Handmade Christmas Challenge

Can't believe I'm late for the very last posting of a Handmade Christmas Challenge! I do have a good excuse.

I've been madly wrapping presents for Kinder and Prep teachers

Organising treats for our Christmas barbie yesterday.

Making decorations.

I've thoroughly enjoyed hosting this challenge albeit a tad over zealous starting in June! But just when I thought I may be the only one participating in my humble little challenge, one of you would link in with an amazing gift you had been working on. So thank you all for joining in and keeping the crafty spirit alive and well. Thank you to all 59 of you (at last count) who responded to the challenge and whilst some of you may not have participated, your comments were always timely and encouraging.


Of course, just one last free downloadable print for those feverishly wrapping presents:

Free printable Christmas warning labels here .

Wishing you and your families a very safe and happy Christmas. 

Trace x

 

Oh Christmas Tree

Thought I'd play along with Sophie today and show off our Christmas tree. I tried to take some close up shots but my photography is woeful and they kept turning out fuzzy. Our tree is full of handmade paper chains, angels made out of foil and bells laced in tinsel It won't be winning any Martha Stewart styling awards but its 100% genuine and it reflects our humble home and the wonderful life we share with our two gorgeous girls. 

Making its way to our tree this year, is a very special gift from a lovely lady who makes me laugh daily. I won this as part of a generous giveaway last week. It's Netherlands heritage adds an air of sophistication and international flair that compliments our paper chains so well!

I went a little crazy with the white spray paint on the weekend and made this decoration of twigs and ornaments as a table centrepiece.

I won't subject you to any more out-of-focus photos. They are driving me mad! If you'd like to show us your Chrissy tree, head over here and join in.

Flea Market Find

Last weekend we attended our local Boot Sale. It's always a fantastic opportunity to find a bargain or two...or three! I was not disappointed. I found this gorgeous make-up case filled to the brim with kids toys. I explained to the stall owner that it wasn't the toys I was particularly fond of but the wonderful case they were in. He sold it to me for $2. 

I now use it to keep my ribbons and twine in. I have plans to add some scissors and tape in the holders on the lid.

 I then spotted this gorgeous tea light holder for $1.

Couldn't leave without the girls getting a little something, so their Barbies were treated to a new wardrobe! I love checkers, so we bought some pieces for 10c. Now I just need a board!

A big thank you to Sophie for hosting Flea Market Finds this year. Back in October I was the lucky recipient of the title "Flea Market Find of the Year"  and received a gorgeous delivery in the mail last week. 

I was so excited to receive these gorgeous goodies. I will put them all to great use. Thanks again Sophie. For more flea market finds, head over here.

Handmade Christmas Challenge

I've got planned another creative weekend for the kids. I've been completely inspired by TEEK and her creative space a few weeks back. I plan on making these wonderful treats in preparation for a barbie we are having next weekend for my eldest daughters school friends and families.

Rudolph lollipops inspired by a tutorial over here.

And these fantastic jars of Christmas goodies that the kids are sure to enjoy and giggle at. We are making these today.

All images found here.

What wonderful creations are you making for Christmas? Have you spied someone else's creation that would be perfect for a loved one? Perhaps you need some help with a few ideas.To join in, just leave a comment and simply add your link below.You can join in anytime during the week. If you are new to this meme, click here for all the details on how to join in on this Handmade Christmas Challenge and feel free to grab my button.

Christmas Creation

It's been a creative Christmas production line in our household this week with lots of glitter, cellophane and twine. I love getting the kids involved in making special Christmas gifts and of course, they have a ball.

For school friends we've made these very special Reindeer food packs to sprinkle on their lawns the night before Christmas. It's a secreat recipe but I'm happy to share it with you so long as you don't tell anyone! 

It includes oatmeal, green glitter and red glitter, mixed to just the right consistency and bundled into bags with a whole lotta love. Attached is a little poem:

"Make a wish and close your eyes tight, 

then sprinkle this on your lawn tonight. 

As Santa's reindeer fly and roam, 

this food will guide them to your home. 

The reindeer will love their oatmeal snack, 

while they are waiting for Santa to come back.

