Crafty Christmas Countdown: 1

I've had a lot of fun playing with Christmas images this month but to close this list I felt it was important to focus on what Christmas really means. So I'm closing with this nativity image. It was a really fun repainting project, starting with a Halloween decoration I found on clearance, making the transition from dark and lurid to meaningful with a little acrylic paint.

 

Merry Christmas, friends and may God bless you.

Crafty Christmas Countdown: 2

When I first started making puppets I admired Muppets but figured they were far beyond anything I was capable of creating. Yet the notion won't leave me along. So for one of my final crafts this Christmas season I thought I would make a first attempt, with this penguin. It's a little rough, especially along the top of the head but a hat covers that flaw well. 

 

Crafty Christmas Countdown: 3

Last year I added stars to the lights I hang over my bed. Since I still haven't gotten around to adding the flamingo covers to my lights, I thought I'd decorate them again. This is another idea I found on Pinterest, and it's super simple. All you need is some drinking straws and tape. What better way for a geek to decorate.

 

Crafty Christmas Countdown: 4

When we were kids, my mom taught us to make snow globe type decorations out of cotton balls, bouillon jars, beads, and the like. When I found myself in possession of an empty bouillon jar I knew just what to do with it. And, it turns out, Tsum Tsums make great snow globe fillers.

Crafty Christmas Countdown: 5

Today's craft is another kit. Actually, it's part of a kit. The box included the entire nativity set but I've only finished a few pieces. Still, with the holy family and a few animals I feel like the essentials are present.

 

Crafty Christmas Countdown: 6

This is a case of a craft I saw on Pinterest, was inspired by, but didn't have the exact same materials. The original was made out of a soda bottle and paper clay. As our soda bottles have a deposit, I substituted a sports drink bottle. I used tissue paper, cardboard, and hot glue in place of the clay. The result is more of a gnome home than a fairy house. It's just the right size for a flocked owl I had lying around.

 

Crafty Christmas Countdown: 7

Last year I made a peg doll of a Christmas elf. He was cute, but no Buddy the elf. It's a situation I rectified this year.

 

Crafty Christmas Countdown: 8

I'm not totally on board with the whole adult coloring book trend. I do own one, though, because it's Doctor Who. And because a big part of the show is the annual Christmas episode, I figured there must be a Christmas image to color. I wasn't disappointed.

 

Crafty Christmas Countdown: 9

Having been raised in a Bible believing family, sheep will always be the animal I most associated with Christmas. I've wanted to make a sheep puppet for a while. I consider this little fellow a first attempt. He's fairly basic, though I'm fond of the fluffy yarn for his fleece.

 

Crafty Christmas Countdown: 10

Decorations don't have to be complicated. I fixed up this cheap artificial wreath with a dollar store scarf and a handful of felt penguins.

 

Crafty Christmas Countdown: 11

When my Tsum Tsum collection grew to include both Loki and Thor I had the idea to use them in my Christmas projects. I kept imagining them as children, examining presents under the Christmas tree. This little scene was the result.

Crafty Christmas Countdown: 12

There's something infinitely charming about a standard wooden nutcracker. I found this one at the dollar store. While the overall shape was nice, the paint job left a little to be desired. A fresh coat of acrylic paint has him looking a little tidier. 

Crafty Christmas Countdown: 13

Last year, one of my favorite Christmas decorations was a model farm house I'd treasured as a kid with some Christmas elements added. It was only natural that I add to the scene this year with some pipe cleaner trees, a sheep paddock, a hay ride, and an outdoor nativity.

 

Crafty Christmas Countdown: 14

I have, in recent years, developed a fondness for sloths so I knew I would incorporate a sloth into this list somewhere. When I came across an angel ornament in an old craft magazine I knew I'd found the opportunity. A couple of pompoms and a bumpy pipe cleaner make a pretty cute sloth.

 

 

Crafty Christmas Countdown: 15

Today's craft is one that you could easily do with small children. All you need is some tongue depressors, markers, and a little glue. This version has only Mary, Joseph, and the baby Jesus but it wouldn't take much to add some shepherds, sheep, and Magi if you desire. The adults are a little less than half a stick, Jesus more like a third.

 

Crafty Christmas Countdown: 16

I've had this project from the book Puppet Mania on my list for a while now. While the book shows how to make a chicken puppet, I figured it would work for several different Christmas designs. I had originally thought to make it a penguin or nutcracker but the design really came together once I settled on a snowman. The base of the puppet is a wooden spoon with the addition of a layer of Model Magic clay.

 

Crafty Christmas Countdown: 17

I'm a fan of craft kits, even really simple ones like this one which was built entirely out of pre-cut, self adhesive foam pieces. In my experience, the key is to add your own elements. Even something as simple as the garland I added to this penguin.

Crafty Christmas Countdown: 18

I've been known to occasionally attempt to replicate something I saw on Pinterest. This project wasn't meant to be a replication, exactly. It was certainly inspired by a pin. Either way, it was a fun way to use the top of a stretched out sock.

 

Crafty Christmas Countdown: 19

I've been experimenting of late with what you might call childhood craft supplies, in particular crayons and construction paper. While a part of the appeal is the low cost of these materials I also genuinely enjoy the combination of these two textures. I'd hoped to do this picture on black but I am apparently out of black paper. It works almost as well on yellow.

Crafty Christmas Countdown: 20

Who doesn't love egg carton animals? They're simple, yes, but there's something endlessly appealing about that simplicity.

Crafty Christmas Countdown: 21

Doctor Who has this amazing ability to give us monsters that are as likeable as they are terrifying. The robotic Santas from The Christmas Invasion are pretty creepy, yet when I found an empty Santa shaped tin among my craft supplies I knew that was the transformation waiting inside.

The original:

My version: 

 

Crafty Christmas Countdown: 22

I've had variations on this Doctor Who LEGO display up for a while but they've always just sat on this shelf by themselves. With the addition of some new Christmas elements, my display screamed for a backdrop. Luckily I've had some large sheets of packing paper set aside for a while. A little bit of paint set things right.

 

Crafty Christmas Countdown: 23

I'm a fan of most forms of puppets, even simple ones like this craft foam and tongue depressor construction.

 

Crafty Christmas Countdown: 24

I got a great deal on some kraft card blanks this fall so I did a series for my craft fair last month. Here are a few of my favorites (minus the penguins, which sold before I remembered to take any photos).