Happy Christmas - Last post before the big day

Hi Crafters

Just want to say a big

HAPPY CHRISTMAS 

to everyone and

HAVE A GREAT NEW YEAR WITH LOTS OF LOVING CRAFTING 

Back in the new year with lots of lovely ideas for Valentines and Mothers Day 

Boxes

Flowers

Decorations etc

I will leave you with a picture of my presents on the sofa, ready for distribution

Dee

Christmas Decorations & Gift Wrap Idea IV

Hi Crafters

As I am checking out YouTube for ideas to wrap presents I found more styles of stars/snowflakes, and being the avid crafter I am, I find I have to give them a try

The other evening I saw a large star made from napkins and hot glue gun. The following day I put the glue gun on having found some appropriate napkins, but needed to go back on YouTube for a reminder. I found the original napkin star but also another one I was drawn too. The original napkin decoration looked more like a spinning spiral when finished, so I decided to try the other star instead.

It works with Napkins, papers and light card

Here it is made from napkins

All I have added is a 5 pointed star to the centre and a pearl embellishment. It is a little soft but if I had a wall to hang it against I would definitely use it.

The next one is made from some light card squares I had, I thought I would need to use 6 sheets of 6" squares, but in the end only needed 5, which I found out by mistake as I had already used one of the squares in the pattern I chose and only had 5 left.

  

This is a simple and effective star and you can make them as big or small as you like if  you make them bigger than 6" squares you may need to add extra papers to make the star full enough to come together well.

Take a square and fold diagonally turn and fold the other diagonal 

Next turn over the paper and pull the corner into the middle lining up on the scored lines for accuracy. Do the other side the same.

 

Now fold the sides into the middle on both sides and then fold together so you have a valley and mountain folds across the shape, fold in half length-ways 

 

Glue the centre as shown in the picture with pencil lines using a wet glue

Turn the piece over to the side that has the first slope running from the right to the left side and cut as shown. The cut should line up with the turn on the left and cut through to the left top point.

 

Do all five pieces the same and then lay on top of each other gluing in the same way as before, just on the white bottom section. This makes a lovely star that can be used as it is or thread a large bell on some ribbon and tie once then thread the ribbon through the centre of the star. 

On the one in the picture above I had added thin silver elastic from Berisford. This makes the star re-usable. 

Happy Crafting 

Dee

Gift Wrap Ideas III

Hi Crafters

As promised more gift wraps ideas.

This is a simply wrapped parcel with ribbon

Start by turning the box over wrapping the ribbon around length-ways then turn the box over and tie into a bow. Add another piece of ribbon with a bell in the middle and tie into a bow this will give you  a smart double bow with a bell centre.

Here is another parcel wrapped and ribbon around the parcel. Using another piece of the same paper about 12 inches long and wide enough to sit inside the width of the parcel fold the paper back and forward (valley and mountain folds) down the length and then fold in half, crease well.

Unfold, add some double sided tape to one side.
Before placing it onto the parcel add a length of ribbon around the middle, then stick down. Put double side tape to one side of the top.
Pull both sides up to meet the middle and make the fan shape stick together
You now have the ribbon already in place to tie into a bow and finish the decoration.

Happy wrapping
Dee

Gift Wrap II

Hi Crafters

Last minute wrapping so here is an idea for  decorating a wine box, although the decorations could just as easily be used on any box if you adjust the embellishments to the appropriate size.  If the recipient is lucky the bottle will be champagne, in which case it may well come in a box, but if not you can make one using your score board and instructions from Crafters Companion wine bottle box on YouTube. Sorry but I do not have the time to go through this process now, maybe in the new year.

I have used this for items other than wine, such as candles, large body creams etc, and here are a few ideas to make it special, using the stars that were used to make the wreath (see Star Wreath posted 30th November, Day 12 of the 12 Days of Gifts)

This one has a simple cut-out of a family of Polar bears around the top and then a star (sorry you can hardly see it) with beads and pearl drop

Next we have a cut-out star This is cut from a die recently purchased, you cut 2 and place together,  the lazer pattern makes it quite striking.

You may be able to see I have adjusted the size slightly for this box. The polar bear family are back and the star has beads dangling.

The next box has been made from wallpaper. I like to use recycled papers if possible and this wall paper has a lovely modern colour with a traditional print. It is not a  Christmas theme, so can be used all year round. 

The stars were made from some papers that colour-match and a silver bell added to the top. I think I may well add some beads to the centre of the stars for added bling before use.

Back soon with some more gift wrapping ideas.

Dee

Christmas Wrapping 1

Hi Crafters

Most of the Christmas shopping is done and now is the lovely job of wrapping parcels ready to give out on Christmas Day

I love this time of year, its wet and cold outside and you can wallow in the warmth at home wrapping parcels and drinking hot chocolate.

I am still learning a lot about different wrapping processes, and find it easier if everything has a box.

So here is my first style of wrapping

I have chosen 2 coordinating 12 x 12 sheets of card and made a box to fit the gift with about 1cm spare all around
If you have a box maker it is simple, if not simply start with the same size card for top and bottom and then score all four sides 1mm less on one sheet to the other

So the item inside this box was 11.5cm high by just under 9cm wide
So I scores 9cm on all four sides for the bottom and 8.9cm on all four sides for the top.

And added the ribbon bow (wrapped around the box in red) and just a box in the green ribbon.

