Nordic style forest and chrimbly counting 20

A French style enamelled number plate in the middle of a native wild flower meadow on a small island.

Nordic Style Forest

You will need ...

Card - any colour - I chose ice blues, charcoal greys and duck egg blues

Scissors

Pen/pencil

Glue

G*L*I*T*T*E*R (comes with the same health warning as yesterday)

1. On a scrap piece of paper folded in half, draw a simple tree shape, the trees I made are approximately 10cm tall 

2.Cut your template out, lie on to your card, draw around and cut out the segments

3. Each tree needs three sections

4.Once you have cut three tree shapes, fold each one in half
5. Glue the outside of one half of one tree shape - see photo above right

6. Stick a second tree shape to the gluey half of the first tree, hold tight until dry

7. Turn over and add glue to both halves of your tree

8. Take the third and final tree section and stick to the gluey halves. Hold tight to dry

9. Stand the tree on it's base and smile coz suddenly you have a Nordic style tree right in front of you!

10. Repeat the exercise varying the shades of the trees until you have a little forest sprouting up before your very eyes

11.  I used pinking shears on two of the trees to give them added interest, leaving the other two plain

12. Do you add glitter? I did, I still had the twinkly stuff everywhere left over from yesterday's post, so it seemed churlish not to use it up and just go the whole glittery hog!

I'm glad I did :)

If you have been inspired by my tutorial, 

please could you be so kind to link back to my blog

I would love to see your little Nordic trees :)

Linking with Julie's Advent

#hawthorn

#crafts  #christmascrafts  #handmadewithlove #handicraft #inspiredby #imadethis #livelovecraftme

Lucky stars and counting 19

On a fairly (no - extremely) remote island walk, we found, along the practically indistinct pathway (I am sure it was just a sheep track ...) this fishing buoy. It had not been there long as the grass beneath was still fresh and only lightly dented.  And the sea? Quite a way off and the path was too high up for the buoy to have just rolled there on the day's light breeze ... so who'd carried it there and then abandoned it? 

'Curiouser and Curiouser' as Alice would have said.

Little lucky paper stars 

You will need ....

Pliable A4 paper (cartridge or origami)

Scissors

Ruler

Pencil

Embroidery thread and needle

Optional (and I hasten to add it should come with a health warning) glue and G*L*I*T*T*E*R

1. Measure, along the length of the paper, 2cm wide strips and cut out - each strip makes a star

2. Tie a 'knot' at one end of your strip of paper - careful not to pull too light as you want your paper to stay flat. 

3.Having tied your 'knot', flatten the creases firmly with your fingers

4. Take the short end of the paper ribbon and tuck into the knot - see photos below

5. Once tucked in, turn knot over and fold the long piece around, tightening the creases as you go along. The knot creates a pentagon shape which 'forces' your paper ribbon to go around the different edges of the pentagon as you wrap. Crease firmly each time. See photo below

6. Once you have used up all the paper ribbon, the last little piece must be tucked in and all creases pressed down.

7. If the very last little bit of paper comes out further than it should, snip off the excess - see below

8. Now for the persuasion part! Pinch the points of the pentagon, working around your shape as you go. You will have to go around a number of times before the star holds it's new form

9. You should, fairly quickly, have a mini galaxy forming. They are little papery delights as they cluster together. It is at this point you should think carefully as to the next step..... to  G*L*I*T*T*E*R or not to G*L*I*T*T*E*R

10 I chose to G*L*I*T*T*E*R

11. I am STILL clearing up the sparkle and twinkle. 

If you have been inspired by my tutorial, 

please could you be so kind to link back to my blog

I would love to see your little lucky stars :)

Linking with Julie's Advent

#hawthorn

#crafts  #christmascrafts  #handmadewithlove #handicraft #inspiredby #imadethis #livelovecraftme

Simple festive trees and chrimbly counting 14

We have a wood burning stove, which I adore (as do the cats) and at this time of year, it rumbles and crackles as it keeps our house deliciously warm and toasty. There is something so memorising and satisfying when sitting by a fire as it flickers and glows while I knit or read. But the beast that it is, requires feeding, so Himself collected discarded pallets all year round, stashing them in his wood store for our winter warmth. 

Very Simple Paper Trees

You will need ...

Firm paper 

Scissors 

Pencil

Metallic or coloured pens

1. There is no set size - be guided by the 'strength' of your paper as it will have to stand up under it's own weight.

2. Fold your paper in half lengthwise

3. Lightly draw diagonally across from bottom to top making a triangular shape (with the fold in the centre of your 'tree') 

4. Draw a slight curve at the base

5. Following your base line, lightly draw lines at regular intervals up the triangular shape, see picture above

6. Cut out your tree shape.

7. Open your tree and if you are going to decorate it, now is a good time to reach for the pens and let your creative juices flow!

8. To turn your tree into 3D, press alternating strips of paper backwards, creating a cone shape

9. The folds should be soft rather than crisp

10. Having made your first one, if you are feeling adventurous, before cutting your next tree out, draw and cut out half a star at the top, when you unfold you will have a complete star twinkling upon your tree :)

11. I used both plain scissors and pinking shears to cut my trees

Now arrange your little festive forest somewhere safe (and away from the cat ... who, in my case 'helped' .... more than once ... I am surprised the trees survived long enough for me to photograph them!)

