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make-decorative-candlestick

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This is an easy and quick project to build, all you need to do is glue all the parts and distressed it to add some antique look. Not only that, it is cheap to make too, range from $3 to $6 each.

Besides using the tower stand as candlestick, it can be used as a display stand for small festive items, e.g. pine cones, small Christmas ornaments, Easter eggs, small pumpkins, cup cakes, cake pops etc.

Happy making!!!

{Get full tutorial on next page.}

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Make: Christmas Tree Ornaments

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When the year is ending, I really get into the mood to DIY some Christmas projects and ornaments to decorate my house and Christmas Tree. Though my current home it is not as perfect as I want it to be but I am sure next year will be better when I am at my new home. Just can’t wait to get over the renovation, I want to move in now!

Last year, I bought a new Christmas tree, a 7′ Royal Douglas Fir, it is huge and bushy, so big until it looks empty without adding more ornaments on it. This year, I made a few mini Christmas tree to hang on it. Hopefully I will be able to add more DIY ornaments every year until I can replace all the store bought ones from the past years and proclaim the tree to be Tree Of DIY Ornaments…. dreamer syndrome attack again but I surely hope that this wish will come true one day.

The concept of making these little Christmas tree ornaments is similar to my popular tutorials – Pencil Holder and the Candy Cone Memo Holder, that is by wrapping yarn or twine around the form, follow by embellishment. Younger kids can do it with some supervisions and helps from adults and older kids should be able to handle it without fuss.

I hope you enjoy making your own Christmas ornaments to decorate you tree as much as I do.

Merry Christmas!

{Get full details on next page.}

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Heart-Shaped Valentine's Fortune Cookies

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I thought I am going to stop making Valentine’s project for this year as it is just a few days away, but when I saw Martha Stewart’s Felt Fortune Cookies in her book: Martha Stewart’s Handmade Holiday Crafts: 225 Inspired Projects for Year-Round Celebrations and her website, I couldn’t stop myself for not adapting the method and make them into heart-shaped valentine fortune cookies.

The tutorial is easy and the process is quick to make. What really inspired me is that we can slip some candies into the felt cookies…. simply a marvelous idea for some sweat treats for your loved ones or for your valentine guests. For your convenient, I have also prepared a 20 love notes printable for you to download and print.

Oh…. I almost forgot to mention this, you can always make this heart-shaped fortune cookies for any occasion as a little gift for your guest, particularly, as a door gift in a wedding reception

{Get full details on next page.}

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Halloween Candy Corn Memo Holder

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This candy corn memo holder is perfect for desk decor during the creepy October. You can make the mummy pencil holder to pair with it and they make wonderful companion on your desk while you work. Or, as a table number holder or menu holder on your dining table if you are having friends and families coming over for a Halloween dinner or party.

It isn’t hard to make and I have gotten this candy corn idea after drinking from a disposable paper cone cup of a water dispenser machine. While I was drinking, I think: “Can I do anything with this paper cone cup?” The idea struck and so I took some of the clean cone cups and put them inside my bag… shhhh… don’t tell the manager that I st*le some cups from him yay… lol… As a reward for not telling him, ahemmm, here you are, the method to make the Candy Corn Memo Holder made from a paper cone water cups.

{Get full details on next page.}

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Halloween Ghost Lights Decorations

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I have been playing with glue and gauze pads for a few days. I did a few experiments to check out which glue makes the best “gauze covered ping pong ball ghost lights”.

I found that PVA glue such as Mod Podge is the best among. PVA glue or white craft glue dries into transparent rubbery texture so it gives a better hold for the gauze material and for the ghost to withstand the humid air during a misty night. It can be hung at outdoor under some shades to prevent direct heavy rain (make sure your’ve got the holiday lights for outdoor too).

At first, I thought laundry spray starch is sufficient to do the job. No, I was wrong, it didn’t work out even with the strongest hold. It can’t hold the ghost skirt in floating style and won’t stick on the ping pong ball. This probably due to the loosely woven structure of the gauze material, and also, I didn’t iron it.

