NEW Christmas Workshop Day 2021

We are so excited to finally announce that we will be hosting an actual physical Christmas workshop in October this year! It has been such a long time since we last hosted a workshop and we can't wait to catch up with everyone and have some crafting fun!

To make this workshop Covid-19 friendly we have decided to host this workshop from a new venue, a church hall in South Godstone, so that we can space everyone out to provide social distancing. We will still aim to create the same cosy atmosphere with some festive music and a few sweet treats in-between!

In this workshop you will be making not one but two Christmas projects! Both of them will make excellent home decor around your house at Christmas time and add a wonderful hand made touch to your Christmas decorations this year. 

The first project will be a Christmas Reindeer Hoop...

This hoop measures approx. 5.5 x 5.5 inches and features a jumping deer against some woodland trees. Hang this hoop against a white "snowy" background and you have got a fantastic Christmas scene hanging on your wall! We have included some great embossing techniques in this project and will definitely create that wow factor.

The second project is the Snowy Scene Vintage Dome...

This beautiful light up dome is perched on top of a metal tart tin, reminiscent of vintage tart tin decorations. A snowy house scene surrounds the dome, encasing the snowy reindeer and woodland scene inside the dome. Place this decoration on a mantelpiece or shelf and let it light up your home this Christmas.

For more information about this workshop and details on how to book please check out our Workshops page on the blog.

We hope those of you that want to come can make it, but we do recommend booking as soon as possible to avoid disappointment!

Christmas in July

As a crafter, the word "Christmas" often pops into my head as early as June and I start to think ahead to my favourite holiday season of the year. New craft products for the festive season always get released each year in July and August and I start looking early to try and get some inspiration for crafty makes I want to do leading up to Christmas. You may be thinking that surely there will be plenty of time to craft for Christmas later in the year. However I have always found that once September rolls around the next few months whizz by in a flash and before you know it, it's December and you are still finishing off the last of your Christmas cards and handmade gifts!

Over the past month we have started to have a play with some Christmas crafting and I wanted to share a little sneak peek of some makes we have been working on and perhaps whet your appetite for some Christmas crafting!

First up is a sneak peek of my Christmas card designs this year. I started researching some ideas on Pinterest and also had a look at some craft websites to look at the previous years Christmas designs and see if I could get inspired. I visited one of my favourite brand websites which is Hero Arts - who do some of the best Christmas stamp sets! After looking through quite a few different designs I found this one - Winter Woods Heroscapes (CM491) and once I saw some of the samples I knew this was what I wanted to  use to create my cards this year. Luckily I managed to find this stamp set on a UK craft website called Bumbleberry PaperCrafts - who I highly recommend if you are trying to find some American brand stamp sets in the UK. 

Once I received my stamp set (extremely quickly BTW) I started experimenting with some colours. In the example above I used a selection of Tim Holtz Distress ink pads but I am also considering purchasing some Hero Arts ink pad sets that have a gradient effect which will create the perfect colouring for these cards.

The next sneak peek is a a piece of home decor which mum created. We think this may potentially be a workshop project in the near future so watch this space for more details. This project was inspired by Tattered Nest Designs and you can visit the blog post here that we were inspired by. We think this is going to be a fantastic workshop project, which incorporates lots of arty techniques and is a fun decoration to hang up in your house at Christmas. 

Our last sneak peek is of another potential workshop project which is a small home decor Christmas decoration. These decorations are from a kit that was designed by Papertrey Ink a few years ago called the Make It Market: Wonderland Kit. I can't believe we haven't even played around with the items in this kit as they can make the prettiest of decorations and stationery for Christmas. I have been gaining some inspiration from Pinterest over the past few weeks and have finally started to have a play. There are many different combinations of designs you can create using this kit and I can't wait to share more of them with you once I have had a creative session.

So that concludes our sneak peek of Christmas makes and an insight into how early we start crafting for Christmas! Make sure you check out some of your favourite craft websites for New Christmas products for this year. If you are a fan of Hobbycraft, they have started to list some of their Christmas products online and will be launching Christmas officially in August! It's never too early to get in the festive spirit!

Winter Cabin Snow Dome Project

Our last Christmas project kit for 2020 has finally arrived and this one is definitely a must have! This beautiful light up snow dome decoration will look stunning on a shelf or mantelpiece and the wintery cabin scene will make you feel warm and cosy inside. 

