Crafty Christmas Countdown: 17

 Today I'm bringing you another wreath. I like the idea of making my own wreath from scratch but I have neither the skills nor the materials. What I do have is a wire wreath frame and a bright green garland from the dollar store. A short garland is the perfect length for a small wreath frame. I just wrapped the garland loosely around the frame, securing the ends with a dab of hot glue. A quick wrap with ribbon adds just a little visual interest and makes a hanger for the wreath.

I debated the right decoration for a long time, finally settling on these pompom spiders. I made one each in red, green, and gold.

Since the green one was inclined to get lost in the garland, I hung it from the wreath with a loop of tinsel. Three spiders weren't enough so I made some flies out of small beads with tissue paper wings.

Crafty Christmas Countdown: 18

 We have a wreath that we redesign every year. If you're a regular reader, you may recognize the scarf that we use as a ribbon. 

We decided to try something different with the decorations this year, starting with a large cardboard tree (designed for a different project that didn't work out) in the center.

Once the tree was anchored, I added some paper stars I keep around and a couple of glitter reindeer.

Crafty Christmas Countdown: 19

 Today's project is a simple but effective one. I have a small string of colored lights. They're festive but there's room to punch it up. So I thought I'd make some light decorations. Since the lights are colored, the decorations needed to be simple: snowmen.

I started with some white posterboard and an led candle for a pattern.

I punched a hole in each circle and added eyes and a mouth with marker.

Then I just fitted the snowmen onto the bulbs.

 

Crafty Christmas Countdown: 20

 I realized I've never posted a glove puppet before. Probably because they aren't my favorite puppet style. Still, I've been trying to push myself creatively so I figured I'd give one a try. With that style in mind, I decided to go with a goose. 

The nice thing about glove puppets is that the design stage is very simple. You only need to make the puppet outline, keeping in mind where your fingers will fit.

 Then cut two pieces from your fabric. I used some thin fleece I had left over from another project.

 Typically with a puppet of this sort I would prefer so sew the seams but I was adjusting on the fly here so I decide to hot glue. Then I added a couple of small pom poms, a beak I made from craft foam, and a ribbon bow.

 Tada! A Christmas goose.

Crafty Christmas Countdown: 21

 Dollar Tree stores tend to have these little wooden craft kids. I've long wanted to build one but didn't really have a use for them. When I spotted this helicopter, though, it struck me that it could be Christmas themed.

I assembled it quickly with some hot glue.

Then it was a simple matter of painting it red and green. And then adding the extra element of a reindeer piloting the chopper.

Crafty Christmas Countdown: 22

 Can you ever have enough Christmas decorations? I was inspired this year to make a couple of foam decorations in unusual shapes. I love decorations that are a bit unexpected. In this case, I went with an avocado and a cactus formed from egg shapes and spiced up with a bit of glitter.

Crafty Christmas Countdown: 23

 It seems like a good idea to ease into the Christmas crafts, so I went with a kit today. I love these little paintable ornaments and tend to buy a new one every year.