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

Christmas Tree Hunting

As long as I can remember, my Dad has always insisted that we have a real Christmas tree. Not that unusual I'm sure except for the fact that he never buys one! Before I paint the wrong picture here, let me share my dad's theory. Up where he lives, they are surrounded by State Forest and until recently it was towering with 100 year old Eucalyptus trees and ferns (since Black Saturday, we are only now starting to see a few saplings rise through the scorched, black earth). My father is a pragmatist and can see no issue with ridding the State Forrest of 'noxious' and 'introduced' Pine Tree species. 

As kids, the first day of December signalled an adventure. Dad would bundle us up in the car at night and drive for what seemed like an hour to a secret spot he'd be surveying for months where he'd spotted THE Christmas tree! THE tree was always off a track surrounded by heavy scrub that would scratch our bare legs as we fought through the foliage to reach our destination. He'd then carefully saw at its trunk, stopping every now and again to listen for any passing cars. Once down, we'd throw the tree under our collective arms and run like the wind back to the car. It is easily the one event in my life where I've lived on the wild side. I'm conservative by nature and acquiring a tree when everyone else is asleep felt really scary, if not a little thrilling. Dad always got cross when we mentioned the word stealing, reminding us that we were in fact renegade environmentalists!

The next morning we'd look over our prize catch, only to realise it was a mutt of Christmas tree. Typically, it would have big gaping holes around its trunk and be full of spiders, ants and unidentified creepy crawlies that only a protected eco-system could support. We'd try to jazz it up with decorations but it would look pathetic with a massive lean to one side. I always felt sorry for the tree. Amongst its own, it was probably very happy and inconspicuous. In our living room, it stood out like a poor little skinny kid with a big head. 

more pathetic Christmas tree images here

If your Christmas includes a few escapades, and you have a story to share, I'd love to hear it!

Handmade Christmas Challenge

Hello December! Wow, I thought you'd never arrive! I realised that I've been doing this Handmade Christmas Challenge since June and without fail every week, someone joins in on my linky and blows me away with their ingenuity and clever craftiness. As we near the home stretch, I'm spoilt for choice of all the amazing DIY Christmas gift tutorials that are around. This week I bring you my top 3...

Stunning paper Christmas tree tutorial over here

 Awesome chalk block tutorial here. So clever and so very simple.

Fabulous Hessian wreath tutorial over here. 

If you've missed a few posts, I thought I'd include a quick and easy link to a few of my favourites:


Handmade card making and wrapping
Beautiful decorations by some friends
Gorgeous wreaths 
DIY Advent Calendars
A Christmas tea recipe

What wonderful creations are you making for Christmas? Have you spied someone else's creation that would be perfect for a loved one? Perhaps you need some help with a few ideas.To join in, just leave a comment and simply add your link below.You can join in anytime during the week. If you are new to this meme, click here for all the details on how to join in on this Handmade Christmas Challenge and feel free to grab my button.

My creative space

Whilst I'm feeling under the weather and nursing my youngest who has chicken pox, I thought I'd make a start at this simple paper garland to hang on our mantle piece. The repetition of cutting out templates keeps my mind off feeling poorly. 

I've used some old Carmen Opera books I found at my local Op shop some time ago to use for the dove templates. 

Thought I'd share the love and include the dove template I found if you'd like to give the garland making a crack.

 I'm hopeful mine will look similar to this gorgeous inspiration.

I'm also keen to have a go at making this fantastic dove decoration.

For more creative spaces, head over here.

Handmade Christmas Challenge

This time of the year always seems like a tough slog to Dec 25th. The kids are wrecked, I'm tired of juggling work and home and the weather is at its Melbourne finest, hot one day, pouring with rain the next. I tend to refer to it as walking up hill with cement shoes. Can anyone else relate or is it just me?

That Christmas light at the end of the tunnel is getting nearer and I've decided to bring forward our Christmas decorations. I usually wait until the first weekend in December but we need some good cheering up and motivation to see us through so I'm dusting off my Bing CD, untangling the lights and cranking up the festive cheer.

This week we made Christmas cards for my children's school friends

And, I've found some inspiration for making some gift tags.

What wonderful creations are you making for Christmas? Have you spied someone else's creation that would be perfect for a loved one? Perhaps you need some help with a few ideas.To join in, just leave a comment and simply add your link below.You can join in anytime during the week. If you are new to this meme, click here for all the details on how to join in on this Handmade Christmas Challenge and feel free to grab my button.

Etsy Favourite

It feels like I'm walking up hill with cement shoes. I'm so tired and so are my kids. Bring on Christmas holidays and some consistent sunshine please. Until then, I'll stare out my window on this gloomy, rainy day and fantasise about homewares like these...