Home-made corn starch glue is good but it is too crispy after drying and won’t be able to hold still under wet misty nights, it will “melt”. If you don’t have PVA glue and never think of putting the ghost lights outdoor, then corn starch glue will be an option.

The “flying ghost lights” at the background is done by a camera trick called “bokeh lights”. It involves a DSLR camera with a wide open aperture lens and some black card stock to do it. Will make a separate tutorial on this later. Let’s concentrate on how to make this gauze / cheesecloth ghost light in this tutorial for now .

Below is the complete tutorial on how to do gauze covered ghost lights for Halloween decoration. Happy decoration for the Halloween!!!

Halloween Ghost Lights
Make: 6

Materials:
1. Ping Pong Ball – 6
2. Gauze pads [4"x4", 8 ply] – 6 pcs. Or loose woven cheesecloth
3. Mod Podge or any PVA white craft glue
4. Holiday lights – single yellow color

Tools:
1. Permanent black marker
2. Awl or craft knife
3. Egg crate
4. Masking Tape
5. Clean empty container and spoon

Get ready all the tools and materials on a table.
Unfold the 4″x4″ 8 ply gauze pad, it should measures around 8″x16″, fold it in to half, i.e. 8″ x 8″. Repeat all the 6 pcs.
If you are using loose woven cheesecloth, cut it into 16″x8″ size and fold into half too.
Don’t worry too much if the sizes are not exactly 8″ x 8″, it won’t affect the ghost look a lot.

Make an approx. 1″ raised platform on the egg crate by rolling a piece of masking tape with adhesive side facing out. Make 6.

Use an awl to make a hole on the ping pong ball. If you ping pong ball has printed label, punch the hole there.
If you holiday light is not LED but small bulb type which is bigger, use craft knife to make a cross cut instead.

Insert the light into the ping pong and it should be snuggle fit so that it is holding up there.
Remove all the lights from the ping pong balls.

Draw some ghost facials and expressions on the ping pong balls.
It can be just any expression, angry, frightened, worried, happy, sad or even with Dracula look.

Press and stick the ping pong balls on the raise masking tapes.

Dilute about 2 to 3 tablespoons of Mod Podge or PVA craft glue to runny consistency. Add a small amount of water at a time and stir well.
How runny? Something like melted ice cream.

Dip the folded 8″ x 8″ gauze or cheesecloth into the runny glue.
The gauze must be fully dip into the glue so that it get all the glue on it.
Take out and squeeze out excessive dripping glue, still wet but not dripping.
Open up to 8″x8″ and cover the ping pong ball.

Smooth out a few drops of glue on the top portion of the ping pong ball for better adhesion.
The opaque white glue will dry into transparent clear surface, so don’t worry if it covers the markers.
Repeat all six ghosts. Set them aside for at least 24 hours for drying.
While the glue is still wet, lift the bottom gauze to minimize the contact to the egg crate. You can place small pieces of wax paper or freezer paper or parchment paper facing upward to prevent them from sticking.

Insert the light bulbs or LED into the ghosts and hang up for Halloween. If the holes become too small for the LED light to get in after covering up with the gauze, use the awl or knife to enlarge it.
HAVE FUN!!!

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Make a Snowman ornament from polyfoam balls

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10 days to go… I am counting down for the Christmas and singing this all day long ~~ ♥ I’m dreaming of a white Christmas, Just like the ones I….. ♥ ~~~ The Christmas spirit is getting higher each and everyday and I am still making Christmas Craft to add into my Christmas decorations. This time it is a snowman where I was inspired by this one which I saw in Singapore.

There is no white Christmas in Malaysia, in reality, I can’t build snowman provided I travel few thousand miles northbound. Well, to quench my thirst for having snow for Christmas, I made a polyfoam snowman instead.

This is a quick craft and it is suitable for kids with a little help and guidance from adult. Let’s get the how-to after this jump….

Finished dimension: Approx. 3 1/4″ (H) x 2″ (W)

Materials:
1. Polyfoam or polystyrene or Styrofoam ball – approx dia. 1″
2. Polyfoam or polystyrene or Styrofoam ball – approx dia. 2″
3. Red felt
4. White yarn
5. Beads, sequins and/or button for embellishment
6. Pearl white glitters

Tools:
1. Scissor
2. Craft Knife
3. Craft glue
4. Hot glue gun
5. Small brush
6. Floral wire
7. Pencil or pen
8. Clothes clip (optional) if you want to bend the hat.
9. Pointy tweezers.

