Innholdsfortegnelse for Freshstyle Christmas 2012 i Southern Lady

Love came down at Christmastime, and that’s why we now spread it all around. Every card, carol, and decoration is a celebration. With our own two hands, we stitch, craft, and inscribe yuletide cheer into holiday preparations and presents— and we enjoy every moment. A revel in such merrymaking, this issue is packed with DIY ideas to help you make the season bright, and we used and reused items from flea markets, crafts stores, and even our closets so it can be done on a budget. You'll find projects for all ages, gads of gift ideas, advice from brilliant bloggers, and will even get a tour of my little 1920s cottage decked out in its holiday best (see page 50). We hope you enjoy these creative pages, and we wish…

Read All About It Turn old volumes of verse into yuletide trees with a few simple folds. Fan out into circles, add beaded garland, and top with ornamental stars. You can also curl book pages into inward spirals and secure with twine to fashion a stand-alone decoration or turn upright to use as a pedestal (see page 83). No-Sew Noel This adorable Advent calendar requires no stitching. Use fabric glue or hot glue to adhere ribbon trim to the top and bottom of a large piece of fabric. Cut squares of burlap or widths of burlap garland for pockets, ironing the bottoms under and the tops over for “hems,” and attach with glue. Use your computer to print number tags onto cardstock, and secure with lengths of ribbon. Count down…

Cup of Comfort Snip a section from the wrist of a knitted sweater sleeve to create an easy, no-sew insulator for on-the-go joe. Even better, this quick craft is a master multi-tasker: The sleeve can be used to keep cans cold as well. Fit to Be Tied Cover a foam topiary mold in green layers by trimming a sweater into easy-to-gather squares and gluing into place. From there, a tinsel-like rope of patterned fabric can be secured on top with pins. Pillow Talk Fashion a cozy accent pillow in a few easy steps. First, select a solid sweater for your background— quick stitches can cover an old form. Then use fabric glue and strips of sweater to create a festive shape, such as a tree or a star. Oh, Baby!…

Handmade Home Accents MOSS LETTERS Jennifer gives a whole new meaning to the term “going green” with this simple but sensational project that looks especially pretty displayed on the mantel during the holidays. Purchase wooden letters from the crafts store that spell out a word or phrase—“NOEL” or “PEACE” would work well for Christmas—then use hot glue to attach moss (also from the crafts store) to the front and sides, covering completely.…

1 Game On Up the ante on gift giving with bingo card coasters for the game night crowd. Kelly Wilkinson shares these directions in her book Weekend Handmade: Trace the coaster on the section of card you’d like to use; cut out, and trim if necessary. Apply a thin layer of decoupage glue to the top of the coaster, and place the bingo card cutout on top, smoothing from the center out to remove any wrinkles or air bubbles. Let dry, then apply a coat of decoupage glue to seal. 2 Fizz the Season Give dear ones the gift of relaxation with a customizable bath-time indulgence. Adapt the color and fragrance to suit each recipient, and package in interesting flea-market jars. For fizzie recipe and instructions, see page 110. 3…

Side Effect Update a basic side table using disassembled clothespins—the low-budget embellishment returns a first-rate result. Twist the two wood pieces in opposite directions until they separate, remove the spring with pliers, and hot-glue pins along the table’s perimeter. Once dry, apply a coat or two of chic, contrasting color. Wooly Markers Among critter-inspired placecard holders, these shaggy sheep stand alone. Cut cardstock into the shape of a lamb’s body, then clip on 2 clothespins to create legs. Wrap the shape with yarn, leaving the clips slightly exposed in back to secure a place card, then add a bell to make the holder even more adorable. Card Carrier Fashion your own stylish Christmascard holder with a quick wreath project. Start with a round wire form, and clip clothespins around it…

Victoria’s Ways to Celebrate Pump up the appeal of basic high heels with ribbons and fashion feathers glued to a brooch clip. Victoria loves making dyed simple syrups to make coffees and cocktails extra-special or to give as party favors. Add two cups sugar and about ¼ cup flavoring to boiling water; stir until sugar dissolves. Let cool, then strain if desired. A few of Victoria’s favorite additions include orange zest, mint, crushed strawberries, prickly pear, and vanilla. PLASTER LETTER This easy monogram project adds personal flair to party details and home décor. Purchase a box of Plaster of Paris at your local home improvement store. Purchase craft letters, and cut off the top layer to reveal the insides. Remove any filling, and you have the perfect mold. Mix the…

Casa de Lewis A talented photographer, part-time CPA, and occasional half-marathon runner, Sada Lewis approaches all her endeavors with such zeal and quirkiness that you can’t help but want to be part of the adventure. The San Antonio resident’s foray into crafts—and eventually blogging— began with an interest in digital scrapbooking. Initially, she simply hoped to chronicle a trip to Europe with friends, but Sada admits, “From there, my creative juices just kind of went wild.” She dived into photography and the vast world of DIY-ing, and with a wedding to plan in 2010 and a first home to furbish in 2011, there has been no shortage of creative undertakings to document. Her Casa de Lewis blog, alive with Sada’s penchant for colors and punchy patterns, features everything from handmade…

