All posts tagged: decorate

go big!

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What happens when you haven’t created with your hands in over four months and you sign up for your first in person creative workshop in over a year and a half? You get super excited and create a larger than life wreath, question if it will fit in the car to take home after class, and wonder if it will even fit your regular sized front door. Seriously, I thought my 2019 winter wreath was gigantic. I didn’t think I could create something even larger! Abby Dale of Craft + Work taught this wreath making class in the Royal Bee Yarn Company‘s recently renovated garden space. Abby has taken some of my felt workshops at Craft + Work; it was so fun to take a class that she was leading! She provided lots of guidance, inspo, and encouragement throughout class. Abby brought a huge spread of foliage – milkweed, sage, rosemary, magnolia leaves, eucalyptus, succulents… – some from the San Francisco Flower Mart and others from her garden. You really couldn’t go wrong selecting foliage …

we have a runner.

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This Christmas is going to be Hubby and my first Christmas in our home. Usually, we travel to visit family this time of year, but since we’re all still practicing social distancing and with a tiny babe on our hands we thought it would be best to celebrate at home. It makes for some excitement though because that means we can actually put up a tree to enjoy and start some new family traditions. One thing I really wanted to add to my Christmas decor this year was a macramé table runner to keep our dining room festive throughout the season. I picked a project from the Modern Macramé book. Side note: I’m really good at purchasing craft books because they are so beautiful and then forgetting about them, ultimately never using them. Whoops. Good thing I remembered there was a table runner project in this book! I purchased this dreamy 4mm cotton string in army green for the project. This project is no joke; it requires a time commitment but I was excited to …

macrame tree.

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I did it! I made a macrame tree. I was inspired by the macrame landscape piece I recently created. I planned a pattern based on the landscape project. I had a rough idea of how I would create the tree gradient, but I totally winged it because I wasn’t sure how much cord to use for each column. I eventually figured out that each square knot would need about 7-8″ of cord (when using 4mm cord). Even if you run out though, you can use multiple pieces of the same color cord to complete the column. Materials: 1 12″ dowel 18 strands of 22″ natural cord (for the base) 9 strands of natural cord in varying lengths for the “background” (see below recipe for lengths) 9 strands of green cord in varying lengths for the tree (see below recipe for lengths) 3 strands of 24” brown/copper cord for tree trunk 1 strand 18″ natural cord (for the hanging string) Yellow felt (for star) Sewing needles Sewing thread Battery operated string of lights (optional) Fabric scissors …

cactus fiesta.

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Just because we’re on SIP doesn’t mean we can’t have a fiesta at home! Let’s make a cactus piñata! Materials: corrugated cardboard, box cutter, scissors, masking tape, crepe paper streamers, glue stick Cut two of the same shape for the front and back of your piñata. Cut 1.5-2in wide strips of cardboard for the perimeter; make sure the corrugation allows you to bend your strips along the length (corrugation should run parallel to the bottom). Decide where you want to place the piñata opening and start wrapping one of the shapes with the cardboard strips at the base of the opening. Use masking tape to attach strips to shapes. I prefer attaching the strips to the outside border of the shapes (versus in line with the shape perimeter); this makes it easier to bend the strips to conform to the shape. End with a flap that is not attached with tape. You may leave a slight overlap. Attach the second shape to the opposite side. For this step, you could add all the tape to …

birthday hoops.

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It’s my birthday tomorrow! Also, Trolls World Tour comes out tomorrow on demand and I’m totally going to watch it because I’m turning 4 (x9)! I made some colorful hoops for the occasion (birthday/Trolls watch party). You can make some, too. Materials: Streamers (you can also use ribbons or yarn) Double-sided tape Embroidery (or other) hoop (I used the inner hoop for this project) Scissors String (for hanging) Cut strips of streamer paper however long you wish. You’ll use about 1 inch of each strip to wrap around the hoop. Attach crepe paper strips with double-sided tape. I placed tape on the edge of the paper strip, wrapped around the hoop, and taped onto the paper, versus taping onto the hoop. This was a personal preference, so I could shift the paper strips around as I put the hoop together. Add paper strips until the whole hoop is covered. Add four ties equidistant around the hoop. Then, tie the four strands together to form a loop for hanging. Hang and celebrate! Can you imagine a …

hoop, hoop, hoop. merry christmas!