Pre-heat your hot glue gun so that it is ready when you need to use it.
To make the snowman stand-able, cut a small portion from the 2″ polyfoam with craft knife to create a flat base.
If your kids are too small to handle the cutting, please help them to do it.
Place the small polyfoam ball on the top of the base ball, find the correct position so that they are straight, mark.
With help from adult, apply a dot of hot glue on the marking and quickly attach the small ball onto it, hold a few second till the glue is set.
Insert a floral wire into the polyfoam ball assembly, preferably into the head of the snowman.
Brush a layer of craft glue and sprinkle the pearl white glitter to all over snowman except the base.
Set aside for the glue to dry.
While waiting for the glue to dry and glitter to set, prepare the red felt for scarf and hat.
Cut half circle of 3″ diameter for hat and 6″ x 1/2″ for scarf.
I also glittered a 1/4″ bead for the hat.

When the snowman is about half dry (best is to wait till it is completely dry, time needed depends on the viscosity of the craft glue you use), carefully roll the 1/2 circle (with curve side down) onto the head of the snowman, measure the hat size. Mark on the felt.
Apply glue on the overlapping area.

Overlap the 1/2 circle to make a cone hat for the snowman. Set a side for it to dry or at least until it gets tacky.
Apply glue on the internal edge of the hat and glue the hat to the snowman’s head.

Next, glue the white yarn on the edge of the hat.
If you want to bend the hat, apply glue at the back of the hat, around the center of the height. Bend the hat and secure it’s position with a clothes clip (as shown in the next picture).
Glue all the facial features and embellishments to the snowman with craft glue.
Glue the glittered 1/4″ bead to the tip of the hat with hot glue.
Tweezers are handy when handling all these small parts, but be careful when kids are involving.
Carefully roll the scarf onto the neck of the snowman. Twist the scarf a little so that it fits better on the snowman.
Apply glue to secure it.
Set aside overnight to let it dry completely.
~~DONE~~~

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Recycle Tutorial: Refurbish Old Christmas Ornaments

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December is here!!! Christmas is just 25 days away, don’t get panic! If you haven’t had time or being thrifty to go for Christmas Tree ornament shopping, may be this is a great tutorial for you…. turn your old ornaments to one as good as new

We did not followed the tradition, we didn’t had thanksgiving meal, we didn’t do any thanksgiving activity, definitely no black Friday and no cyber Monday!!! Instead, I spent my day with my kids decorating a Christmas tree. I am thrifty and sentimental in certain things, my faux 5′ Christmas tree is as old as my seven year old daughter, same as majority of the hanging ornaments. I found many ornaments became tarnish and spoil after many years of reuse. Looking at how badly those ornaments’ surfaces has discolored and worn out, it’s time to give them an uplift. Of course, not all can be refurbished, I still have to throw away some broken pieces and add in some new one, but at least I can keep it to minimum.

As an example, I glittered an old candy cane to make it as good as new or even better and prettier. Get the how to after the jump.

To be precised on the material for this example, I used:
1. Old plastic candy cane ornaments
2. Pearl white glitter
3. Craft glue
4. Red 1/4″ Ribbon
5. Gold hanging string
Tips: line your table with old newspaper to make cleaning easier after glittering.

Take out damaged red plastic strip and hanging string from the candy cane.
Make sure the bare plastic candy cane is free from grease.
Brush a layer of craft glue to the candy cane.
Sprinkle the pearl white glitters onto the candy cane evenly.
Wait until it’s dry.
Apply a few drops of craft glue onto the wrong side of the red 1/4″ ribbon.
Wrap the ribbon around the candy cane.
Set aside until the glue dries.


With this method, you have got a new glittered candy cane for your Christmas tree, doesn’t it look better than the original one
You can try on other ornaments as well, I made another one with my discolored and oxidized jingle bell ornament.

