Christmas Craft Challenge - Day 24

At last we are here. It is the day of Christmas Eve and I have just put the finishing touches on my final craft items. This has been somewhat of an emotional 24 hours for me as these have turned out to be quite poignant for me. It is something I have wanted to do for a long time but either run out of time or just had no idea what or how I wanted to do it, so if nothing else, this Christmas Craft Challenge has at least inspired me to finally do something about it.

I have mentioned in a previous blog about this being a time to remember those who can't be with us on this the most family orientated day of the year. We can't always be with the ones we love maybe due to distance or circumstance and some we will never be able to share the joys of Christmas again as they have passd on. I think that Christmas is certainly one of the times when memories of past times seem to flood back and overwhelm us and we miss those gone from us even more.

I wanted to create something to remind us of the people we have lost who were so dear to us that we could put up on our Christmas Tree so they could share in the Christmas spirit with the rest of the family. So I have created a set of memorial heart ornaments. It's not complete, it is missing four that I know of, that unfortunately I didn't get photos of in time - my paternal grandparents Eric & Rachel Swanston and Eric's second wife Holly and my cousin Blair, who I never had the opportunity to meet. Hopefully they will join our tree for next Christmas.

For this year I share the following family members who will be on our tree (very shortly).

Granny Anne Lake - she was my step-children's maternal Great Grandmother, who passed away only a couple of years ago.

Sonia-Ann Sumbler-Lynne, Pete's first wife and mother of his three children, Lavinia, Alysha & Kurt

 













Peter Russell Lynne (known as Russell), Lucy's second husband and Pete's father. Poppa to my step children.

Lillian Mary Wilson (nee Walker) my maternal grandmother.

I was probably about 25 or so when she told me she had never been given a soft toy as a present as they had not been around when she was younger. So every year from then until her passing I gave her a Farmer's Santa Bear for Christmas.

Graham Barraclough Wilson, my maternal Grandfather. He was a carpenter by trade and was known to spantaneously burst into song at any stage. He loved photography and I am truly grateful to have been given all his camera gear which I hope to restore with some TLC.

I cried a lot while making these (and while writing this blog) remembering how special these people were to me in one way or another. They have all played an important part in my life whether they know it or not and I am grateful to them for the gifts they have bestowed upon me.

Finally I would like to thank everyone who participated in the Christmas Craft Challenge as well as those who just popped by to read my blog as well as anyone else's. It has been an interesting challenge, perhaps a bit more than I thought it would require but I have loved every minute of it.

I have gone back to the roots of my crafting, lots of glue and paint and foam and felt rather than just patterned paper and adhesive. At times I have felt like a kid again and I have enjoyed that immensely, just as I have enjoyed some of the more grown-up and sophisticated creations.

I'm already thinking about next year's Christmas Craft Challenge - NO I didn't learn my lesson, YES I am doing it again, only this time we ALL have 12 months to plan our creations and perhaps start them a little bit earlier this year lol.

I hope you all have a fabulous Christmas with your family and friends. I look forward to seeing more of your creations in the New Year, but for now it is goodbye I'm off to set up my tent in a craft-free zone, though I think I will take some magazines for some research.

Paula xxxxx

Christmas Craft Challenge - Day 23

Today it was another item that I saw and just loved. What made it even nicer was that I was able to use up some of the scraps from an earlier challenge item so that this coordinates quite nicely as well.

Candle, Cardstock, Patterned Paper, Double Sided Tape, Flowers, Rhinestone Heart & Word

Christmas Craft Challenge - Day 22

To be perfectly honest I am about over this Christmas Craft Challenge. Who's silly idea was it anyway... that's right MINE!!!

I think it is more that I seem to have done little else for the past 22 days other than eat, sleep and drink Christmas Craft ideas. I have definitely spent far too much time on this.

