Another fabulous Christmas Tree

Hi everyone

Well if you liked the lovely tree that you made with Lindy for the Cyber Crop Mystery Challenge, then I thought you might also like this one.

This tree is very similar to one we did a couple of years ago with the accordion folds however this tree doesn't have the Chipboard Tree under.

I was inspired by Vicki C with this tree and just had to share with you all.

Using Accordion fold pinwheels which are really easy, this tree can be made in under 2 hours and makes a fantastic center piece.

Now for a few simple instruction on how to make this tree.

Things you will need for this tree:

Paper Trimmer
Wooden Skewer
Old ribbon roll (this is what I used)
Hot Glue Gun or quick drying strong glue
Scoring tool (could be a butter knife) or bone folder
Pencil and ruler
Kindy Glitz or similar
Ribbon
Christmas Star or similar

Step 1 - Using your glue gun adhere your skewer into the center of your ribbon spool. I have packed the inside of the ribbon spool with brown paper to give the skewer more support. Then glue around the skewer and the top of the spool.

Step 2 - pick some papers (I have used scraps left over from last years tree) Cut 2 strips of paper that are equal length and width. Then cut width to the size of the pinwheel you want (my largest is 4 1/2 inches wide).

Step 3 - Using a pencil mark out on the backside of the paper your fold lines (I have done my fold approx 1 cm apart). Using your scoring tool score down these lines, then fold as accordion. Align both strips evenly and then adhere creating a long accordion strip.

Step 4 - Pull both ends of the accordion around to meet, adhere securely. Next pop the pinwheel out and push it down, you will probably need to hold it down with your fingers. Using your glue gun apply glue around the center of the pinwheel leaving a hole in the middle.

Note: I have also done mine so that it angles down and not laying flat, sort of like a skirt but ever so slight.

Continue to do the accordion folds with all the varying sizes of strips. I have gone down in size by 1/2 inch for each pinwheel and only done 5 pinwheels for my tree. You may like to make it fuller and do more.

Step 5 - Going from largest to smallest, slide your largest pinwheel onto the skewer and adhere in place with your glue gun. Continue to do this with each pinwheel. Spacing them evenly apart.

Step 6 - Kindy Glitz or Stickles the edges of your pinwheels (I have used silver Kindy Glitz). At the top of your tree at your smallest pinwheel tie a bow with your ribbon.

Finally secure your Star to the top of your tree by adhere with your glue gun to the point of your skewer.

You are now done!! Easy peasy hey??

Here is my tree and some close ups for you.

Quick and easy tutorial for Tussie Mussie

My craft is called a Tussie Mussie - a cone shaped hanging ornament that's easy to make but so elegant looking and perfect for housing a small gift, gift card, or even candy! For the supplies you will need:

1 12x12 Double-sided patterned paper (must be double sided because the inside can be seen) I used the Echo Park Wintertime Line
Scissors
Strong adhesive (I used American Crafts This to That adhesive runner, and it worked great!)
Ribbon - I used Webster's Pages ribbon
Embellies - I used the Echo Park Wintertime Stickers and some MME rhinestones
Stapler


First take the 12x12 patterned paper and fold it in half diagonally, then cut along the folded line so you have a triangle piece of pp.



Hold the pp with the cut side of the pp down and the pointed side up and take one corner and curl it up until it meets right along the edge of the upper triangle. You want the bottom to close in tight, and for the top of your paper to meet the top of the triangle in the back of the cone. After you've gotten it in place adhere it together.


Then take the paper hanging on the other side of the cone and wrap it around until it meets up to the point in the back of the cone (where the other side met up), keeping the cone as tight as possible. Adhere that side, and your cone should look like this at the back.

I like to smoosh mine down a bit now as it will be easier to embellish and it's made for hanging so you want it a little flat


Your cone is now ready for embellishing! Attach a piece of ribbon around the top of the cone, starting at the back and ending around the other side of the back.



Loop a smaller piece of the ribbon and attach it at the back of the cone where all the points meet. I like to staple it because it needs to be strong if you are going to put something in it that has some weight.

Now you can embellish however you like! I used the Echo Park stickers from the wintertime collection and added a little glitter and some bling to the center, and also at the point where I attached the staple. I used my paper crimper to crimp up a piece of coordinating patterned paper and then cut it into strips to fill the cone cone, then added a gift card that I bought the other day!!

I like to hang these on the Christmas tree with various goodies and gift cards for my kids!
Have fun creating!! :)

Valerie

Christmas Decorations

Hi everyone

It's time to put up the Christmas tree and decorate the house I thought that this cute banner was a great way to do just that. Even the kids can join in with this one. Chloe loved this banner so much she's made banners herself and they are hanging everywhere in the house LOL!! A great way to use up those scraps of Christmas Paper.

While it is cheap and quick to buy your decorations it's always nice to have some homemade one's. We always every year as a tradition add new decorations to our tree and house by each of us creating something. It's so lovely to pull these out each year over the years for the kids to see how much they have changed, they still put up all those decorations they made when they were younger, just something a little special. A time for reminisce.

Things you will need to create your banner

banner flag template

wide ribbon (length to be longer than the actual banner)

Sheets of Acetate /Transparency

Flourish Stamp and other stamp images (Santa)

Staz-on ink

Kindy glitz

I used A2Z Scraplets Christmas chipboard shapes – these can be bought in the store

Chipboard alpha – I used Creative Imaginations boxed set

flowers

Kaiser medium rhinestones

paint/ink/Twinklings H2O (I used the twinkling to paint some of my flowers)

Old Christmas papers

Using your banner template, trace 8 of these onto your patterned paper and 7 onto your acetate, cut out and ink the edges of each including the acetate ones using staz-on ink.

Once the ink has dried on the edges of the acetate banner pieces, stamp your desired flourish onto the tip of the banner pieces using staz-on ink. Set each one aside to dry. Don’t stamp the flourish on your patterned papers.

Once the ink has dried use Kindy Glitz and go over the top of your flourishes. Allow to dry completely.

I then laid all the pieces onto the floor and started to place the Scraplets and flowers. Once you are happy with how it looks do one piece at a time, inking the Scraplets and alpha, then adhere your flowers and chipboard. Do this for each one. (I also covered my letters with glitter for that extra bling look).

After you have completed all the pieces you can now adhere to your ribbon.

I used a wet glue to adhere to the ribbon, only apply the glue to the top edge of each piece having each piece meet at the corners.

Leave enough ribbon on each end to hang.

Very quick and easy and the kids love it!!

Hope you enjoyed the banner and give it a go with the kids, they will love it.

Some closer up images of the banner

Have a great weekend!!

Christmas Tray

Hey there everyone....

Just getting you all in the mood for Chrissy!!!!

I thought i would share this little project with you today..

Its a tray from Words or Whatever

and you can buy it here

I have painted it in a forest green

and then put a layer of Jo Sonia Crackle over the top

Painted a layer of deap red

and then sanded it all back.....

I gave the edges a rub with a dry brush and rich gold..

To decorate, i have added a WOW flourish painted in gold

and placed a Prima Flower in the centre

and also some of those glittery gold stems prima had out last year....

Looks pretty cute hey!
And so easy to make...

Give it ago for Christmas!!

Seeya

Jodi