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Thursday, November 17, 2011

Christmas crafts

If you follow me on twitter (or are friends with me on Facebook), you might have seen some recent Christmas crafts I've been working on. I decided that I wanted a theme to our tree this year and I kept coming back to the idea of burlap. This will be our 3rd Christmas together and for the past 2, we've only had a tiny orange Cleveland Browns tree (I am talking 2 feet tall). We didn't really get to decorate much for Halloween since I threw a bridal shower the week before so we have been dying to decorate for Christmas.

I don't want to give away too much because I intend to do a Christmas decor post when we finish decorating but I wanted to share a few things...




I bought a pack of 2 wooden H's for $.50 at Hobby Lobby. I wrapped this one in natural jute and hot glued a rosette made from burlap (see my video tutorial for rosettes here)


Last year after Christmas, I bought 5 packages of 10 black and white shatterproof ornaments for $.50 knowing I could craft with them. The one on the left is simply wrapped with natural jute and the one on the right is made from burlap. You're in luck because you will find a picture tutorial at the bottom :-)


I have been keeping my eyes out for a tree skirt but nothing has spoken to me (not to mention they are pretty expensive!). We bought a pretty small tree (6.5 ft)  knowing that we will be in a different house next year, that and our current house is small, we don't have too much room for a huge tree. I had some red fabric laying around and Jon made us a homemade skirt! If you didn't already know, Jon has a degree in mechanical engineering and has the mind of a scientist. He is all about precision which happens to be my weakness! Here is a sneak peek


I put these antlers on Ernie last night and he would NOT move. I even walked into the kitchen and bounced his tennis ball (his most prized possession) and he just stood there. I don't think he likes them too much.


I used this website to make the burlap covered pom ornament above. Here is a picture tutorial with directions at the bottom. 


Supplies needed: burlap, fabric scissors, hot glue, ornament (or foam ball)

Step 1: cut your burlap into 1inch by 1 inch squares (I used about 35 squares for a normal sized ornament)
Step 2: fold the small square in half and half again. Secure with hot glue
Step 3: once you've made a sufficient amount of folded squares, start hot gluing each square around the top of the ornament and continue around the whole thing


So are you crazy and already decorating for Christmas?? Do you have a theme to your tree too? What crafts have you made/plan on making for Christmas?


P.S. don't forget to enter the My Memories Digital Scrapbooking Suite giveaway!


20 comments:

Christina L. said...

Love the burlap idea! It's my first Christmas living with my boyfriend and he has been requesting some non-sparkly decorations to throw into the mix. :)

Amanda said...

You already have a Xmas tree?! I'm going to have to wait until I get back from vacay to get a tree...but I'm excited to have my very own tree. I already know where I'm going to put it!

Amanda said...

i have had the urge to decorate and go nuts (which i've done every year with scottie for 4 years) - the first two years decorated him and his roomates apartment (and my own apartment lol) and the last two we've lived together ours. i love to do a ribbons theme with dark red and green ornaments with white lights.

it makes me so antsy cause we're actually moving the weekend of my birthday (dec 8th) into a new apartment so i can't decorate until then.... grrr!! haha

Carolyn said...

Love the burlap theme! SO CUTE! :) My dog hates the antlers I put on him too! haha but he shakes his head and tries to put the antlers in his mouth. Doesn't work for him, but he still tries. haha

I can't wait to see the finished decorations!!

Leah said...

Yay Christmas crafts! Love the H ornament. You've already seen what I've done so far this year - thanks to your gift! (http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.161672677260965.37520.149901681771398&type=3) I also want to make some of those foam trees covered in ornaments. PS. Nice straddle, Jon.

Rachel said...

cute! love the burplap.

ellelorraine.com

michaela @ m.jane said...

i do not like decorating for christmas...well, any holiday really. can you believe that? it drives chad completely crazy.

until last year, i refused to put up a tree (or own one).

then on a total wild hair, i went to town and bought a little tree and decorated it and surprised him. he liked my gesture, understanding how huge it was.

and then i put the whole mess away all by myself right after christmas. and that, my friend, is why i hate doing it.

on the other hand, i am looking forward to seeing more of your crafts. maybe you'll give me some inspiration or maybe i just need a kick in the you know what...

Dusty said...

Ok, love the crafts and LOVE Ernie. I just belly laughed outloud. I swear he needs to have a doggy shirt that says "What the Heck" on it. I think you have to be a animal lover to understand animal faces and that's priceless. He makes me smile.

Krista said...

We are Christmas junkies so yes, we are already decorating :) I have my own special separate tree that I keep in the dining room with all my sentimental/delicate ornaments on it. It is a must with 2 rowdy boys roaming the house :)

KRISTIN said...

LOVE that 'H'. Such a cute idea, I can't wait to see everything all finished and put up.

and as always, Ernie melts my heart.

Wendy said...

So cute you crafty girl! Can't wait to see all of the decor! You always do a fabulous job! :)

Hall Around Texas said...

Too cute! I'm loving burlap right now too!! :)

Amy @ Amy Day to Day said...

Look at you, you crafty wife! I wish I had a crafty bone in my body, but I don't!

henning love said...

did you happen to make another H to send over to me?? hehe kidding

Chelsea said...

I love decorating for Christmas!! I think it is never too early :) Love your ornaments Ruthie!

Ash said...

burlap? that's so unique! can't wait to see the rest of your designs. :)

Ashley Slater said...

love your ornaments! I want to do the natural jute wrapped one!

and so funny about ernie, I put antlers on bella and she wouldn't move either! she does the same thing with halloween costumes too.

i bought her some SHOES for christmas, I hope she walks in them! hahah

Claire Beeks said...

These are so adorable!!! You are just so crafty...and I have to echo Leah...nice straddle Jon hahaha!!

... said...

Ha ha I love Ernie in these! :) He just did not know what to do with them huh?!

I love the idea of a burlap theme tree! So perfect! Can't wait to see more!

Props to you Jon...props on the skirt! ;)

Heather @ Finding Beauty in the Ordinary said...

oh my gosh. how fun!
i definitely need to make this!!
and is that chair in the pic with jon from home goods? i could have sworn i've seen it there! love!!!!
love you!! xo

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