So next year... (yes I am actually thinking of repeating this again)... I will be a little more organised. I think a little more forward planning would have helped considerably instead of deciding each day what I was going to make. That would also allow me to build in a little more time for those items that look like they will require a little more time, instead of trying to cram it all into one day.

Don't get me wrong I have loved every minute of my crafting time, which was feeling a little neglected I have to be honest, I just have ended up spending way more time on it than I had anticipated. I do love all my creations (for the most part) but most of all I think I have loved that so many people have given it a go, even if just doing one thing a week.

Today's craft challenge was not so much of an ornament as last minute Christmas presents. I've been putting them off, and putting them off and now all of a sudden it's three days before Christmas and I thought I couldn't do it any longer.

I wanted to make all my step children something special for Christmas. They are all getting a bit older now so for the girls I wanted to make them nice charm bracelets, and for my step son I decided upon a nice key chain as he now has his own house key to look after. I also needed a last minute present for DH's sister, so she is getting a bracelet as well.

I know none of them check my blog (yet) so I think I am fairly safe in posting a picture of their presents here. I just have to apologise for the quality of the picture, my camera didn't focus as well as what I thought it did and as the gifts are all now wrapped up... I can't retake the picture.

Kurt's Key Ring


Alysha's Blue Bracelet (Step daughter)


Robyn's Black Bracelet (Sister-in-law)


Lavinia's Pink Bracelet (Step daughter)


Chain, charms, key fob chain, jump rings, glass beads, spacer beads, eyelet pins, pins, lobster catches

Christmas Craft Challenge - Day 21

First of all let me say WOW, it is still light outside on the same day that the craft item is due. It is not the morning after or the afternoon of the day after, it is the same day!! Of course the fact that DH & DS were home on Christmas Holidays may have had something to do with me hibernating in the dungeon all day, but my lips are sealed.

Today's craft is another one that got to me because of the sheer "Cute" factor, though this one also serves a function. It is a Christmas card holder as well as being an expression of my creativity. The great thing about this is you can make it as long as you want. You just keep the "tail" rolled up until you need additional space for hanging your cards - ingenious!

Heavy Card; Cardstock - DCWV; Tombow Mono Multi Glue; Kindy Glitz; Glitter; Holographic self-adhesive paper; Metallic look self-adhesive paper; Buttons; Punchinella Punch Ribbon; KaiserCraft Glue Dots; Magic Tape; Metallic Paper; Stlyus; Ribbon; Mini Wooden Pegs

Christmas Craft Challenge - Day 20

I really enjoyed today's craft. It was nice and relaxing, simple and easy to do. I did have to draft some paper patterns for the Christmas Stockings, but that wasn't too big a deal, though I will probably look to make a template for future use as I can see me making one of these for every person in the family.

It is all hand sewn so would be easy enough for the kids to do as long as they can sew a running stitch though they may need a little assistance with some of it.

As usual I have deviated from the project sheet as per the instructions in Cards & Crafts for Christmas - Edition 1, though only as far as colours and decorations. They added buttons onto the strip around the top, I'm probably going to add names, though I just need to decide who gets what (hence no names at this stage).

Felt, embroidery thread

 

Christmas Craft Challenge - Day 19

Today's craft items were based on a project in the Cards & Crafts for Christmas Magazine 1st Edition. For a change I followed the instructions almost to the letter, then I decided to go off on a complete tangent as usual.

The Button Wreath is as per the magazine's design, the heart is my own invention. I've shown the front and back of both the wreath and heart.

Easy enough craft to do, though if the kids are doing it they will need supervision with the hot glue gun. And definitely loved my Bazzill Splat Mat for this project as we all know how stringy hot glue gets, not to mention the painting as well.

Heavy Card; Semco Acrylic Paint - Classic Red & Bright Green; Buttons; Hot Glue; Ribbons; Tweezers; Bazzill Splt Mat; Fiskars ShapeCutter; Fiskars Shape Templates - Circles & Hearts

Christmas Craft Challenge - Day 18

Day 18 and technically I have completed two challenges because I had a day off yesterday for DH's birthday... why do I do it to myself??
Why because it is all worth it when you see what you get at the end of it all.

