Category Archives: Christmas

Necktie Angel-Tutorial

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During my thrifty shopping adventures at yard sales, thrift stores and auctions, I often come across bags or boxes of old neckties. Most people aren’t interested in these offerings, which is why the prices are usually dirt cheap. I, on the other hand, am not one of those people who can pass up the sampling of beautiful fabrics, designs and textures. They have to come home with me. My latest score of neckties inspired this necktie angel. It works up very quickly.

Things You Will Need:

Old necktie
Measuring tape
Scissors
Needle and thread
Stuffing
Hot glue gun
1 1/2-inch wooden ball
Blonde curly craft hair
1-inch-wide gathered crochet lace
6-inch round doily
Spray starch
Iron
1/4-inch-wide ribbon
Fishing line

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Step 1
Measure up 10 inches from the front tip of the necktie and cut across the width. You will not need the rest of the tie for this project. Turn the necktie end with the back facing up. Hand sew the flaps of the open end to the lining and along the unstitched edges of the center seam. You want to create a pocket with an opening along the top. Do not stitch the front of the tie to the back.

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Step 2
Fill the tube of the necktie with stuffing. This will fill out the tie to create the body and gown of the angel. Fold the top, open end 1/4 inch to the inside of the tie. Sew a running stitch around the folded opening. Gather the opening closed. Knot and cut the thread. This end is the neck of the angel.

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Step 3
Apply hot glue to the top of the neck. Place a 1 1/2-inch wooden ball over the glue. Hold the ball in place until the glue has cooled.

Step 4
Apply hot glue to the side, top and back of the head. Arrange curly blonde craft hair on the head. Trim and style the hair as desired.

Step 5
Cut a 6-inch length from 1-inch-wide gathered, crocheted lace. Sew a running stitch along the gathered edge of the lace. Wrap the lace around the neck of the angel. Gather the lace and stitch the ends together at the back of the angel.

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Step 6
Stiffen a 6-inch round doily using spray starch and an iron. Sew a running stitch across the center of the doily. Pull the thread to gather the center of the doily. This will form wings on each side of the gathered center. Knot and cut the thread.

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Step 7
Apply glue to the gathered center on one side of the wings. Place the center of the wings on the back of the neck.

Step 8
Cut a 10-inch length from 1/4-inch-wide ribbon. Tie the ribbon into a bow. Apply hot glue to the back of the knot. Place the bow on the center, front of the angel, just below the head.

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Step 9
Cut a 4-inch length from a white and gold pipe cleaner. Form the length into a ring. Twist the ends together. Apply hot glue to the halo and place on top of the head.

Step 10
Cut a 12-inch length of fishing line. Thread one end in a needle. Insert the needle through the neck from one side of the head to the other. Adjust the fishing line so that an equal amount of the line is extending from each side of the head. Bring the ends together. Tie the ends together using an overhand knot. This is your hanger.

Easy Peasy! Now…get your groove on. You still have a week.

Polka Dotted Pony-Tutorial

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This little rocking horse was first pictured in my post on the Sorority Craft Show last month.

I decided with Christmas coming on strong, I would show how it was transformed from junk into the polka dotted pony. This pony sold quickly at that same show. I’m hoping some small child will be captivated by it on Christmas morning.

My kids are no longer little, but I still can’t pass up a wooden rocking horse at a yard sale. They can usually be restyled quite quickly, and they sell really well at craft sales. This rocking horse was quickly transformed into a pearled polka dot pony in just a few hours. It needed a few minor repairs, but nothing a little tender loving care couldn’t fix.

Things You Will Need:

Wooden rocking horse
Optional tools for repairs
Acrylic latex paint for the body
Paintbrush
Card stock
Cricut Expression, or penny and small scissors
Stencil brush
Acrylic latex paint for the polka dots
White, metallic, pearl paint
Water

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Step 1
Make any repairs needed on your horse. My horse had a broken hand grip, loose head and a large chip on one of the rockers. It had also been previously painted with a dimensional paint. The handle grip was originally quite long. I simply cut it down, repositioned it and glued it in place using wood glue. I think the new length is perfect. The head was held on by screws. I removed the screws and added wood glue between the connecting points. The screws were then reattached. Once dry, the head didn’t budge. The chip was filled with wood putty and sanded. Once painted, I couldn’t see the fix at all. Lastly, I used a palm sander to remove all the raised paint details of the horse’s previous life. I also sanded off the eyes and a child’s name so that they wouldn’t shadow through the new paint job.

