Christmas Crafting and Decorating

I know, I know I haven't been very faithful with my blog. But I've been busy I swear!!

Here are some decorations that I've put up this year:

Snowflakes on the windows


I found these snowflakes at 99 cent store last year.

More snowflakes

I made the beaded snowflakes here. I also used some store bought snowflakes. Since I've taken this picture, I've added some clear glass ornaments to the arrangement. They look like bubbles.

Nutcrackers

Every year we try to get a nutcracker for the boys. I like them displayed on top of the TV

Window treatments

Last year I had the snowflakes on these windows. I think I like them better with the balls. This looks much better in person.

My Peppermint Snowman tree


I'm planning to make a head for the top so keep an eye out for further post for my white tree.

Poinsettia

I saw this in a magazine this year and just had to make a few. I love the way they turned out. Sorry I can't remember what magazine. They are just made with pipe cleaners, embroidery floss and beads.

Garland

Okay this is mainly what I've been working on. This was made on a six prong spool knitter. Actually its the Clover wonder knitter that I used. I think it turned out awesome.

Beaded snowflakes
These are just a few I've made for decorations for around the house and the trees.








I made some snowmen for one of my son's teachers to give to her students. She only has 5 students.

I think they turned out awsome.

I made some monster personal tissue holders for my other son's classmates.

The Tree done, The Pumpkin patch and Thanksgiving Seasonal Table

I found this really yummy peach/orange woven fabric at Hobby Lobby on clearance. I snatched up a yard and decided to make pumpkins with it. I used this pattern http://sewing.about.com/library/weekly/aa101999.htm for the main part of the pumpkin. I just made up the stems myself. I also enlarged the pattern to make 1 big pumpkin. I think they turned out awesome.



I also made the 2 layered tree skirt. The bottom layer is orange burlap with brown bias tape on some of the edges. I used a decorative stitch in orange to topstitch the bias tape to the burlap. I then sewed a zigzag circle around about 1 1/2 inches from the edge. After that I unraveled the edges to look like fringe. The top layer was made on the potholder loom. I wanted a plaid look. I think it turned out great. I crocheted the edges with orange and brown to tie it all together and to bring in the colors of the bottom skirt layer.

I think the tree turned out awesome.



I found some great ornaments and made some more. I knew I wouldn't have that much time to get it done before Thanksgiving, so I'm glad I was able to buy some. I'll make more next year.



The seasonal table changed a bit from Halloween. I kept the jars, pinecones and bark on the table. I gathered some sticks from the yard for 2 of the jars. I put some fake flowers that my Nana bought for me while I was in college in the other jar. I made the turkey (see earlier blog). I found the dreamcatchers and ceramic pumpkins at dollar stores. Colin made the beautiful Mayflower on the table. Brian has been taking Colin to Home Depot once a month for workshops and this is what he made this month. Isn't it great.



The white turkey feather is from my neighbor's turkey. It comes to our yard all the time. Colin found it and thought it needed to go with the other Thanksgiving stuff.

Well that's about it. Have a Happy Thanksgiving!!!!

Thanksgiving tree

So I've been working on a Thanksgiving tree since Halloween is over. I didn't want the tree to be bare. I also didn't want to take it down, decorate for Christmas early or leave up the Halloween decorations. So I decided to create a Thanksgiving tree. I'll be working on it for the next few weeks. I'll stop before Thanksgiving and post the result. Anyway, here is what I've made so far this week:

A Grain/Hay Stack Tree Topper:



I created this without a pattern. I used 3 different yarns to give color variation and used a large hook to crochet this. I was originally going to add crocheted chains to the outside for more texture but after adding a few I decided it didn't need it, but I didn't unattach them. I knotted extra yarn to the top of the stack to give it character. I also unraveled s few strands of yarn to also give it character. Then I just tied it around with a piece of yarn about 1/4 the way down.

Garland:



Made from Hemp twine, pony beads and wooden beads.

Knitted and Crocheted Indian Corn:


I cast on 15 stitches with mustard yellow yarn. Then used a Seed or Moss Stitch to create the kernels. I randomly switched my yellow yarn out with a fall multi colored yarn to give it more that indian corn look. I did this until it was about 3 inches long. I didn't count rows, sorry. To finish it off, I sewed up the top and bottom of the work. Next I gathered one end together to make the tip of the corn. I tied on a piece of husk colored yarn and unraveled it to look like cornsilk. Stuff the corn. On the other end, I crocheted a circle to fit inside the open end and then sc the circle onto the corn. Then crochet random sized loops pulling the outer edges into the center, all the way around the corn. Tie a string around the loops to gather them up. Use one of the longer loops to hang on the tree or simply use them as decorations in a bowl, cornicopia or where every.

Ghoulish Garland

Here is the garland all finished:


Here it is on the tree:


I cut black tulle into strips about 1 1/4 inch wide by 5-6 inches long. I wasn't precise, I just folded the fabric to the correct lenght, cut the folds, then cut the width. Let's face it its not going to show if you aren't precise. I just tied the tulle strips onto a set of purple Halloween lights I bought from Target. I used the lights on the tree as garland. I think it turned out great. The lights are brighter and nicer looking than the picture shows.

Halloween Decorations

Well I was excited to get to decorate for Halloween this year. And boy did I have a ball doing it. Here are some of the displays that I had around the house.

This is a picture of some paper lanterns I found at Dollar Tree. I strung them between the curtain rod and a bookcase. I think the display turned out awesome.



Front window.



Side window.



Signs by the Halloween tree and seasonal table. Colin made the blue picture on top out of craft foam. He made a Monster House, hehe.



My Halloween tree and Halloween Seasonal Table. I just have to explain this. For the tree: I bought black and silver plastic balls to go on the tree (has to be plastic with 2 rowdy boys in the house). I used the kids dress up wizard's hat for the tree topper. The rest of the decorations I made. I'll post them in another post with pictures. For the Seasonal table, I made the 2 black trees, the black topiary flowers in the urns, the doll and the zombie heads. I found the urns at the 99cent store. I found the 2 owl statues at goodwill for $.79 each. I found the cat statue at goodwill for about $3.99 and the silver candlesticks for $2.99 for the pair. And we found the bark and pinecones around the yard.





And last but not least, my messy bookshelves. I'm hoping these will turn out better next year, I've got some ideas for disguising the books. And of course I have to finish my potion jars.