More Rustic Gift Wrapping

After running out of baked dough snowflakes to decorate presents, I switched over to making bows out of jute burlap and adding greenery, red berries, and pine cones.  I like the burst of colour it gives amidst the monochromatic look of the other gifts that were wrapped with the snowflakes.

I guess you were right, Linus. I shouldn't have picked this little tree.

I put together Charlie Brown's Christmas tree yesterday.

I've been wanting to make one for years.  I found the perfect 'tree' at a dollar store and made the base from two paint sticks glued together.  The tree was tipping too easily (I have cats, they are bad.) so I had to glue on a 1/2 inch wood block which I drilled a hole into the center of.  The ball is glass, so I wired it on, see earlier explanation of bad cats.

I may wrap a blue cloth around the base the way Linus did, but I haven't decided yet.

Rustic Christmas Gift Wrapping

I had planned to make a snowflake wreath from homemade modelling clay and a cookie cutter and they failed after baking.  They came out puffy and uneven which was the opposite of what I was going for.  I put them aside figuring I would think of something to do with them later.

When I decided I wanted my gifts wrapped very simply this year, I realized these were the (im)perfect things to decorate with. 

After wrapping the gifts with brown postal paper, I cut strips out of very loosely woven burlap - the kind used to wrap small evergreens for the winter.  I glued the strips around the boxes and then tied jute twine over them, then glued on the snowflakes.

Here's the recipe for basic modelling clay:

1 1/4 cups flour
1 1/4 cups salt
3/4 cup water
1 Tablespoon vegetable oil

Knead the dough and mold into shapes, baking in a 350 degree oven until lightly browned for up to an hour. Store unused dough in an airtight container and knead again before using, adding a bit of oil if needed.

Hanging Snowman

I made this guy out of a pillowcase that had seen better days, some felt, a scrap of plaid cotton, and a bunch of small black buttons.  He's got bells on the ends of his legs that jingle every time the door is opened.

 

Mouse in an Anchovy Tin Bed

What else would mice find that's more comfortable than an anchovy tin to sleep in while visions of Swiss cheese dance in their heads?

I just drew a pattern out on paper for the head, cut it out of felt, then hand stitched and stuffed it. I sewed french knots for the eyes and used heavy gauge waxed thread for the whiskers.  The bedding is flannelette.  Everything is glue gunned in.

Keep out of reach of cats, they find these guys irresistible.  Ask me how I know.

Reversible Lace Scarf

I am loving this scarf to death.  I don't love it so much when scarves flip and the wrong side shows, so I chose a reversible lace pattern for this project.  

The yarn is soft and drapes well. I am going to be getting a lot of wear out of this scarf for years to come.

Yarn: Berroco Ultra Alpaca Fine in Boysenberry
Needle: 4mm
Pattern: Free Ravelry download found here.