Paper snowflakes
By Belinda Graham
To make paper snowflakes you'll need:
- Paper (plain white A4, coloured or patterned - it's up to you)
- Scissors
Step one
Cut an A4 size sheet into a square by folding a corner into a triangle and cutting off the excess rectangle. You can use the leftover strip to make smaller snowflakes.
Step two
Fold the triangle in half to make a smaller triangle.
Step three
Keep the 'open' end of the triangle to the left and the main fold on your right. Then visually divide the triangle into thirds. Fold the right-hand side down so the bottom right corner is poking down below the bottom of the triangle.
Step four
Fold the left hand side over on top of the other side so it resembles an arrow head.
Step five
Turn over to reveal a straight line across the top of the smaller triangles. Cut along this line to even it off.
Step six
Cut shapes into both sides of the triangle and unfold to reveal your shape!
Note: This cut (with the main fold on the right-hand side and the 'open' side on the left) makes the large six-pointed star in the centre of the main image.
Wall advent calendar
By Belinda Graham
With a couple of hours, a few crafty supplies and a little creativity, you'll have a unique count-down calendar that doubles as a Chrissy decoration. And it's totally up to you what little gift you put inside (although, to be honest, you're quite space-limited!).
These ones were stuck to the wall in a Christmas tree shape with enough room in-between each box to slide open the 'drawer' to find a surprise tiny tree ornament inside. You could fill with little notes or wishes, jokes, lollies, choccies, small gifts or coins.
You'll need
- 24 papier mache boxes (come in packs of six from Spotlight), small gift boxes or mini cereal boxes
- Scrapbooking paper
- Ribbons
- Rub-ons - from Kmart or craft stores like Spotlight
- Buttons
- A white gel pen
- Other crafty supplies - glitter, cutters, confetti, cut-outs. You're limited by your imagination.
1. Equipment needed 2. Date boxes, decorate and fill with small gift
3. Use removable tape to fix the boxes to the wall in a Christmas tree shape
Step one
Work out a pattern on the floor - the boxes in this formation were mixed up between vertical and horizontal for interest and more flexibility in the decorations on the front.
Step two
Now get decorating! Vary using rub-ons and your own handwriting to date the boxes and use a similar colourway on all boxes in a range of different materials for a cohesive look.
Step three
Once done, fill the boxes and stick to the wall with 3M removable tape and enjoy the nightly countdown ritual!
Santa sack
By Belinda Graham
Did you know that you can easily turn your child's artwork into a T-shirt, cushion or for a little festive flavour a Santa sack? It's easy peasy and is a nice personal touch under the Christmas tree. Get your child to draw a Christmassy image – a tree, Santa himself or a reindeer as Zak did here and then transfer it to fabric with this magic paper.
You'll need- Inspired White T-Shirt Projects A4 Transfers, from Spotlight and Lincraft stores
- An image. If you have Photoshop and are able to delete the background, any image is fine. Otherwise try creating a border around the image or drawing on a coloured background so the transfer surround won't show up.
- Fabric: if you are unable to make a sack yourself, try using a plain pillow case. If you're making from scratch, Duck cotton has a great thickness and feel to it. (see making sack instructions below)
- String or ribbon to tie around the filled-up sack
1. Print image onto transfer paper and cut out 2. Place image face-down on fabric and fix in place with hot iron 3. Carefully peel transfer paper off
Step one
Scan or photograph the image (in natural light, without a flash, straight from above) and open it in a picture editing program on your computer.
Step two
Crop the image until you're happy with it and play around with the size. Do a print test for size on plain paper.
Step three
Once you've got the right size, print onto the transfer paper. Wait for it to dry for 30 minutes.
Step four
Cut around the image - curves are best to avoid peeling. If the picture is on coloured paper, cut it into a square or circle with the image in the centre. If it's on white, follow the shape of the picture.
Step five
Place the image face down in place on your sack and use a hot iron over it. Follow the instructions carefully on the transfer paper packet as different sizes require different times.
Step six
Peel away, stuff the sack and tie with a bit of string!
To make the sack from scratch
Step one
Cut your fabric into one large rectangle 60cm by 45cm and fold width ways with right sides together so you have the correct size of the sack.
Step two
Use a sewing machine to stitch along two open sides in an L-shape, leaving the one 45cm-side unstitched as the sack's top.
Step three
Fold the top over twice and stitch all the way around to create a neat seam at the opening.
Step four
Turn inside out and apply the transfer (as above).