I knew I wanted to make this item the moment I saw it in Cards & Crafts for Christmas - Volume 3. I even broke the second part of my challenge for this one item - to not buy anything new, but I just had to. I didn't have any suitable Christmas or other material and I didn't have enough stuffing... in fact I wildly underestimated the amount needed. Luckily my friendly fabric shop in Papakura had both the material when I went looking earlier in the week and the stuffing when I went in a panic this afternoon.

I looked at traditional Christmas materials and nearly went with a traditional colour scheme, each with gold embellishing through the pattern but then I found the material that I ultimately used and suddenly this item took on an additional meaning for me.

I selected material with hearts on it, in traditional Christmas colours to remind us of both the loved ones that we share our Christmas celebrations with on the big day, as well as the loved that we wish we could spend Christmas Day with but can't for whatever reason. (Yes I'm a sentimental sucker!)

I hope you love this sewn wreath as much as I do. I know this will be a treasured family ornament for many years to come... at least once I'm happy with the ribbons on top.

Fabric - Stof Quilters Basics Style 4513 in red, olive & cream; Stuff It Polyester Fibre, Cotton, Wired Ribbon

Christmas Craft Challenge - Day 17

Although it was a quiet celebration for dh's birthday, it was still a very busy one for me and creative to some extent. I baked!! Cookies AND a chocolate cake with icing. I KNOW!!

To prove it... here is the cake - no comments about my bad icing please lol.

Anyway, now for the Craft Challenge for the day...

I saw this in the Better Homes & Gardens magazine for December 2009 and thought it looked not only cute, but I loved that it was also functional, so I had to make it.

I know it's not exactly a traditional colour scheme, lets be honest its a bit out there and I love it. It was inspired by my dear friend the irrepressible Queen Tania who loves lime and purple. And before she asks, no I won't make her one, no she can't have this one, no the chocolates don't come with it they are for display purposes only and yes I will send you the instructions if you want them :-)

Felt, Embroidery Thread, Sequins, Sead Beeds

Christmas Craft Challenge - Day 16

Today's challenge item would have to be the most difficult I have tried and possibly will try this year. It took some time to create when I add in glue drying time and I may still spend some time decorating it some more, though not just yet (maybe for next Christmas lol).

It was based on a project sheet I found online at Family Fun and it just looked so cute I couldn't resist. Unless you have plenty of time, patience and space in which to make a mess then you may want to resist despite how cute it looks as it took plenty of all of the above, but even then I would probably still attempt it myself because I do love it so very much.

My "Faux" Gingerbread House:

Front and side of Gingerbread House

Back & side of Gingerbread House

Corkboard, Tombow Mono Multi Glue, Helmar Foam Glue, Foam Sheets, Making Memories Paint - Red Roses, Semco Scrylic Paint - Hot Pink, Fiskars Swivel Finger Blade Knife, Fiskars Circle Template, Hand Punch, Pencil

I have to apologise up front that tomorrow's challenge item may not be posted until the following day as tomorrow is my darling husband's birthday and as tolerant as he is of my crafting, I think I really should spend some time with him lol.

Christmas Craft Challenge - Day 15

Today's Christmas Craft is one I completed at the weekend workshop I attended last Saturday. It is a 12 x 12 scrapbook page of my grand-daughter Sonia-Marie who is now nine months old.

She went and had her photo taken with Santa a couple of weeks ago. When mummy put her on Santa's lap, she looked at him for a couple of minutes, assessing who this strange fellow in the bright red outfit and white fluffy beard was. Then lifted her hand to his beard.

Now the way the story was told to me, Santa did a bit of a mild panic as he thought she was about to pull his beard down and pulled her hand back down before the picture was taken, still all lovely and smiley. He commented to mummy afterwards that she was the loveliest baby he'd ever had the pleasure of dealing with and he wished they were all like that.

