Christmas Crafts!

Christmas is coming!  In 155 days!  Are you ready?  I never am.  Each year I tell myself I should start earlier and be more organized, but it hasn't worked yet.......  This year I'm getting an early start by participating in a Christmas in July blog hop with the Robin's Nest and Smoothfoam..

I received Smoothfoam shapes and product from the Robin's Nest for their Christmas in July blog hop with DCC members. Our challenge was to create something fun. 

 

 and this is what I made.... 

Okay, I admit, this isn't quick, but it is pretty easy and it's different.  I love LED lights and my goal was to create something that would light up our home for the holidays.

There's also a giveaway, so if you'd like to win some Robin's Nest and Smoothfoam product and get a head start on your holiday decorating, all you have to do is comment on the participating blogs  - one entry per comment, so the more you comment, the more chances you have to win!

These are the products I used:
Large Smoothfoam Snowflake
6" Smoothfoam Disc
Christmas papers and DewDrops from Robin's Nest
PLUS
Tacky glue
Paper glue
Clear crystal glitter
Craft Knife and/or sharp paring knife
Paper Trimmer
Stylus
Versa Tool (Walnut Hollow)
Battery operated string of 20 LED mini lights

1. Coat the top surface of the snowflake with glue, then sprinkle with glitter.  Set aside to dry.
2. Mark 20 dots about 1" apart around the disc about 1/2" from the edge then use the tip of the blade holder in the heat tool to make holes in the ring for the lights.

 

Quickly push the tip straight up and down and work on a tempered glass surface. The tip will not go all the way thru the disc, so turn the disc over and open up the holes from the opposite side.

3. Cut a 4" circle from the center of the disc to create a ring, 1" wide.  Use a slow up and down motion when cutting for a smooth cut edge. Use a regular craft knife, hot wire foam cutter, or the knife blade in the Versa Tool. This is a HOT knife so use with extreme caution. Tip: A fabric softener sheet is great for cleaning up small crumbs of Smoothfoam on your work surface after cutting.

 

4. Glue a 1" wide strip of card stock around the outside of the ring.  Tip: Use a rubber band to hold in place until the glue is dry.
5. Glue dew drops on top of the ring to decorate.  Let dry.

Make a Rosette for the center:
1. Score a 4" wide strip from 12" card stock at 1" intervals. Tip: I use my paper trimmer and score along the cutting channel with a stylus.

2. Cut the strip in half to create two, 2" x 12" strips.  Accordion fold each strip then glue the ends together to create a circle.

 

3. Squish the folds together and push down in the center to flatten. Glue a 1.25"circle of card stock over the center on each side of the rosette to secure. Decorate the circle on one side with dew drops, or a star shape.  This is double sided paper, so you can display either side.

  

Assemble:
1. Push each LED bulb into a hole in the ring from the back.  If the hole is a little large and the bulb doesn't fit snugly, shim with a small strip of card stock inside the hole. To keep the wire straight, leave 4 or 5 holes between each bulb.

 

2. Secure the ring to the center of the snowflake, making sure the wire and battery holder/switch are at the back of the snowflake.  Smoothfoam is very dense, so I secured the ring by pushing quilt pins diagonally thru the inside of the ring into the snowflake.

 

The holder can be left loose at the back, or you can glue half a 6" disposable plate at the back to create a pocket to hold it in place.  It's important to be able to reach the switch to turn the lights on and off if there isn't a timer setting. 

3. Push the rosette into the center of the ring to finish.

 

Look for more projects from DCC designer members by hopping thru our webring using the blue DCC logo in the sidebar on our blogs.  You can also see a full selection of projects from The Robin's Nest design team on the DCC blog and the Robin's Nest blog.  Enjoy! Y'all come back now........ 

Yours truly,
Julie :)

KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON CRAFTING!