Lollipop Bouquet

 I’m calling this sweet tree a Lollipop Bouquet. While scouting for supplies, I found the perfect Valentine Tootsie Roll® Pops at WalMart and rose stems at the dollar store. Whether you make the Lollipop Bouquet for a classroom party or to add a little Valentine’s Day decor to your home, I hope you’ll give it a try.

The Lollipop Bouquet makes a great gift idea, too.

To make a Lollipop Bouquet, you’ll need:

• STYROFOAM™ Brand Foam: 5” ball
• Terra cotta pot large enough to hold the ball (mine measured 4-1/2” across the top)
• Paint for the pot (I used Krylon® ColorMaster™ in Tomato and Glitter Blast in Cherry Bomb)
• Tootsie Roll® Valentine Pops Dum Dum Pops (two boxes or about 50 total)
• Red roses, five – six bunches, or 40 – 50 blooms
• Paper doily, 10” dia.
• Tools needed: Scissors; newspaper; wire knippers

You’ll need two boxes of Tootsie Roll Pops, and I found mine at WalMart. Depending on the number of roses on each stem, you’ll need five – six stems of roses.

To make a Lollipop Bouquet:

1. Cover your work surface with newspaper, and paint your pot. I first painted mine red, and then added a top coat of Krylon Glitter Blast. Let paint dry.
2. Place the ball of STYROFOAM Brand Foam on the pot. Insert a ring of Tootsie Pops around the ball where it meets the pot.
3. Deconstruct your roses. Use wire knippers, if needed, to cut away the stems, and then pull apart the layers of petals. I used three layers of petals for each lollipop rose.

You’ll take apart the roses and cut a small “x” in the center of each layer of petals.

4. Cut a small “x” in the center of each petal layer so the opening is wider and the wrapped lollipop will fit. Starting with the smallest layer, slip the petals onto the lollipop stick. Insert the lollipop rose into the foam ball.

By cutting a small “x” in each layer of petals, the petals will slip over the lollipop wrapper.

Easy and pretty!

5. Cover the ball with roses. If there are gaps, adjust the roses, fluff the petals, and fill in with rose buds.

As you arrange the Lollipop Roses, fluff the petals to fill in the space. If there are any bare spots when you’re finished, use the silk rose buds to fill in the gaps.

6. Remove the ball, center the doily on the pot, and place the ball back in place.

The Valentine Bouquet is a dessert and a decoration (and it’s easy).

I really love this one – it’s easy, pretty and yummy!
I found this on: http://craftsncoffee.com/2014/01/24/valentine-craft-a-valentine-lollipop-tree-dressed-up-as-a-lollipop-bouquet/

Zipper Christmas Ornament

 

One of the many times I was standing in the long line at JoAnn's, I was lucky enough to be right by their idea table. I stared at the zipper ornaments so much that I had to come home and make a couple.

 

 

 

 

To make two trees, you just need one zipper that you take apart and some beads. I used a 22" zipper.

 

 

 

Then all you do is wind your zipper in loops and hot glue a bead in between. I added a bead to the bottom for the trunk and made a loop with the zipper at the top.

 

 

 

Add a ribbon through the loop to hang.

 

 

 

Now all I need is the tree to be put up to hang these beauties. Any volunteers?

 

I found this here: http://acreativeprincess.blogspot.com/2012/11/zipper-christmas-ornament.html

Peppermint Ornament

Personalized Peppermint Christmas Stocking Ornaments!

(Easy Christmas Craft Using Starlight Mints)

Have you hung your Christmas stockings yet? It's one of my

    favorite holiday traditions. Growing up, we didn't actually hang ours. Mama and Daddy laid them out on the sofa on Christmas Eve...and they weren't really even stockings. They were white tube socks. I can still see them laying there on Christmas morning as we ran into the living room after having begged our parents to get up before the crack of dawn! They always had a tangerine and orange..I can still smell them. We would buy them by the case every Christmas at the Farmer's Market. There were also unshelled pecans and other nuts, and then our favorite..a couple of candy bars! I remember getting a Snicker bar every year. Such wonderful Christmas memories...I'm excited about making new ones this Christmas with my children and grandchildren. :o)

You will need peppermints, red fondant, stocking cookie cutter, foodwriters pens, parchment paper, holly mix sprinkles, corn syrup and twine for these easy melted peppermint stocking ornaments.

