Punched Paper Christmas Tree

Supplies:

1 10" Styrofoam cone
Friskars Petal by Petal Punch or similar (I purchased mine at JoAnn's)
2 12" squares of coordinating scrapbook paper
Low temp glue gun and glue sticks
Spray adhesive
Glitter
Spray Snow

With your punch, cut approx. 65 large petals and 65 small petals.  Roll the pointed tip of each around a small dowel or paint brush to make it curl up.  Beginning with the large petals, attached them to the cone around the bottom first; overlapping slightly as you go around.  Continue with a 2nd row placing the first petal in between 2 below it and overlap as you did the first row.  Do the same for the remaining rows.  Switch to the small petal and continue the same way until you reach the top.  To finish you take 4 small petals and turn them upside down so the point is facing up this time.  Glue them so they come to a point above the top of the cone.  If desired, spray the entire tree with adhesive and sprinkle with glitter.  Alternatively, you can spray lightly with snow.

O Tannenbaum, how lovely are your branches & sparkly too!

Felt Poinsettia Wreath

You can find step-by-step instructions and photos in the 2013 BH&G Christmas Ideas magazine. Otherwise, here is my best attempt at the instructions.  I do not have templates for the petals and leaves, but it's a simple sketch with a pencil.

Supplies:

10" styrofoam wreath

1 skein green yarn

White paper for making templates

2 red felt squares

1 green felt square

Red matching floss & needle

7 small gold jingle bells

Hot glue gun & glue sticks

Wrap the entire foam wreath with the green yarn, taking care to make it neat.  

Sketch a large petal  (approx 3" long) and a medium petal (approx. 2" long) on the paper and cut out.  

Using templates, cut 6 large and 12 medium from the red felt. 

Sketch a small petal (approx. 1 1/4" long) and cut 12. 

Sketch a large leaf (approx. 2 1/2" long) and cut 7 from the green felt.  

Sketch 1 large (approx. 1") and 2 small centers (approx. 1/2") as shown in photo.  Cut from green felt. 

Cut a 24" length of floss.  Thread a single floss thru the needle. Beginning with the large Poinsettia petals, pinch the end of one and stitch closed with floss. Do the same with the 2nd one stitching it next to the first petal.  Continue with all 6 petals and form a ring.  Secure with floss.  

Do the same with the medium petals and place the medium ring on top of the large ring. Stitch together. Add a center and stitch in place.  Add 3 jingle bells and then attach 3 leaves behind.  

Now make 2 medium rings and 2 small rings using the same technique as above.  Add the small rings on top of the medium rings and stitch together.  Add centers, 2 jingle bells and 2 leaves to each.

Arrange Poinsettias on wreath the way you like them and hot glue in place.

Taken from the BH&G Holiday Crafts Magazine for 2013.

Craft on!

Halloween Crafts

Feeling bored, I looked around my craft studio and decided to take some styrofoam and Sculpeys and create a pear-headed goon I saw in a magazine.  I wrapped the styrofoam balls in foil, rolled out the clay with my roller and went to town, wide smile, chunky arms and monster feet and all. I used carving tools to make the indentations that make up the eyes, nose, mouth, and creases on the arms, fingers and toes.  The I brought out the features of the face and body with different colors of acrylic paint.  Isn't it adorable?

I then thought I'd take more styrofoam, since I had plenty, and some felt and make a mummy.  Of course, this mummy had to have wings and a peace sign over its heart, giving it a much more friendly appearance.  I added a few splatters of blood here and there, and drew a cute bat on one of the wings.

Lastly, I had a Halloween Card that a good friend gave to me many years ago.  I really liked the silhouette on the front and bring the card out every year.  I wanted to make a decoration from it, but didn't have the hear to actually cut up the card, so I transferred with my copy machine onto a piece of mylar.  I then filled in the moon with silver glitter glue and made an outline around the edge with orange glitter glue.  I glue it to the front of a picture frame easel and there you have it!

Spooktacular if I must say so myself!