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Wind A Star

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Unbelievable, Christmas is less than 2 weeks away!!!! I have so  many Christmas crafts in mind, gosh…. looks like I have to carry forward some of the projects to next year.

The Star is one of the best symbols to represent Christmas. I couldn’t help myself so I had to do another “Star” project after the “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star“. If Christmas Day is still another month away, and I didn’t get a viral attack which slowed me down, I would have come out with a sewing star, crochet star, perhaps weaving star etc….

I received some feedback from you that it is not easy to find the foam star I showed in my previous tutorial. So, I came out with an alternative to the foam stars and made of materials you definitely can obtain from the hardware shop and craft store… All you need for making this winding star are:

Material:
1. Wood plank
2. Hammer
3. Nails (prefer those with small head)
4. Star Patterns (download the patterns here with 4 different sizes)
5. Adhesive tape
6. Decorative wires….. floral wires, pipe cleaners, aluminium wire… etc…
7. Fastener Floral wire (Gauge 34) for fastening, you can use upholstery thread but make sure they are strong for you to pull and tie the wires together.

Arrange the star patterns on the wood plank and secure them with adhesive tape.

Hammer down the nails at the star tips. Each star has 5 tips.

Wind your wire follow the dash line on the pattern.
Pull the wire to straighten it while bending at the tip.

Bend the start end up to meet the finishing end as shown. Cut off excessive wire at the start end, but don’t cut the finishing end.

Bend the finishing end down 90 deg and tie the crossed wires with fastener floral wire. Wind the fastener wires 2 rounds on the joint and twist both ends together until they securely fasten the joint at the star.Hide the fastener wire.

Secure at least another 2 joints to stabilize the star.

Just like the way I glitter the foam star, apply glue all over the wires that you want to glitter. Dip or sprinkle the glitters onto the star.
Apply glue and dip or sprinkle again if necessary.

Insert the end onto the floral sponge while wait for them to dry.
Cut off the extra wire and tie a string then they are ready to be hang on the tree.
You can even add the stars on the old Christmas Tree Ornaments to give them a new look.

You can try other wires as well. I especially like the Pipe Cleaners Star as it is the easiest to make and the effect is “sparkling”….

You can even make this star and place it on the top of the Kanzashi Christmas Tree or any of your favorite table top Christmas Trees.

Try them out today and I would be more than happy if you show me your version!!!

Let us wish upon a star together that there would be peace in this world.

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Twinkle Star Ornaments

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I am having lots of fun applying glitter on Christmas ornaments this year.  You will see some glittering projects coming in a roll.
Since someone asked me how to make the star for the top of the Christmas Tree, I would like to kick-off with this tutorial!!!
I was singing my daughter’s favorite lullaby while making it…laa laa laaaa la…

“Twinkle twinkle little star

How I wonder what you are

Up above the world so high

Like a diamond in the sky

Twinkle twinkle…..”

Material:
1. Polystyrene stars (I used 20mm diameter and 40mm) of your desired size
2. Glitter powder
3. Craft glue / PVA glue / white glue
4. Floral wire gauge 22
5. Florist sponge

Insert a floral wire into the star.
Apply glue generously on the foam but not too much until it drips.
Wait for about 5 minutes until it gets tacky. You can save time by applying glue to other stars during this waiting period.

Dip the star into the glitter powder. You can also sprinkle the glitter powder onto the star, just put a piece of paper below to collect the glitter powder so that you don’t mess up with it. Switch off your fan too!
Inspect and make sure the star is fully covered by the glitter powder.
If not, dip or sprinkle again. Add glue if necessary.

Dust of excessive glitter by gently knocking the floral wire against the hand.
Insert the wire onto a florist sponge, leave it there until the glue dries.
Don’t touch the glitters before it dries.

This is how many of them I made after a while!!!
Tip: Do 1 color at a time so that you won’t get all the glitters mixed up.

Pull out the working floral wire from the star, apply glue at the hole and insert the Christmas Tree’s floral wire into the star.

You can transform these stars into Christmas Tree ornaments too, just apply some glue at the hole after pulling out the working floral wire, insert 2 ends of the string into the hole, add a little more glue if necessary. Let it dry and hang them onto the tree! That’s it, simple yay!!!!