Homemade bath bombs
By Lana Hallowes
Handmade gifts are so much better than bought ones - just the same as your kids' handwritten cards (the ones that are full of adorable spelling mistakes) beat bought ones any day! Make your own bath bombs as gifts for friends with this too-easy recipe.
You'll need:
- 1 1/2 cups bicarbonate of soda
- 1/2 cup citric acid powder (use fine grade, available from chemists or pool supply shops)
- Sieve
- Potpourri or herbal teabags such as chamomile, lemon, rosehip or peppermint
- An essential oil such as peppermint, lavender, geranium
- Sweet almond oil (from chemists)
- Food colouring
- Rubber gloves
- Moulds from craft shops
Step 1
To make the base mix: sieve the bicarb soda and citric acid powder into a large dry mixing bowl. This will make enough for four bath bombs.
Step 2
To make one bath bomb, transfer 1/2 cup of the base mix into a medium bowl and stir in the contents of a herbal teabag or other dry ingredient such as potpourri. Set aside.
Step 3
In a small bowl, combine 6 drops of essential oil of your choice, 1/2 teaspoon of sweet almond oil and 8 to 12 drops of food colouring - or until your desired colour is reached.
Pour this mixture into the bowl containing the 1/2 cup of base mix and stir quickly with a teaspoon so things don't start fizzing!
Step 4
Wearing rubber gloves, continue to combine the ingredients with your fingertips until it starts to clump together when compressed in your hand. It's essential you do this with your fingertips, not a spoon, so the liquid is distributed evenly. The mix is now ready to go into a mould.
Step 5
Wipe a little sweet almond oil inside the mould.
Fill the mould with the mixture, packing it in firmly.
Make the other bath bombs with the remaining mixture, working with 1/2 cup at a time.
Leave the bath bombs in their moulds to set for at least 24 hours (36 hours is even better).
After they have set, turn each mould over and bang it firmly once on a flat surface, then gently ease out the bath bombs
Tips
- According to aromatherapy, different essential oils have different effects - lavender brings a sense of calm and comfort; peppermint re-energises the body and clears the mind; and geranium uplifts both mind and spirit.
- To make sure your bath bombs are easy to remove, stick to simple moulds such as ball, heart and star shapes.
- To give your bombs a pretty, textured look, sprinkle extra herbal tea or potpourri into the moulds before you press in the mix.
- Wrap individual bath bombs in clear cellophane and tie with a pretty ribbon to give as gifts. Craft supply shops also sell various vessels such as wooden boxes that you can place the bath bombs in cushioned with raffia. You can also buy decorative noodle boxes from $2 shops that make a cute gift wrapping idea.
Remember, hot water activates the fizz in the bombs - cold water doesn't work.
Stencilled tote bags
By Belinda Graham
As green bags (and all the colours of the rainbow for that matter) take over grocery stores and sometimes, general shopping it'd be nice to see something a little more stylish on the shoulders of supermarket shoppers every now and then. Enter the classic calico tote, a little freezer paper, paint and a simple idea. These flashcard-style bags are sweet, personalised gifts for just about everyone kids as library bags, the store-owner as a bank bag, your mum as a shopping bag. And of course, it's not limited to a letter and matching motif spell out the recipient's name, design your own pattern or just use a cool graphic alone. Or stencil a T-shirt, tea towel, cushion...Easy peasy!
You'll need:
- A tote bag. These were made by hand, but Lincraft have plain calico bags for around $1.50.
- Paint. Acrylic is fine to use, but if you use on a T-shirt or something that will be washed regularly, fabric paint would be better.
- Paintbrush
- Scalpel
- Cutting mat: a chopping board does the same thing if you don't have one
- Printout stencil template: use Word for letters and Google images for silhouette shapes of your choice. Simple shapes are best...less cutting required
- Freezer paper. It needs to be freezer paper for the paper to stick. Spotlight sell Reynold's Freezer Paper by the metre ($1.50 per metre) or by the roll ($18).
- An iron and ironing board
1. Equipment 2. Position a sheet of freezer paper over paper stencil and cut out 3. Place the waxy side of the freezer paper on the fabric and iron into place 4. Using fabric paint, fill in stencil
Step one
Tape a piece of freezer paper waxy-side down over the top of the stencil and cut it out with a scalpel. You could also trace the letter or image onto the freezer paper first and then cut the pencil outline. Keep all smaller, interal cut-outs such as the circle in a b or o.
Step two
With the iron set on hot, put your main freezer-paper stencil into place waxy-side down - on the bag and iron over it. The wax will gently melt onto the bag to create a seamless stencil. Now iron any insert cut-outs or smaller stencils into place. Slip another piece of freezer paper into the bag with the waxy side on the back-side of the area you're stenciling and iron. This will create a seal that will avoid the paint bleeding.