Hanging Around Felt ornaments are fun! Use a drinking glass as a template; trace and cut out 2 (3-inch) felt circles for each ornament. Also, cut 3-inch pieces of rickrack and 6-inch pieces of ribbon. Fold the ribbon in half to make a loop, and glue the two ends to the top of 1 felt circle. Glue the second circle on top of the first to enclose the ribbon, then add rickrack. For more, see rufflesandstuff.com. Handy Décor Let children lend a hand in holiday decorating with a nostalgic art print you can hang year after year. Using a foam brush, cover one of your child’s hands with washable green paint. Help him or her place handprints on art-board canvas to create a Christmas tree out of graduated rows. Then…

Light the Fire Spark the romantic feel of Aspen logs by spray-painting wood with white primer. Adorn the rest of your hearth and mantel with a collection of cottages and trees to create a snowy village that will delight all winter long. From charming cottages to fanciful trees, a collection of Cody Foster and Co. treasures adds gobs of glee to your holiday décor. Lend your own sweet touches with tiny gift bags, glittered with favorite sayings and filled with chocolate candies. Sparkle & Shine Make trimming the tree even easier by placing a faux fir in a painted lightweight planter. Surround the base with a bag of rocks, which can be camouflaged with colorful moss. Then bring on the beauty by hanging glittery garland, vintage ornaments, and other beautiful…

Fab Forest To make this happy trio of trees, drill holes into circular log segments, and insert 7⁄16th-inch-width dowels, securing with wood glue. Adhere buttons to Styrofoam forms with styro glue, and slip trees onto dowels. Pillow Pizzazz Turn a basic but beautiful pillow into a real dazzler by adding shiny buttons with fabric glue. We created a star pattern with three colors of buttons, but any iconic holiday motif in any color combo would work—think Christmas trees, holly leaves, or candy canes. Frame Up A picture frame is always a good gift. Go from good to great by embellishing an ordinary frame with dozens of colorful buttons to create a one-of-a-kind masterpiece that everyone from your granny to your godchild will appreciate. Yule Love This This simple project mixes…

For Victoria Hudgins, any moment is a chance for meaningful celebration. In her sentimental, creative hands, a basic glass ornament becomes a memorable hot cocoa vessel at a festive winter soirée. Or an ordinary November day inspires a family fête designed specifically for soaking in preholiday calm. Even a suddenly empty house and a moving truck transform as the site of an impromptu send-off party, complete with brightly colored streamers and neon duct-tape decorations. “I passionately believe that celebrating well is something everyone should do. It is the icing on the cake of life,” says Victoria, who moved from San Diego to Reno, Nevada, last year, prompting the aforementioned moving-day party. She initially started her blog, A Subtle Revelry, as a way to share the daily happenings in her family:…

Sleep is not high on the list of priorities for Jennifer Holmes of Dear Lillie blog and online boutique. This vivacious mother of two from Williamsburg, Virginia, manages to beautifully blend nurturing a family with running a thriving business that encompasses her vintage romantic yet casually livable style. Jennifer and her husband, Jon, a basketball coach at the College of William and Mary, are raising their two young daughters, Lillian (“Lillie”) and Lorelie (“Lola”), just minutes from Colonial Williamsburg, an idyllic setting that has become the family’s daily playground. Once the girls are tucked in, this devoted mom turns her attention to blogging and crafting, and 7-nights-a-week sessions that end in the wee hours of the morning are the norm. The stylish artisan has been tackling projects of some sort…

BATH FIZZIES p. 12 Crafted by Katherine Tucker of Kat Made It.com Makes 1 dozen fizzies MATERIALS MATERIALS . cup citric acid 1 cup baking soda . cup cornstarch Fine sieve or flour sifter Mixing bowl . cup organic cane sugar or Epsom salts 2-ounce spray bottle 6 drops food coloring Plastic pipette Essential oil Metal spoon Molds, such as silicone ice-cube trays DIRECTIONS 1. In a glass measuring cup, stir together citric acid, baking soda, and cornstarch. Press mixture through fine sieve or flour sifter into a mixing bowl. Stir in organic cane sugar or Epsom salts. 2. Fill spray bottle with water, and add food coloring (we used yellow). Spritz cornstarch mixture lightly—it should become damp but not fizzy—until you can pack mixture with your hands. 3. Using…

COVER See Homespun Holidays, page 50 FROM THE EDITOR PAGE 6: Zoom Bisou Top from ModCloth. Necklace from Miss Baker Stitches. Hair and Makeup by Celine C. Russell. HANDMADE PROJECTS PAGE 10: 20 Gifts Under $20 (Candle)— Jar with Lid; Hobby Lobby. PAGE 27: Cookie Canvas (Cookie Nativity)— Nativity Cookie Kit by Fox Run. Special Thanks to Edgar’s Bakery. PAGE 28: Globe Jotter (Chalkboard Globe)— Chalkboard Paint from Lowe’s. PAGE 29: Crumb Catcher (T-shirt Bib)— Terry Cloth Fabric from Hancock Fabrics. PAGE 30: Notes & Quotes (Thought Bubble Corkboards) —Corkboards from Lowe’s. INSPIRING SPACES PAGES 50-55: Homespun Holidays—Ruffled Curtains by Pate-Meadows Designs. Glitter Birds with feather tails and Assorted Ornaments (bird’s nest with eggs, birds, birdcage, and clock) from Goldbug Studio. Number Coasters used for packages from Red Bird Ink.…