue the green strip all the way around.

Step#10 - Using your red plaid scrap pieces, 

cut scarves and top ties for the hats.

Step#11 - Tie on your scarves and hat ties.

(Trim when finished)

Step#12 - add your black brad eyes by just poking them in.

Now you have some cute little snowmen for next Christmas.

I really enjoyed watching the snow fall, 

while I made these cute little felted men.

How to Make a Paper Wreath

I have always wanted to make a wreath with scrapbook paper.

 I pulled some supplies out that I have been holding onto.

The base of the wreath was a foam wreath that I bought at the Dollar Tree.

 To get a rounded wreath, I first wrapped the base with quilt batting.

Then I cut 2 - 12 x 12 Stampin' Up Designer series paper into 3 x 12 inch sections.

Cut a fringe around one side of each strip.

 The best way to secure the pieces is to hot glue them in place.

Other adhesives will not stick to foam or quilt batting.

Start by wrapping each piece onto the base one at a time. 

 Overlap each paper strip with the fringed side on top.

When you get all the way around, just tuck the last piece in.

You will have gaps between the paper, 

so use the leftover pieces to fill in under the big strips.

I just love the birch looking paper!

To decorate the wreath I just cut out a 

few different sized pointsettias from some other SU  paper.

The centers are made of SU Chocolate Chip cordoroy button brads 

and some SU vintage ribbon.

Voila!

Here is my finished paper Christmas wreath!

You can see this wreath at the Creativi-Tea!

If you can't be there, that's okay.

I will be posting projects all this week.

Family Tree Traditions

Everyone has family traditions, whether you say they are traditions or not.

It has been our tradition to go out into the Christmas tree field 

next to my parents house and cut down our Christmas trees.

Mine, of course, goes in the back of my truck 

to take to my house.

After my parent's tree is settled in the house, it is time to traditionally decorate it together.

First, we string the lights (which sounds alot easier than it really is).  

This year we strung the lights on the tree three separate times. 

 The first two times we tested the lights, but when we were finished the whole tree didn't light.  What a test of patience!  Finally, the lights adorned the branches just as we wanted.

No thanks to mom's cat "Soxey", who laid on the couch and watched us.

After the lights comes the angel on top, gold beads. and antique & new bulbs.

This year we found ourselves singing along to the Christmas Cd's that we had playing.  

Joy to the World, Hark the Herald, Away in the Manger,... 

all came from our smiling lips as we again made another memory.

I lovingly watched as my little brother, William, 

carefully looked at every ornament he placed on the tree.  

He really enjoyed trimming the tree this year.

Next, was my favorite part. 
Isn't it funny how you anticipate a specific part of tree trimming?  My favorite thing to put on the tree are my mother's birds.

If you know my mom very well, you know that she loves birds and bird houses.  Every year she takes her bird collection off the shelves in the kitchen and we use them to decorate the tree.

We strategically hang the birds that hang and then carefully place others on the branches all over the tree.  Some ornaments are old, others are new, some are even handmade.  What a natural thing to decorate the branches of our fragrant fir with birds.(Of course the cats also get excited and sometimes try to catch the birds on the tree.)

As I glanced around this year, while traditionally decorating our tree,

 I couldn't help but thank the Lord that we have kept such a tradition.  

Oh, how I will miss these moments with my family when I spend Christmas 

far away from them in South Africa.

May we never take for granted the small moments that we share with our loved ones.

 "Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. 

For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, 

and then vanisheth away." ~James 4:14