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Step 2
Choose your paint color for the pony’s new body. I used a lime green wall paint that I picked up at a yard sale. The paint was a little bright, but I planned on toning it down before I was through. Two coats were plenty to achieve complete coverage. Depending on what paint you use, you may need more or less.

Step 3
Make a 3/4-inch circle stencil using card stock. I cut my stencil using my Cricut Expression, but you could trace a penny on card stock and cut out the center.

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Step 4
Randomly stencil polka dots on the horse head, seat and outside edges of the rocker using the stencil and a contrasting acrylic paint. I used brown acrylic paint for my polka dots. Allow the paint to dry.

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Step 5
Thin white, metallic, pearl paint with water. Paint the entire surface of the pony. This will lighten your base coat and polka dots, seal your surface, and provide a dreamy pearl finish to your pony.

Most any wooden rocking horse will work with this paint project. For that matter, any old wooden toy or previously loved wooden furnishing could be restyled in the same way. Note: If your horse has reins or a cloth mane and tail, you will want to remove them. You may find that your horse doesn’t need them after all. If you don’t plan on reattaching them, fill the tack or screw holes with wood putty before painting.

Crocheted Infinity Scarf Pattern-Etsy

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Crocheted Infinity Scarf Pattern

I’m really behind on everything Christmas. In fact, I finally got all most of my decorating done today! That’s right folks. 10 days before Christmas! I’ve made an itty bitty dent at a couple batches of cookies, but even one of those batches was embarrassingly simple. When your teenager belongs to every school club under the sun, you end up purchasing unneeded and overpriced items from fundraisers. I ended up with a $16 box of cookie dough that only made about four dozen cookies. Correction. I didn’t even form the cookies. They were already shaped into patties. All I had to do was throw them on the cookie sheet, put them in the oven and set the timer. Easy peasy. But $16?! Come on!! Needless to say, we are rationing those puppies.

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Crocheted Infinity Scarf Pattern

By now you’re probably wondering what that has to do with the title of this post. Well, nothing really…except that I also like to make Christmas gifts. Go figure.

I need to actually shop. I went out after Thanksgiving and made a start. I also did a tiny bit last week, but since life has just gotten in the way, I’ve tried to steal a few minutes here and there to craft a few gifts.

That’s FINALLY what this post is about. The new pattern I just placed in my store on Etsy. It’s a Crocheted Infinity Scarf pattern that utilizes the granny stitch. Shhh! The finished scarves I have made are Christmas gifts.

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 Crocheted Infinity Scarf

So, just in case you missed my shameless plugs throughout this post, click on any of the titles below the photos to get to my store and the pattern listing. It’s only $1. But that’s not all.  I also have a freebie crochet pattern for lacy wrist warmers that was just published.

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 Crocheted Lacy Wrist Warmers

So, click on the scarf titles to purchase the pattern, and click on the wrist warmer title to grab a freebie pattern. The two pieces together will be a beautiful and thoughtful gift set.

Santa’s Union Suit Tutorial and Pattern

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Christmas is fast approaching, so I wanted to share my Santa’s Union Suit Pattern. A few weeks ago I posted that I was making them for a craft show, but they are so stinking cute and quick to make, I thought I’d post the instructions.

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Do you need a cute treat bag for a school party, or a small gift bag for something bright and shiny that also does double-duty as a tree ornament? Whip up a bunch of miniature Santa union suits to bring smiles to all who receive one.