Rewind back to 2018 and you may remember a previous workshop project called Christmas House Glass Dome which featured a larger house and winter scene. This time we have kept it small and also made it a bit more simpler so you can complete it at home.

For this project we used a small LED glass dome that we bought from Hobbycraft. We decided to take out the LED light from the base so that we were able to layer up some wood slices before placing a house on top. We therefore needed our own set of LED thread lights that we could use inside the house and stuck the battery pack to the bottom of the base. 

We also added some wooden beaded feet to the bottom to allow for the battery pack to fit underneath.

The die cut house is from Tim Holt'z Paper Village die set (664741) which is the same die set we used for our Festive Copper Cabin Pot decoration. However we decided to use a slightly wider house design for this project. We used some corrugated card for the house to give it a log cabin look.

We cut a deer from the Tim Holtz Darling Deer die set (664968) and coloured using some Tim Holtz distress ink before adding it to the scene.

We used a snowy green bristle brush tree and cut off the base and stem to allow the tree to fit on the wooden slice.

To create a snowy effect we used some Tim Holtz Grit Paste on the roof of the house and on the wooden base pieces. As this was drying we also added some white glitter to make it sparkle. 

For extra snow we added some loose mica flakes to the inside of the dome before adhering it in place.

Finally we wrapped some twine around the base and added a Tim Holtz word charm and a candy cane charm before tying the twine in a bow.

We think this smaller snow dome makes the perfect accompaniment to 2018's glass dome project. Display them proudly on a shelf or mantelpiece and remember to switch on the lights for an extra magical touch!

Festive Copper Cabin Pot Project Kit

We have a new Christmas project kit ready to order and this one is simply stunning! This copper cabin pot decoration will look beautiful on a decorated shelf or mantelpiece and the added bonus of LED lights will bring extra charm and magic.

The decoration consists of a garden peat pot that we have painted with white paint using a stiff bristle brush and added a Christmas word to the front. We filled the pot with some polystyrene and brown shredded paper before building a beautiful Christmas scene on top.

We used a wooden circular base on top of the filling to make the scene level. The house we used in this decoration is from the Tim Holtz Paper Village die set (664741) and we die cut this from a woodgrain paper that we had pre-painted in a Copper tone paint. We also glittered the roof in a copper coloured glitter to add some extra sparkle and glitz.

To bring the scene to life we added some LED lights inside the house and added some foliage around the house, including pinecones and a copper sequin stem. We added a tree to the side of the house to give the scene a bit of height and decorated the tree with some tiny diamonds. We used alcohol ink in Rust to add some extra colour to the diamonds before placing them in the tree.

To finish off the scene we included a pinwheel decoration that we had cut out using an old Tim Holtz border strip die. We then added a stamped sentiment to the centre to complete it.

If we flash back to last year, you may remember a certain Reindeer Decor project that we did as part of a Craft and Coffee morning. If you were lucky enough to attend this workshop you will be delighted to hear that this copper cabin pot matches perfectly with the reindeer decoration and will look beautifully complimentary sat side by side.

The Festive Copper Cabin pot project kit is £15 per person. If you are interested in purchasing a kit please email vintagefollie@hotmail.com

NEW PROJECT KIT: Christmas Matchbox Advent Calendar

We finally have a new project kit ready and waiting for you to order. it may seem a little bit early to be thinking about Christmas but that is all we seem to have a buzz for at the moment. We need something to get excited about, and right now, with only 120 days to go until Christmas, we want to get those christmassy projects out there for you to start making!

This Christmas matchbox advent calendar project will definitely keep you busy, with lots of cute embellishments to paint and glitter, including wooden advent numbers, as well as 25 papers to fold and stick in place around your matchboxes, you'll be glad you started crafting for Christmas early!

The base of the advent calendar is actually a baking tray which we have spray painted in a beautiful vintage red colour, almost burgundy. The baking tray makes the perfect base because it is magnetic, so we can simply add a small magnet to the back of each matchbox to display it on the tray. We also created some holes at the top of the tray so you can thread through some gingham ribbon to hang up your advent calendar.

Now on to the matchboxes... 

When I first started this project I knew that I wanted to include some photos on this advent calendar to add a personal touch and include memories from past Christmas times and from good memories over the past couple of years. I decided to print them in black and white as a nice contrast to the patterned papers I chose for the boxes. I then chose some Christmas words to create on my Dymo label maker and added them to the photos I thought they best suited.

