Some of my favorite holiday decorations are the ones that were made by the people I love. With a little bit of creativity, you too can create a hand made holiday. And you can do many of the crafts from what you already have on hand or can find. Here are 10 to get you started.
PIPE CLEANERS AND BEADS
You need pipe cleaners and nesting beads like try beads or star beads
CANDY CANE
1) Make a small loop in one end of the pipe cleaner
2) Thread the nesting beads on the pipe cleaner and fill it to near the end
3) Make a small loop in the final end of the pipe cleaner to hold the beads on the pipe cleaner
4) Shape the beaded pipe cleaner into a candy cane
5) Add a ribbon loop for hanging if desired
Other things to do: Thread eye lace between each bead by threading through the eye of the lace, adding a bead, threading through the next eye in the lace. Tie two candy canes together with a ribbon.
WREATH
1) Thread nesting beads onto the pipe cleaner until it is almost full. Leave between 1/2 inch and 1 inch on pipe cleaner on each end.
2) Shape the wreath
3) Twist the ends of the pipe cleaner together and create a "bow" with the ends of the pipe cleaner
Other things to do: Add a contrasting bead to the twisted wires. Add ribbon to the wreath for hanging and embellishment.
HEART
1) Put one nesting bead on the pipe cleaner and place it at the center of the pipe cleaner
2) Bend the pipe cleaner in half over the bead and open it back up into a V
3) Thread an equal number of nesting beads on each side of the V to near the ends of the pipe cleaner. Leave about 3/4 inch of pipe cleaner at the end.
4) Shape the heart and twist the ends of the pipe cleaner together
5) Add a bead to the twisted ends and create a "bow" or add ribbon
REINDEER
1) Thread one black or red bead on a pipe cleaner and place the bead at the center of the pipe cleaner
2) Fold the pipe cleaner in half with the bead in the fold then open it up into a V
3) On a separate pipe cleaner of the same size, thread the following beads in this order: one nesting bead, one round black bead, one nesting bead, one round black bead, one nesting bead
4) Shape the wire from step 3 into the reindeer brow
5) Twist each side of the V to each side of the brow
6) Shape the antlers
PINE CONES
ORNAMENTS
1) Make a loop in a ribbon with an overhand knot
2) Tie the ribbon to the top of the pine cone
3) Decorate the pine cone
Ideas for decorating the pine cones
-Roll in craft glue then in glitter or use glitter hot glue sticks to create garland
-Hot glue beads, ribbon, or "pearl" strands to the pine cone
-Fill the pine cone with peanut butter and then roll it in bird seed. Hang this one outside for the birds to enjoy. It is best to use natural cord like cotton or jute for this one.
PINE CONE TREE LANDSCAPE
1) Cut the base for your landscape from something you have on hand. Cardboard, plastic lids, and thin plywood all work well.
2) Hot glue the larger pine cones in place on your base board
3) Create the "ground" by gluing a shredded cotton ball, fiber fill, wool, moss, or other spreadable covering around the pine cones.
4) Glue in the small pine cones or other landscape elements
5) Glue in any decorations or garland onto the "trees"
SPICE BAG
1) Cut a 4 inch square of fabric. I recycle old shirts, flour sack towels, and scraps of fabric
2) Place a wad of cotton ball, fiber fill, filler fabric, or scrap yarn in the center of the square
3) Place your desired spices and/or scented oil with the filler wad. Whole spice work best.
4) Tie the bag closed with a ribbon or a bit of lace
BOW TIE ORNAMENT
1) Cut a 3 inch square of fabric, more or less
2) Accordion fold the fabric and put a spot of hot glue between each layer of fabric at the center of the fold
3)Tie a loop in a ribbon or lace with an overhand knot. I cut my own ribbon from scrap fabric
4) Tie the ribbon to the bow tie at the glue spot. I use a spot of glue to secure the ribbon.
CINNAMON STICK ORNAMENT
The one shown is very simple, but the concept can be as complex as you want to make it, from simple "stacks of wood", to trees, baskets, and mangers.
1) Hot glue the cinnamon sticks into the desired shape
2) Tie a loop in a ribbon with an overhand knot
3) Tie the ribbon to the cinnamon stick ornament and glue to secure. I put a spot of glue on the ornament and press the ribbon into the glue. Then I tie a cute bow.
4) Decorate the ornament with beads, pine cones, spices, rose hips, or what ever comes to hand
GRAPE VINE WREATH
I create my own wreath by harvesting wild grapevine and working it into a wreath. I wrap the grapevine around the wreath about four times to create a nice base for the wreath. This can be done with any flexible vine, willow, or even copper wire. The following tips begin after the wreath is made.
1) Cut a 1 inch wide ribbon from worn out or out grown clothes or other recycled fabric. Or buy 1 inch ribbon. I like the rustic look of hand cut ribbon.
2) Spiral wrap the ribbon around the wreath and tie the ribbon at the top or bottom
3) Spiral wrap a second ribbon in the opposite direction to create a "crossed" wrap and tie it in the same place or on the opposite side of the wreath
4) Use florist wire to attach the chosen elements to the wreath
5) Hot glue any small elements to the wreath
More tips: Several pieces can be tied together with the florist wire, then they can be tied to the wreath as a grouping. Florist wire comes in green or brown, use what you can hide, and I hide the wire under the ribbon. Sparkly wires can be used as a design element.
LAST
My most important tip: Look around at what you have at hand in your home or in the landscape. A great amount of abundance can be created from what you have at your fingertips.