Tag: Christmas

Polymer Clay Heart Ornaments

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I first picked up polymer clay in middle school. I went through pretty much all of the Klutz kits the local Barnes and Noble had to offer, making all different kinds of art projects. I specifially remember the polymer clay set because I made an adorable little mouse “clay doll”, complete with changeable clothes. By that, I mean it was flat, cut-out clay in a more sturdy form of a paper doll.

Recently I grabbed a variety set of Sculpey clay at a Staples that was going out of business. Or a different Staples that was just having a sale on a day I was bored shopping. Either way, I was confused and delighted to find that Staples carried clay and it was something like 30% off.

Most of that clay has been used up fixing things the kids have broken or making beads (which is a great way to keep kids busy for the afternoon), and I recently felt like making more things. So I grabbed another variety pack on a recent trip to JoAnns and set about making heart ornaments.

These heart ornaments are super cute and available on my Ko-Fi Shop and Etsy Store. They are $15 each with free shipping no matter which shop you buy from, but if you buy from my Ko-Fi shop you get access to subscriber content for 30 days which includes exculsive coloring pages, downloads, and videos.

Countdown to Christmas

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Technically doesn’t start until a week from Friday, but that means you’ve still got just enough time to make an advent calendar. This one only took me parts of two days last week. And then waiting for the numbers to be delivered.

I started by figuring out the placement of the pockets, which are 4 inches by 4 inches, and then I created strips for each line. I folded the top edge down half an inch and stitched it with a zig-zag stitch. Next I centered the strips on the green felt and stitched along the bottom of each row before flipping the whole thing over and drawing the Christmas tree outline with a Sharpie. Then I cut the tree out to make it easier to fit through the sewing machine to sew the side of the pockets.

I sewed the lines in between and on the ends of the strips that ended inside the tree outline. I left the ones that go over the edge free until after attaching the tree to the background fabric.

Next I sewed the trunk of the tree to the background, so it would be behind the bottom of the tree.

After pinning the outside pockets out of the way, I sewed the entire outline of the tree down. Everything is sewed with a zig-zag stitch to flatten the edges.

I sewed the remaining pocket edges down and added a star for the top.

I finished the whole project off with a backing (of purple muslin because it was the only plain woven fabric I had that was large enough to cover the whole back) and a wooden dowel for hanging that was slightly too short.

I added a screw to each side, which worked out well anyway for attaching the string to hang it. I had ordered stick-on felt numbers, so all that was left was to stick them on when they arrived. Now we just have to figure out a way to hang it for December 1.

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So Many Projects

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So last week I ordered some fabric. It arrived the other day, and my little helper was very excited to help me open it. And then he asked, “Who is all those people?” Which lets me know I need to bust out the special episode tapes as we enter the holiday season.

I’ve drawn a quick flat, mostly to make sure it will look good to cut all the pieces on the bias, since it is quilting fabric and I want it to have some stretch. I like comfy clothes. I think it should turn out well:

Then, there is the issue of Halloween being a month away. One of the boys already has a Harry Potter costume, and now the other big brother has decided he also wants to be Harry Potter. The littles are a little more challenging. One wants to be a “vampire giant tarantula” and the other wants to be “mighty eagle from Angry Birds,” but I think I have those figured out. Just have to actually write a list of what I need to make them.

And, with Halloween only a month away, that means Inktober starts on Saturday. That is my 30 page notebook, which I have gouached the cover of to make 31 pages. Saturday will be creating a cover for it. I’m obviously going to be posting pictures to Instagram every day, but I’m also going to post a round-up here every Friday.

There is one more project that I am also working on. Actually, a few, but this is the first of a mini-series of Christmas presents. And, not meaning to cause panic to anyone making presents for Christmas, there are only 88 days left until Christmas. So I need to get moving on this. Or these. Not panicking. Yet.