Handmade Holiday Gift Idea

Do you ever have a craft idea and when it all comes together you are just giddy? Well, this plastic cloche ornament was one of those moments for me. I was searching and searching to find some tiny glass bell jars or cloches to make ornaments. Of course I am a little on the cheap side and didn’t want to pay very much, plus I wanted my kids to be able to use them to make ornaments and not feel like they cost to much to let them glue Legos or pipe cleaners inside. Then I was wandering the aisles of Dollar Tree and duh, it hit me.

I spied some plastic wine glasses with removable bottoms and presto this fantastic ornament idea was born. I am certain I am not the first crafter to have this idea and I am not sure why I never thought of it before. But if you are as excited as I am, then run, don’t walk to Dollar Tree and pick up a 6 pack of these plastic wine glasses and some of the plastic snowflakes I glued to the bottom.

(The Santa ornament above has the removable wine glass base glued onto the bottom of the ornament. Genius! You can use all the pieces! That makes it stand up on it own. Don’t add the ornament hanger and you can just display it on a mantle.)

I do want to warn that E•6000 glue is smelly and you will need to help your child with the gluing part. I let my kids pick out all the pieces and show me how they wanted them assembled, then I glued for them. Only my eight year old was able to do it herself.

Supplies:

• Plastic Wine Glasses (mine are from Dollar Tree in the party supply section)
• Plastic Snowflakes or (use the removable bottom from the wine glasses)
• E•6000 Glue
• Ribbon
• Scissors
• Assorted items to put inside (birds, Santa, bottle brush trees)

How To:

1. 

   Using either a plastic snowflake for the ornament base or the removable bottom from the wine glass, glue down the pieces you are using to form a scene inside your ornament.

2. If you are using the base of the glass, you can either put it right side up or upside down. Either way will work.

3. 

   Complete gluing on all items that will sit inside the ornament. Let dry.

4. 

   Place glue around edge of glass and stick down to base of ornament.

5. 

   Add glue to the stem of glass and tie ribbon around glue to create an ornament hanger. Let dry. Then tie ribbon into a loop.

    

6. Glue on additional embellishments to the outside of ornament. I got my rhinestone mesh to create the pretty blue bling around the bottom of my bird ornament from HERE.

The post Handmade Holidays | Plastic Wine Glass Ornament appeared first on Alanna George | The Craft Nest.

It’s Foam for the Holidays Friday again! This project doesn’t actually use foam… but, do you love giving wine as a house warming gift or to the hostess of a holiday party? You can stitch up this burlap wine gift bag in no time and get that bottle of wine all decorated for gift giving!

You can also find more project ideas using FloraCraft® products at MakeItFunCrafts and at the CraftsandCoffee blog!

Supplies:

• Burlap Garland Design It:® Simple Style® By FloraCraft®
• Embroidery Floss
• Sewing Needle
• Ribbon
• Candy Cane or other decoration
• Scissors

How To:

1. Wrap the burlap garland up around the bag and cut off the needed length to cover  your bottle.

2. 

   Fold burlap piece in half. Tie a knot in the floss and start stitching down one side.

3. 

   Continue stitching down the first long side. Then stitch across the center of the bottom and the up the other long side. Knot thread and trim.

4. Slide wine bottle into bag and tie ribbon around top. Add a candy cane or other holiday decoration to the ribbon.

The post Handmade Holidays | Foam for the Holidays Burlap Wine Gift Bag appeared first on Alanna George | The Craft Nest.

Are you in the holiday spirit yet? We had a great time decorating the tree over the weekend. Everyone is old enough now that they can help hang the ornaments. It’s a special and magical year for us and I love that all of my kids are so into the Christmas spirit. This week I helped my 4 year old make his handmade gift. He stamped these spice bags to give as gifts to his brother and sisters. This is really easy to do, but will keep a 4 year old busy for a chunk of time.

My son was so excited to finish stamping the bags and then fill them with CANDY! I bought some Brach’s classic candy mix, somehow it just tastes like Christmas and Grandma’s house!

Supplies:

• Spice Bags
• Stamping Ink Pads
• Stamps
• Candy

How To:

1. Lay bag flat.
2. Choose stamp and ink it up.
3. Stamp onto bag. Continue to add stamps to build a cute scene!
4. Fill with candy or treats.

The post Handmade Holidays | Stamped Spice Bags with Candy appeared first on Alanna George | The Craft Nest.

It’s a new week and time for another Foam for the Holidays Friday! This week I made this exquisite glitter tree with a cherub perched inside. You could put a bottle brush tree, a Santa Claus, an Angel; just about anything inside this sparkly little tree. It’s the perfect weekend to start making gifts of holiday decor!

You can also find more project ideas using FloraCraft® products at MakeItFunCrafts and at the CraftsandCoffee blog! Come back next Friday to see what I made using Burlap Garland Design It:® Simple Style® By FloraCraft®!

Supplies:

• FloraCraft® Make It: Fun® Foam Cone
• Glitter
• Mod Podge
• Foam Knife by FloraCraft® Make It Fun
• Pipe Cleaner
• E6000 Glue
• Decoration for Inside

How To:

1. 

   Using your decoration, measure how big your hole will need to be. Use your foam knife and cut an outline of the size hole you want.

2. 

   Continue to work the knife around making the hole deeper.

3. 

   Once you cut open a hole, scrape inside until you get the desired depth and size you need.

4. 

   Paint Mod Podge onto your foam cone. Paint in sections and add glitter as you go. I like to glitter over a pail or dish and then dump the unused glitter back into my container.

5. 

   Paint Mod Podge inside the carved out opening.

6. 

   Glitter the inside of the opening.

7. 

   Use E6000 to glue a pipe cleaner as a trim around the set in part of the tree. Use glue to secure decoration in place too.

The post Handmade Holidays | Foam for the Holidays Glitter Tree appeared first on Alanna George | The Craft Nest.

My 7 year old son made these drinking glasses to give as gifts to his siblings for Christmas. This is a really great kid craft! This year we are working on a new tradition. I am helping each child make a handmade gift for everyone in our family. Making special gifts makes my kids feel so excited and proud and since he loves to draw this was a natural fit. So you’ve seen what he made, don’t spill the beans to the rest of the family! Want to help your child make glasses like these? Read on to find out how simple they were to make!

I wanted to tell you a little more about my son’s choices of drawings. He drew a bunny for his older sister who loves bunnies, ninja’s for his brother, a crown for his little sister, a deer for Dad and an Astronaut for himself. There was one more glass for me, but he wrapped it so I couldn’t see it! I am so excited for him to give these to everyone! Plus now we will know whose cup is whose and I won’t have to keep washing them because we don’t know who drank out of what cup!

Supplies:

• Glass Markers – found at Michaels or Jo-Anns
• Glasses
• Drawings of what you want to draw
• Tape

How To:

1. Wash and dry glass.

2. 

   Measure your glass and cut a piece of paper so it will fit inside your glass. Use that paper to draw your picture on. Slide paper with picture into glass and use a piece of tape to secure picture temporarily to glass.

3. 

   The easiest way we found to draw on the glass is to lay it on a paper towel in your lap. Once glass is lying flat, draw your picture by following the lines of your paper sketch you see through the glass.

4. Let dry according to marker instructions. Hand wash.

The post Handmade Holidays | Painted Drinking Glasses appeared first on Alanna George | The Craft Nest.

It’s the second week of Handmade Holidays on The Craft Nest. Today I have a free pattern for you! You can create this lovely hand-sewn bird ornament to give as a gift or to keep for your own tree. This is also a very easy craft for a beginning sewer or child sewer to sew by themselves.  A free pattern is included in this tutorial.

There is quite a variety of colors and decorations you can use to create and decorate this lovely bird and make it your own. I am picturing Baltimore Orioles, Cardinals and Finches. All would be so pretty dangling from a Christmas or Spring tree! Let’s get started.

Supplies:

• Craft Felt or Felted Wool
• Thread
• Needle
• Stuffing
• Bit and Baubles
• Glue
• Scissors
• Pattern – Felt Bird Ornament Pattern Download

How To:

1. Use pattern to cut out pieces from felt. You need two bird bodies and one belly. Download FREE pattern here: Felt Bird Ornament Pattern Download

2. 

   Thread needle with matching thread. Using a whip stitch, start sewing right under the birds tail. Sew all the way around the bird until you reach just under the chin.

3. 

   Lay the belly piece on the outside top of the bird body. Use a whip stitch to continue sewing one edge of the belly to the bottom edge of the bird body.

4. 

   After one side of the belly piece is sewn to the body piece, FLIP the belly piece over and sew the remaining belly edge to the remaining body edge. If there are any gaps where all three pieces come together use a whip stitch and close them up. Leave a small opening to add stuffing.

5. 

   Add stuffing into your bird ornament. I often use a chopstick or pencil to help me push stuffing into all the small areas. Sew closed using whip stitch.

6. Decorate your bird by gluing on bits and baubles. On the dove pictured at top I used false eyelashes and trimmed them to glue on for the eyes. I ordered tiny crown charms that already had a loop and stitched them onto the bird’s head.
7. Sew on an ornament hanger on the back of the neck so your bird can beautifully decorate your tree.

The post Handmade Holidays | Felt Bird Ornament Pattern appeared first on Alanna George | The Craft Nest.

This sweet little tin has two paper dolls inside and magnetic clothes that can be stored inside when play is finished. A perfect Handmade Holiday gift for a little girl (or boy – boy option shown below). If you are looking for a gift to make on a budget you’ve found it. What little one could resist such a practical present in such a cute package?

For this holiday gift idea I was able to team up with my friends at Colorbök and Making Memories to get my hands on some of the lovely Sarah Jane Children at Play scrapbooking products. Not only did I get some product to create this project myself, but I am giving away two prize packages of Sarah Jane scrapbooking product by Making Memories!

Let’s move on to how to create this sweet little paper doll tin and then after pop down to the bottom and sign up for the giveaway. Also, don’t miss the coupon code in the How To below!

Supplies:

• Scrapbooking Paper
• Magnetic Canvas (mine is by Darice from Jo-Anns)
• Tin (mine was a gift card holder from Michaels for $1, found at checkout)
• Sarah Jane Children at Play paper dolls
• Scissors
• Adhesive (I used a Xyron machine)

How To:

1. Choose the paper dolls you want to use for your project. If you can’t find these dolls at a scrapbooking store, you can also purchase and download a .pdf of similar paper dolls directly from Sarah Jane’s website. Click this link: Sarah Jane Paper Dolls and enter coupon code Dolls20 at checkout to get 20% off thru Nov. 28th on your paper doll printable order. (Thanks Sarah for the coupon code to share with my readers and fellow gift makers!)

2. 

   Trace lid shape onto paper. Cut out paper to cover lid by cutting slightly inside the line. Repeat for inside of lid and inside bottom of tin by using the already cut piece for the lid as a template.

3. Adhere paper to lid, inside lid and inside bottom of tin using adhesive. I used a Xyron machine to turn my paper into a sticker.
4. Adhere a paper doll inside the lid and on the inside bottom of the tin.
5. Cut the tabs off of the paper doll clothes. Adhere the clothes to the magnetic sheet. Carefully trim out clothes/magnetic shapes.
6. You are ready to gift your magnetic paper doll tin!

Are you ready for the giveaway? Sign up below for your chance to win one of two Sarah Jane Children at Play scrapbooking product packs from Colorbök and Making Memories!

*Open to US residents only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The post Handmade Holidays | Magnetic Paper Dolls Tin appeared first on Alanna George | The Craft Nest.

Can you believe that November is passing so quickly? I can’t! Thanksgiving is already this week. For my Handmade Holiday Gift Idea this week I wanted to show you how to make a dinosaur or dragon tail for a standard 18″ doll or a Bamboletta. It is a super easy thing to sew and the best part is you can also make a matching tail for your son or daughter! This a free tutorial for you to use for personal use.

Doll Animal Dinosaur Hat:

To make the hat shown on the doll you can download my free Doll Fleece Animal Hat Pattern . Follow the instructions on the post, but also add these few extra steps.

1. For the hat above I used snuggle flannel instead of fleece.
2. To create the spikes, buy a piece of craft felt. Craft felt is 9″ x 12″. Cut out a strip of spikes that measure 12″ long x 2″ high.
3. Before sewing the two outer layers together, place the felt spike strip in between the two right sides of the fabric and sew the spikes in as you sew the outside of the hat.
4. Follow the rest of the instructions as posted.

Doll Dinosaur or Dragon Tail:

Isn’t this little dinosaur tail super cute? The tail is actually a mini-version of the dragon tail pattern designed by Jessica at Running With Scissors. Below you will find a list of the materials and sizes of the pieces you need to cut, then I will link you to Jessica’s detailed tutorial for creating the finished tail. Her pattern is for the full-size tail, but the sewing process for this miniature tail is the same.

