My mum likes to collect stuff. Weird, wonderful and pretty cool stuff. This is just the icing of her vintage Christmas decoration collection. I only made it through one box on Tuesday, when I uncovered all manner of vintage paper ephemera, novelty vintage lights (birds, cottages, candles and snowmen), foil crackers, Avon perfume bottles, pipe cleaner Santa faces and honeycomb paper decorations. So much fun! I’ll have to crack open another box next year!
Here’s another last-minute easy Christmas craft: capture Christmas in a jar (or an empty ham tin) with a wee wintry diorama. Cluster a few of them together for a snowy forest effect, or pop a lid on for instant snow dome fun. Click through the links below for full how-tos and tutorials:
It’s never too late to add some festive cheer to your house with some bright and colourful DIY decorations. I’ve compiled some of my favourite projects from Pinterest:
I love paper snowflake decorations. There is something magic about taking a pair of scissors to a plain sheet of white paper and transforming it into a delicate hand-cut decoration that Rob Ryan might be proud to call his own.
Whether you stick them on brown paper parcels or display them en-masse in your windows, they’re good old-fashioned fun to make. Even when the tree is done and the wreath is on the front door, you can never have too many snowflakes. And they’re a really nice craft to make with the kids while listening to carols or watching Christmas movies (I do love a retro Rankin Bass at this time of year). Here are a few other snowflake ideas and templates that I’ve compiled from Pinterest:
Now here’s another clever collaboration: British paper-cut artist (and Wee Birdy favourite) Rob Ryan and Victorinox. Have a look at the Vitorinox Tomo website: there are some cool interactive things to play with, including free downloadable Rob Ryan stencils (for beginners and advanced) and a lovely interview with the fabulous beardy-one himself:
They’re also running a special Twitter Christmas campaign at the moment. Just tweet someone with a message and #alphabunting and wait a few seconds. Your message will be turned into Rob-Ryan-esque Christmas bunting. Such good fun – have a go now!
Ruffles, feathers and bows in delicate hues and Liberty prints make the prettiest last-minute presents. The good news? Some of this stuff is already on sale! Dig in, my pretties…
2. Penhaligons Artemisia Bath Oil, £35 from Go British. UK delivery by next working day if order placed by 3pm on Friday 23rd December. Or get same-day delivery Mon-Fri for £15.
14. J.Crew knotted Liberty-print cotton belt, reduced to £26.25 from Net-a-porter. London Premier shipping only for Christmas delivery – order by 10am Saturday December 24.
Anyone making a gingerbread house for Christmas this year? I would love to make one from scratch because I really love our family’s gingerbread recipe (I think it’s from the Australian Women’s Weekly) but I’m a bit nervous about baking the different pieces to the exact measurements. So I think I’ll use a kit as the base for my first attempt but customise the decorations. What do we think about using Haigh’s chocolate freckles as roof tiles?
I’ve compiled some of my favourite gingerbread houses from Pinterest for inspiration. I’m torn between the traditional European styles with white icing for decoration and the ones pimped out with half a sweet shop. But I absolutely adore the mid-century modern styles that have popped up recently (see below). Such good fun. Look at the incredible Frank Lloyd Wright Falling Water gingerbread house! You can buy the plans for the house here. I would love to make a gingerbread version of Sydney’s Rose Seidler House. Something to plan for next year…
Have you started wrapping your presents yet? I’ve rounded up some of the best ideas from Pinterest. Funnily enough, my favourite parcels are all wrapped with brown kraft paper. And I love the idea of drawing pictures/patterns straight onto the wrap with a white or silver pen. So clever.
I’m still making pom-poms for my presents. I’ll try to pop a picture up some time this week of my progress.
p.s. I’ve done my best to credit the makers/photographers, but one of the frustrating things about Pinterest is that it’s all too easy to lose the original source through repinning or lazy crediting. Gah! Let me know if you know the correct source!
How are you going with your wrapping? Inspired by anything you see here?
Need a good present for your favourite fashionista? I’ve pulled together all the best designer gifts, starting at £15 for a Lacroix. It’s true! Read on…
