Thrifty Thursday - Recycled Christmas Ideas

Thrifty Thursday - Recycled Christmas Cards.

I started writing this post on Thursday, however the cards took over.  Literally, I wanted to make one example to share, but I just kept thinking of more things I could make.  I have more ideas to share, but that will have to be another post.

In my definition, thrifty means resourceful.  One of my 4-H dads, is self employed as a "handy man."  He "picks" the sites that he works, oftentimes sharing some of these finds with me.  One such place was a local printing shop.  After Christmas, they were throwing out their sample books and he asked if he could have them.  He then gave them to me for projects.   So, these past few days....I have made some examples of what you can do with your old Christmas cards. 
  
1.  Save them - recycle and reuse.  Some of the cards I receive are homemade and are like little pieces of art.

2.  Make gift tags - I try to use the smaller images that are tag size that my note be used for something else.

3.  Make ornaments - use jar ring for pattern and form.  

Trace out the circles and cut.  I made a made a triangle pattern piece to guide my folding them - look in the picture.

Glue the tabs together at folds as shown.  Don't forget to make a string for a hanger and tape it on the inside.  Glue the 2 halves together.

Take some of the other circles and fold them in half.

Glue the the sides together with each other to make this ornament - you can use as many circles as you like it - depending on how full you want it.

4.  Make jar lids for your home made gifts.  Don't forget to use the lid as an ornament as well.  I just wrapped some yarn around a ring and tied the end up like a loop for an ornament hanger.  Cut out a circle from a card and a piece of card board.  

Two gifts in one.

5.  Cut index card size - make Christmas recipe cards.  Keep in a special recipe box of your favorite Christmas recipes or give along with your home made gift.

6.  Cut post card size - resend as your Christmas post card.

7.  Make a banner or garland - cut out words and images and string together with yarn.

8.  Make picture frames.  I bought these cute copper edged glass frames at a flea market this past summer.  They are neat because you can remove the image and reuse.  

9.  Keep some of the ones that have openings for picture frames and ornaments with your photos inside.  

  10.  Ball ornaments.  Cut the card into strips and fasten them together at the top and bottom.  Tie on a string for hanging.  

11.  Ultimate recycle Christmas card project - make a Christmas card box to hold the cards you get this year.  I made mine by cutting 8 cards the same size.  Glue them together in pairs.  Measure out for punching holes.

I just started by crocheting a chain from one hole to the next.  Pull up the yarn and crochet around each hole.

You could stop here and just make an ornament too.  Otherwise do the same to the other 3 pieces.  The bottom should be a square - do the same steps and then crochet the pieces together.  I'm not an expert at crocheting, but this turned out good.

It was at this point I decided to stop.  My daughter Anna said, "Mom, why are you making all of these things?"  I said, "it's therapy, some people drink, some gamble, some shop....I craft."  

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.

Merry Craftmas!

Linked to:
http://www.create-with-joy.com/2013/12/inspire-me-monday-week-103.html

God's Word Wednesday - Joy

You know how I feel about choice...you can choose to feel any way you want...I choose Joy.  How you feel on the inside will definitely show on the outside.  

"A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones."  Proverbs 17:22

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.

Re-Purposed Wool Ornaments

I've been making some Christmas gifts.  I like to be creative and make up my own things.  I had this old wool blanket from my previous project (link here:  http://dickybirdsnest.blogspot.com/2013/12/re-purposed-pillow-from-grandma.html )

I made these cute ornaments using the wool blanket as the backs.  

Here is how I made them.  

First, figure out what you want to do.  Put your felt into the embroidery hoop.  Make a pattern and trace it onto the felt.  

Get a darning needle or crewel needle and thread it with yarn.  Start stitching.  I am not an expert on embroidery at all.  I just started filling in my pattern.  

I did back stitch to outline the pattern and cover up the pen marks.  (smile)

I added some buttons, bells and etc. to finish them. 

Then, take the finished project out of the embroidery hoop.  I used the hoop to trace a circle around the stitched portion and the wool blanket.  I used some silver cord, made a loop and tied it together.  Stick this inside the ornament so that when you sew it together, it will be on the outside for a hanger.

Then sew it together leaving a small part open on the bottom for turning it right side out.  Stuff it and whip stitch the opening closed.  

That is it.  Super easy.  I came up with these 2 original designs.  You could trace something from a color book, magazine or clip art.  Have fun.

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.

Merry Craftmas!

Linked to:  http://www.create-with-joy.com/2013/12/inspire-me-monday-week-102.html
http://www.theprairiehomestead.com/2013/12/homestead-barn-hop-140.html
http://beingfrugalbychoice.blogspot.com/

Re-Purposed Pillow from "Grandma"

Most of my followers know that my mom entered eternity on November 27, 2013.  My mom loved to make stuff too.  She has bags of old wool quilts for rug making, bags of yarn for crocheting and granny squares waiting to be put together into quilts.  She wasn't able to finish most of these things, so I took some of her items with hopes of making some great memory gifts.  My great-niece turned 16 this past week and I made her this birthday gift - a pillow.  Here is how I made it.  

I washed the wool blanket and cut it into 2 squares.  I sewed them together, turned it inside out and stuffed it with a pillow form.

Then I sewed it closed.

My mom already had these granny squares crocheted into squares, so I put it on top of the pillow, pinned it to secure and whip stitched it on with yarn.  

She loved it.  Now my girls each want too.  

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.

Merry Craftmas!

Linked to:  http://littlehomesteadonthehill.blogspot.com/2013/12/the-creative-home-garden-hop.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed:

Motivation Monday - Create Memories not Masterpieces

In this post, I want to motivate you not to be so motivated.  I know, right?  Well, I just want to remind us that we don't have to "do it all."

This time of year, especially, I think we can be hard on ourselves.  I have to get out the cards, I have to bake, I have to go shopping, I have to get this person a present, that person one, I have to set up the tree, the outside decorations....on and on.  STOP.

If creating the "perfect Christmas" is what makes you happy, well, by all means go ahead.  If trying to create the "perfect Christmas" is pushing you over the edge and you are becoming crabby with your family - then stop it.  We have to examine the reasons why we are doing it.   Are we creating good memories or masterpieces?

Years ago, when I did shows almost every weekend from September to the first weekend in December, I would get tired of the holiday seasons.  Once you set up a booth that many times....you don't feel like decorating at home.  It was one of those years that I learned a valuable lesson.  

I was tired of setting up trees, decorating and creating.  I had already done that since September.   My girls were smaller, I knew I had to get a tree, it is Christmas after all.  I really "couldn't stand" to go downstairs and dig for all the lights, ornaments and such.  So, I didn't.  I found a couple of strings of blue lights in one of my "buy out" boxes that was on the top of my hoarded mess out in my shop.  So, I put those on the tree.  In the same box were some blue silk ornaments, so I brought those in too.  I still had my crafting stash in the house, so I told the girls that we would have a homemade Christmas.  I let them come up with the idea and away they went.  They made the cutest silver snowflakes with sequins.  The whole tree was blue and silver.  It was actually really pretty.   It kept them busy for hours, we shared time in making them.  They decorated the whole tree themselves.

Was it a masterpiece?  No.  Did we create memories?  Yes.  My greatest masterpieces are my girls.  No "perfect Christmas" could ever be more important than them.  

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.

Linked to:  http://timewarpwife.com/?p=1330



http://www.raisingmightyarrows.net/2013/12/proverbs-31-thursdays-link-4.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed: