Creating A Life Studio: Junk Christmas

Sunday, December 1, 2013

Handmade Nativity Set

Can you believe it is December??

Oh, how I want to slow down the time and fully experience these last days of 2013!

We will be heading to California in about three weeks, and I know the time is just going to fly by.

One of the things that helps me slow down and feel more connected to the season is to make some handmade items with {and for} the kids.

This week we put together a rustic and whimsical handmade nativity scene.

Last March, my oldest daughter gave me a chippy wooden chair that had been on her deck for quite some time. It was falling apart from being in the elements for so long.

With some of the pieces of the chair I made some crosses.

I still had some of the chair parts left in my 'junk stash', and decided I would use some of them to frame a rustic creche.

I used four pieces to create a frame attached to a small wooden box. I didn't do anything to the finish of the wood pieces. I left them in their original chippy state. No cutting either, I just overlapped them to fit the size of the box.

I hung an old glittered star Christmas ornament from the top of the inside of the box using hot glue.

I added a little "O Holy Night" banner, hand stamped on a strip of cotton scrap fabric.

I actually created the whimsical Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus wooden figures last Christmas as a gift for my daughter.

This year, my 16 year old made a wooden angel figure to add to the set. She has a vintage button for a halo, and wings cut out of cardboard and painted gold : )

The cute little baby Jesus figure is a blank wooden peg doll
wrapped in white cotton, glued on. Super easy!

The 'hay' is crinkled brown packing paper.

I made bases for some bottle brush trees out of the wall brackets from an old towel rack a friend was throwing out. I placed one on each side of the nativity scene.

Here is our rustic, whimsical, handmade nativity creche.

It just makes me smile to see something created for our family for Christmas out of junk pieces that might have ended up in the trash.

It takes such little time to make a lasting memory of creating something fun together!

Tonight our family marked the beginning of Advent. I do pray that we all will find ways of slowing down and savoring what's most meaningful to our families this Christmas.

Blessings of the season to you, my friends!

Jeanette

Joining in the fun over here this week:

Christmas Junkers United
Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch
The Scoop at White Lace Cottage
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at Coastal Charm
Inspire Me Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life
Tweak it Tuesday at Cozy Little House
Wow Us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style
Centerpiece Wednesday at The Style Sisters
Treasure Hunt Thursday at From My Front Porch to Yours
Share Your Cup Thursday at Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson
Be Inspired at Common Ground
Party Junk at Funky Junk Interiors
Creating Christmas at Must Love Junk

Saturday, November 16, 2013

O Christmas Tree

Yep, I did it. I didn't mean to do it. Not this early anyway....

It's not even Thanksgiving, and I'm sharing my first Christmas post. I have a good reason, though. Really!

We've had the crafty 'bug' over here for the last few weeks. My kids and I have been making things for the house, making things for gifts and making things for the shop.

Making things. Just for the fun of it!

The other night, the "making" turned into a little impromptu Christmas crafting. A little forest of vintage inspired Christmas trees!

Sheets of vintage music form whimsical trees. I simply rolled them into a cone shape, secured them with a touch of hot glue, and snipped a bit of a decorative edge around the bottom.
Some are topped with sparkly stars punched from an old glittered gift bag.

This one has a tiny flag topper of brown paper, wrapped around a toothpick and topped with a pearl bead.

They were set atop some unique bases which just happened to be in my ~~giant, disastrous pile~~ well-organized supplies ;)

I used an iron piece from an old light fixture, a weathered flower pot (I didn't even clean it -oops!).

This one is an old cabinet handle with a really long screw. I knew I was saving these for something! : )

Turned over onto a bamboo skewer and tucked into a vintage iron piece, an old tin cone takes on the look of a snowy pine tree.

One little bottle brush tree was glued to a base of old, chippy white wood.

The other was glued to a vintage mold.

The star topper is actually an antique screw-back earring. My grandmother picked up a ton of vintage costume jewelry for craft projects, and this pair came from her collection.

I placed the little forest of vintage inspired Christmas trees on my rustic board mantel.

I made a little "O Christmas Tree" brown paper banner, printed from my computer, and hung it on the wooden backdrop behind the trees.

And took some pictures for you, my friends : )

For the first time ever, we are not spending Christmas at home in Colorado, so I'm not going to feel bad about doing some Christmas things a little early around here.

I want to enjoy a little Christmas creating and decorating before we leave home, but the plan is to keep it low-key and simple.

Remember how crazy I was getting ready to drive 3 kids to California this summer? Yep. We're doing that again. {smile}

How about you? Are you embracing Christmas already, or holding off until after Thanksgiving? I'd love to hear what you're up to!

Jeanette

Linking up at these fun parties-

Make It Pretty Monday at The Dedicated House

Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch

Inspiration Monday at twelveOeight

The Scoop

Knick of Time Tuesday

Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at Coastal Charm

Tweak It Tuesday at Cozy Little House