Monday, November 26, 2012

Candy Cane Reindeers

This is a fun craft to make with your children or in the classroom.  Candy Cane Reindeer.  This is not my idea, it was found on Pinterest.

 
I purchased a pack of chocolate and vanilla flavoured candy canes which I thought were more appropriate for children than the peppermint flavoured ones.  Tied some brown wool around the top of two candy canes and then stuck a red "Rudolph" pom pom nose and googly eyes on to finish them off.  Easy!
 
 
 
My sister was going to visit my "crafty" nieces and nephews on the weekend, so I made up some kits for them to complete these little reindeer.  I always include extra "little" bits in the kits when making them for children, just in case they drop / lose some parts.  In this case, an extra set of eyes, and 1 more pom pom nose was popped in. 
 
 
Two little 2013 diaries were transformed with a "fun" cover.  I think I need to keep this next one for myself!
 
 
Or maybe even this one?
 
 
These have been placed in a cellophane bag with a little label on the back
 
 
I think these are going to be popped into a gift bag with a gift voucher for some family members.  Just for fun!
 
I like making small fun gifts, do you?
 
Judy

Sunday, November 25, 2012

Little Christmas Gifts

A lot has been happening around my house, and unfortunately not a lot of craft ...  I am getting a new pergola floor which is the entry to the craft studio, therefore I have been unable to get into the studio.  The concrete slab is being poured on Monday, so it will be a few more days yet, although I am really looking forward to it being completed. 

I did get to finish off the Hand Santa-isers for my sister-in-law.  Eight completed.

 

Then I played with the larger sized hand sanitisers - I printed out some free Christmas sayings onto transparency plastic and inserted it into the bottle.  I like how it turned out.  Two different designs.
I removed the label from the front of the bottle, but kept the one on the back, so that recipients would know what was in the bottle.  Tied a Christmas ribbon around the top, all done!

 
 
Lastly I wrapped some purchased soap, for filler gifts.  I used goats milk soap which is fragrance free, so that it is suitable for all recipients.
 
 
Using scrapbook paper and embellishments, they now look entirely different.
 
 
Have you been making some Christmas gifts?
 
Judy

Friday, November 16, 2012

Hand Santa-tiser


 
These cute Hand Santa-tiser gifts were made from a idea I saw here.  They are so simple to make!
 
I started out with a mini bottle of hand sanitiser
 
 

 
Wrap the bottle with red cardboard and secure at the back with double sided tape.  Glue some white textured card down the front.  I had some embossed snowflake card, so I used that.
Next make Santa's belt out of black cardboard onto which you have threaded a buckle.  Secure this again at the back where it will all be covered up with a label.
 
I did take photos of these steps, however they were too bad to use, but they are not really needed.  Just by looking at the finished item you can see how to do it.
 
 
To finish off, I printed a label using a Santa clip art graphic from Microsoft Word and adhered that to the back, so it covers up all the joins from the cardboard.
 
 
 
Tie some Christmas ribbon around the neck of the bottle and cover the top of the bottle with some Christmas paper.  These have just been punched out using my 1" circle punch.
 
 
These would make great gifts for teachers or co-workers.  These three (with another three, that I have yet to make) have been ordered by my sister-in-law for her children's teachers..
 
 
Enjoy
Judy

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Me today

Image source here

Judy

Tuesday, November 06, 2012

Advent Ideas - Wrapped Mini Chocolates

I am still on a "chocolate" theme for advent gifts.  Our local dollar store had this packet of Hershey Miniatures.  There were approximately 40 mini chocolates in this pack - great value.

 
Now see what they look like, just wrapped in some pretty Christmas Scrapbook paper.  I placed three minis in a cellophane bag, and made a topper out of more scrapbook paper.  I think they look great! They needed a contrast piece of scrapbook paper behind, so that they did not look "lost" in the bag as it was not an exact fit. 
 
 
I made up all the chocolates in the pack (so that I would not be tempted to eat any, he he) into these sets.

I am not sure how many I should set aside for my friend's advent gift, but the rest will be used as extra gifts at Christmas... maybe even pop one in each of my co-workers gifts.  Another good gift idea for Teachers.
 
Now I am working some magic with this little bottle of hand sanitiser ... stay tuned
 
 
 
Judy

Saturday, November 03, 2012

Advent Ideas - Chocolate Bon Bons

I have started on the advent gifts for my friend, so hopefully over the next few days I will be able to show you what I have been making.  I know my friend visits my online store often, however I do not think she visits the blog.  Fingers crossed, that I can keep most of them a surprise for her.

I picked up three tubes of Smarties from our local discount store - they weigh 170g and measure approx 10" in length.  Only $3.00 a tube

 
I thought they would make great Christmas Chocolate Bon Bons.  So I wrapped them in Christmas scrapbook paper, then in cellophane paper.  Tied off each end with cute Christmas ribbons.  Then embellished  with things that I had on hand.
 
 
One of these will be going into into my friends Advent gifts.  One belongs to my sister, she was with me  when I purchased them, and the last one will be a spare Christmas Kris Kringle gift.
 
I have tried to take a close up photo, however as they were so long it was difficult, but hopefully you will be able to see how effective they are.
 
 
 
 
 
This would be a great idea for a Teacher gifts as well.  Quick, easy and inexpensive which we all love at this time of year. I think it is hard to find someone that does not like chocolate (I wish I didn't!)
 
Enjoy your weekend
Judy