Supplies:

• 3/4″ x 5″ Velcro
• Craft Felt 9″x12″
• Snuggle Flannel or Fleece 20″ x 10″
• Stuffing

How To:

1. Click on the pattern template below to view it larger. Cut out pieces as shown on my template.
2. I had two places where I varied from her pattern:

• When sewing the straps fold right sides together (instead of having two separate pieces) and sew along one bottom end and up along the long side. Turn straps right side out.
• I cut my spikes out of one piece of felt instead of regular fabric. That let me skip a couple steps since my spikes where ready to be sewn in and didn’t need finished edges.

* VISIT Jessica’s site at Running With Scissors to find the full instructions for completing the tail. You will probably want to make a matching tail for your child!

The post Handmade Holidays | Doll Dinosaur Tail appeared first on Alanna George | The Craft Nest.

My daughter is having her friends over in a couple weeks to make crafts. We decided we wanted to make finger puppets as one of the projects. We wanted them to come in a little gift box so everyone would have their own Finger Puppet Kit. We made enough kits for her friends and a few extras to give to cousins. I am really excited to make these with the girls when they come over, my daughter is really excited too. If you want to make some Finger Puppet Kits to give as gifts, you can download my FREE patterned gift box by clicking on the link below. (Don’t forget to LIKE us on Facebook so you don’t miss out on any great craft ideas!)

Handmade Holidays | How To | Finger Puppet Kit

Supplies:

• Stretch Gloves or Recycle Old Gloves (Target has 2 for $2 or Jo-Anns has them in their dollar bins at the checkout)
• 5mm Googly Eyes
• Tiny Pom-Pom Balls
• Assorted buttons, trims, wire and paper flowers
• Colored Paper
• Felt
• Glue
• Scissors
• Small Baggie
• Finger Puppet Gift Box Template Download

How To:

1. Download and print the Free Finger Puppet Gift Box Template. (It will work best if you print the template on a thicker paper.) Cut along the solid lines and score lightly using a craft knife on the dotted lines. Fold on dotted/scored lines. Adhere side of gift box together using double-sided tape or glue.
2. Cut fingers off of gloves.
3. Count out googly eyes. Add assorted pom-pom balls and trims.
4. Cut out paper and felt in 1″ squares.
5. Place all the googly eyes, trims, paper, felt and other small items into a small baggie.
6. Place glove fingers and baggie of items into box and fold sides closed.
7. Give as a gift!

FREE DOWNLOAD:

Click here – Finger Puppet Gift Box Template Download

Linked to: Where Women Create

The post Handmade Holidays | Finger Puppet Kit appeared first on Alanna George | The Craft Nest.

Over the weekend my daughter and I made these bottle cap necklaces to give to her friends as gifts when they come over in a couple weeks to make some Christmas crafts. She was so excited to help me put them together. We think they turned out really cute! The perfect handmade gift for little girls. If you want to make some with your daughter check out the free download below, it has the cute little girl faces for you to use to make your own necklaces! (The free download has a larger variety of hair colors than the necklaces shown above and no names.)

Handmade Holidays | How To | Bottle Cap Necklaces

Supplies:

• Darice Cotton Loops (found at Michaels)
• Jump Rings
• Bottle Caps (I got mine at Oriental Trading $4 for 24)(Also at Hobby Lobby $9 for 24)
• Gemstones
• Magic-Glos by Lisa Pavelka (found at Hobby Lobby) (other options are Diamond Glaze or 3D Crystal Laquer)
• Crop-A-Dile
• Scissors
• Double-sided Tape
• Bottle Cap Necklace Art Download

How To:

1. Use your Crop-A-Dile to punch a hole into the bottle caps.
2. Print out the Bottle Cap Necklace Art Download and cut out the ones you want to use.
3. Secure art to bottle cap using a small piece of double-sided tape.
4. Add a gemstone onto the art.
5. Follow the directions and add your Magic-Glos. Let it set for a very long time according to directions. Try to make sure you have nothing near by the bottle caps that will get fuzz or dirt on the glaze after you have applied it. Keep an eye on them as they dry and pop bubbles with a toothpick or pin.
6. Add a jump ring to the top through the hole.
7. Thread your cotton loop through the jump ring and knot the ends together. (I cut my cotton loops in thirds to make them the right size for the girls necks.)
8. Package in a cute gift box!

FREE DOWNLOAD:

Click Here – Bottle Cap Necklace Art Download

Linked to: Where Women Create

The post Handmade Holidays | Bottle Cap Necklaces appeared first on Alanna George | The Craft Nest.