Things You Will Need:

Printer
Card stock
Scissors
Red flannel or felt
Marking pen
Ruler
Sewing machine
Straight pins
1/4-inch-wide red ribbon
4 small, white buttons
Craft glue

Print the PDF pattern on card stock and cut out.

union Pattern PDF

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Step 1
Trace one suit pattern and one flap circle onto red flannel or felt and cut out. The suit shape is the back of the suit. Measure down 3 inches from the center of the neckline. Cut a 2 1/2-inch horizontal slit centered between the sides of the suit. Fold the circle in half. Sew around the curve of the half circle 1/4 inch from the edge.

Step 2
Pin the folded edge of the flap just above the slit on the suit. Sew along the folded edge 1/4 inch from the edge.

Step 3
Pin the back of the suit to more red fabric with the flap facing up. Cut a 5-inch length of 1/4-inch-wide red ribbon. Fold the ribbon in half with the cut ends together. Place the cut ends under one shoulder of the suit and pin to secure.

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Step 4
Sew around the suit along all edges, 1/4 inch from the edge. Using the attached shape of the suit as your guide, cut out the stitched suit. Do not cut off the ribbon. Your suit is now constructed. The slit under the flap is your only opening.

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Step 5
Use craft glue to attach two small, white buttons down the front of the suit and two white buttons to each top corner of the back flap.

Fill with candies and enjoy!

 

Winter Wonders & Holiday Happenings
shabby creek cottage
{Primp}

Christmas Stockings from Old Sweaters-Tutorial

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When I see old sweaters at yard sales I have to buy them. The fact that yard sales in my area are often held when the temperature is over 100 means sweaters are practically given away. These sweaters are a cheap craft resource for holiday crafts. In my opinion, this Christmas stocking design looks much more upscale than the original sweater it came from. Can’t you just see a bunch of these hanging over a cabin fireplace, or down the rail of a pine garland clad staircase? Depending on the size of the sweater and the size of your stocking pattern, you should be able to get at least two stockings from each sweater. Three, if you open the sleeves and use the cuffs as the top edge.

Things You Will Need:

Adult-size sweater
Stocking pattern
Straight pins
Scissors
Sewing machine
Iron
Measuring tape
Rickrack
2-inch pompoms (two)
Hot glue gun

Step 1
Turn an adult-size sweater wrong side out and lay it on your work surface. Align the bottom edges of the sweater. Place an existing Christmas stocking, or a paper stocking pattern on the sweater. Align the top edge of the stocking shape (pattern) with the bottom edges of the stocking. Pin the pattern through both layers of the sweater. Cut around the pattern. Note: The top of the stocking (bottom edge of the sweater) is not to be cut. It will be the finished edge for the the top opening of the stocking.

Step 2
Remove the pattern. Pin the side and bottom edges of the sweater stocking shape together. Sew the pinned edges using a straight stitch and a 1/4-inch seam allowance. Sew around the edges once again using a zigzag stitch on the seam allowance. This will finish the raw edges and prevent the knitted stitches from unraveling. Turn the stocking right side out. Press the seams with a warm iron.

Step 3
Lay the stocking flat on your work surface. Measure across the width of the stocking at its widest point. Double that and add 24 inches. Using your new measurement, cut a length of rickrack in a color that coordinates with your sweater.

Step 4
Measure 1 inch down from the top edge of your stocking. Starting on the front seam of the stocking and 12 inches from one end of the rickrack, pin the rickrack around the stocking. The rickrack will meet again on the front seam of the stocking. Both ends of the rickrack will have approximately 12 inches extending. These tails will be ties. Top stitch the pinned rickrack around the stocking.

Step 5
Tie the rickrack tails in a knot against the seam, then tie into a bow. Trim the tails to the desired length.

Step 6
Burrow a hole on one side of a 2-inch diameter pompom. Apply hot glue in the hole. Place one end of the rickrack in the glue. Squeeze the edges of the pompom hole around the rickrack end. Repeat with the remaining pompom and and rickrack end.

Step 7
Cut a 5-inch length of rickrack. Fold the rickrack in half, matching the two cut ends. Place the ends inside the stocking, against the back seam. Sew across the cut ends of the rickrack. This is your stocking’s hanger.

Other trims and tassels handmade with yarn could be substituted.