GFM
Handmade holiday items bring a unique and personal touch to the season, making the giver and receiver feel special. This year, millions of families will be spending more time together creating low or no-cost crafts such as gifts, cards and decorations. In fact, the Craft & Hobby Association (CHA) estimates that in almost 43 million U.S. households people will create handcrafted holiday gifts and decorations this year.
Crafting provides an opportunity to spend time with friends and family while creating unique, one-of-a-kind gifts.
HYBRID CRAFTING
According to Terri O, author, home arts expert and CHA spokesperson, crafters love their computers. Hybrid crafting takes customizing to a new level. You can follow a trend and yet personalize your project by printing your own written phrases, names and dates.
To inspire you, here are a few ideas from CHA and three projects to get you crafting this holiday season.
SWIRL PLACE SETTING
Courtesy of www.ilovetocreate.com
Materials:
- Aleene’s Fabric Fusion
- Aleene’s Fast Grab Tacky Glue
- Tulip 3D Fashion Paint
- 65088 Gold Glitter
- 65408 Gold Metallics
- Red placemats and napkins
- Gold fabric — 1/4 yard
- Cardstock paper
- Buttons — gold (4)
- Bulky yarn — red
- Eyelash yarn — red
- 1-inch low tack masking tape
- Scissors
- Scratch paper
- Paper towels
- Pencil
- Ruler
- Placemats
- Use tape to mask off around edge of placemats and across one corner of napkin. Start the flow of the Gold Metallic paint on a paper towel using an even pressure on the bottle. Squeeze thin lines of gold in assorted sizes of swirls on placemat. Immediately and carefully place scratch paper over paint then lightly rub over paper. Remove paper and tape. Let dry. Continue with remainder of placemats and napkins.
- Add a Gold Metallic line around edge of pattern and across the diagonal on the napkin. Let dry.
- Squeeze a thin line of Gold Glitter to all swirls and let dry.
- Squeeze a thin line of Fabric Fusion next to edge on the top of placemat. Press bulky yarn into glue. When dry, flip placemats over, apply a bead of glue to edge then press in eyelash yarn, twisting yarn so fibers show around edge. Let dry.
Napkin Rings
- Measure and cut a strip of cardstock 2 x 7 inches. Apply Fast Grab to one end of strip, overlap and hold with tape until dry. Continue with desired amount of napkin rings.
- Cut strips of gold fabric 4 x 7 1/2 inches. Apply a thin even coating of Fast Grab to the ring; press on fabric then smooth with fingers. Apply glue to the fabric edges then fold to the inside and press to secure. Let dry.
- Cut a 12-inch piece of both yarns then wrap together. Tie around napkin ring and knot on top. Add a dot of glue to the back of the knot to hold in place. Trim ends.
- Cut the shank from the back of button; add glue and press in place over the knot.
For votive and place card instructions, visit www.ilovetocreate.com.
PHOTO COLLAGE
Courtesy of Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores
Designed by Connie Glennon-Hall
Materials:
- Paper maché letters: P, E, A, C, E
- Brown and red acrylic paints, 5 shades total
- Sepia tone photos
- Scrapbook papers in coordinating theme
- 1 package brown cardstock
- Chestnut ink pad
- Small bird nest
- Branch
- Brown and plaid ribbons, 2 widths
- Stickers: word, alphabet, family themes
- Metal flower embellishments
- Flower punches
- Corner rounder
- Glue stick
- Paper trimmer
- Scissors
- Paintbrush
- Water
- Paper towels
- Foam plate
- Print out 15 to 20 family photos in sepia tone.
- Paint each letter a shade of brownish-red found in the photos. Allow letters to dry.
- Working with one letter at a time, create a composition that combines scrapbook paper with the photos trimmed to fit the area. Use corner rounder on some of the photos and paper. Ink the edges of each component, then glue in place.
- Create a focal point on the letter “P” using a long photo and a long tag. Spell out the family name using stickers, punches and other inked embellishments, along with the branch, buttons and ribbon.
- Create a second focal point by filling a bird nest with leaves, flowers, and buttons. Glue everything into the nest and then glue the nest in the open area of the letter “C.”
- Add other embellishments, such as word stickers, punched and inked flowers and buttons on each of the other letters. #
Courtesy of Family Features