My take on the story is a little different. I don't think she was reaching up to pull his beard. I think she was reaching up to play the game that she plays with Poppa. He was whiskers too, though his are because he doesn't shave every day (a bone of contention with Nana I might add), and when he plays with Sonia-Marie he says "Where's Poppa's whiskers?" and then she puts her hand up to feel his face. Of course it tickles her hand, so she then pulls it away giggling.

I think my story is much better than the original, don't you?

Anyway here is the scrapbook page, including Sonia-Marie "helping" to decorate the tree when her Auntie and Uncle put it up not long after the Santa photo was taken.

Christmas Craft Challenge - Day 14

This blog is really late and I must apologise for that. I had a job interview this morning (allbeit just with the consultant) but I needed to get an early night last night and unfortunately that meant my blog didn't get updated. So my humble apologies for that. When I hear back about the job I will let you know if it was all worth it.

Today's items are really great for the kids. They are all based upon sheets of foam which can usually be picked up from the craft section of any department store. The foam is really easy to cut with either scissors or knives so is ideal for kids. It's also fairly robust and can take almost everything that you throw at it.


I have made a selection of items from a very simple present with hand-drawn detail to the more complex Bauble and Christmas Tree. You can do as little or as much as you like with these.

  Foam, Helmar Foam Glue, Buttons, Brads, Marker Pen, Sequins, Pearl Beading

Christmas Craft Challenge - Day 13 & Christmas Challenge Swap

This posting is a bit of a "Two birds with one stone" deal. Firstly let me explain the Christmas Challenge Swap...

There are a group of us here in Auckland who are close Scrapbooking friends and who go to Scrap Camp three times a year and workshops and just hang out together. Earlier this year the topic came up about who got Scrapbooking items for presents, and all of us complained that we bitterly missed out because no one ever gave us any. And so the challenge came about...

The deal was each month we buy a small scrapbooking related present for the others based on an agreed list of item "topics" and if we wanted we could also buy something for ourselves. Although the gifts didn't have to be exactly alike similar items with different colour variations, for instance, was a great idea.

There was originally six of us - Carrie, Wendy, Glenna, Lisa, Tania & I but Lisa unfortunately had to pull out when they moved to Australia. And so there was five...

The list of items was:

• $5 item - free choice
  
• $2 Shop purchase
• $4 Hardware store purchase
• Handmade Item
• $5 bling
• Christmas Themed Item
• Stamp
• Stationery Item
• Storage Item

These were to be purchased one each month from March to November and then they were being swapped at the December workshop.


Needless to say we didn't all stick to the list and we didn't all purchase exactly by month, but it was a great guideline for the purchases. And it gave a lot of ideas to think about.


Yesterday we did the swap. Can I just say, that I felt like a kid again on Christmas Day? It was so much fun seeing what we got. Everyone opened a different present first so there were oohs and aahs circling the room like whirlpool. Everyone had bought different things, so there was just so much too look at and try to take in at once.


I for one am DEFINITELY keen to do this again next year. You don't need to spend a lot, only $5 MAX per month per person ($25 for us with 5 people if you bought for yourself as well), and spread throughout the year so you could pick up bargains as they were found.


Anyway here are the gift packs...
Carrie:

Wendy:

Glenna:

 

Tania:

Paula:

I made each person a tag for their box with the appropriate letter of their first name and as the handmade gift each lady received a charm bracelet - all of which were different. Mine included one of each of the charms from the other four bracelets as well as some others to complete it. These are also doubling up as my Christmas Craft Challenge for today as the individual letters could easily be tied onto a Christmas Tree as ornaments.

They are two layers or felt with a piece of cardstock sandwiched between them. They have been hand stitched with embroidery thread around the edges and then seed beads have been hand stitched on to embellish them.