I picked a selection of wooden embellishments to use on the boxes without photos and added some glitter to them. As well as wooden embellishments I also used some of Tim Holtz die cuts, including a poinsettia and a miniature car carrying a tree which I layered underneath a Prima Marketing Pebble embellishment which recreates the look of a snow globe.

The papers are from an old Tim Holtz Christmas paper pad which all compliment each other nicely. The kits will be using a more current selection of papers from a Tim Holtz Christmas paper pad from 2019.

For us, the magic of Christmas is all about the build up to the big day and what better way to do it then by counting down to Christmas with this beautiful advent calendar. If you are interested in purchasing a kit please email vintagefollie@hotmail.com. Kits are on pre-order and will be available to collect from mid September.

We wish that we could have you all round for a wonderful Christmas craft day but we are still in uncertain times and don't want to put anyone at risk. This kit will include almost everything you need to recreate this advent calendar at home. All you will need to grab is some glue, glitter and possibly some paint. So why not put aside a day at home and get in the festive spirit!

Countdown to Christmas 2019: Day 12 - Reindeer Decor

It's the final day of our Countdown to Christmas and we chose to bring you the project from our last Craft & Coffee morning this year. This beautiful piece of decor was inspired by Pete Hughes who showed a very similar project on Hochanda in the Summer when the Reindeer Bigz die was first released. 

To make this project we used:-

664219 Tim Holtz Reindeer Bigz Die

Chipboard

Stampendous Embossing Powder in Metallic Tones (we used a copper tone)

Wooden Block

Metal Skewers (in 3 different lengths)

CS141 Elizabeth Crafts Reindeer Mail Stamp Set

We die cut our reindeer from chipboard and also some kraft card. The kraft card cut out is used to cover where the skewer is stuck on the back of the chipboard reindeer.

We used a metallic embossing powder to cover the reindeer so that they have a beautiful metallic finish, making them look as though they have been cut from metal. The way the embossing powder sets on the chipboard also gives it a slightly bumpy texture which adds to the metal effect.

We used a small drill to make three holes in the wooden block and then used a very fine tip glue to glue them into position.

Add a stamped design of your choice to the wooden block, we used a Reindeer Mail stamp as we thought it matched in very well.

To finish off the whole project we added some very small LED lights that were on a very fine copper wire and wound these round and in-between our reindeer.

We can't believe we have reached the last day in our Countdown to Christmas already, which means Christmas is almost here. We hope you have enjoyed all of our ideas this year and we will do a quick recap of all our projects tomorrow before we bid you farewell on the blog until 2020!

Countdown to Christmas 2019: Day 11 - Charming Decorations

On our penultimate day of our Countdown to Christmas we bring you these adorable Glass Jar Charm Decorations. 

These decorations are made using tiny glass jars that we fill with some white glitter and then attach a hook and charm to the bottom of the cork lid. Finish off the decoration by adding some glittery thread or tulle around the top of the jar and then attach some thread to the top of the lid so that you can hang your decoration on the tree.

Countdown to Christmas 2019: Day 10 - DIY Gift Bags

On Day 10 of our Countdown to Christmas we want to inspire you to make your own gift bags to pop some presents in.

To make these bags we used:-

Simply Made Crafts Flexible Gift bag Die Set

663117 Tim Holtz Snowy Stars Thinlits Die Set

Kraft Card

Thin Twine for handles

The gift bag die set includes 2 sizes of gift bags so select the size you need and die cut it twice from some kraft card. On one side of the gift bag die cut the Snowy Stars design (if you prefer to have the design on both sides of the bag, die cut on both sides). Fold along the crease lines and assemble the bag using the tabs.

Once your bag is assembled punch some holes in the top and thread some twine through for handles. To make the design stand out on the front of the bag I cut some A4 white printer paper to fit the inside of the bag.

Countdown to Christmas 2019: Day 9 - Shrink Wrap Baubles

On Day 9 we bring you some decoration inspiration for your tree with these Shrink Wrap Baubles. These baubles are so easy to make and have been created using Shrink Wrap Sleeves from La Blanche and Studio Light. (The links I have included direct you to websites where you can buy the supplies you will need to make them).