 While candy is melting, prepare your cookie cutter. I wish I'd have had at least a couple..next time I will. Baking one at time just takes a little longer.

Immediately press prepared cookie cutter into melted candy. Wait about 3 minutes and press a lollipop stick into candy to make a hole for twine or ribbon. At the 4 minute mark, the candy should be cool enough for you to remove the cookie cutter. I lift the candy and gently press the cutter completely through. It's still pliable at this point, so be quick to lay it flat on the parchment to finish cooling.
**edit** for an updated (and just plain better) technique for making the "ribbon hole" in ornament..click here. It worked perfectly on my Peppermint Mittens Ornaments!

 So Easy! Just let the fondant dry completely before writing on it or threading the twine.

 I decorated mine with holly and berries. Just dab a little corn syrup on the candies and place on stocking.

You will be doing this too if you don't make the hole in cuff large enough!

Sweet stockings..all finished!

 What are some of your favorite Christmas memories? I'd love to hear them. :o)

Wishing You a Sweet Day From

Sugartown Sweets!

 

 

I found this on: www.sugartownsweets.com

 

Glitter-Striped Shell Ornament

Materials

• Tun shell (seashellcity.com)
• Glue pen
• Glitter (Martha Stewart Crafts, from Michaels)
• Metallic cord
• Hot-glue gun
• 1 pearl bead                                                           

Steps

1. Step 1

   The natural spots on a tun shell provide the "dots" on these ornaments. Using a glue pen (ours appears blue but dries clear), work in sections to add stripes to shell. 

2. Step 2

   Sprinkle with glitter; gently tap to remove excess, and let dry. 

3. Step 3

   Make hanging loop from metallic cord: Hot-glue knotted end of loop to inside tip of shell. Slip 1 pearl bead over loop, and secure in place with a dot of glue.

Felt Angel Bear Pocket

Materials:
1 piece 4" X 6" white
1 piece 4" X 6" tan plus
1 square tan felt
1 piece 1" X 12" burgundy (red) felt
One 8mm jingle Bell
Burgundy or red gold, dark green and black embroidery floss
Acrylic paint in green, holly red, black and white
Hot glue and glue gun or craft glue
Small amount of stuffing
Paint brush 
Embroidery needle Read all instructions carefully before beginning. The pocket ornament is worked by hand using blanket stitching. You may machine stitch around outer edge. Just be sure to pin pieces together to hold as you stitch. Matching thread seems the best way to go for effect.
Blanket Stitch
 

Diagram of the Blanket Stitch

1. For the decorative finish along the edge of the ornaments, use a blanket stitch using two strands of embroidery floss.
2. Beginning on the underneath side, come up to the right side of the work. Work the stitches about 1/4" apart and in depth as you work all the way around to your beginning point. Remember to leave an opening for stuffing.
3. With right side of the fabric up, working from left to right, with the right side of the edge toward you, hold the thread with the thumb and insert the needle from the right side, catching the top edge of the piece you are working with, then bring it out from under the edge and over the thread. Draw the thread through by pulling it toward you forming the blanket stitch. Do not pull the thread too tightly.

