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2014 Last post - Corsages and what to bring

Making Holiday Corsages

One of our goals for Saturday is to make holiday corsages for Joy's House to be worn by the staff or given away to guests - however they choose to do it.  I'm thinking that a vintage feel would be great for some because of the age of many of the guests.  Check out some images I found on the web below.  I'm especially loving http://www.vintagecorsage.com/ the most.

Kitsch and Glitz

We are going to use up stuff and make them Merry and Bright!  Ho Ho Ho!

What to Bring:

Everybody definitely:

• sharp scissors for fabric
• scissors for cutting metallic tape (might get sticky)
• box or box lid to keep projects in
• donation for Joy's House
• drink or appetizer or dessert

If you have it:

• embroidery needles with large eyes (sharp needles)
• yarn needles
• felted wool to share
• cutter quilt to share
• chipboard (cardboard) from recycling
• white yarn to share
• metallic papers
• floral tape
• needle nose pliers
• ribbon for corsages
• leftover floral stuff and tinsel and stuff for corsages

There you have it!  See you soon!

2014 - Garlands, Garlands, Garlands -- Part 3

Bring on the wool felt

Thin strip garland:
Thin strips of wool pinched in the middle and threaded together tightly.  Very colorful and fluffy.  Spotted last year on the Anthropologie website.

Sweater Star garland:  3 in stars cut from felted wool and strung together with yarn or thread.  I love how they hang from their points.  These pictures are from Little Leaf Boutique on Etsy.

Confetti Garland:  These wool pieces are cut from strips and sewn straight up the middle for a simple and colorful result.  This is a great and simple idea from Purlbee.































ok - one more post to go.  Party in 2 days - who's ready?  not me, not yet.

2014 - Garlands, Garlands, Garlands - Part 2

Project #3 - It's soooooo fluffy!!!!!!!  White Yarn Pom-poms

They are like a cross between snowflakes and snowballs and they won't melt. And you can use all kinds of different white yarn.  And of course we can string them together with some red and white baker's twine to make a garland.

Plus once you learn how to do it, making yarn pom-poms is fun for all kinds of projects.

This video below has been me all week.  Well first part is really my youngest son - but the rest is definitely me.

Or you can make a bucket full and use them for indoor snowball fights:
link here:       http://mollymoocrafts.com/pom-pom-snowballs/

Or just make a few smaller ones to hang on the tree:

And then there's this variation with.......

Project #3.1  - Pom-pom and Paper Straw Garland

This is super fun and easy.  HINT:  great craft to do with your kids if you can trust them with a needle and thread.

Check out the picture below from the original post that inspired my attempt.  So colorful and the black and white straws do tie all those colors together.  Check out the link here:  http://www.auntpeaches.com/2013/12/pom-pom-garland.html

So what to bring:

• Sharp scissors (put your name on them).
• Material (cutter quilts, felted wool, fancy metallic papers) to share.
• Favorite sharp embroidery needle with large eye.
• Some chip board (cereal box type cardboard) - It should be thin enough to cut or punch fairly easily.  And I love you all, but don't bring me all your recycling.
• Something to keep your projects in------- like a copy paper box lid, shoe box, or something.
• Leftover white yarn to share.  Or if you want a different color of yarn pom-pom - bring the yarn.

One more post still to come.  Ready to get your craft on?????

2014 - Garlands, Garlands, Garlands Part 1

Nothing like waiting until the last minute.  Who's ready for Saturday?

Here we go - I love these.

Mini Pennant Garlands  - Project #1

Remember the cutter quilts we used last year to make ornaments?  Now we are making the cutest mini pennants.

Or how about one of our favorites - recycled felted sweater wool?!!!!!!

Or for some sparkle and minimalist elegance - we have another made from metallic wall paper samples.  Oh la la!  Pass the champagne - we are ready to party.

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Depending on what colors you choose these could be used for all kinds of party events and fun home decor.  But as always - your choice.


Silver Embossed Garland - Project #2

SHINY!

