Christmas Craft #24: Pinwheel Centerpiece

Here’s a quick and easy centerpiece using a bunch of pinwheels.

You need-

1. Papers in solid green (Michaels) and candy cane print (Blick)

2.  Wood dowels (Michaels)

3. Brass plated fasteners (Staples)

4. Glue gun, scissors, sugar and container

Instructions-

Follow the directions from Lisa’s post on how to make a basic pinwheel. The only change will be that instead of a single sheet of paper you’ll be working with two. Cut in 4″x 4″ squares. Remember to also fold them so that the candy cane print is on the outside.

Now trim dowels various lengths with your scissors or coping saw. Hot glue a pinwheel to each one. Fill a container (I used a vintage McCoy pot) with sugar. Insert pinwheel sticks in a pleasing arrangement.

Note- Great for a kid’s table!

(Styling & Photo- Martha B.)

Christmas Craft #23: Gift Tags

Straight from the pages of Vogue!

A fashion shoot from the October 2012 issue is the inspiration behind this project- gift tags with a quirky little twist. I scanned the images onto cardstock paper and cut them out. But instead of stopping there, I  snipped off legs or arms and I reattached them using very small fasteners. This let me have some fun positioning them on the packages. You can print names during the scanning process or write them out in white marker.

The Container Store carries this snowflake wrapping paper. Assorted ribbons are from my stash.

(Photo- Martha B.)

Vintage Christmas Photo #16

Vintage Christmas Photo #15

Christmas Card By Kenneth Heilbron

Kenneth Heilbron (1903-1997) had a long career in advertising and fashion photography. He also contributed work to Time and Life Magazines. Each Christmas Heibron designed his own greeting cards. This is one of them.

(Photo-card by Kenneth Heilbron, undated)

Related Nibs post-

Christmas Cards By Artists

Christmas Craft #22: Door Decoration

An old trombone is reused for Christmas decorating.

You need-

1. Trombone or trumpet

2. Florist wire and clippers

3. Nails and hammer

4. Assorted greens

5. Ribbon

Instructions-

Secure wire to the sliding part of the trombone (by the handle or what is called the slide receiver) so it doesn’t move. Measure and place two nails into your door…one to support the top of the trombone’s slide and the other down near the handle. Wrap wire around the slide top and attach to the first nail. Wire the handle to the second nail to keep the instrument from shifting. Fill bell with greens. Add ribbon.

(Styling & Photos- Martha B.)

Vintage Christmas Photos #14

A collection of Christmas slides c. 1958, 1961, 1963, 1970.

Vintage Christmas Photo #13

Christmas Classics- A Gift Guide

‘Little Women’ written by Louisa May Alcott, 1868.

Gift Sources-

“Christmas won’t be Christmas without any presents,” grumbled Jo, lying on the rug. (leather bound journal)

“It’s so dreadful to be poor” sighed Meg, looking down at her old dress. (faux bois mirror)

“I don’t think it’s fair for some girls to have lots of pretty things, and other girls nothing at all,” added Amy with an injured sniff. (print of paint brushes)

“We’ve got father and mother, and each other, anyhow,” said Beth, contentedly, from her corner. (piano keys belt)

(Illustration by Harve Stein, 1932. Text from ‘Little Women.’)

Related Nibs posts-

Christmas Classics- A Gift Guide

#1. ‘A Christmas Carol‘

#2. ‘Mr. Willowby’s Christmas‘

#3. ‘The Gift Of The Magi‘

#4. ‘Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer‘

#5. ‘Babar And Father Christmas‘

Christmas Craft #21: Printed Envelope Card

The inspiration for this Christmas card comes from old airmail letters where the message was written on the inside of the envelope.

You need-

1. Scrapbook pages (cardstock weight is best)- Michaels

2. Red stickers- School or stationary supply stores

3. Snippet of pine

4. Scissors, hole punch, pencil, red pen, glue stick

Instructions-

Take an envelope and carefully open it up all the way. This will be your pattern piece. Using your pattern, trace in pencil the outline onto a sheet of printed paper (mine shows wintertime pine trees). Cut it out. Make folds where necessary. Write your letter in red ink.

Take a separate sheet of white paper and do a simple holiday greeting. Cut that out and punch a small hole at the end. Slip this through the pine stem.

Seal envelope with a red sticker. (Apply extra glue to sticker if needed).

For the front of the envelopes use white labels to write friend’s name and address.

(Styling & Photos- Martha B.)

Related Nibs posts-

Christmas Crafts

Christmas Cards By Artists