Merry Christmas!

I haven't fallen off of the face of the Earth. Promise. :)
I'm looking forward to the New Year and I wish you all a very happy holiday season. I'll be back into full blogging swing when the excitement of Christmas and work dies down a bit.
In the meantime...

25 Days of DIY Christmas: Day 16 Gifts and Business Cards

Not that I always take the time  (gift bags are just too handy), but I always appreciate the extra effort that goes into a nicely wrapped gift.

Here are some instructions for using polymer clay to make colored gift tags and trimmings.  *You could use heavy paper to get the same effect.
(See my other polymer clay posts here).


Roll out your clay and use cookie cutters to create shapes.

If you bake on top of a sheet of paper you can avoid that weird shiny effect that happens when you use a baking sheet.

If you have small alphabet stamps on hand you can make your shapes into personalized gift tags.

You can also make small business cards (discs?), like I did!

Once cool, use a hole punch to pierce your shapes.

The start wrapping!

Enjoy!

25 Days of DIY Christmas: Day 15 Glitter Ornaments and Fabric Boxes

While I don't have a new DIY for you today (hellllooooo crazy work schedule and Christmas shopping) I do have a few great ones from the DIY network to share.

These ornaments are fantastic! Such a great way to add some spice to plain ball ornaments.




And this is a great know-how as well.  And it applies year round!




Both of these vids can be found here at the DIY Network.

P.S. Go enter THIS giveaway!!

Enjoy!

25 Days of DIY Christmas: Day 14 Leather Bow Necklace

With all of the giftwrapping going on there's no better time of year to wear bow shaped jewelry.  I've seen a lot of leather-shapes jewelry lately.  And this one only took 5 minutes to make!

I found a google image of a bow that I liked and printed it, cut out the shape, and traced it onto the backside of a piece of scrap leather.

I used a needle to pierce holes in the top corners and attached jump rings and chain.

Enjoy!

25 Days of DIY Christmas: Day 13 Vintage Brass Agate Necklace

I hope this isn't overkill, beating the agate-plus-fleamarketfinds dead horse.  But this necklace is so beautiful I couldn't resist sharing.  For those of you tired of seeing vintage brass peices and agate please keep reading.  I'll make up for it with Kevin McAllister.

So, you remember these antique hardware pieces I posted about here?

I used some jump rings to attach an agate-esque stone purchased from Joann's Fabrics (it was a pack of four, this stone was the largest.  Another stone from the pack can be seen in my latest giveaway here).

Plus a little chain.

 

(I can't decide if I want to fill in that secondary hole with glue or leave it open with the option of adding a dangling piece of something...)

I wore this necklace last weekend to a cocktail event over an LBD.  I got a TON of compliments.  One lady even asked me if I bought it at some boutique in downtown Raleigh.  HA! She wishes...

And as promised.

Enjoy!

25 Days of DIY Christmas: Day 12 Guest Post Peter Pan Collar Necklace

I'm so very excited to have a post from Erin, the uber-craftball responsible for Thanks, I Made It (The satisfaction I get from telling someone "Oh thanks! I actually made this..."  Great blog title Erin!). If you've never seen her DIY's I suggest you do it.  NOW.

Erin crafted a super cute Peter Pan chain necklace, which I find as a refreshing alternative to the full on Peter Pan collar necklace.  I like the collar necklaces in theory but can't seem to pull the trigger on wearing one.  Maybe if I was living in a fashionable city.  Raleigh North Carolina (known for growing tobacco and that 'take your shirt off and twist it around your head' song..), not so much.  She explains it how to make it here...

 

Hello! I’m Erin from Thanks, I Made It, and I’m flattered to be sharing a project with you during the 25 Days of DIY on Make It, Make It.  I feel like Christina and I are crafty, kindred bloggers who capitalize on our handy dads, unique materials, and sarcasm. 

Through Grace’s gift guide post on Etsy shops, I saw this Peter Pan collar necklace from designer Little Dirty Dish.  While I hate to undercut an independent designer (and it’s only $8!), my DIY urge went into overdrive. Must. Make. Necklace.

Here’s how.

Tools and Materials:
14 inches of chain
5 jump rings
Lobster clasp
Pliers and wire cutters

1. Cut your chain into four pieces, 8 ½ inches each. (You can play with the measurements to your liking, of course!)

2. Feed a jump ring through the last link in each of the pieces of chain, so all four chains connect to one ring.

3. Take two of the chains that are side-by-side. Attach a jump ring to the end of one chain, and a lobster clasp to the end of the other chain.

4. Try your necklace on, clasping behind your neck.

5. Take one of the loose chains, and hold it up to create a drape that resembles the outline of a Peter Pan collar. Note where the loose chain should attach to the connected chain.

6. Take off the necklace, and attach the loose chain with a jump ring.

7. Use this side as a guideline to repeat on the other side and attach the second loose chain. You’re done!

Thank you Christina for inviting me over here today! And to all you readers, do drop by the Thanks, I Made It to say hi and check out more DIY!

To Erin, THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!

To everyone else, Enjoy!

25 Days of DIY Christmas: Day 11 Freezer Paper Stencils

First and foremost, GO ENTER THE AGATE NECKLACE GIVEAWAY.  All you have to do is leave a comment.  Anywhere on the blog.  Easy enough, right?

Secondly, GO BUY FREEZER PAPER.  And then grab any and all pillowcases, scarves, tea towels, cloth napkins and the like.  If you don't mind getting some paint on them (and making them awesome), that is.  Because you're going to want to stencil all of it.

This is such an easy technique.  Cut out a stencil.  Iron it on.  Paint over it.  Let it dry.

Maybe not that easy, but pretty close.

*Note that you're going to want to pre- wash whatever material you're using.  And make sure to use a paint that's suited for fabric.

I chose to decorate cloth napkins that I'll use for an upcoming Christmas gathering.  But tea towels would make great hostess gifts or presents for co-workers.  Scarves would make great gifts too!

I wanted a repeating pattern so I used the accordion method with my freezer paper.

Cut and space.

Iron.

Lay newspaper down before you start painting, especially if you're doing something like a shirt (stick a piece of cardboard inside it.)  Chances are the paint's going to bleed.  

Allow the print to dry for a few hours then peel off the stencil.   Give the paint an iron over once it's totally dry.  This will help to set the image.

How cute?!

And I went ahead and fixed up a plain white t-shirt while I was at it... duh.

 Fab.

Enjoy!