This garland is going to give a dramatic reflective effect to the lights on the tree.  Plus it's just fun to make.  We are using the shiny aluminum duct tape from the hardware store with some recycled chip board (cereal box cardboard) to custom make this garland.  Plus you can press in all kinds of cute designs or letters to spell out words etc. with a ball point pen or pencil.  Can't wait to see all the creativity on this one!

I only have this one picture right now - but I think you can get the idea.

So far so good.  More to come.....................

So if you have:

• Sharp scissors -----bring it (put your name on them).
• Material (cutter quilts, felted wool, fancy metallic papers) to share----- bring it.
• Favorite sharp embroidery needle with large eye ----bring it.
• Some chip board (cereal box type cardboard) - It should be thin enough to cut or punch fairly easily ---- bring it.  And I love you all, but don't bring me all your recycling.
• Something to keep your projects in------- like a copy paper box lid, shoe box, or something.

More projects to come!!!

Getting Ready for Saturday!

So here's a wrap-up post before the party on Saturday!

Two Ornament Projects:   Vintage Inspired Bell Jar ornaments and Upcycled Quilt Ornaments

What to Bring:

        

     

• minimum $10 donation for Joy's House scholarship fund (cash or check)
• shoe box or similar to safely store creations as the glue dries or you move from room to room
• good sharp scissors for cutting shapes in quilts and regular misc.

If you already have----- this stuff can come in handy!
(if not - don't worry - you can borrow from me or some other nice person)

• sharp embroidery needles, thimble, needle threader - whatever you use
• I pack a tool caddy full of my general crafting tools - various scissors, exacto knife, needle nose or jewelry pliers, wire cutters, straight edge, tweezers, bone folder, a few small artist brushes, foam brushes...

Will supply plenty of:

• glue
• decorative papers and chipboard and old cards to recycle
• rick rack trim for bell jars
• plastic bell jars with beads for the top
• glitter (various)
• letter beads and various beads
• tiny pine cones
• white craft paint (for snow scenes)
• epsom salt for snow inside the bell jars
• templates for tiny houses
• templates for tiny cone trees
• templates for quilt ornaments
• tiny seed beads for quilt ornaments
• newer buttons for quilt ornaments
• 3 different old damaged quilts
• kitchen twine
• embroidery thread
• toothpicks - for applying glue to small things
• wild assortment of trinkets and stuff to make scenes

Check out just some of the fun stuff in store for you :)

If you can donate or share- 

• buttons
• embroidery thread
• little holiday trinkets or mini bottle brush trees
• old Christmas cards to recycle

Finally, there will be food and snacks provided - if you would like to bring an appetizer or cookies or something that is much appreciated!

BYOB - Bring your own beverage if you have something special you would like.

And remember this party is generally for those over 21 years of age as alcoholic drinks will be present.

2013 - Party Project #2 - Ready to Recycle

We are taking a break from recycling felted wool sweaters this year - but don't freak out.....this is still a recycling/salvage project.





INSTEAD-------
Think Anthropologie-esque.  (that's a store, it's not misspelled ;)

My friend, Dede, started it by asking "What can I make out of this damaged quilt my grandmother made?"

So old, beat up, damaged quilts it is!!!!!!! I finally located and purchased two.  This one on ebay (complete with vintage staining :) is old, old, old.

this snow white one that's unraveling- thanks to Amy B.

Remember now - think Anthropologie- esque

We are cutting them up - a little bit of embroidery stitching, a nice button, a little kitchen twine and

VOILA!

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black thread, vintage button, interesting intersection of fabrics

rips and tears with vintage buttons

green thread on left, red thread on right

very  pale blue on top, tiny red dots on bottom, red thread and old button

medium blue on top, pale blue to right bottom and white with pale red pattern on left bottom, blue thread and old button

Tree shapes so far, maybe mittens, stocking, and/or heart shapes are in our future too?  Or make a bunch and string together for a garland?  As long as we cut carefully, these quilts will provide a large number of ornaments.


So what to bring for project #2:

• sharp scissors (cutting through layers of fabric here)
• your own sharp embroidery needle if you have it (needle threader, thimble - whatever you like to use)
• only if you have them:  buttons or an old damaged quilt would look good cut up and turned into ornaments

 

That's all for now - I will probably do one more summary post before the party.  Can't wait to see you all there!!!!

