Plastic Lid Christmas Tree

These days many people recycle their plastic drink containers and water bottles. Turns out though that the lids that come on those containers hold quite a controversy. Some sources say as long as they are reattached to their original container it’s okay to place them out with your curbside recycling. Other sources say that the melting point for lids is different than that of the containers, therefore the lids will contaminate the load. That leaves many of us with a collection of lids to use for crafting.

Glittery Marble Ornaments

I LOVE ALL THINGS THAT ARE GLITTERY and BRIGHT and WHIMSICAL!!!!

Happy Hump Day all you crafty crafters! It's Jade here showing you how make glittery, swirly ornaments. I know Christmas is almost here but I have an idea for you that you might just love. When we think of "ornaments" we think of buying them and putting them on our tree. This usually happens a few weeks before Christmas, right! BUT, what if you make a dozen DIY ornaments and give them to someone as a gift! Let's face it, decorative ornaments can be pricey but if you make them for a special person next year when they start decorating their tree they will fall in love all over again! They will think of you as they put every single ornament on their tree. Plus its something they can use year after year! Whattya say?! 

Let's get started!

Glitterville Christmas - An Interview With Stephen Brown

It is rare that I pick up a craft book these days that I can't put down. Maybe I have been around the crafty block one too many times and seen it all. Then along comes Stephen Brown and Glitterville. You have seen his amazing sisal trees staring back at you from the shelves of Anthropologie this winter. You have probably pinned his glass octopus ornaments. More importantly you need to move his new book right up to the top of your Christmas list. Not just for you, but for all your crafty friends. Take out a pen and paper right now....Dear Santa, For Christmas this year please bring me a copy of Glitterville's Handmade Christmas: A Glittered Guide for Whimsical Crafting. You can thank me later.

Personalized Glitter Ornaments

Homemade Christmas ornaments are always an excellent gift, but when you take the time to personalize them by using the recipient's initial, the gift becomes that much more special. These monogram ornaments are made up in Christmasy glitz and sparkles, but also featuring colors that could easily hang on a doorknob or a package any time of year. 

I used aqua and silver with touches of gold and white because I was thinking about the movie Frozen when I made them (the recipients will appreciate the thought), but these would look great in just about any color under the rainbow. Let's make some!

Beaded Christmas Tree Sun Catcher

Sun catchers are always popular with the kids! This is a great weekend project, or a fun project for a classroom. It will take a couple of days because the glue has to dry overnight. The actual making of the craft takes about 20-30 minutes. On the second day you’ll simply add a hanger and you’re done!

Stenciled Joyful Pillow Set

I like little touches here and there that suggest that there is a holiday occurring without being too obvious. This is largely because it is some time before I get around to putting everything up and a giant MERRY CHRISTMAS pillow makes you look very lazy come January. So I turned some Tulip Pillow Covers into some throw pillows that I just plain adore!

16 Fun & Colorful Christmas Ornaments

I'm not sure what has gotten into me but this year I am all about colorful ornaments. Normally I stick to a glamorous neutral or two (gold is neutral, isn't it? :) and one color for my decor. But this year I'm going all sorts of colorful! So in spirit of a colorful Christmas, I'm sharing 16 of my favorite crafts I found around the internet that can be made with iLoveToCreate products!

DIY Feather Sprays - Perfect For Uncommon Christmas Color Themes!

I am no stranger to Christmas trees with uncommon color themes, or themes in general, really. For a while I was all about pink and black and poodles to boot. Over the years I accrued the occasional poodle ornament and that was gangbusters but most everything had to be made by hand to accommodate my strange theme.

So this year, since it's all about the neons, baby, I made a neon tree that screams "LOOK AT ME!" As such the vast majority of what you will see on my tree was handmade. And lucky you I'm going to show you how to work around your own uncommon Christmas decor theme!

How To Make Sequin Ornaments

Bright, Bold and Beautiful is how I roll when it comes to anything in my life. If you know my style by now then you know I love adding pops of color and black and white to everything! When I saw these beautiful sequins I just knew they had to make a quick appearance on my studio Christmas tree. Let's just say this, they have moved twice so far...now they are by themselves on some old branches I have in a vase and I think they like it better. These ornaments are fun to make and anyone can do them. When the holidays are over you can box them up carefully and reuse them the next year! PERK: you will NEVER find ornaments like your's in any store!
Let's get started!

Button Christmas Cards For Kids

Whether it’s for a holiday party at school, a Christmas gift for grandma or for their best friend, making homemade cards is a great way for kids to share the joy of the season. I have a really big stash of buttons so I thought I would show you and the kids how use them to decorate simple cards for the holidays.

Glittered Lights

Boom I got your glitterrrr, I got your glueee! Yes, I am singing as I type this. It's not even Thanksgiving but the Christmas holidays are right around the corner. Christmas plays peek-a-boo earlier and earlier each year. I mean, I totally get it. Everyone makes billions of dollars but come on people! We have to give thanks first, right? Just to be fair I will give thanks to the abundance of ornaments floating around my house right now. I think Santa's elves threw up a little in my living room. POOF…. 

Today I will show you how to add a little sparkle to any space with half dipped glitter lights. I think lights add a special flavor to any space so this means you have to go get some! Let's get started!

UP Inspired Decor

I am constantly getting inspired by the things around me. Whether it's something from the present or 8 years ago. The great thing about being a craft blogger is when you get struck with inspiration a craft tutorial magically appears.  Well, not magically but the process sure feels like magic I tell ya. I am super excited about today's post and I am sure you will be too. I will share with you 3 different ways to use this UP inspired decor.

Let's get started!

Santa Sacks

 I thought it would be fun this year to have a special way to wrap the presents that are from Santa, so I made these "Santa sacks" to put under the tree for my boys.  You can make these even if you don't sew.  How?  It's a pillowcase.  Easy peasy.

December Daily Smashbook

 

Glittered Glam Christmas Trees

I think I love Christmas for one very distinct reason... It is totally acceptable to have everything in your home covered with glitter. In fact, it's highly encouraged! So I decided to bling out a pair of paper mache cones I had in my craft stash!

Bedazzled Puff Paint Ornaments

Wahoo! It's that fun time of year where we decorate ornaments, bake yummy goodies and shop our brains away. But, if you are like me then you just bake and decorate because I am all about homemade things. The only time I buy something is if I truly can't "make" it! How funny is that. I wanted to show you today how to bedazzle some ornaments and add a tad bit of color to them. They almost look soft and delicate with a twist of FUN! 

Let's go make some Bedazzled Puff Paint Christmas Ornaments! 

Paper Christmas Tree

Decorating for Christmas is so fun, but it can also get a little pricey.  I don't like to spend a lot of money on things that will only be up for a month, so I made this paper Christmas tree for almost nothing.

New Year's Resolution - Get the Kids Crafting

I hope Santa was good to everyone. Around here we are up to our ears with blocks, pirates, puzzles and more. Santa also replenished the kids craft stash. Using a holiday or a birthday as an excuse to load the kids up with craft supplies is always one of my favorite ploys. Just because Christmas is over does not mean you are too late on this gift idea. Spend the money Aunt Gertrude sent on a slew of paint and glue and make it your New Year’s Resolution to get your kids crafting.

Looking for a little inspiration? Here is a list of what Santa brought my kids....

PAINT

Finger Paints

Paint Dot Markers

Glitter Poster Paint

Neon Poster Paint

Pack of Paint Brushes (be sure to include round sponge brushes and a roller brush)

DRAWING

Crayon Rings

Plain Markers

Plain Crayons

Window Markers

Colored Pencils

Scented Markers

Fabric Markers

THINGS TO PAINT

Small canvases

Wooden Frames

Paint with water books

Jumbo sized coloring books

Blank canvas tote bag

PAPER CRAFTS

Toddler Scissors

Array of foam stamps

Scented stamp pads

Stickers (TONS of stickers)

Construction paper

Craft Glue

Glue Sticks

Glitter Glue

Blank Cards

Pre-inked stamps

BLING

Glitter

Colored Sand

Pom Poms

Feathers

Santa also brought a few things that are not exactly craft supplies, but are intended to spark creativity...

Tallulah asked for a Doodle Bear. This is a stuffed animal that comes with a washable fabric marker. Doodle the bear, wash and repeat.

Santa wanted to have the elves make a light table for the kids, but alas it was cost prohibitive. Instead a small table top version was delievered that is actually a light tracing box. Sure we will trace, but we are also doing things like playing with our Magna Tiles on top.

Choo-Choo's are big around these parts. Santa brought a giant cardboard train to paint, color and adorn on a rainy day.

Aqua Doodle is a big hit with Baxter. We received a small lap top shaped mat for our birthday last year and I found a giant floor mat at a thrift store this summer. Santa brought a variety pack of sponge brushes, sponge tipped pens and stencils especially made for Aquadoodle. Not familiar with this toy? It is a piece of fabric that changes color with water. Let the fabric dry and start all over.

Play Doh. Last year I made my own, this year Santa brought the real stuff. Two kits were also stuffed down the chimney. One makes Play Doh candy and another makes Play Doh jewelry.

Pre-assembled card making kits. Tallulah loves to decorate cards. Santa stuffed 10 popcorn bags with a random assortment of stickers, blank cards, colored pens, stamps and more. This is much easier than handing over a giant box of stickers and paper that Baxter inevitably dumps all over the floor. I keep the finished cards to send for holidays and thank yous.

So what crafting supplies did your kid’s get from Santa? More importantly how do you plan to store it all? Do you keep it tucked away and get it out when the kid’s ask or do you have it accessible for them to get to on their own?

A Christmasaurus Centerpiece for the Kids Table

My daughter's favorite Christmas book this year is called Merry Christmas Stinky Face by Lisa McCourt. We read it daily even though we have 20+ books about the holidays currently floating around. In the book the worried little child asks his mother question after question including one about a Christmasaurus.

After a trip to the Blue Genie Christmas Bazaar where I made a couple of purchases from a vendor by the name of Plaid Pigeon an idea was born. Today for I Love to Create I'm going to show you how to make a quick and fun centerpiece for the kids table. Usually kids dream of the day they will be upgraded to sitting with the adults, but with a Christmasaurus as the centerpiece they are never going to want to leave.

SUPPLIES

Plastic dinosaur

Crafty Chica Paint red

Scissors

Scribbles Paint in green

Small bottle brush tree

Aleene's Tacky Glue

Paint brush

Pom Poms

Small Ornaments

Glue gun

When your kids are not looking steal the plastic dinosaur toy that has been floating at the bottom of the toy box untouched for months. Using scissors or a knife cut a small hole in his back. It does not matter if the hole is rough looking the tree will cover it.

Once you have your hole paint your dinosaur. Mine needed two coats of red paint. Allow to dry completely in-between coats. Next go in an embellish with polka dots. I used Scribbles paint because I wanted shiny puffy spots.

When your polka dots are dry shove the base of your tree in the hole and adjust. From here squirt a whole bunch of Aleene's Tacky Glue inside to hold in place.

Decorate the tree with what you have on hand. In my case it was some pom poms I stole from my kid's craft pile and some tiny rogue ornaments that never made it on one of my 38 Christmas trees. I used a hot glue gun to attach. All that is left to do is display your new Christmasaurus.