handmade ornaments...

I joined the Lyon's Den ornament swap this year.
Amy mentioned that she liked the dioramas I made so that is what I sent.

I made several in this style this and sent them off to Texas....


I also sent this one since this is the one she commented on...just in case she wants it herself.

then I made some for our own tree.....after all, I had all the supplies out, why put them away?




The trim on this one reflects the lights when they are lit up.


but the one below is my favorite. I'll be making more of these next year.


I used a lid from one of the oval boxes. Once decorated, I scored a little hole in the back large enough for it to fit over a light on the tree.

When the tree is lit up, the light looks like a little star over the 2 trees.

If you'd like to make some too, my tutorial for some of them is HERE. The globe ones are basically made the same way, you just have a smaller area to work with.

Oh my DEER!

November's YOE ornament theme was deer.....so I made my partner a couple of them.....



and included a few other goodies...some for her, some for the baby she is expecting...



and here is the Rudolph Natalie sent me......cute!


along with some other goodies...

Thank you Natalie!

vintage thingie

This year I took all the round vintage ornaments off my tree and put them on the little chandelier I have in the dining room.

Looks quite pretty.



even with the lights off!



of course, now I realize how badly I need to clean it!

Make it Monday:Starfish Santa Ornaments!

I love my Starfish Santa ornaments!




Mine are about 30 years old. I made 15 to start with and over the years have given them away, one by one.
Each time someone asked for me to make them one, I'd just take it off the tree and give it to them.

Now I have 3 left so thought I'd better make a few more and in the process I'd share how to make them.


Supplies:

• Starfish: I use small to medium sized starfish. I also look for the shape of the limbs, etc. I want Santas jumping, dancing and having fun!
• craft paints in red, black, flesh, white and metallic gold
• gold glitter
• sponge craft brush
• small paintbrush
• hot glue
• toothpick
• thread for hanging
• clear spray varnish

*Note: When 'painting' you are actually going to dab because of all the little bumps on the starfish. Trying to paint a straight line is nearly impossible.
1. Using red and the sponge brush, paint the entire starfish, front and back.Use a LOT of paint because starfish are porous and will absorb the paint. Use the edge of the sponge to get into the crevices along the back of the limbs.


You will use the paint brush for the rest of the painting...

Now...here is the fun part! Hold your starfish up and look at the limbs. Figure out what this Santa will do.

will he be swaying to Christmas music?


or jumping and dancing?


Once you decide, don't forget which limb is his head.

2. Using flesh, paint the ends of the arms and the face. Let dry.

When you do the face, you'll just make an oval spot where the face will be.
Don't place it too high because the tip of the head will have white on it.
I place mine about 2/3 of the way down limb.


3. Using black, paint the ends of the feet and belt. Then using a toothpick, make his little eyes. Let dry.


4. Using white, go over the area where the fur trim would be:
around his face
tip of hat
above the boots
above the wrists.
fill in for the beard and mustache: For the beard, you'll basically make a long oblong shape that ends above where the belt buckle will be.
Then, fill it in with white, leaving a spot of red visible to make the mouth. If you forget and paint everything white, just go back later and make a little mouth with the red paint.Let dry.


The beauty of this project is it is sooooo forgiving. If you goof up on Santa's face (or anything else) just paint that limb red and then start it over.

5. Using metallic gold, paint the buckle. While wet, sprinkle with glitter if you want and brush off the excess later.

From this angle Santa looks unhappy...but he isn't, just an illusion because of the bumps...no worries!


6. Spray with clear gloss and let dry. (optional)


7. Now, flip Santa over and give him a spanking glue your thread to hang him by.

Put your thread together and lay it in the natural crevice along the limb.
Don't put a knot in it, the crevice isn't that accommodating because of the bumpiness of the spines.



Then glob on some hot glue.
While the glue is still very warm, carefully press it down into the grooves...careful not to burn yourself though.

Once Santa is dry, he is ready to hang.
Or you can put them in a bowl and take a photo of them...


This one is Kaela's favorite...it is the smallest (about 3 inches across) and she put it on a little tree in loft.

And this one is my favorite. He is really big, about 7 inches across but I think he looks like he is jumping for joy!



PS....Starfish are VERY fragile so when you store them, wrap each ornament individually in tissue, then put them in a box within the big box of ornaments.

Elf fail

here's lookin' at you kid......

scary, huh?!

Thankful Thursday

Last Wednesday while I was prepping for Thanksgiving, Matt was out practicing basketball by himself, getting in a little alone time.

After about an hour, I noticed a change in the sound of the basketball on the concrete...so I peeked out the window.
I saw 3 little boys out front....no sign of Matt. I stepped outside for a better look and saw him lowering the goal so the little boys could play. He turned and saw me and gave a sort of sheepish smile and walked over.

I asked him who they were...."No idea, but they wanted to come play" was his reply, so he let them. He played with them for about 2 hours....helping them, working with them until past dark.



You know, some days God just lets you know you've been doing a good job raising your kids....and this was one of those days.



I am just so thankful that He has guided me with this most important job.

Piggy tail book thong

Each Wednesday after school, I co-sponsor a crochet club for students who want to learn the craft.

Recently we made these little "piggy tail" book thongs and they LOVED them so much I thought I'd share the pattern.
They are super easy and great for new crocheters to make because they offer instant gratification.

This is what it looks like (sorry about the red table cloth, I was too lazy to change it out)






You will need:
small amount of yarn
size G crochet hook

Now to get started:

First, make a slip knot and chain 21.





Turn and single crochet into the 2nd chain from the hook and into each remaining chain stitch.

See how it is beginning to curl on its own. This is your 1st piggy tail





At the end of the piggy tail, just chain another 45 stitches.

This is the part that will go between the pages of your book.




Now to make the 2nd piggy tail.

At the end of the 45 stitches, turn and single crochet into the 2nd chain from the hook and into the next 19 chain stitches.

Now your book thong looks like this:




Fasten off. Weave in the ends if you like. The students just clipped the ends close to the knot.

The piggy tail should curl on its own but if you used a soft yarn, you may have to twist it to help it along.





And this is how it looks when used:





It is easy to adjust this to make book thongs of any length.