GardenMama

.:Creating Paper Snowflakes ~ Folding Tutorial:.

.: Just a few of the snowflakes we enjoyed cutting on this December morning :.

As Christmas draws near we are busy making, making, making. Today we enjoyed sitting around the Christmas tree that stands beautifully in the living room, covered from top to bottom in sparkling white lights. 

With scissors in hand and a stack of paper nearby the children and I began to create our own paper snow that covered the floor as we cut some very lovely paper snowflakes that now float gracefully in our windows!

Step One:

Place a piece of white paper in front of you. We used a sheet of multi-purpose paper.

Step Two:

Pull the lower left corner up to the top of the page creating a triangle shape (with a tall rectangle standing on the right hand side.)

Step Three:

Cut the tall rectangle shape away.

Step Four:

You are now left with a triangle.

Step Five:

Take the left side of the triangle shape and fold it in half, creating a skinny triangle shape with a 'tail' hanging on the bottom of the original larger triangle shape.

Step Six:

Fold the other side in the same fashion, leaving a 'tail' at the bottom.  These two steps will take a bit of fiddling to ensure your fold is sharp and even.

Step Seven:

Cut both paper 'tails', leaving behind a small triangle shape.

Step Eight:

Now you are ready to draw in your snowflake pattern! I will share with you a pattern we enjoyed but you of course may also design your own.

Step Nine:

Draw the design above.  (For the children, I shaded in the area that they would need to cut.) In this photo you can see that you will cut away all of the green areas, leaving only the white areas intact..

.: My daughter cut many delicate snowflakes today! Some for the windows and others to be gifted!  :.

.: She came downstairs in the prettiest colors this morning--a sweater with a wool capelet over it :.

.: Hard at work cutting, cutting, cutting! :.

.: The most enjoyable piece of course is opening up the surprise design that soon reveals itself! :.

.: Opening... :.

.: Admiring the details of the hearts and trees that appeared once the snowflake was opened! :.

.: My youngest son enjoyed collecting the 'paper snow' left behind. It created confetti for a few of the gifts he was wrapping! :.
 

.: Wishing you quiet moments with your family.  :.

.: Frosted Votive Centerpiece~Tutorial :.

While the house is cozy and warm we pull back the curtains in search of the morning sun. To our delight we find our old friend Jack Frost has paid us a visit and left behind his lovely artwork on the newly-frosted windows!

With Christmas drawing near, we wish to bring cheer to all of our family and friends who may visit! We set out white tissue paper, glass jars, and glue to create frosted candleholders!

.: The candle reminds us of the warmth of  home, and the white tissue paper covered jar is  reminiscent of the beauty of the morning frost! :.

For this project you will need:

.: Half-pint Mason jars.  (Recycled pickle, jam, or sauce jars would be wonderful as well!)             

.: Modge Podge Decoupage Glue  

.: Paint brush                          

.: White tissue paper.                                                        

.: Paper doiles (Can be found in the baking section of a craft store.)

.: Raffia  ( I used brown-colored Raffia  to pick up on the brown pine cones in the greenery.)

Steps One, Two & Three:

Cover the entire glass jar with glue.

Tear white tissue paper into strips and begin to cover every part of the glass with the tissue paper. Once this step is finished, coat the entire jar a second time to seal it and ensure a smooth finish.

Cover the bottom of your jar with glue and set it on top of a paper doile.  This will give your jar a place to dry without getting glue everywhere. (It also brings a sweetness to the candle with the 'lace' edge showing.)

Step Four:

Cut out the center of one of the larger paper doilie's and glue the circular shape onto the front of (a larger sized) lantern so that the glow of the candle within highlights the lace design.

Step Five:

Tie your Raffia around the rim of the jar. Next, place your greenery and pinecone in place and secure them to the jar with the raffia as well.

* These frosted votive holders are also easy enough for the children to create for their own gift-giving*

  These small frosted winter votive holders were originally part of a commission for a winter party. I inscribed all of the attendant's names on the bottom of each paper doile.  All of the votives are ringed by a handmade evergreen wreath to create an illuminated natural centerpiece. At the end of the evening each guest will take home a frosted votive as a keepsake of the celebration! 

.: The decorated mantle - also part of the creating I did for a winter party commission piece! :.

May your holiday celebrations be infused with intention, artfulness and light!