Category Archives: Christmas

Winter Garlands

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Over the last few weeks I’ve been making garlands to hang around the house over Christmas.  It’s been a great way to practice my crochet and I’ve been spoiled for choice with all the gorgeous patterns out there at the moment.

My first one is made using some King Cole dk yarns and was from a pattern on Craftseller magazine.  I started this whilst I was in the hospital recovering from my second foot operation.  The fairy lights appealed to me as there’s no need to change bulbs or batteries and the garland can even be put in the washing machine! It measures well over a meter in length and drapes beautifully from the fireplace.

Crochet fairy lights

Having really caught the bug for crochet I found another pattern in an issue of Knitting and Crochet magazine. This time for a shorter garland, which looks lovely over a door. With my daughter being mad on Frozen still, I thought the stars looked quite like snowflakes.

Star garland

I’ve made a few of these as they look so pretty over the doors.

I’ve just recently finished another couple of garlands, as I discovered a stash of cotton in my yarn bag. The cotton is lovely to crochet with and it really holds the shape of the stitches well. I’ve made a little flower garland in cream and a dark turquoise.

Flower garland

Finally I’ve made a 3 metre long garland, ideal for the hallway, using red, green, cream, white and beige cotton for the stars.

All of the garland pictured are available for sale, so be quick if you want them as these are all one-offs!

Happy Christmas crafting
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A ‘Frozen’ Christmas

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My daughter and many of her friends are still mad on Frozen, so instead of letting it drive me mad, I’ve decided to go with the flow and take some inspiration from it for my Christmas cards this year.

There seems to be no let up in the popularity of the film and I have to admit to liking it too, although watching the dvd twice a week is starting to get on my nerves a little bit now! I love the snowflake symbol on all the merchandise, so what better then using snowflakes on my Christmas cards and in some of my crafts too?

Mixed snowflake cards

I bought a lovely little snowflake die from X-cut and went a bit mad cutting out snowflakes from different papers and cardstock. I think they work particularly well cut from holographic card. I’ve tried to stick to traditional icy colours – mainly white and silver. But I thought I’d try some in a more vintage colour palette too, so out came the kraft card, cream mottled parchment and a darker cream cartridge paper.

Mixed vintage snowflake cards

I also used a nesting punch set from x-cut to make some mounts for the snowflakes. They are the postage stamp style punches and they work nicely to add a hint of extra colour to the design. I’ve used a selection of cool blues, kraft card, white cardstock and some recycled paper. The blues really make the snowflakes pop out.

My daughter particularly likes the pale blue as she thinks it looks very like the ones in Frozen. What do you think?

Happy crafting
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Christmas kids crafting

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This week my daughter has been quite poorly. The change in the weather has brought out all the bugs! So after a couple of days in bed I decided we could do a bit of crafting for Christmas. I’ve been making some Christmas cards, getting ready for my Christmas craft stall and for some orders. As I was making cards, she wanted to make cards too. Out came the Christmas bit box and we thought it would be fun to get a bit messy, so there was lots of ink, pens, glitter and stamps.

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It’s such fun making Christmas cards. My daughter still loves stickers too, so peel offs were greatly in evidence too.

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These will be her cards to her teachers and Grandparents this year. Stamping was great fun. So I think there maybe some ink pads and stamp sets in her stocking this year.

There’s nothing nicer than a kitchen covered in glitter!!! And only one more week to half term.

Happy crafting
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Christmas Snowflakes

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I’ve been working on some more Christmas decorations this week, in particular a number of crochet snowflakes.

With ‘Frozen’ still being so very popular, the snowflakes are a perfect little decoration for this years tree. My daughter is particularly thrilled that she will have some for her tree this Christmas. I’ve used several different yarns, mostly dk, but I think they work well is cotton and in some different colours too.

Cotton Crochet Snowflakes

Icy Blue crochet snowflakes

I’m working on making a garland with alternate large and small snowflakes on next.

Happy Christmas crafting
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Christmas Market

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I’ve just booked myself a stall at the Bolton School Christmas Market. It’s going to be held on Saturday November 29th in the Arts Centre and is set to be full of lots of crafts and a great place to get your Christmas presents, cards, food and decorations.

So while I’m off my feet for a while, I shall be making the most of my time to make up some more Christmas decorations.

I’ll post more details nearer the time.

Knitted Christmas Stockings

Happy crafting
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Christmas in September

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Yes, I’m starting to think about Christmas. I know fellow crafters will have started making already, and non-crafters will be thinking I’m crazy. I’ve had my first stocking tree decoration order and I’ve been thinking about adding some different things to my range this year.

With my new love of crochet, I thought I’d try some crochet stockings. I’ve made a few as a trial and I’m after some feedback now. They are a little larger than the knitted ones, so will hold a few sweets or a small gift.

Crochet stockings

They are lovely to make up and I’m going to try with other coloured yarns too. I’m working on one now to which I am going to add a little snowflake design and button. My next project is to try a stripy one.

I’m also going to look for some ‘Frozen’ beads and buttons to add to them as I know my daughter and her friends are crazy about that film.

Back to the needles!

Happy crafting
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Christmas Market Review

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Saturday was the Christmas Market and after a day to recover, I can now objectively reflect on the day.

As anticipated the venue was amazing. The market was held in the Arts Centre at Bolton School. This building wasn’t there when I was at school, but it is truly stunning. The main hall would make a fabulous wedding venue. We had plenty of room and it was very well attended.

Inital stall set up

My lovely new crafter friend Jill shared my stall for her very first craft market.  She makes the loveliest hairslides, hairbands, badges and bookmarks.  Great stocking filler ideas for girls (and boys) who are into Hello Kitty, Peppa Pig, One Direction, Minecraft and Monster High (to name a few).  Contact me for more details of her stock.

Jill selling her hairslides

The Santa Raffle proved a draw to the stall, as did all the hairbands.  It was a fairly successful day for both of us.  A shame I wasn’t able to display my cards as I think they would have sold well.  My gift tags, little stockings and knitted characters were popular.

Of course, I ran into an old school friend at the fair.  Nice to get the opportunity to look round the old place in a less formal situation than the organised reunions.  Can it really be 23 years since we left?

Me and EmmaThe market was a fun day and again I have learnt a lot about displaying on the stall, and what items are popular.  There is definitely something in the theory of appealing to small children, and I think Santa and Jill’s hairband characters helped a lot!

Time now to get back to the orders and think about another stall in the next couple of weeks.  I’d like to have an opportunity to show my card collections.  But there’s the local community group Christmas Fair and a couple of visits to friends and family to fit in as well before the Big Day!

Thanks to Jill for coming along and keeping me company for the day, and huge thanks go to Hubby and daughter for being so patient, helping out and driving!    Here’s to the next one and a Happy Christmas for all.

Me and Jill

Happy crafting
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