Christmas Craft: Easy White Cookie-Cutter Clay Ornaments

It's been a whole week since I last posted...where has the time gone? Between wrapping presents, preparing for our holiday party this weekend and dealing with computer troubles, the time has flown by. 

...but I also managed to complete one last Christmas craft, an easy one that I hope you'll try in a spare 30 minutes: white, metallic-edged clay ornaments shaped from holiday cookie cutters. 

Christmas Craft: Everlasting Peace & Joy Boxwood Signs

Every Christmas, one of the most popular and meaningful messages in the Christmas cards I receive is this: peace and joy. The language of the holidays is especially hopeful, so I imagined up a surprisingly quick, affordable Christmas craft that celebrates these happy and merry messages.

Take a look at how I made them after the jump!

The Gnomes Book of Christmas Crafts

The holiday season is so special to me, in part, because it's the one time of year when I feel like a kid again. Do you know the feeling? Hanging nostalgic ornaments or spending time with relatives...all the festivities remind me of how magical the season has felt to me since I was a kid.

Recently I found a copy of The Gnomes Book of Christmas Crafts and it filled me with childlike delight. Let me tell you all about it!

Christmas Craft: A Tiny Winter Wonderland

It's that time again, friends--it's Christmas craft time here on Meet Me in Philadelphia!

I love spending the month making projects inspired by the season and sharing them all December long. Today, I'm sharing my first craft: a tiny winter wonderland.

Nine Christmas Crafts from Years Past

(one / two / three)

Here we are, my favorite time of the year! Sure, most of us are out scrambling for great deals on gifts but I guarantee we're also all planning our holiday decor and crafts. Am I right?

Today, I'm sharing my favorite 9 Christmas crafts I made in years past before sharing my latest holiday projects next week.  Are you starting your holiday crafting this weekend?

Home for the Holidays {My Home in Pictures}

Something about Christmas puts me into fully nesting mode. I adore all of the bits and bobs that come with the season, including the lights, the evergreens, the ribbons and garlands. Rather than ramble on about my love affair with the holidays, why don't I just show you how I've brought a jolly spirit into our apartment? As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words.

Christmas Craft #5: Birch Tree Food Banners

As a last minute craft, I whipped together a quick touch to add to the table at Saturday's holiday party--a set of birch tree food banners. I felt really drawn to traditional woodland-inspired themes this season, and these tiny little trees make me long even more for a white Christmas.

Christmas Craft #4: Washi Tape + Metallic Dot Garlands

For the better part of a year, prime real estate on my living room wall has been empty while I hunt for a great piece of art for the area. But, I couldn't allow the holiday season to roll by without addressing the blank space in a festive, seasonal way.

Christmas Craft #3: Glittered Apple & Pear Ornaments

Last week, when my husband and I were decorating our Christmas tree, Adam looked at these glittered fruit ornaments and asked me, "Where did you get these?" He thought I bought them! What a compliment.

Christmas Craft #2: Holiday Clip-Art Cocktail Napkins

My husband and I host an annual holiday celebration at our apartment and each year, I try to concoct new and special touches for the event. Today, I'll show how I created a set of cocktail napkins with a vintage festive feel that our guests can enjoy while we eat, drink and be merry!

Christmas Craft #1: Vintage Wooden Ornament Wreaths

Happy Monday, everyone! 

I'm so glad it's finally December. I love decorating for Christmas and will have lots of seasonal projects to share this month. Today, my first Christmas craft of the season!

During the summer, I found several bags of vintage wooden Christmas ornaments at a thrift store for $1. I'm probably the only person who thinks about the holidays in August, so I couldn't leave the store without them. What did the ornaments become? A trio of fun, cheery wreaths!

Christmas Craft #3: Foil Christmas Light Liners

I think I've already mentioned just how much I'm digging our Christmas tree this year, but allow me to mention it again. In addition to the toadstool ornaments that adorn the tannenbaum, I wanted to add a bit more sparkle to the tree.

And, even though we're just days away from the holiday, there's always time for a quick craft, am I right?

That's when I happened upon this tutorial for "twinkle lights" made with silver foil cupcake or candy cups.

(via Family Fun)

To create your very own foil star Christmas lights, you'll need:

1. Christmas lights

2. metallic foil cupcake or candy cups (I used these from Wilton, which were less than $2 at the grocery store)

3. scissors

Want to create your own?

Step #1:

Take your foil cup and flatten it. 

Then, fold the flattened foil up into eighths (so, fold in half, then in half again, and half again once more).

Step #2:

Now, you will star shaping your folded foil cups into stars. Cut off two corners so that they form a triangle, and then cut off the tip of the point (this is where the Christmas light will fit). Repeat for as many foil stars as you would like to make. Don't worry: this goes very quickly!

Step #3:

Hang your lights and, once in the tree, on the mantle or banister, slide the foil star onto each bulb so that it rests on the base of the bulb. No need for tape, glue or any adhesive.

I did not to make a foil star for each light on the strand, but chose to scatter them around the tree in a random sort of way.

