Santa Ornament

I took an ornament making class at Archiver's last month.  We made four ornaments.  Frankly, I wasn't too excited about the class but at least one of the ornaments we made was worth repeating.  For my annual holiday cookie exchange and ornament making party, we made the santa ornament I learned in that Archiver's class.

Not only are they super cute, they are super easy too.  You could probably whip this one up yet tonight {if you have the supplies of course}.

What you need:

• Clear ornament
• Red scrapbooking paper
• Black ribbon
• Silver scrapbooking paper
• Red ribbon
• Paper trimmer
• pencil or dowel
• double sided tape
• scissor

What you do:

1. Cut the red paper into 1/4" strips.  I used a mixture of 12" and 8" lengths.  The number you need depends on how big your ornament is and how full you want it to be.
2. Roll a strip around your pencil or dowel and place your roll into the ornament.  Continue until the ornament is full.
3. Measure the black ribbon around the ornament and cut to size.
4. Cut the silver paper into a square.  Mine was a 3/4" square.  Cut two slits in the square.
5. Thread the black ribbon through the slits you made in the silver square.
6. Using the double sided tape, adhere the black ribbon with silver buckle to the ornament.
7. Use the red ribbon to make a hanger. 

Ho, Ho, Ho Merry Christmas!

{Handmade Christmas} Stripey Tree Skirt

So, am I the only one that still has their Christmas tree up?  Probably, but I am taking it down today.  It just seems like it takes so much time to put it up that it deserves to be up for more than one month.  I don't turn the lights on after New Year's Day if that makes a difference.    But this year there is an added benefit for it to be up so long.  On New Year's Day I finally finished this tree skirt and I wanted to enjoy it just a little before putting it away.

The pattern is from fourteen may and the fabric is Joy by Kate Spain for Moda.  My favorite part is the ribbon closure.

I didn't really like that section however {the eighth and ninth triangles} and changed it up from the pattern.  The pieces were overlapping completely and not creating an opening so I cut those trianges in half.  I am quite pleased with my modification.

I did not add the pom pom trim and I didn't quilt the skirt.  {But I did want to do the quilting, however, I haven't really figured out my darning foot yet.}  Instead I added decorative stitching along the seams.

I think it looks like snowflakes.  My one regret is that I used five different fabrics.  I don't really like that stripes one, two, four, and five alternate around the skirt.  I didn't realize that was how it would come out.  If I would do it again, I would just use three different fabrics.

All in all, though, I really love my new Christmas tree skirt.  So much that I am sharing it at my favorite parties.

{Handmade Christmas} Felt Ornaments

Every year, I host a cookie exchange.  In addition to exchanging cookies and catching up with friends, we make an ornament.  This year, the conversation was about how many of these parties we had had.  I wasn't quite sure so afterwards, I decided to check out my tree and count all the ornaments that had been made at one of our cookie exchange/ornament making parties.  Here are the ornaments from the previous years:

That makes the 2012 party #9.  Next year will be the 10th annual party.  Maybe I should do something special.  But wait, in 2010 we had to cancel the party due to a huge snowstorm.  {I believe we got something like 20 inches of snow and the Metrodome roof collapsed.}  So does that count?  I say it does and I have the ornament to prove it.  :-)

But before I worry about the 10th annual party, let's check out the ornament we made this year.  Some years it is easier than others for me to pick out an ornament to make.  I have to keep in mind how long it will take to make and how much it will cost {I provide all the supplies for everyone.}  This year, I decided on felt ornaments which were inspired by The D.I.Y. Dreamer.  I always make several samples to help inspire my friends. 
I used cookie cutters as the patterns for the ornaments and that worked out really well.  All the embellishments and the floss I already had on hand.  I had some felt but I did pick up some more colors for the party.  

And of course, I always make an ornament with my friends at the party.

Everybody had a good time, got some yummy cookies, and made another ornament to add to their Christmas tree.  

Merry Christmas everyone!

I am sharing at these parties.

Christmas Mantel

So, I finally got around to decorating my house for Christmas today.  I think I've become the Queen of Procrastination since Thanksgiving.  If it wasn't for the Cookie Exchange party I hosted this afternoon, who knows when I would have gotten it done this year.

The basis for my mantel is pretty much the same every year but this year I tweaked it just a little and I am pleased as punch with how it looks.  So pleased that I decided to share it with you.

The focal point is my ornament wreath which I made several years ago.

I found a box of glass ornaments in my closet while I was getting my decorations out.  I'm not sure why I had them - one ornament was missing.  I bet that ornament is somewhere in a craft project.  I figured I could find a place for them somewhere and sure enough I did.  I placed one in each candleholder.  I think it is super festive and love this addition.

Somehow this year it seems like I have more Christmas balls than in past years {not counting those new ones I found in the closet.}  How does that happen?  Did they multiply this summer?  So I needed something else to display them in and came across this vase in the cupboard.  {I think it's for an orchid or some other flower with a bulb.  Whatever it is, I never use it.}  Looks pretty nice I think.

I declare it officially the holiday season now that I have done my decorating.  Thanks for checking out my mantel.