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Work holiday party time! I set up an embroidery hoop ornament station for the occasion. It’s a super easy craft, but looks polished in the embroidery hoop! For work events I’m always looking for activities that don’t require hot glue or much equipment, that are self explanatory, and that people can make in 10-15 minutes. This one was perfect! Here are some co-worker creations: You can make your own! For this craft you will need: Embroidery hoops, 3-5 inches in diameter Yarn Cord or twine Glue dots (I used permanent Glue Dots) Green card stock Red pompoms Mini brush bottle trees Other assorted decorations like mini reindeer and bells Scissors (for paper and fabric) Separate the hoop. Measure out pieces of yarn to fit over the inner hoop. Attach the outer hoop. Tighten the hoop as you pull the yarn taut. Trim excess yarn. Next, attach leaves, mini trees, and other decor with Glue Dots. You can also hang bells or other ornaments onto your hoop. More ideas: wrap the inner hoop with twine or …

awreatha.

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I participated in the annual SF Etsy Indie Holiday Emporium in a big way! Not only did I have a booth to sell all my Feed the Fish co felt goodies, I also created a 4.5ish-foot felt flower wreath for the photobooth centerpiece! Her name is Awreatha (had to). Here’s my show recap plus the Awreatha creation story! The show. The SF Etsy Indie Holiday Emporium is always held over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. Since I’ve been participating for a few years now, it always feels like a craft fam reunion! It’s an all volunteer-run event, mostly put on by these two above (snapped this shot because it looked like they were going to report on something real important!). The show is free to attend but if you get special VIP shopping hour tickets you also get swag bags filled with fun Etsy stuff! (The maker oath design is by my friend Angie of Bobo Design Studio!) And in addition to shopping small, there are activity stations for all. This year there was face painting, …

new projects, who dis?

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More custom creations for FtF fans! Patrick’s Aloha 30 I got a custom request for a three-tiered garland with hibiscus and shades of green. Look at the tiny leaves! I love adding little details to my garland creations. Home Sweet Home A student of mine requested a Home Sweet Home wall hanging in her home decor colors. I get a lot of requests for custom gifts, but it’s also special when people order something especially for their home. Name Tags I have an ongoing name tag order with a company in San Francisco. This time they ordered 13 more name tag pennants. And because I have a camera holder now, here’s a process video! The Graduate My friend ordered a giant pennant for his wife because she finished her PhD program. She’s Ph-inally D-one! Follow Me My cubicle mate was recently assigned emergency assembly area monitor duties so I made her a sign to carry during drills (and the real thing!) to herd our office mates to our meeting place. The blue ‘confetti’ are little …

yarn wrap.

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A cozy yarn craft for Fall! Materials: Wood ornament wreath – You can also wrap letter ornaments. Assorted yarn – Try a variety of colors and textures. Scissors Craft needle I removed the hanging string so I could wrap the entire ornament. Begin by tying a double knot. Trim the tail to less than an inch. Begin wrapping, keeping the wraps close together. I wrapped over the yarn tail to hide it. Overlap yarn to completely cover the ornament. Once you’re ready to switch colors, tie the first and second yarn ends to each other with an overhand knot. Continue wrapping, again wrapping over the yarn tails. You can “go back” and overlap the wraps to cover any gaps. Shortcut/style choice: double up the yarn and wrap two strands at the same time. Once you’ve wrapped the entire ornament (you can also partially wrap the ornament – it’s up to you!) use a craft needle to assist with tying a double knot. Then sew in the loose tail into a few of the yarn wraps …

the tissue issue.

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I recently refreshed my memory on how to make tissue paper flowers. It’s so easy and the results are so pretty I had to share! These would pair nicely with some piñata crafts, too. Here are a few: burro, piña, hearts. Materials: tissue paper, string or staples, scissors Layer 6-8 pieces of tissue paper. If starting with a large piece of tissue paper, fold into sixths or eighths. Cut all the folds. For larger-in-diameter flowers, use more layers of tissue paper. Accordion fold the stacked tissue paper. Snip two small triangles out from the middle. Secure with cord or staple. Cut the ends with your desired flower petal shape (e.g., curved, pointed). Gently separate the tissue layers and fluff. If you rip the tissue, no worries; just fluff a little more to hide the tears. Attach to a piñata with cord or hot glue, or secure to walls for a fun backdrop. Oh! These would make cute Christmas tree decorations, too. Try it out with different colors or sizes of tissue paper, or attach two …