 

Christmas Craft Challenge - Day 12

OK I'm really late this blog posting but I have a good excuse... I went to an all day Scrapbooking Workshop yesterday and didn't get home until 3.30 this morning, at which stage it was too late to set up and take photos and besides my eyes were focusing that well at that hour. This this morning (Sunday) is always grocery shopping for the to come. 

It was a productive day yesterday and I managed to finish the Christmas items for this post, as well as a double page layout for a Circle Journal - including handing it back to the lady who's journal it was and last but not least three 12" x 12" layouts, though one of them still looks like it needs a little something else. I will post pictures of those in a separate blog as for now its all about the Christmas Craft Challenge.

If you recall my blog a couple of nights ago, this were some items I was working on but didn't get finished, so instead quickly threw together some Christmas Crackers to post (yes I know I still need to post the recipe). Well it turned into technically seven items which is why it all took a little longer to complete, however I love the finished product.

I have to confess that I didn't have all the letters I needed so instead I had to 'jimmy' together some bits of other letters to make the ones that I wanted. Lets see if you can guess correctly what letters are "jimmied" and what were the two original letters that I cut up??

I'm not sure if I will set up up to hang or not, but for now they are just stand on a mantelpiece and lean against the wall items lol.

 

 Making Memories 8" Chipboard Letters; Patterned Paper - Karen Foster Red Words & Green Words, DCWV; Card Stock - DCWV; Felt Ornaments; Rub-ons - KaiderCraft, Hambly Screen Prints, Cloud 9 Design, American Craft; Glitter Accents - K & Company, Craftworks; Ribbons; Chain Link; Holly Accents; Tombow Multi Adhesive, Foam Adhesive Squares, Jump Rings

Christmas Craft Challenge - Day 11

Better late than never...

This took me about 45 minutes to make from start to finish including photographing. It was nice and simple and would be a great craft for the kids to try. I used the Fiskars Shape Cutter and Circle Template but you could use circle punches if you have them and it would be even easier and quicker.

The original sample I saw for this was the word "PEACE" but you can create a garland for whatever word(s) or phrases you like, just as I have.

Also no reason it was to be on one string only... lots of opportunities to experiment with this.

Mine is one one garland, but because of the length I couldn't get a clear enough picture, so I had to split into two.

Cardstock, Ribbon, Glue Dots, Footprint Creations Flocked Alphabet Stickers, Fiskars Shape Cutter & Circle Shape Template

Christmas Craft Challenge - Day 10

I nearly didn't make it today. Everything that could have gone wrong did including my blog page somehow ending up in Arabic or something else I definitely couldn't read. Crisis averted eventually and blog pictures herewith enclosed.

Now I have to confess this was not the original craft planned for today. That is still in several pieces on my desk... I just ran out of time. I didn't want to rush that particular item(s) so they may still be a couple of days off yet. Nonetheless I did manage to throw together something for the blog.

As promised my easy peasy Christmas Crackers. These two took me about 15 minutes to create, including writing notes on how to make them, so they are very quick and easy. You can decorate as much or as little as you like.

I will write up the recipe for them tomorrow (fingers crossed) and post it here as well.

Christmas Craft Challenge - Day 9

I have had the following items on my mind for some time now, just never got around to it.

My first inspiration came from the Pirongia Markets which a group of us went down to look at and I saw these for sale and decided I could make them myself and it wouldn't cost me as much.

With a 9 month old formula fed baby, we always have lots of large cans just sitting there doing nothing so I finally turned two into drums for the aforementioned baby - as in the Little Drummer Boy (or girl in this case)


The paint job isn't that flash but then she isn't going to care. And I would normally decorate my craft a lot more, but I know the way babies' minds work and even if I used superglue she would have it unstuck and in her mouth within seconds. So I err on the side of caution...

