DIY Mini Note Book Covers

I just love this fun idea of using up beautiful paper. It is practical and functional and you can appreciate the lovely paper far more often than before.

The next best thing to pretty fabric is pretty paper! Although I don’t scrapbook, I love to walk through that department at my favorite craft/sewing stores and couldn’t resist buying some when I saw it marked down.  Of course, then I had to come up with a project for it, so here it is!

Sometimes the paper is so pretty, I am reluctant to use it, but I had no such trouble with this project. Some are planned to be small gifts, others I will use myself and then I can appreciate the paper each time I use them.

The therapeutic and relaxing nature of craft is something we should ponder about whilst stuck in traffic jams, heading to work each week!  🙂

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Travel theme: Fabric

Traveling to different places in the world gives me an excuse to investigate folk traditions in fabric design. Something I find incredibly inspirational when it comes to designing my own artwork. Fabric and furnishings can also reflect the cultural and historical nuances and traditions of a region.

Norwegian embroidery and weaving

Where would you find a beautiful fabric motif like this, but Innsbruck?!

Hardanger embroidery on a cafe curtain

Norway is a country, where you will find many original and distinctive fabrics in many different forms.

Click on each individual photo to see a larger version

Norwegian National dress

Weaving

Bunad – Folk costumes

If you have some fabric that you have discovered in your travels, post a link to your blog or join in with Ailsa’s photographic travel theme challenge.

 

Something to Ponder About

 

Red & White Christmas: Fringed, Peppermint Stripe Tree

My project for today.

Crafts 'n Coffee

More red & white Christmas decorating ideas today. Have you missed the Peppermint Candy Tree, Peppermint Stripe Sweater Wreath, or the Mitten & Snowball Garland? Today’s tutorial is for a Fringed, Peppermint Stripe Tree. I can see several of these red and white Christmas trees grouped together on the mantel, can’t you? And do you know designer Rebekah Meier’s secret – she made the Fringed, Peppermint Stripe Tree from a second-hand t-shirt.

To make a Fringed, T-Shirt Tree, you’ll need:

• STYROFOAM™ Brand Foam: 12” cone
• Knit shirt (Rebekah used a red & white striped shirt from a second-hand store)
• Red ball ornament
• Glitter spray (Rebekah used Krylon® Glitter Blast)
• Low-temp glue gun
• Tools needed: Scissors; ruler; straight pins; optional: rotary cutter and mat

To make a Fringed, T-Shirt Tree:

1. Using scissors or the rotary cutter and cutting mat, cut shirt…

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Easy, red & white Peppermint Pinwheel Topiaries

One could make pinwheel topiary or star topiary. The possibilities are endless.

Crafts 'n Coffee

These cheerful Peppermint Pinwheel Topiaries stand more than 12” tall. They would make a stand-out addition to your mantel or a buffet table. Or, add a hanger to the peppermint “candies” and they become Christmas ornaments. This wraps up the many red & white Christmas decorations featured in the Red & White, Peppermint Stripe Christmas Mantel series. I love the combination of red & white for Christmas decorating, so I can’t say this is the last of our red & white Christmas crafts . . .

To make a Peppermint Pinwheel Topiary, you’ll need:

(Materials are for one topiary)

• STYROFOAM™ Brand Foam: One 4″ disc & one 2″ ball
• Paint:
  • Acrylic craft paint in white
  • Glitter spray (Rebekah used Krylon® Glitter Blast™)
• Small clay pot
• Felt: Red & white
• Wood dowel, ¼” x 12”
• Ribbon, red
• Buttons, ½” white
• Ball head pins in red
• Crinkled shred
• Low-temp…

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Let’s make a Peppermint Snowman!

Christmas crafts anyone?

Crafts 'n Coffee

Isn’t this the cutest snowman? I know that several of you following along with the Red & White, Peppermint Stripe Christmas Mantel have been waiting for the tutorial to make this sweet, Peppermint Snowman. And today is the day! I’ll start with a thank you to Rebekah Meier for sharing this cutie with us, and then it’s on to the tutorial for making the Peppermint Snowman.

To make a Peppermint Snowman, you’ll need:

• STYROFOAM™ Brand Foam: 4” egg and 2” ball
• Clay pot, small
• Felt or fleece, scraps
• Socks:
  • Chenille sock in cream
  • Holiday sock in baby size (for the hat)
• Jingle bells, three small red
• Head pins in black:
  • Two medium (eyes)
  • Five small (mouth)
• Wooden dowel, 1/8” diameter
• Floral wire
• Mini light strand (found in the dollhouse or miniatures aisle)
• Paints:
  • Spray glitter (Rebekah used Krylon Glitter Blast)
  • Snow paint (Rebekah used Snow-Tex

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