Wool yarn trees

I made some felt yarn Christmas trees. They turned out so fun- so I made a video to share!

What you need: cardboard cones, yarn, and hot glue.

I put them on my piano for holiday decor. 

Here is the tutorial video: 

hello holidays

The November Cocoa Daisy kit was full of cute holiday themed products. It was so fun to make these projects:  

First I made an interactive advent layout. I will leave it out as decor for the month of December and add a little something under the flap each day. When I am done, it will slide into a sheet protector in my album.

Here is a process video on how to make one:

Here is a layout featuring a recent visit to the family cabin. 

I made a some frayed cards and tags. I used regular scissors and just cut lots of slits. 

For this one, I used one of my kids' pokemon card holders to make 9 pockets. Those gold stars made the cutest shaker pocket. 

handmade holiday day 10

Handmade holiday day 10: felt advent pockets.

As much as I love paper, I love felt almost as much. Mostly because you can make lots of "no sew" projects with it. :) I made my 7 year old a felt train advent pocket calendar when he was a toddler and my 3 year old has been sharing it with him. Its time he got his own. He loves snowmen and also loves "colorful." So for my 10th day, I chose to make this. All you need is a felt background, felt, hot glue gun, a dowel, and puffy paint. I used my sizzix to cut out many of the circles and freehanded a few. The pockets are white squares of felt. I let my little guy lay out the snowmen how he liked them, so some of them are upside down or built funny (which I love). It took about 6 sticks of hot glue and no sewing at all. I used puffy paint to write the numbers. I folded 2 inches of the top behind to make a pocket to slide the dowel through. Then just some twine tied to each end of dowel and it hangs nice. Each night I fill the pocket for the next day with a little treat or prize. 

handmade holiday day 9

Handmade holiday day 9: fringe trees

All you need is tissue paper and cones to make these trees. I used 1 piece of tissue paper per tree, and cut into strips. I fringed the strips and glued them onto the cones using a glue stick (Scotch brand). I wrapped the tissue strips around the tree about 3-4 times, and then moved up to the next tier.  Keep it simple, or use polka dot or glittered tissue paper. 

handmade holiday day 8

Handmade holiday day 8: "write a letter to Santa" station

I had my typewriter already on this table and started adding some Christmas decor. Soon I realized the possibilities of a station to write a letter to Santa. I found the mailbox and Santa letter head at Hobby Lobby. I added envelopes, rubber stamps, washi tape, etc. Luckily, our Elf on the Shelf will check the mail each night before he zooms back to the North Pole. That will save us on postage. 

My boys are loving it, and I have a feeling Santa will be getting a lot of letters from them.We are hosting a party this weekend, and I am excited for the kids and/or adults to write a letter. 

handmade holiday day 7

Handmade holiday day 7: reindeer gift tags. Such a fun way for kids to get to help with the gifting process. My boys loved helping me make these easy little tags. All you need is cardstock, poms, and string. Draw the simple reindeer head onto the tags, and add a nose. I used hot glue to attach our poms. 

handmade holiday day 6

Handmade holiday day 6:  snow globes

Can you tell I'm dreaming of a white Christmas? This project combines so many of my favorites together- jars, brush trees, vintage reindeer, and even a bubblegum machine. It definitely sets the mood for a dream white holiday. 

Here's an idea of some little globes you can make to give away as gifts:  I got the jars at Hobby Lobby (50% off), and the tiny trees at Michaels. The white and pink trees were already that color, but the mint colored trees I spraypainted and were originally the standard green. Each completed jar is less than a dollar.  

handmade holiday day 5

Handmade holiday day 5: felted bow garland

This Anthropologie inspired felt bow garland was fun to make. I decided to make it a little more festive for Christmas and tie them onto a strand of clear lights. All you need is felt cut into strips, and a shorter set of lights or a strong string. Tie them as tight and close together as possible. Don't forget to add white and grey. 

handmade holiday day 4

Handmade holiday day 4: stockings on a stick

This one didn't require much work, and I love the raw, minimal look it has. I found a stick and used twine and 1 nail to hang it. Then I hung random stockings on it. Simple, but festive.

handmade holiday day 3

Handmade holiday day 3: Old book pages trees.

These trees are so fun to make. All you need is an old book, skewer sticks, and some foam to stick them into. I like the pages not cut out in perfect circles, so no need to use a die cut. 

Watch my quick video here:

handmade holiday day 2

Handmade holiday day 2: Twelve days of Christmas/ advent sacks. 

Gather your paper packages and string, and all sorts of other little goodies to add to these simple bags. Fill them with treats and give them away, or re -use them each year with your kids. Here's what I used: pom pons, tinsel, lace, painted polka dots, doilies, washi tape, tassels, etc...

handmade holiday day 1

Just for fun, I will be posting a handmade holiday craft each day for 10 days. Thanks for following along. 

handmade holiday day one: Yarn Poms
These fun and easy little poms would be darling strung together as garland, to decorate holiday packages, or even to hang on the tree as ornaments. See the video at the bottom for a 15 second video.