ADVENT CALENDAR 1st & 2nd.

I promised myself I would join in with Hawthorn and Julie for the Advent Calendar idea, and as per usual, I am running late.  I have been collecting numbers and craft ideas, so my first few will be double up days with 1 & 2 today and hopefully 3 & 4 tomorrow, then one each day (sigh).  Not sure though, if I'll have a craft for each day.  I may try one of Hawthorns and post that, but I'll give it a good go.

DAY 2.

Taken whilst walking around Fountains Abbey.  (UK trip 2016).

A small craft project that is both easy, practical and achievable.

Small bookmarks.

I used those 3 colour paint chip cards, glued some scrapbook paper to the back and left them to dry.
Next I cut the writing off, punched a hole through the top, threaded in some fine ribbon & decorated with stickers, stamping or if clever enough your own artwork and voila, an easy present.  Very post friendly too.  I've seen something similar on the i'net, but this is how I did it.

DAY 1.

I actually had another number 1 picked out, but looking through my photo archive for something else, happened on this from our trip in 2014 and realised I had the perfect 1.  Photo taken at the Car museum in the Lakes District.

I'm cheating on this craft bit, as I've shown it before, but not having been at home for the last week, nothing has been prepared.

A PAPER SNOWFLAKE.

I posted how to make the snowflake last December.  Hopefully you find it easy with my tutorial.  DD showed me how it was done & then I took photos of each step.  Enjoy!

My start to the festive season has begun.  Hope you come along with me and also Hawthorn, Julie, Jak, Lovely Lady and any others who are joining in.  Thank you lovely bloggers.
Have a great weekend all.  Take care,
Susan.

SNOWFLAKE MAKING.

It's not Tuesday, but now Wednesday and I've only just finished making the snowflake and taking photos as I went.  We spent yesterday trying to track down a small, light craft cutter for me, as I find a Stanley knife too awkward.

Here goes!!!

I used a small craft cutter, paper scissors, a small craft mat and some double sided tape.  I also used a stapler to do the final part.

First I cut a 6" square from some coloured A4 photocopy paper.  You can use any paper with a little body to it, including Xmas wrapping paper.

6" square,

Fold in half diagonally.

Fold again.

Next I drew the lines so you could see them.  They are 3/4" apart and run parallel to the cut edge.
I started at the double fold edge and cut to within 3/8" of the two folds at the other side.  You could do this with scissors after drawing the lines.  I also found it easy with the craft cutter.

Next we start folding and sticking from the centre out.

Fold the small centre square and stick as shown.  I used small pieces of double sided tape, but you can use a small dot of glue.

Turn over and do the next one.

Turn again and stick the next one.

Turn once more and stick the last points together. 

We now have one piece done and need to make five more.

Join all  together as shown below.

Take 3 sections, and have all facing the same way.  I made sure the middle ones all faced to the right.
Staple together at one end.

3 sections joined at bottom.

 Next we staple the red to the white one at the widest point, then the white to the green.

Hope this shows how I did it.

Join the other 3 the same way, then place the two ends together, staple and also the mid sections.

AND TA DAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Finished snowflake being held up by hubby.

I DID NOT DESIGN THIS.

I have seen this snowflake in a book, magazines and on Pinterest.  DD and I followed some instructions she had and I found it easier than the ones I had in the book.  The book only showed the square after cutting and being a bit "dim-witted", I couldn't fathom if there was an easy way of making the cuts.  Now I know and hopefully my pictures make it a little easier.
If anybody is muddled, please let me know.
Happy crafting.  Take care.
Susan.