Creative Christmas Inspiration

I like Christmas time. I'm not madly in love with it for I am a Summer Girl at heart, but since having the Little People it has most certainly grown on me. I think it's true to say that it's actually the pre-Christmas period that I like bestest of all. As from about now (a week or so before Advent) I start to feel pretty ants-in-the-pants excited about all the Decorative and Creative possibilities that surround Christmas. Yyyaaaayyyyy it's late November and we can go forth and start making Festive Things! We can do colourful, creative, happy, joyful decorative Christmassy things in abundance!! We can do glitter and sparkly bits and buttons and bells and baubles!!!

I was shopping with Heather a few weeks ago and we went to a charity shop in our town that had just put out it's christmas things. Boxes of baubles for 10p each, oh yes perrrrlease, let me at 'em. You can see my dear little £1.20 haul up above there :: four sweet red vintage glass baubles, and some long shaped baubles to go with my rather sizable collection of round shaped baubles.

Ahhhhh baubles, I do so so so LOVE to see a good collection of baubles. The above ones are also a recent purchase, again aided and abetted by the kind and helpful Heather. These ones came to me (via Heather) from The City after I spotted them on t'internet and nearly melted with desire.

They must be MINE, I said.

I am going to The City, do you want me to see if I can find them for you? she said.

Why that would be FanTAStic, I said.

And sure enough, here they now sit in the Attic and I gaze at them adoringly every single day. They are teeny tiny, about the size of a small cherry tomato, and I have Big Plans for using them in a creative twiggy combo. You know how I like to do twiggy things every so often.

I bought this wonderful Christmas magazine way back last month, it was an extremely good find and has provided me with oooodles of ideas and a huge amount of visual pleasure. I've not seen it in the shops in recent weeks, but you can still purchase it online (go here to see), it really is lovely and well worth the three pounds ninety nine.

The styling (and I am a sucker for good styling) is beautiful, very, very beautiful. The emphasis is on creativity, and there is lots of colour and inspiration in these pages.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, very swoony indeed.

There are some awesome shopping pages........

.....but it's the creative projects that really make this publication special. I've become completely smitten with these sweet little mice, I just love them. They are the work of designer Clare Youngs, and her style and talent is just incredible. I found out that many of the creative projects in the Prima magazine were in fact Clare's work, and that more importantly they can all be found in a book. Well now. Say no more. Whizz to Amazon, search it out, pop it in my shopping basket and b-boom, it's mine.

The book's called "Christmas Crafting In No Time" ** and is absolutely blooming wonderful.

There's a wide mixture of crafts combining a variety of mixed media materials. I love almost all of the paper craft ideas, they are simple but oh-so-appealing.

This pretty little paper Rosette Garland is right up there on my To Do list.

Oh yeah, I definitely have to make me some little Birdy Pegs too, although mine will be multi coloured of course. You knew that without me saying I suspect.

And the owls, oh, so sweet! Yup, on my list. Must makey some Festive Owls with tufty ears.

And horses too? Yes, why not, lets give it a go. I love that these are made from aluminium food containers, how ingenious is that?

Towards the back of the book are some beautifully detailed templates and patterns. I love that they are full size and full of detail.

Ah, I'm off in a creative spin now after writing this, I've got that buzz buzz buzz thing going on. So much fun to be had with Making Things!

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

ps ** here is the US link for the book, for those of you across the pond **

pps will be bringing you my crochet holly pattern in the next few days.

 

 

 

Comments

[Carole]

Can`t wait for the holly pattern Lucy. I got the Prima mag too it is fab.
LOve Carole from Rossendale xxx

[heidi]

all just luscious! (what else is new?) you've managed to get us inspired again with your new post! keeping everyone on their toes... the book does appeal to me... checked in and amazon does have a very detailed sneek preview, well here in germany anyway. oh how sweet the owls and mice are! have you seen the precious paper maché baubles??? clare youngs does do things with a scandanavian touch, don't you think? your tiny baubles are so sweet and 'right up your alley' colorwise for SURE! i can't wait to see what you have done with them... christmas certainly is sneaking up on us fast and i am thinking AGAIN i should have gotten to things a long time ago (isn't that the case every year?) b-bang and the list of planned to-do's is just a long... so? ORGANIZATION is at the top of my list and for this year the only thing i am aiming for (before i do inevitably sink!) i have had a few VERY hard years and i am trying hard to concentrate on looking towards what is ahead... christmas is such a wonderful time of year... i am looking forward to spending time with family and friends, having special visits to remember.
xoxox

[Cathie]

Gosh - You've either pinched that tray from your parents house or you bought it in a second hand shop... We used to have one EXACTLY the same - It really brought back lovely memories of my Mum, Gran and self huddled round the fire with tea and crumpets as the rain hurled itself against the window.. Thanks
Xcathie

[Laura]

Wonderful post full of inspiration, can't wait to make my christmas decorations this year!

