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.