 Next I will be making some ribbon poinsettia decorations for the bigger boxes. I like to make these and add elastic to them so the can be slipped over the parcel and then when the gift has been opened the poinsettia can be rescued and reused. There is so much ribbon thrown away each year I am going to try making some recyclable bags for Christmas for immediate family that can be used each year.

Not sure if I will make them in time for this year. But I will keep you posted

Dee

Late Advent Calendar

Hi Crafters

For any of you who joined in at the 3 Crafts Day at North Petherton, you will have made A Favour with me. Having made one we added a mint chocolate as a treat to give to anyone visiting or to have with coffee. Another idea shared at the time, was to use small favours made in this way to make an Advent Calendar.

As I was out and about a few days later and saw some pretty number stickers I thought I would have a go.

This was a very simple make, recycling a cereal box.
Happily hubby eats the cereal and I get the card.
Using the front and one side panel of the box I trimmed and covered in a Christmas Red paper. The back was covered in a green paper. and then I just popped on 24 favours with the numbers on. It really needed weighing down a bit more at the base as it has a tendency to flip over.

Needless to say  hubby has eaten up to about day 20 already but as he gave me the card I cannot really complain. It also saved me picking up the chocolates and putting them back in the numbers Perhaps next year I will do another with a bit more attention to detail and some chocolates he really likes, and that way they It will be all over by the 5th of December.

Happy Crafting
Dee 

Craft Days for 2019

Hi Crafters 

Well here we are and I hope you are all ready to post your Christmas Cards. I sent mine on Monday and now I have only the hand delivered ones to do. I need about 50 cards and I am happy to say all were hand crafted by me this year. The very first year that has happened and it is a great feeling. 

So here I am looking at ways to decorate my presents and planning Craft Days for next year.

I have managed to book 2 dates.

Here are the details for the first date

Flowers for All Occasions

 Paper, Ribbon & Foam

Saturday 16^th February 2019PAWLETT VILLAGE HALL – 10am – 3.30pm We will make: Flowers from paper – just using scissors and glueShape and build flowers from foamStamps and die-cut flowers to decorate cards and boxes There will also be demonstrations on how to make a ribbon flowerAnd how to make an organza flower Lots of lovely tips and ideas shared In the afternoon you will make a plain box and a Tuxedo card and decorate with your flowers

These flowers are not shaped to allow them to fold flat for posting, but for decorating boxes and making your own embellishments we will learn how to shape and mould paper and card to give a more natural look to your flowers.

Please contact me for more information and booking form  

Denise

 

Christmas Craft Shows 2018

Hi Crafters

It has been a while since my last post as I had much to catch up with after the 12 Days of Christmas Cards and 12 Days of Christmas Gifts.

As you know during November I also did 2 Christmas Craft Fairs and I said I would let you know what went well and what did not.

At the first fair I was not prepared for the high spec of the stalls and buyers. The show  had good footfall and buyers were looking for gifts to  buy, my items were selling at £2-£3 and I think they were actually not the price range being sought for presents by buyers attending. This is a lesson in knowing your fairs and potential customers as the only items I had over £5 were 2 lovely wreaths that I did not present properly and consequently did not get seen until near the end of the show when I made room for them on the table. I then heard a lady say "I wish I had seen that earlier as I have spent out." Her friend had also run out of cash and therefore I was unable to make a sale.

So these customers were not looking for stocking fillers and this was the bulk of my items. However I did sell stars and star cards very well, as I was able to engage with people, explain my design concept and the way the star card worked. So I sold the decorative stars and the star cards. I did sell a couple of packs of decorated paperclips, some gift boxes, but very few of the small items.

I also had an opportunity to talk to other stall holders and one in particular  was very helpful, having attended this particular fair for many years he was able to pass on useful information.

In terms of actual sales I made as much as the average fair, but the cost of the table was higher, and the footfall very good so my sales should have been more. On the other side I met some lovely people, learnt a lot and will focus my attention on more specific areas for next year.

At the second fair, it was a different story altogether. My sister was selling star cards, favours and matchbooks, so I concentrated on notelet sets, gift boxes, brooches and snowflakes. The stocking filler items went well as did the enamel brooches, (I do not make these so they would not be appropriate for Craft Fairs but this was a Christmas Fair). The wallet stationary sets went very well.  Again I chatted to people some ladies took my details for workshops so it was a good day all round. This fair is only on in the morning so in terms of sales was very good .

If you want to make money at craft fairs then paper goods are a difficult sell, I love to attend fairs and sell at them, to clear items made and make room in the craft room. As I craft for a hobby I do not want to make lots and lots of the same thing, rather I want to make whatever is new and fun to try. This is not a business approach and therefore I cannot expect to sell lots. But as long I cover costs and make a little toward my next craft buy, I am a happy crafter. So far my Christmas Fairs have been kind to me and enjoyable. If you want to try fairs to make room or make money for your craft or charity, check out YouTube for lots of advice and ideas and be prepared to have a learning curve.

One of the ideas I use each year is a trial layout of my stall. You are given the measurement of the table you have booked and it is a good idea to  measure the size out and lay out your items. Try to get height at the back so that visibility is good
Here is my layout for this year.

You can see the ribbon marking out the table size and in the front you can see the start of the star wreaths that did not fit, and which I hung on the front of the table where no-one saw it. 

I have stands that sit at the back of the table 

But still feel I put too much on the table and must learn to be leaner with spare items stored underneath, as this will allow items to be seen more clearly. 

Back soon with details of Craft Days booked for 2019

Happy Crafting 

Dee