The silver stars certainly add a bit more sparkle and reflective light from afar...

...and up close:

With just a detailed touch, standard Christmas lights become all the more special and festive.

Want even more foil-y Christmas inspiration?
Check out this similar-but-colorful version of the foil garland from the Martha Stewart team:

(via Martha Stewart)
Happy crafting!

P.S. Head over to Camille's blog The Vintique Object, where my custom tissue box cover inspired a post on your craziest design obsessions. Be sure to check it out!

Christmas Craft #2: Holiday Song Garland

(via Katie did)

Last year, Adam and I held our first holiday party and, while looking for great festive decor ideas, I found this idea for holiday song garland over at Katie did's blog. 

I created several garlands for our den last year and loved the look, so I thought I'd create more for our living room!

To create these holiday song garlands, you will need:

1. 8.5" x 11" colored copy paper (no need for to spring for expensive cardstock!)

2. twine or string

3. scissors

4. clear tape

Pretty simple list of supplies, no?

Step #1:

Start by selecting the holiday song phrases you will be creating. Don't be overly ambitious; limit yourself to memorable segments of your favorite Christmas songs. Here are a few that I chose--see if you can identify the whole song:

"rockin around the Christmas tree"

"please have snow and mistletoe"

"Jack Frost nipping at your nose"

"may your days be merry and bright"

Step #2:
Now that you've decided which song phrases you will create, begin by cutting your colored paper in half, then in half again. Each sheet of paper will produce 4 letters (use this to determine how many sheets of paper you will need for your chosen phrases). Then, focus your attention on one letter at a time. Cut all the E's at once, all the T's at once, and C's at once, etc. I did not trace or draw the letters, but created simple block-style letters that were easy to create.

Step #3:
Once you have the letters prepared for a whole song phrase, clear out a large area on a table or floor and start spelling the song segment backwards (letters and words backwards!). Determine the spacing you'd like to see between letters and words in your garland, and run your string or twine continuously along the top of each letter. When you're happy with the spacing, begin taping down the portion of string that touches the back of each letter.

With every letter secured with tape, flip your phrase over to reveal it's finished look!

Step #4:
Hang your garland with the same clear tape and continue creating more until your home is a holiday song wonderland!

I have more to work on for my living room so I'm off to work.

Would a holiday garland like this put a little song in your heart?

Christmas Craft #1: Toadstool Ornaments

(via Martha Stewart)

I'm so excited to share with you all my first Christmas craft of the season!

Last December, those Martha Stewart geniuses concocted a project that I've been excited to try all year (yes, all year long). Now that December has arrived once more, it's finally time to create my own toadstool ornaments for my Christmas tree. 

Toadstools and other elements like acorns, pinecones, or walnuts reinforce the natural aspect of the forest and harvest season. Toadstools, mushrooms, or champignons (whatever you call them), are a recurrent theme in German holiday ornaments and decor, and I thought that I would infuse our Christmas tree with these toadstool ornaments that give a nod to nature.

(via Wikipedia)

To create my own toadstool ornaments for this year's tree, I needed a few special supplies:

1. metal clip-on candle holders, $9 from Ebay (where I bought mine)

2. papier mache toadstools, $10 from Pier 1 (no longer available)

3. fine white glitter (I used "Carrera" by Martha Stewart), $5

4. small flat-sided paint brush, $3

5. red and pearlized white craft paints (I used colors from Martha's line in "Cayenne" and "Pearl"), $2/each

Note: 

You will also need to have some white glue and hot glue on hand for this project, but you probably already have that lying around! While I purchased my papier mache toadstools from Pier 1, I've found some options that would also work for this project:

Find these options here:

1. Moose-r-Us craft toadstools

2. Tom Floral toadstools

3. Create your own with this tutorial from Folksy

Once you have your papier mache forms, follow these easy steps.

Step #1:
Paint the toadstools in the vibrant red-and-white combination.
My toadstool forms were orange, yellow, and green (which don't exactly scream "Christmas"), so I used colors from Martha Stewart's line of craft paint. Allow enough time for all of your painted mushrooms to dry.

Don't forget the dots atop your toadstool caps!

Step #2:
Clean your paintbrush and use it to cover the caps of your mushrooms in a thin film of white glue.

Step #3:
While your mushroom caps are still tacky with glue, take your glitter and sprinkle the tops with lots and lots of sparkle. Allow time for your glitter and glue to dry before proceeding to the next step. Use a cup or plate to gather excess glitter for reuse.

Step #4:
Next, you want to begin transforming your toadstools into ornaments. Dab a generous amount of hot glue on your candle holder clips (right in the center where the stem of the mushroom will go). Take your first toadstool and hold it to the clip until the glue has adhered. Repeat for all of the mushroom forms you have.

 

And, like that, you are done! 
This project took me the better part of an afternoon, with enough time factored in for drying paint and drying glue. But, let me tell you, the rewards of waiting are worth it: just check out my completed ornaments:

Very Anthropologie, no?
I had a lot of fun working on these ornaments and know I'll love bringing them out each year.
Hope you like my first Christmas craft of the season!