Crafty Christmas Countdown: 1

Christmas wouldn't be complete if I didn't make at least one sheep. I found my inspiration from this pin. I'm not sure what the original was made from but I used cardboard, a little craft foam, and some angora yarn that I spun. This was part of my first attempt at spinning and it was messy, to say the least. It wasn't going to knit well so this was the perfect way to use it. The base is simple, a ring with small rectangles for legs. Since the legs will be exposed I wanted them reinforced with craft foam.

Then I just wrapped the yarn around the ring until it the body looked fluffy enough. I glued on another piece of foam for the head and secured the loose end of the yarn on top. With a pin back and a little string bow, it adds nicely to my coat.

Crafty Christmas Countdown: 2

 Christmas is nearly upon us! That means it's time to start making holiday pies. Personally, I'm partial to blueberry. But when I set about making this fellow he insisted on being more of a cranberry color.

I neglected to photograph the process here but his tin is made from a whipped topping container, the crust and filling from an old foam mattress pad. Both foam and plastic are covered in pieces cut from old t-shirts.

Crafty Christmas Countdown: 3

 I have decorated this wreath every year and never found a design that I was especially happy with. This year, though, I may have found a keeper. I decorated some wood ornament cutouts with permanent marker and glued them to the wreath. What's more festive than pokeballs?

Crafty Christmas Countdown: 4

 I was going to try not to buy anything new for Christmas crafts this year but when we found this light up gnome kit, we couldn't resist. I finally finished painting him and assembled his lights.

Crafty Christmas Countdown: 5

 To me, marshmallows count as Christmas food. Maybe because we put them in cocoa. Either way, this marshmallow family made from craft foam is a cute addition to a holiday display.

Crafty Christmas Countdown: 6

 My room wasn't looking very festive, so I though I'd add a garland. And what better garland than a string of cardboard gingerbread men designed to look like the Doctor from Doctor Who. 

Crafty Christmas Countdown: 7

 Just a week until Christmas! This is when things start to get frantic, so I just have a quick craft for you today. I'm giving a lot of books this year so I thought I'd make some holiday themed bookmarks to go with them.

These guys are super easy to make out of any sturdy paper (construction paper and light cardstock work well). I made my own pattern with some scrap paper and a sticky note (for size) but you can find a printable template here.