If you have been inspired by my tutorial, 

please could you be so kind to link back to my blog

I would love to see your little festive trees :)

#crafts  #christmascrafts  #handmadewithlove #handicraft #inspiredby #imadethis #livelovecraftme

Quick gift for for your favourite dog and chrimbly counting 11

A pile of logs loitering behind a visitor's centre in Skye - why - do you ask, was I there? Well, I was following a trail put out by the centre which meandered around the woods and parklands then for a short stretch, walked round the back of the building, next to the bins and staff parking - an otherwise lovely little walk spoilt by a necessary but ugly link up path. On the plus side - I found this '11' cut into the log pile by the tree surgeon. Hmmm - thanks (I think!)

Now for nicer things!

Quick and easy gift for your favourite dog or dogs (woof!)

You will need:

Suitable nibbly dog treats, bought or homemade

A selection of jars or bottles (depending on how many dogs you are sorting out)

Gift tags (I found some dog themed ones from the cards I'd already cut for tags) LINK HERE

Ribbons, pen, scissors

Recipient of the dog variety ....!

1. Select your jars - I have used three different varieties, one smaller screw top, one sanctuary jar and a plastic tubby one. 

2. Fill your containers with the nibbly dog treats and seal shut. 

3. Now decorate your gifts with ribbons and tags - this may sound obvious but do remember to remove the decorations afterwards. (Although the dog will not actually open the jar and help themselves, I thought I better just add that little proviso ... )

4. Ta da! A selection of doggy treats for a bit of seasonal silly fun :)

And of course there always has to be a little of this ...

If you have been inspired by my tutorial, 

please could you be so kind to link back to my blog

I would love to see your dog receiving their dog treats gift :)

Linking with Julie's Advent

#hawthorn
#crafts  #christmascrafts  #handmadewithlove #handicraft #inspiredby #imadethis #livelovecraftme

While I wait ...

Sitting at my desk, half listening to some ditsy guest on the radio effusively gushing about something or other, it is dark and overcast this morning.

Not good light to paint.

We've been spoilt recently with autumn's most delicious clear light so today's insipid grey glow isn't that inspiring. (insert image of fed-up-face - any one's will do then you will see what mood I am channelling!)  So, rather than get frustrated I shall get on with photographing and blogging December's tutorials.

I have been asked a few questions about them already so I shall try and answer them here :

Are you still doing the Christmas/Advent counting down?

Yes, I every year I post a photograph with a number and a story and more recently I have linked up with Julie's Scrapbook through out the month of December. This year I shall still be doing my countdown but with added daily festive tutorials right up to chrimbly eve! (What was I thinking?? - no - it will be fun :))

Will I be able to do these tutorials? Will they be too difficult?

I have tried to ensure each one can be done in an hour, two hours, afternoon and in one extreme case - in a day. I have tried to ensure that most of the crafts can be made from things you will already have at home. I love the idea of recycling or reclaiming items and reusing them.  My chrimbly crafting plan is to provide a quick gift suggestion,  last minute decoration or fun afternoon of playing. (some items do require 'drying time' but I do include that in the instructions).

Can children do them?

Some will need some form of adult supervision  or intervention, only you know their ability, however a lot of them are definitely child friendly. December is a time for snipping and glue and sticky fingers and glitter and baking :)

What do you have planned?

Quick gifts
Decorations - for the tree, for the table, for the house and outside
Festive containers - for gifts, as wrapping
Baking

How will the tutorials be given?

I will list what you need, give hints and tips and suggest optional extras. Photographs of the steps and the finished item and where I can, I will include links for templates and further suggestions.

I hope this gives you some idea of what to expect and really hope that you join in. Some of the makes you will have made yourself over the years and others will be hopefully new and inspiring!  As we go along, I would love love love to see what you do, so do share and link so we can all see and join in :)

Right, the light is not looking any better -

so painting will have to wait,

crafting here I come!!

#crafts  #christmascrafts  #handmadewithlove #handicraft #inspiredby #imadethis #livelovecraftme #hawthorn

Accepting Autumn (a bit of a Ta-d!)

I had greedily become used to the unexpected late summer warmth 

making the softer autumnal days quite delicious and balmy.

The nights have started to contain a crisp feel, 

clear skies making for chilly mornings. 

One afternoon last week, returning from a Moss walk, 

I could feel the crunch of leaves beneath my boots.

They are a bitter-sweet reminder of the season

so instead of just crushing them and feeling grumpy,

I collected a few that had dried reasonably flat.

Later at home, I rummaged out a couple of cones from last year's festive craft box,

to add to the windfall and crab apples I had already gathered, 

as well as a vine wreath I'd twisted a week or two ago. 

With trusty mug of tea at my side, I spent a happy half hour

trying out different designs

with the leaves, cones and fruits. 

Glued them on, then weighed down with pebbles.

 Ta-da!

 

And, true to form, a feather or two tucked in between the leaves.

Stepping back, with, my now empty mug (thank you for all you lovely comments of my mug :) )

I feel quite happy with my little token of accepting autumn, 

I shall be hanging it on my front door as soon as I have finished this post.

Thank you too for your lovely photos for the Scavenger Photo hunt (a few of you have emailed with apologies for missing last month - don't worry! We do this for the fun and the pleasure of it - it is not compulsory!!)

I will be running the photo hunt for October and November but giving it a break for December, I have something else planned for that month (mind you I suspect most of us do too). So here is a little hint of December's plan.

I will be still doing my chrimbly-count-down but with added chrimbly crafting. From the 1st of December until the 24th, I shall be posting a craft a day. Each one will be a quick and easy one and will be ranging from last minute gifts, festive baking, seasonal crafts, decorations and wrapping/making gift containers. 

I am so looking forward to sharing with you all these little tutorials and ideas!  

I shall be posting this month's list of words for our photo hunt over the weekend,

a slightly different slant this time - enjoy!

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤Happy FRIDAY to you all❤❤❤❤❤❤❤