You simply take one of the shrink wrap sleeves and slide it over the correct size ball ornament. 

Please note the ball ornaments must be made of plastic and not glass as the glass will shatter with the boiling water. 

You then want to get a bowl of boiling water and some long reach tongs. Hold the sleeve and ball tightly in your tongs and dip the ball into the boiling water. Within seconds you will see the sleeve shrink down around the bauble. Once the sleeve looks like it has adhered smoothly, remove the ball from the water and set aside to dry. Then simply add some decorations and twine and your decoration is complete.

I have included a video below of La Blanche on Hochanda, demonstrating this method. You will need to fast forward the video until about the 46 min mark to watch the demonstration.

Countdown to Christmas 2019: Day 8 - LED Christmas Snow Domes

For Day 8 of our Countdown to Christmas we bring you these LED Christmas Snow Domes. Each glass dome has a beautiful Christmas scene inside which is being lit up with the small LED light at the bottom of the dome.

We used some domes that we had bought in Hobbycraft (unfortunately they are sold out online) and created our scenes using some bottle brush trees, house and church die sets from Nellie Snellen (see below) and a deer and lamp post design from a Marianne die set.

Add some glitz with some glitter on the rooftops and sparkly snow at the bottom.

Die Sets Used:-

HSFD019 Nellie Snellen Hobby Soloution House Die: Church

HSFD006 Nellie Snellen Hobby Solution House 1 Die

COL1330 Marianne Design Village Decoration 1 Die Set

Countdown to Christmas 2019: Day 7 - Personalised Christmas Wrapping

Add a personalised touch to your gifts this year with our personalised wrapping idea for Day 7 of our Countdown to Christmas.

For some small gift boxes I made this year I wanted to personalise them with the recipient's name and also added a hanging ribbon so that they could be hung from the tree.

I made the boxes using a Sizzix Thinlits die set

I then cut a strip of Kraft card that was long enough to fit round the boxes and then used some alphabet die pieces from the Tim Holtz Gift Card Bag Thinlits Die Set (662687) to spell out each name. I backed the kraft card with some white card to help make the name stand out on the patterned paper.

I think personalisation adds a lot of thought to your gift so make that extra effort this year to make your gift that little bit more special!

Countdown to Christmas 2019: Day 6 - Pillow Box Treats

We have reached Day 6 of our Countdown to Christmas, which means we are now half way through already!

Today we bring you these cute little Pillow Box Treats. These boxes make great party favours at the table, stocking filler pressies or you could also add some string and hang them on your tree.

I filled mine with some chocolate treats and gave them as little table favours at a recent friends get together.

To make these boxes I used the WRMK Pillow box Punch Board. I grabbed a 6x6 Christmas paper pad and followed the instructions on the board to make the boxes. I used the smallest paper size which is 4" x 6".

I finished the boxes off by adding some twine and a Christmas sentiment. The sentiments I used were from the Tim Holtz Christmas Circle Words Thinlits die set.

Countdown to Christmas 2019: Day 5 - Hallmark Decorations

On the 5th day of our Countdown to Christmas we bring to you Hallmark decorations. For the past 2 years I have been lucky enough to visit the US at the right time of year to be able to buy these amazing decorations. Looking at the image above you may be thinking.....what's the big deal?? But I have included links below to the decorations I bought this year from the Hallmark stores and once you play the videos you will see what I'm talking about. These decorations are so magical and really capture the wonder of Christmas.

Unfortunately the two decorations I bought last year:

The Polar Express Bell Ornament

Ho Ho Ho Musical House Ornament

These are no longer available from Hallmark so I won't be able to include links but check out the most recent additions to my Hallmark decorations......

Click on the links below and then scroll through the pictures to watch the video and see the decorations come to life!

The Peanuts Gang The Merriest House in Town Musical Ornanent with Light

Disney Cinderella Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo Musical Ornament with Light and Motion

I also bought a couple of decorations back for mum which are the following:-

Christmas Carnival Toyland Traveler Musical Ornament with Light and Motion

Glistening Lantern Snowman Ornament with Light

It's worth noting that if you are looking to by these ornaments you will need a Keepsake Power Cord and a US to UK adapter plug. The Cinderella ornament comes with batteries but the other decorations must be plugged in to work.

We have definitely fallen in love with Hallmark decorations and it will be hard to resist a trip to the US each year just so we can pick up some more!