Christmas tree ideas... lets start

The main attribute of Christmas of course is a Christmas tree. There are a lot of ideas how to decorate it or make it. This idea looks awesome for offices. You can put some Christmas on your desk. Check out: Christmas trees made from magazines.

They are really elegant and can be good decorations for home as well. The author of idea is Maryna. In her LiveJournal blog you can find more really cute handmade stuff: http://infanta-m.livejournal.com/.

Handmade Christmas Wreath: a lot of simple ideas.

Let's move to the next required Christmas attribute - Christmas Wreath. Today's how to is collection of ideas and some useful notes about making the unique and unusual decoration piece. Christmas Wreath can be really sweet. The first idea I would like to share with you is Candy Wreath 

For making this tasty wreath you will need: candies, plastic hoop, ribbon and scotch tape. The following two pictures will show you how to put candies to wreath:

One more sweet Wreath 

And "howto" for it in pictures:

Next one - is Ice Wreath. Unfortunately this wreath is good for you if you are leaving in the place with really cold weather. 

Why? Because it is really made from ice. You will need: round pots or plates, red berries (cranberries for example), green leaves, ribbon. What to do: pour water in the pot or plate. Put smaller pot or plate in center (you can add water or put something heavy in it to avoid floating). Add berries and leaves to water and leave in cold place for freezing. When it totally frozen put some hot water on pans or pots to separate ice and containers.  Attach it to door or gate using ribbon. 
Next one for those who love crochet work. I am sure you know better than me how to do this. Because I have no idea:)

Do you still have your Thanksgiving Wreath? Just cover it with silver paint and you get Christmas one. Kidding. 

For this one you need: maple leaves or any other dry leaves, better if they have different sizes, white or silver ribbon, cardboard, scissors, glue, silver acrylic paint. Cover leaves with acrylic paint. Let them dry. Cut out ring from cardboard, attach leaves to this ring, use ribbon to put it to the wall or door.
Totally the same idea is used for Buttons Wreath. Use buttons instead leaves and you will get this stylish wreath.  You also can paint your buttons using acrylic paints.

More ideas: paper one, fleece one and satin ribbons wreath:

Christmas wreath made from party balloons.

To make this one you need: a lot of balloons, base for wreath, hooks, ribbon (as you see ribbon is default material for making wreath). Here is the step by step instruction in pictures:

Last one for today - from newspaper. How to make - use the way we created the one of buttons:

Sources: liveinternet.ru; ininteriordecor.com; mamavfartuke.ru; superdekret.ru; lifenatural.ru; www.verin-dom.ru;ideidekora.ru; original-ideas.ru; babyblog.ru

Advent calendars

What comes up in your mind when you're thinking about Christmas? Christmas tree, ornaments, snowman, Santa Claus, Rudolph, stockings, and advent calendars. Advent Calendar is a special calendar. It is used to count the days of Advent. In our days they are mostly are made for children and have many "windows". One window is opened everyday. Opened windows reveal poems, pictures, stories or small gifts. 
These calendars are known from beginning of the 19th century and since that time they changed a lot. Now you can find calendars made from wood, fabric, paper. Any form, any size. 
I found these amazing calendars in the HanHan's Stitching etsy shop. The artist has passion for embroidery by hand and always enjoyed all needlework. 
This calendar will provide enjoyment for your family for years to come. It's a perfect gift for children!  

Next one is even more lovely and cute. I LOVE it. Just take a look:

There are a lot of great handmade items in HanhansStitching shop. I am definitely sure - you can find something that was made just for you if you click here.

Another great finds for my miniature glass figurines collection

My visit to Ukraine was very productive in terms of finding new items for my collections. First of all I was able to buy handmade magnets, than I found store with tens of miniature glass figurines. I spent a lot of time while trying to figure out which ones I wont and finally came up with fox (some of my friends think it is squirrel but I made executive decision that it is fox), smiling moose and giraffe. 

 

Mrs Claus Sewing Room: Christmas Stocking

Welcome to Mrs Claus Sewing Room! Today I am glad to introduce Jennifer - sewing artist and a little bit enchantress. She spends her days sewing and creating beautiful handmade items that will bring joy and happiness to you and your family. Especially at Christmas time because she creates amazing Christmas Stocking:

In Jennifer sewing room they call these Santa Socks, because Santa likes to slip them on when it is especially chilly at the North Pole. Plus they are super cheery and wonderfully soft they make him smile with glee when he wears them. 
The following one is a beautiful stocking made with off white brocade fabric with a lovely red floral print. This stocking would make a lovely addition to your elegant Christmas decor.