Bear

1. Cut bear, muzzle and pockets of tan felt, wings of cream.
2. Using 3 strands red floss work blanket stitch across the top of pocket. Work holly berries and leaves. Berries are 3 strands red worked in 3 French knots. Leaves are a daisy stitch each side of berries of green floss. Or you might prefer to dot berries of red acrylic paint with paint brush end and leaves of green acrylic paint and small tip brush. Let dry.
3. Place muzzle on bear face and work small blanket stitch around muzzle with 2 strands gold floss. Dip end of paint brush in black paint and dot nose. With gold, 2 strands outline stitch ear markings.
4. Using 4 strands black floss run muzzle center from nose tip to lower muzzle center. Secure thread.
5. Blush cheeks.
6. Dip paint brush end in black paint and dot eyes. Let dry. With dotter dipped in white paint, highlight one side of each eye. Let dry. 
7. Place body front and back together. Place pocket over lower bear body front. Pin together. Work blanket stitch all around using 2 strands gold floss leaving side opening where shown for stuffing.
8. Lightly stuff bear being sure to stuff feet, arms and ears.
9. With 2 strands red floss work blanket stitch around wings. With 2 strands green floss work small running stitches just below blanket stitches. Using 2 strands gold floss make 3 stars each side of wings as shown on pattern piece. Make a "+", go through this with an "X
10. Glue wing to back of bear at neck. Make a small stitch at neck center front through all thicknesses and pull to tighten. Secure thread. This gives the bear a puffier look.
11. Tie a bow with cranberry felt, 1 & 1/8" X 12". Trim ends. Glue bow to neck center front. Glue 8mm gold jingle bell to bow center. 
12. Run crochet thread through center back head. Tie a knot. Pull thread ends and knot at the end for hanger, if desired.

Christmas Stocking Tree Stand

MATERIALS Branches round wood dowels cut to the following lengths: 26", 22", 18", 14", 10" We used a dowel of 1/4" diameter. The thickness of the dowel is your choice, but it must fit through the main post and it must be strong enough to hold your stockings when they are full. If your stockings will be heavy, you may want to use larger dowels for the branches, a larger trunk, and slightly larger base. Trunk (main post) One wood dowel of 1" diameter, cut to about 68" length. Base Cut a 2" x 4" board into two sections that each measure about 2 feet. Cut two more squares from the 2" x 4" board that measure 4" x 4". Other Materials Drill, saw, glue, nails, hammer Paint Paint brush Glitter and other decorative items of your choice ASSEMBLY Tree 1.   Measure down about 6" from the top of the trunk and mark the spot with a pencil. 2.   Measure 24" from the bottom of the trunk and mark the spot with a pencil. 3.   Measure the distance from your top mark to your bottom mark and divide by four. At equal distances from one another (which is the number you got by dividing by 4), make three marks between the top and bottom mark.

4.   Your shortest branch will be at the top, and each branch down gets longer. Your longest branch will be on the bottom of the trunk. Drill a hole for each branch, drilling each hole PERPENDICULAR to the one before it. Hole should be a size that creates a tight fit for the dowel. We drilled each hole to 1/4" and then sanded the dowel just enough so it would fit through tightly. 5.   Push your branch through the hole.

Base 1.   Glue or nail the two base squares onto the underside of one of your base cross pieces, even with the ends, to serve as "feet". (refer to photo). 2.   Glue or nail the two base cross pieces together, with the piece with feet on top, and with the two pieces perpendicular to one another. 3.   Drill a hole into the center of one of your base pieces, large enough to accomodate your trunk. 4.   Glue or nail your trunk into the base.

NOTE: You can change the dimensions of your tree, but be sure that the base is large enough to accomodate the tree when fully loaded. If your base is not wide enough, your tree will tip over!

Shovel Door Decoration

Christmas Craft Project - Shovel Door Decoration

Materials: 1 Provo Craft® shovel (available at craft supply stores); 1 lg holiday sprig of choice; 5 to 6 miniature pine cones; white glitter spray paint or spray snow; 1 pkg. Plastifoam® white balls - 1 1/2"; glue gun and sticks; red berries.

Instructions:

1. Glue holiday spring lengthwise along front of shovel handle 1ith foliage end facing downward.

2. Glue Plastifoam® balls on base of shovel in pile as shown in photo above.

3. Spray pine cones with snow or white glitter paint, allow to dry thoroughly.

4. Arrange pine cones on handle as desired and glue in place.

5. Glue tips or stems of berries and place between pine cones