tree Archives - Linda Nelson

THIS ONE’S FOR YOU, LITTLE SISTER!

November 30, 2016

My sister had been doing some clutter purging, and passed a few fabric remnants on to me when I spent Thanksgiving at her home. I’m a sucker for handouts like that. A few days later my mom mentioned to me that she had a box of trim, lace and sewing notions stashed away in a closet, and asked if I was interested in the stuff. Yes, mom. Oh my……. I’ll need to prepare quite a bit for this future post because opening that box led to opening other boxes, and to opening up a running stitch of memories. And, I can’t wait to share those memories with you!

Anyway, I’ve decided that I’m going to return some of the fabric to my sister. Yep, I’m going to “gift” the piece of olive green velvet fabric back to her……. for Christmas.

Ta-da!

©Linda Nelson 2016

If you’d like to make a stuffed yo-yo Christmas tree, you will need –

a sister who’s getting rid of about 1/2 yard of fabric
button thread (it’s much more durable than regular thread)
a needle
round templates in graduating sizes (I used pot lids dishes, etc…)
beanbag fill (rabbit/guinea pig bedding shavings would also work!)
a dowel or metal rod about 3/8″diam. (the length depends on how tall you make your tree)
a small pair of pointy scissors
tree base and tree topper (*see note)

©Linda Nelson 2016

Stitch, stuff, cinch and tie off all your yo-yo’s. Using the pointed end of the scissors, poke a hole through the center of each yo-yo making sure the hole is wide enough to feed the dowel/rod through. Feed all the yo-yos onto the rod (cinched side facing up). Now, it’s time to add your topper and base, though I must let you in on a little secret –

©Linda Nelson 2016

* I used old lamp parts to assemble my tree, but I’m confident that if you don’t have any lurking around your home, you will successfully finish the assembly some other imaginative and resourceful way. Just get creative!

THIS ONE’S FOR YOU, LITTLE SISTER! Read More »

GO BACK TO THE SHED!

December 20, 2014

In my previous post I shared an idea for repurposing flowering vine trellises. Upon completion I still had 3/4 of a trellis left to play with (I actually have about thirty trellises stashed in my shed, he-he-he….).

Ta-da!

©Linda Nelson 2014

Now, aren’t these little gift tags just too stinking cute? I had a few cut “shorties” leftover and didn’t have the heart to toss them. I had the ink stamp on hand, a clearance purchase from a craft supply store a few years back; but I never used it. This was the perfect opportunity to christen it. The cotton twine is attached with tiny U nails; sanding smooth the back side of the tags creates an ideal surface to write on.

©Linda Nelson 2014

I do hope this post triggers a few ideas in your head, and motivates you to create something original yourself.

There you have it.

Now, grab a trellis and get creative.

GO BACK TO THE SHED! Read More »

NO, DON’T GO TO THE MATTRESSES……….

December 18, 2014

……..Go to the garden shed!

And grab a few of these.

Cut them up, give the pieces a light sanding, then lay them out like this.

I made a slight revision, in that I grabbed another trellis and used one long section to adhere (glue and some brads) all the cross pieces on to. Some acrylic craft paint smeared on with a sponge, a picture hanger fastened to the back, and this project was done in all of about one and a half hours. Not bad, right.

I elected to keep my tree simple, but go ahead and adorn yours in any way you like.

There you have it.

Now, get creative.

NO, DON’T GO TO THE MATTRESSES………. Read More »