Advent calendar

It's 6 November and all the shops are filled with Christmas goodies. I can't believe the year is already coming to an end.  So we probably have to start with our Christmas decorations and advent calendars before it's too late.

I have made a cute advent calendar that is so easy to make and it looks beautiful to hang on the fireplace, or to use the natural twine against a wall and hang them all on there.

I love making advent calendars it's such a special build up to Christmas of loved ones.  I put in a little verse or write something special in each day's parcel with a chocolate. 

FYI

An advent calendar is a special calendar used to count or celebrate the days in anticipation of Christmas.  The days often overlap with the Christian season of Advent.  Despite the name, most commercially available Advent calendars begin on December 1, regardless of when advent begins, which can be as early as November 27 and as late as December 3.  Usually there are 24, one for each day of December leading up to Christmas Day.  One is opened every day leading up to Christmas.  The  calendar can reveal an image, poem a portion of a story (such as the story of the Nativity of Jesus) or a small gift, such as a toy or a chocolate item.  Some calendars are strictly religious, whereas others are secular in content.  wikepedia.com

For this calendar I used 

24 white paper bags

10 m Natural Twine

300g Air dry clay

Number stamps

a star cookie cutter

Kebab skewer

Rolling pin

Firstly I rolled out the air dry clay so that it is about 2 mm thick.  I then stamped the number on the clay and cut it out with the star cookie cutter.  For the hole to thread the twine through I used a skewer.

Wait at least 24 hours for the clay to dry before threading the stars.

Then you can put your card or chocolate or what ever you wish in the bag, fold it in four and wrap it with the natural twine.  Then thread the start through.  

Remember to keep the one piece of the twine long enough to hang it up with.

Enjoy making these for special people in your life.  

button balls

Are they not just happy and so much fun to make... you can make them as Christmas decorations or just to hang in a tree outside to brighten things up!

What you need:

• Buttons different colours and sizes {depending on the size of the buttons - but at least two good hands full} 
• Styrofoam balls
• A pin
• Ribbon
• Glue gun

Put a drop of glue on the button then stick it on the ball.  Be careful of putting the drop of glue on the ball as die heat of the glue gun can melt it. 

Using the different sizes of buttons cover the ball as much as possible.  

Then stick a long hat pin into the ball sticking it through the ribbon to secure it.  I like putting a drop of glue on the base of the pin just before a stick it down, just for a bit of extra security that the ribbon doesn't slip out.

Make a few balls and hang them up! :-) Sure to bring a smile to your friends faces!

festive wreath

Wreaths are one of the most popular decorations used over the Christmas period.  You’ll see them used in many different ways.  They are commonly used on the stairway, hanging on the walls and doors, or they can even be used as a centrepiece on a table.  These wreaths just cheer things up and get you into the festive spirit.  

They are easy to make and you can keep them to make something different every other year :-) 

FYI: The history behind wreaths dates back thousands of years and much of the symbolism lies with Greek mythology, Roman tradition with the present day usages being foacused on Advent and for festive decor.  

In the Greco-Roman world, wreaths were used as an adornment that could represent a person's occupation, rank, their achievements and status.  The wreath that was commonly used was the laurel wreath.  The use of this wreath arose from the Greek myth involving Apollo, Zeus' son and the god of life and light, who fell in love with the nymph Daphne.  When he pursued her she feld and asked the river god Peneus to help her, in which Peneus turned her into a laurel tree.  From that day forth, Apollo wore a wreath of laurel on his head.  This is because associated with what Apollo embodied; victory, achievement and status and would later become one of the most commonly used symbols to address achievements throughout Greece and Rome. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wreath)

What you need:

a wreath (You can use the wreath we made on 22 September 2011 (http://ilovethisandthat.blogspot.com/2011/09/in-vineyard.html) or you can buy one from your local florist.)

pieces of off cut material to suit the occasion (about 2cm x 20cm) 

Take the pieces of material and just simply tie it around the wreath... untill you have the desired look.

And then hang it on the door with one of the ends of material, using a small nail or thumbnail.