If you prefer something funky and fun, next one is created for you! The stocking is a black and white leopard print low pile faux fur. Cuff is a bubble gum pink fuzzy faux fur!

As well as regular items you can have custom item with 1 name monogramed on the cuff. The colors of your stockings and cuff and the direction you would like your toe pointing can also be customized.

Except of  Stocking you can also find tree skirts, gift wraps, ornaments and fabric cards in Mrs Claus Sewing Room.  I like the idea of fabric cards. It's really something unusual and warm. Imagine how your friend or family member would feel seeing it in their mailbox. 

All above and more Christmas stuff you can find by clicking on most comfortable for you link below:

Mrs Claus Sewing Room on facebook
Mrs Claus Sewing Room on wordpress
Mrs Claus Sewing Room on etsy
Mrs Claus Sewing Room on blogspot
Mrs Claus Sewing Room on twitter
Happy holidays!!!

New magnets for my collection

Everybody knows how I love magnets. More than magnets I love only handmade magnets. And more than handmade magnets I love only handmade magnets from Maryana Ostroglyad. Couple months ago I found her art work on Internet and decided that I must have couple. 

I have visited Ukraine in the end of October and bought these two perfect, beautiful, cute magnets:

If you like them you can order them too.

Thread Christmas Ball Ornaments

Source http://www.tsmirna.ru/

Lets continue with Christmas ideas and Christmas Ball Ornaments. Today we will create Christmas Ball Ornaments using threads. Here is the result:

Materials
1) Threads
2) acrylic finish
3) napkin with Christmas ornament or any Christmas picture you like
4) fabric stickers 

Step 1. Put thread on the inverted glass vase covered by food wrap film.

Step 2. Cover threads with acrylic finish

Step 3. When you get a semi-sphere using brush put layer of finish and press it using layer of wrap film. Your thread should soak with finish.

Step 4. Let it dry. You got elastic semi-sphere.

Step 5. Repeat steps 1-4 to got one more semi-sphere.
Step 6. While you waiting semi-spheres to dry cut out Christmas ornament.

Step 7. Put Christmas ornament on finish.

Step 8. Put to semi-spheres together.

Step 9. You can put them together using thread, glue or using fabric sticker.

You are done. You can create ornaments that have any form, any color and any picture on it using this tutorial as the base. In the end I would like to say thanks to Smirnova Tetiana who spent her time to create pictures and text for this tutorial. You can find more tutotials on her web-page: www.tsmirna.ru

Holidays Quilted Ball Ornaments

I am glad to start series of Christmas post. I love this holiday. All handmade artists try to create something unusual, extraordinary and original. Christmas Ornaments can be different colors and made from a lot of materials: glass, plastic, wood and even fabric like this one

This amazing ornament was done by Kathi, on etsy her shop is named unclebuyme as well as her web-page. 
Why Uncle Buy Me? Its long and sad story. When Kathi's sister was pregnant her husband bought her a HUGE box filled with two shopping carts worth of toys and items from Toys R Us. After their nephew was born her husband would always buy the best gifts for him -- and so -- he would appropriately call him: Uncle Buy Me! Kathi's sister passed away from breast cancer at only 43-years-old with a then 9-year-old son. She will forever remember the long days and nights sitting with her sister at the hospital making quilted ornaments, decorating hospital room and hanging the ornaments from IV pole. And so, the name Uncle Buy Me is in honor and memory of Kathi's sister. In Kathi's shop you can find some brest cancer awareness ornaments:

Next quilted Christmas ornament features sprigs of green pine needles along with tiny brown pine cones and red dotted berries on a crisp white background. There are alternating rows of a patterned brown along with brown and sparkling green topping bows. 

It's impossible to imagine Christmas without poinsettias. This quilted ornament features beautiful red ones, green leaves and brown pine cones. 

Ornaments are not only for Christmas. You can use them as decorations and gifts for any holiday: Independence day, Thanksgiving Day, Easter.....and all these ornaments can be found in Kathi's shop.  As an example this is the Thanksgiving Day Ornament and you still have time to buy it.

Some important notice - you can save money on the ornament price and on shipping by buying from the website www.unclebuyme.com. Happy Holidays!