Crikey I could make those !

I saw ones like these in one of those lovely kitchen/home shops the other day . I thought how lovely they were until I looked at the price . $9.95 EACH!!!! Obviously I don't get out much as this really stunned me . I wasn't so stunned that I couldn't find my way to the register at GoLo to pay for 3 tealight holders 79c each . Candles I already had and ribbon , lace and braid galore .

As is always the case for me the longest part was choosing the ribbons (yes I was playing again)

A stitch or two and there you have them , very pretty tealights !

Really effective and you don't just have to have them at Christmas . If you're really flash you could decorate the holders to match your cloth or table setting for a special celebration dinner .

More buttons!

Yes I know more buttons . Really and truly this doesn't take long . The hardest part is choosing the buttons as I have to play with them not just use them .

Decide what size you want your decorations and cut two circles of medium weight cardboard .

Use a hot glue gun and glue the circles together with a looped piece of ribbon secured inside the two for hanging .

Play with your button collection for a while and then select the colours you would like .

Again using the hot glue gun glue buttons to your cardboard on both sides .

Fill in any small gaps with beads .

Make sure you use enough glue as everyone wants to touch them .

We made a few in different colours but they have mysteriously dissapeared .

I think I need to check my daughters purple room for the mauve one , really pretty .

Button up !

I love buttons can you tell?

These little decorations or

place settings can be whipped up very quickly and

you're also doing a good thing by recycling your old

spice jars .

The buttons were simply

threaded on fine wire and

matching ribbon was added

to disguise the white lid with the holes in it .

Fill the jars with buttons , beads ,lollies or even rice coloured

with food colouring . Just make sure the rice is really dry before adding to the jars .

Aren't they cute ?

Cheats Christmas Tags

If you go to all the trouble to make a handmade Christmas gift it's really nice to finish it with a handmade card . Little finishing touches make things extra special. These cute luggage tags are extra quick to make and perfect to have on hand for when time is really short . The kids can also help make them for adding to their teachers gifts .

Manilla luggage tags are available in a range of sizes from newsagents or you can always cut your own tags from coloured cardboard .

Prepare fabric in Christmasy shapes and fabric as you would do for applique.Use" heat and bond" or similar to stick shapes to tags .

Add the "stitching" around the edges of the tag and the shape with a fine marking pen .

Write your greeting on the back .

Thread a pretty ribbon through the provided hole .

These are so quick to make it's worthwhile making a few , just in case !

Bon Bons

Fabric bon bons are a great little extra to make for a stitching friend .

Raid your scrap pile and cut the main fabric piece approx . 8" x 11".

Cut the centre piece approx . 3" x 8" .

Lay the narrow piece right side down , place the larger piece on top with the right side down .

Place a cardboard roll in the centre .The roll can fit all sorts of little goodies inside .

Try adding embroidery threads , buttons , needle packets even more fabric scraps rolled up .

Roll the fabric tightly around the tube and secure ends with braid , ribbon or ric rac .

These bon bons would make a fun lucky dip at your craft Christmas party or personalise

them for special friends by making them in their favourite colours and fabrics .

Creepy Crawlies

Is it any wonder my garden isn't looking that great .

These little critters have been lurking and breeding out there .

Get yourself some little pom poms and stick on eyes from the $2 shop and thread the pom poms with dental floss , leave a bit at the end for threading some beads for antennas and glue on the eyes .

We are using these for adding to lolly bags for my daughters birthday party . A lot more interesting for the kids who have probably had enough lollies anyway . Besides they are so cute and fun to make .