Shabby Chic Ornaments

Holiday making is in full swing. Yay! I'm hoping that all the glitter, and glue, and pretty Christmas pictures, kick my spirit in the pants so that I'm cheery as all heck this year. 

Last year was exhausting and I think aged me about 10 years. This year I want to enjoy myself. There are rumours of snow for this Monday, fingers crossed it comes and I'll be the holly jolliest mo' fo' you ever did see!

Until then, I'll settle for fake snow and glitter... which isn't so bad. This shabby set of ornaments is covered in the stuff.

They are made with laser cut wooden frames (last years post-christmas clearance, bought for pennies, hells yes!). I prepped the frames with blue paint then slopped those suckers with glue, white acrylic paint, glitter and faux snow. Add fake berries, burlap, snips of lace and tulle, vintage buttons and ta dahhh!

These lovelies are already on their way to their new home (hiya Ms Amy Love!), but if you'd like some Pixie Hill magic to arrive on your doorstep, skip over to my facebook page and enter my holiday giveaway.

Love you more! 

xoxo

Naughty or Nice Facebook Giveaway

I'm having a holiday giveaway ON MY FACEBOOK PAGE

I'm not entirely sure what the prize will be... but it's going to make one lucky winner very happy ;)

To enter, simply hop over to my facebook page and let me know if you're on the naughty or nice list. Share and like too, thank-you-very-much.

REPEAT: DO NOT ENTER HERE. Please enter HERE

Good luck!

The Tomte

I bought some paper mache cones with the grand idea of making tree toppers. As time marched on, and I realized the clock was ticking down, I knew they weren't going to happen. 

Sometimes, in spite of things not going according to plan, you end up with something wonderful anyway. Here's my conical something wonderful...

Christmas Tomte! I'm sure you've seen these fellows but do you know their story? These Scandinavian creatures are very similar in appearance to gnomes (I hear they are third cousins) and act as a sort of helper or gaurdian of the homestead. If you are well behaved, and they are treated well, they will assist by tending animals, doing chores and bringing good fortune. Otherwise, prepare for mischief.

These wee fellows are also Yuletide gift bearers, leaving gifts on Christmas eve, for which they should receive a bowl of porridge and some butter. 

The details/names of these creatures vary depending on the Scandinavian country they inhabit. Sweden, Norway, Finland, Norway, Denmark all have their own versions. If interested in learning more about them, try searching Tomte, Tomtar, Nisse or Tonttu.

How's your holiday crafting shaping up? Remember to stop and take a breath once in a while, ok.

Wintry Sleigh and Card with Petaloo and Graphic 45

What a lovely holiday treat to have the chance to work with the Christmas Carol collection from my old friends at Graphic 45. The gorgeous, vibrant colours work so well with Petaloo's blooms. Whether it's red, green or blues... they all coordinate beautifully.

I've embellished this Chipboard Sleigh which is perfectly sized to hold your holiday cards and tags. The sleigh is embellished with Bah Humbug and Graceful Garland  from Christmas Carol. A sweet bough of blooms adorns each side.

  

A bough of Sugared Berrys Cluster, Chantilly-VelvHydrangeas and White Glitter Snowflakes adorn each side of the sleigh.

The front and back have Christmas Carol Journaling Chipboard embellishments, accented with White Glitter Snowflakes

  

Finally, a bit of bling with Fancy Trims and a whole lot of glitter.

Here are the handmade cards I've filled my little sleigh with. Made with all sorts of papers from the 12" Christmas Carol pad. I've embellished with white and green Velvet Holly Leaves, Sugared Blooms, Botanica Petite’s and Sugared Mini's

And here's the supply round up if you want to create your own sparkly winter sleigh to hold your Christmas Treasures:

Petaloo:

White Glitter Snowflake pick
Sugared Berrys Cluster
Chantilly-VelvHydrangeas
Fancy Trims
Velvet Holly Leaves
Sugared Blooms
Botanica Petite’s
Sugared Mini's

Graphic45:

Bah Humbug
Graceful Garland
Christmas Carol 12" Pad
Christmas Carol Journaling Chipboard
Other:

Chipboard Sleigh
Glitter

Happy crafting!

Fairy Christmas Card Advent Calendar

Ok, I've let Halloween pass and now it's full steam ahead with the Christmas posts. I have a few projects coming up that I KNOW you're going to want to try so I'm posting nice and early to give you plenty of crafting time. Today, a totally freaking adorable advent calendar alternative.

Imagine waking up each day to find a card from the fairies helping you count down to Christmas! I've put together a Fairy Card Advent Calendar, a 2 page download that includes 25 miniature cards with vintage holiday imagery, numbered postage stamps and three envelope templates to fit the various sized cards.

Now, when I showed this project to my kiddo he said "Yeah, but what about the treat?" The wheels in my mind starting turning and I thought of all the little things that would fit in those envelopes... letters, notes, coins, buttons, glitter, jokes, stickers, charms... then the light bulb above my head lit up. 

Every few days a charm could be included in the tiny card and your little pixie could make their own Christmas charm bracelet! The sets I've used here are the Santa Sleigh Silver Charm Set and the Silver Snowflake Charm Set from Alpha Stamps.

Cute as buttons and sugar free! Although if you do like the sweet stuff you could always give a lolly or chocolate kiss.

Don't do the advent calendar thing? No worries! You could always make these up and pass them out to the people in your life who need a little extra fairy magic around the holidays.

Now, as for decorating the outside of those envelopes, here's what I suggest:

1. Using the templates from the Fairy Cards Advent Calendar, trace the envelope shapes onto a piece of regular white paper.

2. Cut the shapes.

3. Fold the two short sides, then fold the bottom (the one with the flat edge) and glue into place. Be careful not to glue the envelope shut!

4. Sprinkle both sides with a bit of tea or coffee. I prefer tea as it doesn't leave a lingering scent. Allow to dry. NOTE: You can age your paper before creating the envelopes, but I found that doing it in this order results in a flatter, smoother finished piece. See wrinkles above.

5. Add little postage stamps and 'cancel' them using a rubber stamps. Any patterned stamp will do. Place a scrap bit of paper beneath so as not to ink your work surface.

6. Address the envelopes, personalizing them for the recipient.

7. Add the wee cards and any tiny surprises you'd like to include.

Lastly, and this is kind of important, these can NOT go through the regular postal system. Their size requires that they be handled only by Royal Faerie Post. If you want to send them to someone far away, I suggest mailing them within a larger card with a note of explanation.

Supply round up:

Fairy Card Advent Calendar

scissors
glue
tea/coffee for staining*
rubber stamps*
ink pad*
*optional

Do-dads for the charm bracelet:

Chain, clasp and jump rings / or pre-made bracelet
Santa Sleigh Silver Charm Set
Silver Snowflake Charm Set

You can get a printed version of the Fairy Card Advent Calendar and Charms HERE at AlphaStamps