[Miisa]

I wish we had that kind of magazines here. The ones we have are not so beautiful or colorful.

[Julie]

The little nice are adorable.your hoe will look so pretty and festive ith all thelovelies you are going to make, have fun

[Andrea at Apples and Pears]

Spooky! I was just looking at that book this afternoon...I ordered it a while back and hadn't really had time to look at it until today (a day off work doing all the stuff I usually never get time for - that means ME time!) I can certainly second your recommendation xxx

[Joanne]

Those baubles look like a box of gems, so lovely and rich in colour.
I've got that book and can't wait to get started on some of the projects, I just need a few extra hours in the day!!
I am so excited by Christmas this year, I feel like a child! x

[Nina]

I just bought the new issue of Mollie Makes and I noticed this which made me think of you... http://bit.ly/tYzmE4

[Rachel]

what eye candy !!!
that book looks fabulous ! thanks for sharing :)

[Nicola Pengelly]

You cna buy the book from The Book People for £3.99 and there are plenty of discount vouchers available for free delivery if you have a look on the internet!

[Jo]

*Ogle Ogle* at your beautiful box of almost-edible baubles!! Love reading your blog :)

[Victoria]

My girls (both teenagers!) and I are getting very excited already and visions like yours make it even better. Must try and find a copy of the magazine. I am a sucker for December editions of magazines - as you say, all that wonderful styling. x

[Jess]

Those owls are great aren't they? I'm tempted to make some myself! I lOVe the metal container horses! I love to make things from next to nothing, so much more satisfying! :o)
Jess xx

[Tickety-boo]

Oh you naughty little minx! Putting all this lushious loveliness in front of us!!
It's bloomin marvelous!

xxxx

[maggie]

Thanks, as ever, for alerting me to a great little makes book, and for a gorgeous, inspiring colourful blog post. I am in awe of how you fit so much into a day, though maybe - if I could remember that far back to when my sons were small - I managed to fit a lot in as well!
Found the book at The Book People for less than £4 and have managed to order the Prima Christmas makes too. So thank you.... I think!

[Nanita]

My absolute favourite: the owlies! I think I might want a key chain like that. And car decoration (I'm very close to getting my licence, yaaay!):-)
I hadn't really gotten into the Christmas spirit yet, until I saw your delicious baubles, that is! Today is the opening of the huge Christmas market here in Brussels, I'm very excited to go explore this afternoon! I'm looking forward to the crochet holly pattern :-) xxxx

[Heike]

It looks as if you underestimated your love for Christmas...you are indeed loooooooving it, and I love your mini baubles in a box ;))

[aracne]

The book looks great, I just purchased it, thanks for the hint.

[Christine]

Your vintage baubles were a real find.
I bought that book the other day too, it is fabulous. We made the 50's style bauble cards with the kids at school and they came out really well

[zelda]

Thanks for sharing the lovely magazines. I love looking at the beautiful pics.
happy Xmas from a sunny South Africa. We are moving to a new town, so i am NOT in the Xmas mood at the moment. Lots of packing and unpacking to be done. But you inspire me.
xxx

[LindyloufromOz!]

Lucy, Lucy, you make me spend money!! Every time you recommend a book I just have to have it too! So I have bought the Christmas Crafting in no Time and can't wait for it to arrive!! I would like to make the paper rosette garland with my son - its gorgeous! And I love the mice too - so cute!

[angela-southern USA]

Yes the Christmas mood has struck here too.Just finished a dove for my kitchen window.(lucy style:)Thinking about doing some red birds for the tree or a wreath.My Girls were after me to put up the Christmas tree after Thanksgiving dinner today,too tired maybe tomorrow.I too recently pick up some vintage oranments for a song:)Those owls are too cute! My oldest Daughter had a owl themed birthday recently.Fixed her a 3-D owl cake,a tiny crocheted owl in a nest,with embriodery floss,in bright colors of course:)That book looks so yummy!Can't wait to see what you come up with next.Happy crafting:)

[Angy Braine]

Deeeevine! You are a ray of colourful sunshine you are!

[ZebAlex]

Gorgeous post! And I've just bought the book from The Book People - thanks to everyone who commented that they were selling it for £3.99. Please no more book recommendations for a while Lucy, as I'm unable to resist buying them!!!