Formula cans, Gesso, Acrylic Paint, Faux Leather, Vinyl, Leather Cord, Rubber Bands, Making Memories Grommets, Crop-o-dile

 

Christmas Craft Challenge - Day 8

Today was a busy day finishing off Christmas and birthday shopping (I have two family birthdays and one of my best friends also celebrates this month).

After the shopping comes the inevitable wrapping of presents and I have learnt it is always best to try to wrap them immediately. Not only does this stop the last minute panic when the gift is due to be given but also stops sticky beaks from checking them out lol.

I was about to wrap one present, a bottle of wine, when I realised that I didn't have a wine bag. It was wrapped in cellophane so I didn't want it to be crushed by wrapping it in tight paper so I got out my creative gear and alter a plain brown paper lunch bag into a lovely gift wrapping.

Brown paper lunch bag, Ink, Stamps, Crop-o-dile, Ribbon

I then wrapped a couple of birthday presents in a similar way as I didn't have any birthday paper only Christmas.

I also wrapped a present for a creative friend in brown packaging paper.

Brown Packing Paper, Inks, Stamps, Paper Ribbon, Flowers, Glue Dots, Craft Wire

That's my Christmas Craft Challenge for today... wrapping presents can be enough of a challenge on its own lol. I do have a couple of things partly finished, will hopefully have them done for tomorrow - just working through some technical issues lol.

 

Christmas Craft Challenge - Day 7

Another day is nearly over. Luckily I had planned on doing something nice and simple as I had a family funeral today which took a huge chunk out of my day.
Nonetheless I still managed to get these done.

I love the simple style of these paper heart ornaments.

Patterned Paper - American Crafts, Double Sided Tape, KaiserCraft Glue Dots, Embroidery Thread, Beads - various

Christmas Craft Challenge - Day 6

Sorry its a bit late again today but I have a good excuse - I had to go and do the grocery shopping today and then put it all away which led to cooking and other domesitc goddess chores. 

I couldn't resist the pained looks of hunger from my starving family any longer so my crafting had to come second for a change lol. (Honest I'm not quite that bad).

I'm a bit over all the hand sewing I've been doing to late, so I thought I would put my needle and thread aside and pull out some paper for a nice change. 

Today I made Origami Wreaths from the Christmas Issue of Better Homes and Gardens. For a change I followed the instructions to the letter... shocking I know... but to be honest the end product was a little disappointing size wise. So in true Mythbuster fashion, I decided to ramp it up a little. Instead of using centimetres as the measurement base, I used inches and the difference was amazing as you will see from the picture below.

The small wreath used less than half a 12 x 12 sheet of scrapbook paper, while the larger wreaths each used 2 sheets. It is all folded with no glue to hold it all together so you do need to be careful that the wreath isn't knocked too hard otherwise it can easily skew out of shape. I am tempted to glue it a little so it stays where it is supposed to but then that would defeat the whole concept of Origami.

I know the papers aren't that festive, but in looking through my stash (cos not allowed to buy anything new) I really didn't have that many Christmas papers at all and those I did have weren't really that suitable. Note to self: Next year buy more Christmas themed patterned paper.

Anyway here they are in all their glory.

 

Patterned Paper (Small - Scissor Sisters Sepia Script; Large White - Scissor Sisters White Script; Large B/W - It Takes Two Crumpled Paper Black and White); Bone Folder; Inks (Tsukineko - Versa Color Evergreen & Raspberry; Brilliance Rocket Red); Holly Stamp from Rubber Bandit; Tree Swirl unknown; Kindy Glitz Hot Pink; Bling; Crop-o-dile.

Christmas Craft Challenge - Day 5

These two items follow on from yesterdays. A little simplier and easy for the kids to make though they may need a hand with the sewing. Relatively quick to make (though would've been quicker with less interruptions lol).

Felt; Embroidery Thread, Stuff It Polyester Fibre; Sequins; Seed Beads

Christmas Craft Challenge - Day 4

OK I'm a little bit late today (cos it's now tomorrow) but I have a really good excuse... honest!!! I was having a slight problem getting the beads to cooperate with the needle and thread... that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it!!!

