Simple last-minute Christmas jar DIYs

Happy Christmas Eve! I know most people have decorated there house long ago but if you feel like adding to it or need some extra decorations on the table here are a three Christmas DIY's using jars.

I have so many jars lying about at home. They are so useful for crafts and storage.

My first one is a tea-light decoration using ribbon and natural sources. 

1. Get a reasonable sized jar that will fit a small candle.

2.Tie some ribbon (or lace) around the top of the jar.

3. Fill the bottom of the jar with greenery. I used Cedar leaves that I picked up in the woods but you can even use clippings off a Christmas tree.

4. On the ribbon I attached some small pine cones and holly berries that I also picked up in the woods.

5. Drop in a candle and there you go! You can also use an electronic candle to be extra safe. Make sure the leaves don't get in the way of the flame.

The second craft is made using ready to roll icing but you can use plasticine as well. It is a miniature snow globe. 

1. Take a jar although you can just make it using the lid as a little scene instead of a snow globe.

2. But white icing/plasticine on the lid of the jar leaving room for the top to screw on if using.

3. Start making the snow-man and use a cocktail stick to keep it together.

4. Decorate the snow-man with more icing/plasticine and a black pen for the eyes, mouth and buttons.

5. Dust it with sugar and icing sugar or fake snow if you have any.

6. Put the top on if you are using it and shake it up. You can also fill it with water to make it a real snow globe. This would be quite fun to make with kids.

The last DIY is really simple. It just requires more pine leaves, holly and other greenery.

1. Get another jar.

2. Fill it a small bit with either fake snow, sugar or salt.

3. What I did here was add some bits of old tinsel and a couple pine and ceder needles.

4. Now you can start adding bits of pine, cedar, fir, heather, holly, anything you can find to put in the jar.

They look really nice on there own or you can add some pine cones or other Christmas decorations like I did.

Thanks for reading and have a very merry Christmas!
Lots of love,
Étáin

xxx

Simple Christmas gift labels DIY

One of my favourite things about Christmas is the present wrapping. I find it so satisfying and quite relaxing. It gives me a chance to be productive and creative. Here is a quick post on creating your own labels for gifts. Enjoy!

They are super simple.
1. Start with cutting out a rectangle of card paper and folding it into a miniature card.

2. The next bit is drawing on designs. Christmas clip-art on Google can be good inspiration for things like this.

3. Write a little "Merry Christmas" on the front in a pretty font.

4. The next step was to punch a hole in the corner of each to attach a ribbon through.

5. Attach them to the gift with ribbon or tape and write your message inside.

These cards are far from complicated so if you are stuck for ideas or just want to add more to a present give them a go!

Étáin

xxx

DIY Christmas Cards ~ based on Disney characters

Card-making is one thing I take pride in doing. I have always made cards instead of buying them, it's just so much more personal and fun to do! I am the designated card-maker in my family for every birthday or celebration. My card crafting skills have however improved in recent years, I moved away from sellotape and staples (yes, staples) to pretty bows and ribbons, and glue which you can't actually see (I used blue pritt stick once or twice). I'm still not the neatest when it comes to anything crafty but I guess it's just my style.

I am a bit of a grown up  Disney fan (does 17 count as no longer being a child?) and I am constantly drawing characters so I thought it would be really fun to draw all of my friends as Disney characters and put them on cards.

There is something about giving and receiving something home-made and special that makes me feel so happy.

For the pictures I chose Disney princesses (and prince) who my friends looked a little bit like and changed the hair, skin tone, eye colour, face shape etc. I found that Cinderella and Belle suited quite a few of them in terms of face shape and features. Rapunzel was also a good start for some of the hairs. I copied some of their features from pictures of my friends, its much easier that doing it from memory. It all took time but was definetely worth it!

This one for example is of my friend Rachel, this is a mixture between Princess Tiana and Rapunzel.

 For the actual cards I put the drawing on a square of nice wrapping paper and stuck it on card. Most of this wrapping paper is from IKEA. Wrapping paper is my lifesaver when it comes to any kind of crafts, its versatile, quick and doesn't require anything other than sticking it on with glue or sellotape. I used these mini ribbon bows (I have no idea what these are actually called) from Tiger as well as lace (also from Tiger) and red ribbon that I had at home to decorate.

I hope you enjoyed this craft! I want to do more crafts like this for Christmas, possibly some gift or decoration ideas.

Also, am I the only one who finds blogging in the Winter really difficult? I use natural light for photos but by the time I get back from school it is so dark I can't do anything. The only time I can actually take pictures is at the weekend but I am always super busy and even then the days are dull and grim. I only have a couple days left of school so hopefully then I will have more time during the day!

Étáin

xxx

Little Haul ~ London

I went to London a few weeks ago on a no-shopping sight-seeing trip only. That didn't go quite according to plan. I picked up a few bits and bobs to show you!

First is this coat from a place called "The Vintage Market" in Brick Lane. I completely fell in love with it. I wore it in this outfit post.

I nipped into Oxford street Primark and came out with this double sided tartan blanket scarf. I really like tartan clothes although my wardrobe is lacking in it. This is just so cozy!

In the markets on Brick Lane I bought these two gorgeous pieces of jewellery from a cute vintage stand. I wrote about it here. The necklace is a delicate gold coin and the ring is a midi/little finger ring.

I had a quick browse in Boots at one stage and bought Rimmels Kate Moss in no. 107. A very iconic shade and I'm a bit late to the bandwagon with it.

I also picked up the Rimmel Match perfection foundation in Light Porcelain. I can never find the right foundations to accommodate for my vampire pale skin but I've heard good things about this. Thought I'd give it a try.

And last of all is a dress which I also got in the markets. I have been on the look out for a 50s style polka dot halterneck dress for ages. This one is just gorgeous. I wore it to a Grease themed dinner party which I will post about soon.

I hope you enjoyed the post! Sorry for the absenteeism with the blog posts, I seem to have either loads of inspiration and no time or loads of time and no inspiration most of the time. I can't wait to do some Christmas DIY's!

Étáin

xxx