holiday Archives - Page 2 of 3 - Linda Nelson

TAG, YOU’RE IT!

December 21, 2015

And, in my eyes, you’re a star!

I always enjoy making my own gift tags, and even more so if it doesn’t require too much effort. The one pictured is ideal for repurposing old holiday cards, and is a very child friendly craft.

©Linda Nelson 2015

I found a very nice dimensional star tutorial at House Revivals, and it’s super easy to follow. While you’re there, check out more of Amanda Lee’s posts; she’s a very, very talented lady. I created a template, traced it onto my chosen card stock, cut it out, then wrote out my sentiment on the back. I simply used the non-cutting edge of a butter knife to score the folding lines. Punch a hole in one section, attach your tag to the gift with some ribbon or twine, and……Voila! You’re a crafty super star!

©Linda Nelson 2015

As a variation, create two templates, one smaller than the other, and glue the smaller one on top of the larger one. Outlining the star with glitter glue would look really nice, too.

Now, get creative!

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LITTLE SPLASHES CHRISTMAS

December 18, 2015

Because my dining room and living room have served as crafting lab and production station for the past two months, and is currently a weekend open-to-the-public handmade holiday shop, I’ve held off on decorating those rooms. It’s a bit unnerving, as they are usually draped with my beloved baubles by now. However, I’ve managed to adorn my kitchen with curious little splashes of Christmas. The flavor for this season is homey, vintage, general store-esque…… with a pinch of kitsch. It’s subtle, but I’m finding it quite delightful.

©Linda Nelson 2015

Aren’t these Twelve Days of Christmas cloth napkins just darling? A client of mine passed them on to me. They’re just too pretty to smear a holiday feast upon; I think they’d make for a fabulous banner, though!

©Linda Nelson 2015

I had just enough vintage glass baubles to fill this scale tray with, and especially love the look paired with the colorful candy canes.

©Linda Nelson 2015

Not a creature was stirring………. This sweet little felted mouse, a gift from a friend, quietly perches on my kitchen window. Washing dishes won’t have to be a lonely task.

©Linda Nelson 2015

I love decorating for Christmas, don’t you?

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THE NESTING INSTINCT

October 6, 2015

I don’t know about you, but when we get bouts of consecutive rainy days I go right into craft, clean and purge mode. Nope, one does not need to be an expectant mother to take on the nesting instinct. In addition to hormones, rainy days and the change of seasons can trigger it, too. I’ll bet that many of you can identify. Anyway, after some tidying, laundering, scrubbing and tossing, I broke out my crafting paraphernalia.

To start, I whipped up two decorative pumpkins, one from a remnant piece of plush velour, the other from a zebra print upholstery fabric sample. These diva-worthy pumpkins are for my friend; she loves glitz and glamour. I think she’ll love these, too.

©Linda Nelson 2015

I also began production of select items I designed, which will be offered for sale at our town’s local(and fabulous!) garden center come November. If you happen to live near the east end of Long Island, NY, or will be visiting the area this coming holiday season, be sure to visit Lynch’s Garden Center.

Aren’t these mushrooms darling? They’re perfect for fairy garden aficionados or anyone who appreciates the cross-pollination of the natural with the surreal.

©Linda Nelson 2015

Yes, I will be making my painted pine cones, too. And, lots of them!

They’ll be available in ornament form………..

©Linda Nelson 2015

as well as clutched in little, one-of-a-kind handmade nests. Did you know that finding a bird’s nest in a selected Christmas tree was once symbolic of luck and good fortune? This traditional belief is said to have originated in Iceland or Germany. However, I don’t think one needs to be a traditionalist, nor from one of these countries, to appreciate such a “lucky” find, or to simply see the beauty of a perfectly nestled nest amongst tinsel, garland and baubles.

©Linda Nelson 2015

There you have it.

I’ve been creative.

What about you?

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…….A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS

December 16, 2014

Brooches on treetops and baubles on Blitzen….

Do you dress your reindeer with earrings? No? Well, you should. You want them to look fabulous, don’t you? Get your glitz and glamour out of the jewelry box and on to antlers. And on to everything else.

Let’s face it, most of us gals have quite a collection of jewelry, yet we only wear a few choice pieces at a time. The rest sits in a box and waits. And waits. And waits. What a waste. Give those baubles a job for the holidays. Besides, with them displayed about, you may be more inclined to snatch one from your decorative vignette and dress yourself instead.

Oh, and what about glamorizing those little bud vases, jars and bottles you have stashed away in the basement? Add a few sprigs of greenery, and you’ve made a statement!

There you have it.

Now, go fetch your baubles and get creative!

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