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!

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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

[Sara]

I went off in search of Mollie Makes today but after looking through it I decided not to buy it - I've only got one issue so far as the rest all looked so similar in format. Then I saw the Prima one but I didn't get that either. Partly because I already have Christmas In No Time and recognised the designs. I must admit I don't really like the contrived styling so much as the lovely things I see on blogs in my natural settings. I am often disappointed by magazines and their many adverts and I find them too expensive to afford very often. I tend to just buy a book instead, when I know I will make things from it, or it is packed with things I love to look at.

The book is superb, definitely. I received my order of felt today, to make lots of felty things for Christmas. For no real reason other than I think they are cute, the little Christmas mice appeal to me. I love the embroidered Darla horse too. In fact I would say I love most of what is in the book, and can't wait to get started. I got to look through it in Waterstones before I ordered it from The Book People (£3.99 and no postage as there was an offer on). The paper crafts are great and I think all the templates can be mixed and matched to create your own ideas too. I love the Scandinavian influence and am definitely making the white star garland strung on red with the embroidered snow flakes on. I think it is the best Christmas book I've seen. I also love the Gingerbread spires which look little little Russian domes.

I've been hoarding things in pinterest which I hope to either make or be inspired by. I also intend to make the little stockings from Le Monde de Sucrette. I have loads of inspiration this year but not so much time. I quite like having Christmassy craft projects to do over the holiday too though.

Christsmas is about magic as Susanne says and yes it does go a bit when children grow up. But as long as children know that the magic isn't in the presents but all around, then it never really disappears and we always wait for it. Without fail, magic always happens by Christmas Eve, which is why Christmas is still so special for us and we get excited about it.

[Nicky @ PriddyPriddy.blogspot.com]

Had to share that I got the christmas crafting book from The Book People for £3.99...absolute bargain considering cost of magazines!
:)
x

[Lorena Sonido Retro!]

Hola,
I like that plate where you put some ornaments, assuming is your- It is lovely! Very retro look
I loved those owls. My son is crazy about owls since the school some real ones to impressed the whole reception class. He Thinks owl all the time! Lovely to knit, draw or cut and put together with felt.
Have a lovely rest of the week
Chao.
x

[Pattygloria]

Dear Amiga Lucy,
Wow,beautiful decorations! I do love the sweet handcrafted decorations. I managed to crochet myself some twinkle stars last year following your tutorial, thank you very much. I’d like to add the numbers and use it as an advent calendar this year.
Your house looks wonderful joyful and full of so many handmade things. I love your snowflake garland. Maybe this NAvidAd, I’ll finish everything on time.Thanks for sharing bits of your colourful, festive creativity!
Take care. Hasta Pronto,
Gloriax

[Fiona]

I can't tell you just how many times I have looked at that beautiful book in our local Waterstones! I don't know why I don't just bloomin well buy it! I have 40th Birthday money still left from September which I can't seem to bring myself to spend. Even though I want that book so so so much. It's totally ridiculous. I think I should just get it next time I'm in town. I'm absolutely loving those owls and have just decided that little F definitely needs to have a little felty owl in his Christmas stocking. I'm going to start making it this evening as S is going up to London for the evening to meet some mates. Thanks for sharing lovely pics today. Fiona x

[Claire]

you've helped me feel all Christmassy. I love the run up to Christmas. I can't wait to get the kids involved in lots of Chrismas crafts. (who am I kidding, It's me who enjoys it the most!)

[Kezia]

I love the run up to christmas far more than the day itself, like you I am a summer girl but I also love love love all the christmas crafting there is to be done. I could sit looking at your baubles all day they are amazing!

[Kashi Griffith]

I love Christmas. It is Thanksgiving here today and my hubby has to work. So my daughter and I are spending the day decorating. Yea! I am definitely a winter girl. I love snow and sweaters and I love the way the house looks decorated for the holidays. I love the bright colors. Today is also the day I get to start to making decorations. I have been holding off(other than making a couple of your baubles, he he). Love your posts as always.

[elsa]

lots of creativeness there! I wonder if I can find the magazine here in the States?
As always, you are an inspiration, thanks for sharing.

[Susanne Tyree]

I use to get so excited when our girls were little and opened their presents on Christmas morning. For me it has always been about "the giving" and I would let my gifts sit and watch everyone else, their expressions of surprise was priceless. Then they grew up and the magic was gone a bit. We will be having grand baby #1 in March and I think that magic is starting to resurface. Children make the holiday magical.....I remember one Christmas in particular, a little stove, sink and fridge, plastic food and dishes, baby dolls in little high chairs. You never saw so much cooking and dish washing, and baby doll dressing and feeding, it lasted all day and we watched with our coffee in hand, the happiness of our children on Christmas. Priceless!

[Rene]

Great deal on the decorations.

Lovely magazine and book, looks like lots of fun

Hugs,
Rene'

[Katie B]

Hi Luce! Just lovin' your work! I've been trying a few times to subscribe to follow Attic 24 but just get an error page?! Love feeling like I'm keeping in touch with all your creativity & life with your little ones. Maybe I'll manage to pick up a creative needle this Christmas too, for old times sake! Keep up the good work, Lots of love, Katie B (nee Tayler) x x

[Jenny]

Oh I love finding a good magazine that gives lots of good ideas for creative decorating...especially around the holidays. Last year I started collecting antique decorations...found great deals on ebay. Thanks for sharing the magazine. I intend to check it out!