Project #1 more Pics!!!!!

Okay - I can't stop myself!  there are so many possibilities for these bell jar ornaments!!!!!

Here are a couple with no snow:

Tree with seed bead ornaments (I had to use tweezers) some presents under the tree and cutey red polka dots even on the rickrack.

So elegant - silver bead ornaments on the bottle brush tree, tiny silver glittered pine cones and Joyeux Noel spelled out in the letter beads and threaded on jute twine with some baby silver rickrack.  I have plenty of tiny pine cones and a big bag of letter beads.

How about something a little more modern and minimalist?  

Remember our cone trees from last year?  I used my shrink ray and how cute are these mini ones?  The words on the wire spell "winter hush" and the colors are green and aqua.  No need for vintage shopping on this one.  

Tiny house made from winter village greeting card with a sprinkle of flaky glitter on the roof, tiny bottle brush tree also with flaky glitter, a sprinkle of snow and baby white rick rack- so simple

This house had birch tree themed designed I embellished with some diamond dust accents on the roof, tiny white tree ---- lovely.

Now for something completely different.......

T-Rex with a Santa hat getting ready for a bummer of an ice age.

Stegosaurus has his Santa hat and some glittery foliage to eat - she is bringing the bling with red glitter.

Ha Ha - the ideas just keep coming!!!! I can't wait to see what you all make!!

Craft Party 2013 - Project #1

Party on craft peeps!  December 2013 is almost upon us .......... so that means it's time to get your crafty on!

This first project I have chosen for the craft party seriously needs a drum roll.

Ashlee at My So Called Crafty Life IS.....(wait for it)..........a genius....

Of course I found this on Pinterest a while ago and it was love at first site.  This project immediately reminded me of some ornaments Grandma Frances had on her tree that I swear she made out of empty clear pill bottles (she worked in a doctor's office).  If you are veteran of the craft party - then you know I love kitsch and I love little scenes (like the box dioramas, little cardboard houses, and little matchbox hidden compartment ornaments - all from craft parties past).

In fact as I finished assembling the first of these beta tester sample ornaments with my good friend, Gretchen, we could hardly stand it ........BECAUSE THEY ARE SO STINKING CUTE!!!!!!

And the best part is you can customize it to what YOU like.  These samples below are very retro and kitschy but I am also working on some more modern clean lines and more traditional vintage.  I'm officially addicted.

So without further ado,  here you have it-
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Vintage Inspired Bell Jar Ornaments 
- from Ashlee's DIY instructions at My So Called Crafty Life (click on that link to see her original versions)

so I am busy collecting cute little stuff for you to use - but remember if you really want something really specific...........bring it.  Etsy is a great place to check for specific vintage miniatures.  Lots of these are vintage cupcake picks.  And if you have extra to share, we will have a sharing table.

I had my mom over last week to beta test this project and check out this cute little carousel inspired ornament with tiny  little carousel animals she had.  Don't you just love the red and white stripes and polka dots!

But fear not on the supply front, there will be all kinds of options from new materials as well as the vintage stuff we can scrounge up.  This is also a great way to showcase a small special ornament or random piece that you may already have.  Check the bottom of the kid's toy bins for little stuff that might work - you can always bling it up with some glitter (like that year we glittered the plastic animals a la Martha!!!!).  Also think small stuff here - 1-2 inches small.  Like little green army man small...

So, what to bring for this ornament?  Glad you asked.   

• Your own good pair of scissors and because we will be working with little stuff if you have a pair of tweezers that might come in handy.
• a shoe box to put your finished crafts in so they can dry undisturbed and you can easily cart them around

Optional:

• specific stuff  - only if you want - we will have stuff here too - for miniatures think small like 1-2 in.
• if you have anything to share or donate- like miniatures to go inside (totally not required)
• I like to bring my own caddy of tools -like multiple sized scissors, wire cutters, needle nosed pliers, tweezers, bone folder, straight edge, small paint brush, and random stuff.  That's just how I roll.

I just made another batch of more traditional, elegant, modern ones - waiting for the glue to dry and I will take some pictures and post.  Until then...