Today's ornament was based on an article in the December 2009 issue of Better Homes & Gardens. There are some more due as Christmas Craft Challenge items also from this article, however as usual tonight's item is only "loosely" based on the article as we all know I can't follow instructions.

I also have to confess that I was in need of some bling in my life, though maybe I did go a tad OTT, but then what is Christmas without bling or at least something pretty and shiny.

I do have to also say that hand sewing all the sequins and beads on reminded me of many years ago when my sister Keryn and I used to dance competitively (Tap & Jazz) and all the hours we spent in hand sewing all the beads and sequins onto costumes, even my father was known to have picked up a needle in desparation. Ahhh thank you for allowing me to indulge in the nostalgia trip.



Heart Ornament

Felt; Stuff It Polyester Fibre; Embroidery Thread; Seed Beads; Teardrop Beads; Sequins

Christmas Craft Challenge - Day 3

Those of you who know me well (or even slightly) know that I couldn't follow a recipe if my life depended upon it. Nor could I scraplift anything exactly. I always have to add my own little touches.

Today's Christmas Craft Challenge was supposed to be just one item, but I had so much fun gluing and painting popsicle sticks that I ended up making three items, two of one design just different colour ways. I will just have to find another craft item for whatever day the second item was supposed to be for. Never mind... it was fun and really simple if you have kids that you want to try something crafty with.

Why the mention of recipes above? For the Christmas Trees... I looked at the pictures, looked at what I had in my stash (the second part of this challenge is for me to buy as little as possible and try to instead rely on whatever I can find in my some what substantial stash of bits and bobs) and then basically I winged it and just followed the intention of the original craft recipe. I have included the links if you want to try either of these crafts your own way, or you can be like me and take a quick gander at the pics and then do whatever takes your fancy.

Classic Sled

Popsicle sticks, Glue Gun, Tombow Multi Liquid Glue, Pebbles Inc Paint, Cord, Breezy Designs Rub-ons, Rhinestones, Luminere Paint & Zig Writer

Christmas Trees

 

Popsicle sticks, Craft sticks, Pebbles Inc Paint, Glue Gun, Craftworks Pre-made Jungle Bows, KaiserCraft Glue Dots, Lincraft Wooden stars, KaiserCraft Rhinestones, Metallic cording

Christmas Craft Challenge - Day 2

Day 2 and I am a little more on the ball with getting the picture blogged.

Today I created some Beaded Crystal Wreaths based on a design by Susan Spatone which I found published at Crystal Wreath.

I didn't have the beads that Susan used in my stash so I made do with what I had - some tear drop beads instead. I made 2 colour variations - White/Pearl and Clear (or Aurora).

I also then made a version using a mix of white and clear Glass Chips (that's what I call them anyway).

Both are on 20 guage beading wire and have a gold ribbon bow which I tied on with the gold cording which I used to create the loop to hang it with. Very simple to make and great for the kids though watch the youngsters with the small beads as they are quite tempting to push into strange and unusal places.

I also then made a Pacifica version to reflect our heritage and Summer Christmas here in New Zealand.

It is made of shells, seed beads and metal charms though is otherwise constructed in a similar manner to the above wreaths.

Christmas Craft Challenge - Day 1

So much for the first say of Summer!!! I think the snow on this would almost have been more accurate.

Although this took more than a day to get done it still was always destined to be my first day's creation. What is Christmas without an Advent Calendar???

 

This is the Tiddleybitz "MDF Advent Calender House"

Cardstock & paper by Breezy Designs; "Fruitcake" Alphabet by Basic Grey; Rub-ons, stickers, epoxy numbers - various; Cotton Wool; Felt; Embroidery Thread; Gesso; Tombow Multi Adhesive; Christmas Light Charms - unknown. Oh and lollies!!!!!

Can't wait to see what everyone has created.

Thanks Paula