Step three
Paint the exposed area in the colour of your choice and leave overnight to dry or in the sun for several hours. Check fabric paint for specific instructions.
Step four
Gently peel away the stencil...it will remove easily.
Again, I could go on forever with these beautiful and simple Christmas crafts, but I only picked my favourites. If you would like to check other equally easy and creative projects please visit www.kidspot.com.au.
The Book Depository stocks an amazing collection of Christmas Craft ideas books, here is a short preview:
Homemade Christmas and Festive Decorations: 25 Home Craft Projects (Paperback)
Add a touch of personality and creativity to your home with projects for Christmas, Easter, Halloween, Valentine's and birthdays. Complete with step-by-step instructions and beautiful photography, learn to make extra special festive decorations - such as a birthday pinata, knitted angels, fragrant rose petal stuffed hearts or an Easter tree. Shop-bought decorations just can't compare! 25 fun and simple projects to make, perfect for beginners. Complete with patterns, and knitting, sewing and craft basics. Includes a directory of suppliers and resources The content of this book is adapted from Homemade by Ros Badger and Elspeth Thompson, first published by Collins in 2009.
Christmas Make and Do: Craft Ideas Inspired by the Story of the First Christmas (Bible Make and Do)(Paperback)
Lets you make cards and wrapping paper, decorations, an advent calendar and the nativity tableau. This title features practical step-by-step craft ideas to keep children busy in Advent while teaching them the story and meaning of the events of the First Christmas. It emphasizes on using inexpensive materials and equipment, where possible.
Cookie Craft Christmas: Dozens of Decorating Ideas for a Sweet Holiday (Hardback)
Make every Christmas a cookie craft Christmas! The holidays offer just the right combination of cold weather and family togetherness for cookie crafters to elevate their skills to show stopping new heights. With more than 60 new Christmas cookie designs, along with festive New Year's cookies and lovely Hanukkah treats, "Cookie Craft Christmas" delivers colorful inspiration to cookie decorators just when they need it most. Each spread features a full-page, close-up photograph of one cookie cutter shape with detailed decorating instructions on the facing page. Some pages feature one gloriously decorated cookie, while others might feature two or three interpretations of the same shape - ornaments in complementary colors, Christmas trees decorated in varying styles or gingerbread men wearing a rainbow of colors and patterns. Decorating instructions are as simple as tinting cookie dough green before baking Christmas trees or as intricate as piping hair on a gingerbread grandma, creating a frilly pattern for her apron, and decorating her dress using a pretty feathering technique. Techniques are described in full in a Decorating Glossary, and cookie and icing recipes are included. Fresh inspiration and fabulous decorating ideas fill the pages of this handy little source book. It's the perfect gift for anyone who has ever picked up a pastry bag.
The Christmas Craft Book (Paperback)
Simply made decorations for home or school are an absorbing way for children to become involved in the celebration of Advent and Christmas. Parents, teachers and children will quickly learn to make crib figures, candles, lanterns, angels, Advent calendars and a variety of Christmas tree decorations. The projects are all described and fully illustrated with diagrams and colour photographs.
The Advent Craft and Activity Book: Stories, Crafts, Recipes and Poems for the Christmas Season(Paperback)
This practical, fully illustrated book includes creative suggestions for each day from December 1 through to Christmas and Epiphany, based on the Christian traditions of this festive period. The book is inspired by German Christmas traditions, and the crafts, activities and stories all have a wonderful German flavour. Learn how to bake delicious German biscuits and Stollen, make your own advent calendars and Christmas decorations, and find out more about legendary figures such as St Nicholas. This is a fabulous resource for keeping children engaged and involved with celebrations throughout the Christmas season.
'Tis the season to make felt crafts-fa, la la la la! These 45 festive Christmas projects will bring joy to crafters everywhere. Created by successful online designers from around the world, the adorable items range from a sweet garland of little birds to super-cute matryoshka doll ornaments. All can be made with simple sewing techniques and there are both no-sew and eco-smart options, too. Both indie and mainstream crafters will love these fresh new ideas!
Messy Christmas: 3 Complete Sessions and a Treasure Trove of Craft Ideas for Advent, Christmas and Epiphany(Paperback)
Building on the popularity of Messy Crafts, this title extends the range of messy things to do at your Messy Church with a particular focus on the Christmas season. It includes crafts for Advent, crafts for Christmas and more general winter-themed activities to take you on into the New Year.http://www.bookdepository.com/?a_aid=pinkacquarius
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