Welcome back to another installment of The Procrastinating Crafter's Guide to (quick) Christmas Glam! I hope you're enjoying the collection of easy, practical ideas to handmade up your holiday in a hurry. Today I have the cutest little ornament to share with you. Talk about using things you already have on hand at home… this little round hatbox-style ornament uses an empty embellishment container! You knew you were saving them for SOMETHING!
Think of all the fun little goodies that you could fit in there! What a fun surprise on your tree this year.
Can't take credit for this idea, but I do have a 'secret weapon' to share with you so I know you'll forgive me. One of my talented Song of My Heart Demonstrators has just wrapped up a blog series on ornaments, and she also did one at this time last year. So www.tinkerwithink.com is the place to head if you need some clever ornament ideas. Note: not all of Cristy's featured ornaments will fit the 30-minutes or less PCG guidelines, so keep that in mind when you're selecting one to make… if you procrastinated until the night before the ornament exchange!
Here's another quick idea I use all the time for parties and banquets. Didn't quite deserve it's own blog post, but this candle holder is quick and festive, and smells marvelous! Best of all, the way I do it does not require hot glue, so the candy cane sticks are still edible after your event!
Buy a glass votive holder at the dollar store (the straighter the sides are up and down, the better) and put two rubber bands around it. Slide the candy cane sticks underneath ONE of the rubber bands. Work your way all the way around the holder until the entire thing is a wall of candy cane sticks. The rubber bands will keep the sticks from slipping around and hold them in place without glue (you do have to be careful when you pick it up, of course). Then, tie ribbon, tulle, or sweater trim (I used Gumball Green sweater trim from the 2012 Holiday Catalog) several times around, to cover the rubber band and pretty it up.
Hint: you can do this same technique with long cinnamon sticks, straight twigs, or just about any other item that is tall and skinny. Just make sure that the items do not reach past the top of the glass holder, or it will be a fire hazard. If they do, use fake tealights for safety!
Tomorrow's PCG idea will require letters cut on the Big Shot or other die-cutting device… that's all the hint you're going to get! And hold onto your hats as we head into the home stretch of this blog series. I've got more goodies up my sleeve!