Ruffled Linen Messenger Bag

Ruffled Light Shade

The Lilia Camera Bag

All this amazing loveliness can all be found here at A Bushel and a Peck

Handmade Christmas Challenge

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas! Christmas decorations are everywhere but don't get suckered in to buying the 'made in China' kind, check out these fabulous DIY alternatives.

If you love these crochet baubles, wander over to Pip's  place. She will take you through a step by step tutorial on how to make these beauties.

Styrofoam, pins and felt is all it takes. Yet, another generous tutorial over here (what I now refer to as my crafty oracle) via here.

Beautiful snowflake curtain tutorial over at Bugs and Fishes.

What wonderful creations are you making for Christmas? Have you spied someone else's creation that would be perfect for a loved one? Perhaps you need some help with a few ideas.To join in, just leave a comment and simply add your link below.You can join in anytime during the week. If you are new to this meme, click here for all the details on how to join in on this Handmade Christmas Challenge and feel free to grab my button.

Handmade Christmas Challenge

Hello! I'm back from holidays feeling very well rested and ready and raring to get stuck into the Christmas challenge again. I'm loving that so many people are starting to get into the Christmas spirit and making the most amazing things. The past few weeks have been chock o' block with gorgeous handmade creations that quite frankly have me dazed and confused as to what I should buy/make first. I could list dozens of my favourites but I've settled on my top 5 Christmas inspirations with the promise I'll feature more next week.

In no priority order...

1. Ridiculously cute softie ornaments from the talented Brenda over here.

2. This gorgeous elf stamp is hand carved and one of a number of cheery Christmas must haves available at Chantal Vincent Art.

3. A barnyard Christmas Sale hosted by Martha at Vintage Trifles and Molly Mo's. Seriously, I'd kill to be at this. I've seen so many posts this year about these amazing vintage barn yard sales in the USA that I dribble on my keyboard every time! I'm so jealous.

4.  I can't get enough of these bus rolls from the clever Melbourne based folks at Harper Grace. I bought their Family Rules Bus Roll for a family member for Christmas but I can't bare giving it up so I've decided to keep it for myself. Perhaps I'll have better luck handing one of these over!

5. Last, but never least is this little unassuming kids pencil holder. I love it for its simplicity and the fact that I've got some timber in the backyard just waiting to be turned into this. This may in fact feature in Thursday's creative space.

What wonderful creations are you making for Christmas? Have you spied someone else's creation that would be perfect for a loved one? Perhaps you need some help with a few ideas.To join in, just leave a comment and simply add your link below.You can join in anytime during the week. If you are new to this meme, click here for all the details on how to join in on this Handmade Christmas Challenge and feel free to grab my button.

Flea Market Find

Not that long ago I found these two stunning mirrors at my local oppy for $3 each. My oppy has ridiculously priced treasures and I love getting there early and unearthing such amazing vintage pieces. I want to find a couple more to create a collection that hangs on a wall over an old meatsafe.

A big thank you to Sophie who hosts Flea Market Finds each week. I was absolutely surprised to find out today that I won Flea Market Find of the Year. I love playing along and the most enjoyable part is seeing all the lovely treasures my blogging friends showcase each week. 

Have a wonderful weekend all. I'm taking a couple of weeks off with the family to sun ourselves in Queensland so will be absent from blogland for a while. Look forward to catching up with you all on my return. 

Trace x

Handmade Christmas Challenge

I'm a hardcore, glue touting, ribbon twirling, paper wrapping addict. I think hands down the best part about Christmas is the wrapping of presents and the making of handmade cards. I just can't get enough of it and what's more, these images make me weak at the knees.

Have you started making your Christmas cards yet? I plan on getting my kids to do similar cards like this for their class mates.

There is no end to people's creativity. These vintage books have been given new life with some Christmas cheer.

Not to be outdone by the world map, head over here for some local Melway wrapping action.

The humble doily - nothing humble about it. Just stunning.

Love that gingham.

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What wonderful creations are you making for Christmas? Have you spied someone else's creation that would be perfect for a loved one? Perhaps you need some help with a few ideas.To join in, just leave a comment and simply add your link below.You can join in anytime during the week. If you are new to this meme, click here for all the details on how to join in on this Handmade Christmas Challenge and feel free to grab my button.