Carrier Bag Snowballs

This was a really great Christmas project to do with Rowan.

We cut the carrier bags into strips and wound them around two rings of card board. The most successful ones were made from the thinner bags. One bag = One Snowball

We then cut around the edge and tied another strip around the centre between the two rings. Remove the card and fluff into a ball. Trim off any excess.

Then Rowan's favourite bit, we dipped them in craft glue and silver glitter.

Nana's Snowmen Advents

Nana's home made Christmas snowmen are filled and on the window sill, so it really feels like Christmas is on it's way!

Nana has made one for every grandchild and now great grand child for years so I'm feeling very nostalgic!

Made from a coffee/hot chocolate tin covered in cotton wool. A ball of scrunched up newspaper and cotton wool for the head and a hat from a yoghurt pot, a circle of card and an old sock. (This must be where I get it from!)

Felt facial features and buttons to finish. This idea could be varied so much the possibilities are endless!

You then take 25 chocolates, tie on a piece of lametta and put them in the tin. Pull on a piece of lemetta every day until the tin is empty, then it's Christmas!

Christmas Stocking Filler Ideas

I've been stocking up on bookmarks ready for some Christmas craft fairs and wanted to make some with a Christmas theme.

For the Crochet range I have added a holly leaf. Made from green wool oddments and a reclaimed red button. This is made using doubles, increasing and decreasing to achieved the required shape. Simple chain stitch for the stem.

For the pompom range, well it had to be a snowball! Simple white pompom with chain stitch.

Click here to see full range

Crochet Mug Warmer

I was looking for small gift ideas and came across this pattern for a mug cosy, there are lots out there but particularly liked this one!


Pattern “Marion’s cozy mug warmer”

http://finvara.wordpress.com/2011/01/16/pattern-marions-cozy-cup-warmer/

I was really pleased with how this turned out, I just need to find some more small simple projects ready for Christmas! I know it's only September!!! It will be here before we know it and I like to make as many gifts as possible and not just because it saves me a fortune!

What to do with all these wool oddments??!?

My mission for this year was to learn to crochet properly, having made several attempts in the past and not having got it quite right. I am very lucky as my Mum is fabulous at it and so I have a constant source of handy hints and access to some great patterns and how to guides!

So far I have made a small baby blanket

Then I got a little more adventurous and had a go at making up my own creations, I decided on Owls,

All this crochet coupled with a dabbling last year with knitting I am accumulating rather a lot of oddments and have been coming up with small projects that will make use of them.

I have made some pompom key rings and bookmarks

and now I am working on Flower versions

Any more ideas? I will have to chat to the very talented, fellow Trash Revamp member Janine Booth http://folksy.com/shops/trashtasticknits