A festive thread for newbie crafters!

[fuzzpig]

I always feel a bit nervous of Xmas craft threads as most people on them are very accomplished and talented! Whereas I am neither :o

So if you are attempting craft for the first time this year come and tell me about it.

This week I made a costume for DD (had to be a superhero for children in need) and I am so proud of myself as it turned out pretty good. I've always wanted to do stuff like that but am only just coming out of a several-years-long phase of hideously low motivation/self esteem etc. Am actually a bit sad to think of all the things I could have made for my young DCs if only I'd tried!

Anyway I'll stop waffling now. What are you making? My main wish is an outfit for DS - he adores Fix It Felix so I'll be hopefully making that.

[lucysmam]

ooh, I'm making some bead candy canes this year! Never attempted anything like it before & they look goooooood...If I do say so myself

Am also going to make some paper snowflakes that were linked to on here a few weeks back, to go in the window, but I have lost the bookmark I thought I made so need to hunt for the thread they were on

[Badgerwife]

I made a magnetised advent calendar to go on the fridge! I wanted something that would be out of reach from little hands, and it's perfect and SO EASY.

I used small matchboxes, festive paper, number stickers and a magnetic strip for the back. I am well impressed with the results, it only took a couple of hours max to do with DD 2.4 doing all the sticking. It is so cheap to make and has a lot of potential for future years/themes and the kids making their own. Fab!

[fuzzpig]

They both sound brilliant!

I've just realised the potential problem with this thread. Too much inspiration and too little time :o

I'm also painting a tree dec each at a pottery painting party I'm attending (a work thing) - little stockings I'll put their initials on perhaps. I think they might have a space to put things in (so like a real stocking rather than flat IYSWIM) in which case they might have a candy cane in them or something when they arrive on Xmas eve.

[fuzzpig]

Oh and I want to do a handprint wreath like they have in the TV show The Middle (green handprints round in a circle)

I work in a library, and there are soooo many nice Xmas craft books

[buttercrumble]

I've just made a driftwood Xmas tree with dd , easy and super stylish

[ThePigOfHappiness]

Fuzzpig, a fee years ago I was snowed in with dds, had no craft bits so had to use newspaper and pen. Used sports pages for green and did the hand wreath thing with dd1. Still have it and think it looks fab
I'm making crochet snowflakes and stars for the tree and a few other bits for the woolly hugs lot

[lucysmam]

I fancy some crochet snowflakes and stars ThePig, is it difficult to get started?

[ThePigOfHappiness]

Do you crochet at all lucysmam? They're very easy to do even if you're getting started, have a look at the attic24 tutorial

[lucysmam]

I've never tried crochet ThePig, just they look pretty & I wouldn't mind some for my tree. I'll look up the tutorial on the laptop later on, thanks

[redcaryellowcar]

so pleased you started this thread, i went to Christmas gift fair at the weekend and saw and bought some lovely things, but stopped at spending ?£5 on a small felt Christmas tree decoration which although pretty and i am sure had taken a while to make i felt i could probably attempt something similar, so if anyone has any ideas for how to make a gingerbread felt Christmas tree decoration especially on design, i would love your ideas!! (sorry if this looks like thread hijack )

[lucysmam]

mobile.canadianliving.com/crafts/sewing/make_a_felt_gingerbread_man_ornament.php something like that, redcar? or fancier? I have all sorts of decoration tutorials bookmarked on my phone to try out

[lucysmam]

www.thriftyfun.com/Making-Felt-Gingerbread-Man-Ornaments.html I have those saved too

[lucysmam]

www.naturalsuburbia.com/2010/11/felt-gingerbread-man-christmas-tree.html or those

(I may be feeling very festive and have spent hours scouring ideas from t'internet )

[redcaryellowcar]

thank you for tellinglucys great ideas, have you found any gingerbread houses?john Lewis have a 3d one for sale but the on i saw was 2d!

[lucysmam]

oooh, I haven't....will have a hunt and see what I can find

[lucysmam]

www.talesfromahappyhouse.com/2012/11/a-felt-gingerbread-house.html?m=1 that's the best I can find searching on my phone on the bus . Suppose you could scale it down & attach a ribbon for hanging.

Think I'll have a better search later on on the laptop though.

There was one on youtube but it won't let me link on my phone, the youtube app jumps in to play the video

[lucysmam]

sweet but only 2d

[lucysmam]

they look easy and are 3d you could jazz them up with ribbon and dinky buttons

(think I might have to try those too)

[lucysmam]

Just realised that last one isn't a tutorial but I think they'd be easy enough....


Felt in a ?
???
?


two triangles for the ends and then a rectangle to make the actual roof. Blanket stitch the box together, add the triangles and half of the roof, bit of stuffing and then finish off the roof. Either stitch decs on before sewing together or glue on with craft glue when done

[lucysmam]

bugger, my template demonstration worked when I typed it out! I meant box pattern to be in a + shape (maybe it shows up properly on a computer )

[Clandy]

Brilliant thread- have stollen some ideas. I love little crafty ideas I can make with dd's and am very new to this crafting business. I'm getting a sewing machine for Christmas so some will save some ideas for next year too. I thought with the houses I could make the house up for dc's to decorate. Where could I buy craft glue told you I was new to all this

[lucysmam]

I get the odd crafty bits I use from either my local market or Boyes. Or someone linked me to CraftyCrocodiles website at some point but have lost the bookmark

[redcaryellowcar]

thank you arelucysmum i really like the 2d one although i might simplify further and take off pink roof, one less colour to buy too!
i just need to go sequin and bead shopping!

[IsThatTrue]

I have started Christmas craft by making the gift tags for the presents, I ordered some brown parcel labels, about £2 for 50, and I got some lovely Nordic rubber stamps (a reindeer, festive bird, a merry Christmas, a heart wreath design and a to....... From......)£ 6.99 and an ink pad about £3. So now I've made some lovely tags for our gifts and they were really easy. Obviously I can reuse the stamps and the ink can be used for anything now. And tags can be used for birthdays if there are any leftover (and I get some birthday stamps).

I've also decided to jazz up my wrapping with ribbon. I've just wrapped 2 of DHs presents and it took me about 40 minutes but they look fab!!

I keep browsing Pinterest for ideas but I'm not the most crafty person

[Whistleforit]

Hello isthattrue where did you get your lovely stamps? Have been looking and v disappointed by Amazon etc. we made button cards and tags inspired by these - which dds (2&4) loved helping with.

www.google.co.uk/search?q=button+cards+christmas&client=safari&hl=en-gb&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=5XSKUsCpLI2shQfcyICAAg&ved=0CAkQ_AUoAA&biw=1024&bih=672#facrc=_&imgrc=h9IsyruOifWYYM%3A%3BtRAQYZ97M08IRM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fstyleideals.files.wordpress.com%252F2012%252F12%252F186336503302846177_ltawppzc_c.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fstyleideals.com%252F2012%252F12%252F%3B554%3B417