The Simple Craft Diaries: November 2011

Friday, November 25, 2011

Anthropologie Chrysanthemum Vase Knock-off

Hi!

Browsing Anthropologie online catalog I loved this item:

Isn't to gorgeous? Not a bad price at all, but I knew I was not going to buy it in the near future anyway....

SO, when you have at home a painted milk glass exactly in this colour and some felt, a little crafty magic can happen!

I used orange felt , cut stripes in 3 different widths and then made many many vertical (oh so tiring process) cuts:

Then I started rolling the inner centre and glueing with a hot glue gun as I went. Started with the narrower strip for the centre

At the end it was like this:

Flower and vase

With the hot glue gun I then glued the flower to the vase

I Would LOOOVE to have the real one, but I am quite happy with my knock off, I am very easy to please:0)

Why I love being thrifty

Hi!

It's wonderful when you are heading south (real south, real summer time!) and for $ 8 dollars you get almost all you need!

A summer hat ( new!) and a pair of charming leather flip flops(they look like they have never been used as well!) !

H-A-P-P-Y!

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Christmas is already here for me ( well, almost), preparations are starting and the first thing I always have ready is the Advent Calendar for Sofia.
It is an envelope kind of calendar, for the rail or fireplace. I put mine in my staircase rail, I love it because it serves as a cute decoration as well:

Last year I got a Cricut from my hubby and right away put it to good use!
This year I just made a Nativity scene again, as I can not seem to find the one I used last year anywhere in my ( messy, very messy) basement.
So, here is how I did it/what I used:
(I must say that apart from the Cricut itself everything involved is cheap and easy to find, you can use what you have at home. I only used paper left overs /paper scraps.)

1. Circuit Cartridge "Winter Frolic" and a variety of card stock paper

2. Cookie Tin Box Lid

3. Moss

4. Tree sticks from the backyard

5. Hot glue gun

6. Navy blue card stock paper

7. Small white envelopes

8. Jute yarn

9. Dollar store acrylic picture frame, large

10. Dollar stars round magnets

First, I glued the blue paper to the inside face of the cookie box lid

Then I glued the moss

Now come the sticks

Stable/nativity scene almost ready

Now!

It stands upright perfectly, the way I wanted!

I am not gonna lie to you, this is the most time consuming task...cut and glue the characters. I made 25 altogether, for the 25 days of advent. At the back, each one has a small magnet

I cut the numbers in my Cricut and glued them to the envelops. Punched holes for the jute yarn and they were ready to be hang on my rail

This is how the nativity looks like after all the characters in place.

Envelops waiting for december 1st!

What we do:

Each night, after supper, starting december 1st, we read an Advent reading from the Bible with Sofia and then she opens the envelope corresponding to that day and puts the character in the scene. We explain each character as well. Last year she and her cousin Pedro, who was here for the holidays, had a blast!! And learned a lot about the Christmas story and its real meaning!
This year we will use the Focus on the Family Advent readings. I like it because has other activities we can incorporate. Actually, this year I am thinking of doing an activity calendar as well. Will keep you posted.

Happy Advent!!

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Yo Yo's

Hi!

Yes, yo-yo's, that's what I have been making lately, and I am in love with them!

So many uses and ideas!

I can see them in pillow, headbands, hair clips, sashes, brooches, shoes, you name it!

The plus: sooo easy to make them ! I have been using mainly silk and satin, but cotton also loves them!

Just cut circles the sizes you want (remember, for a statement size yo-yo you need a fairly large circle, I use plates), hand stitch loosely and pull the thread!

I use cups, lids of all sizes and dinner/salad plates.