Mitten Ornaments From Vintage Lace And Fabric.... Take Two

I posted these cute little mitten Christmas ornaments three years ago, but I think they are so darn cute that they are worth another look!?  I hope you agree.

They are a great way to use torn and stained vintage linen and lace scraps 

I am always saving vintage hankies, and embroidered linen that is stained or has holes, I just can't bare to throw them out when some portion is useful

This is the perfect project to use some of those scraps

I drew a free hand pattern of a mitten 5 1/2" X 4 1/2", cut two, sewed them together and embellished

These were from old tablecloths and an antique quilt

And old hand towel, table cloth, and quilt

Hanky, hand towel, and tablecloth

I adorned these with vintage lace, buttons, flowers, and jewelry

 Great hostess gifts for the holidays.

I think I could call these "Second Hand Mittens"!

Happy Creating!


Carol

Partying with My Salvaged Treasures
Coastal Charm

Wishing You a Merry Christmas, This Picture Says It All

Babyboy is leaving tonight to drive 13 hours from DC to Orlando (Add a few grey hairs) to join us for Christmas.  Before I sign off for the holiday I wanted to share with you this email I received from a friend. 

So the story goes....This Nativity scene was erected in a church yard and during the evening some parishioners came across this scene

An abandoned dog was looking for a comfortable, protected place to sleep.  No one had the heart to send him away, so he was there all night, curled up in the comfort of baby Jesus' lap


To make it even sweeter, the dog breed is a shepherd

Wishing You All A Very Merry Christmas!

Carol

Ladies Only Champagne Holiday Brunch

Yesterday was sooo much fun, my annual 

"Ladies only champagne holiday brunch".  I had the candles lit and the tree dressed

I'm embarrassed by my minimal holiday decorating.  Some of your houses are literally jaw dropping, I had no idea how much decorating people did until I started blogging

That's it kids...YIKKES I hope I don't get kicked out of blog world!

Whats a good shabby tree without a princess crown.....See it right in the center of the tree?

On to the party......

My dress form was keeping watch over the champagne punch bowl

Of course there was coffee and tons of food....I didn't take a picture of the food.....geez!

One benefit of having a small house is when I have more than 15 guests it seems like a huge party because we're packed in like sardines!

Here's some of my guests.....Kelly, Eileen, and Liz

Luci and my Mom

Oh, I hate to tell you folks "Up North", but it was a gorgeous day here in Orlando so, I set the outside tables

Which gave me more room 

I hate pictures of myself, but I guess bloggers like to know who the person behind the blog is sooooooo....OK


 

 If I make the picture smaller it's not quite so bad!


Do you have any Christmas parties planned?

Carol

Sending Christmas Post Cards and Ladies Champagne Brunch Invites

For the last few years I have sent Christmas Post Cards instead of regular cards.  I do it for a few reasons.  I can print them out with a short Christmas letter (No one wants to read one of those long letters) on the front.  And a very short, yet personal note to the recipient on the back, plus I save money on postage!

I print 4 to a sheet of card stock

I blurred out names and details so the blog stalking boggie men would not get me!

I use a postcard rubber stamp on the back, but you could just draw a line to divide where you are going to write a note and the address  

Then my personal note...Lord, I have the worst handwriting in the world!

I have 45 Cards ready to be mailed!  I feel like super women!!

I also printed and addressed 25 post card invites to my annual 

"Ladies only Champagne Holiday brunch"

This is way to fun!  Every year, my lady friends come over after church, dressed in their Sunday best and we have brunch, an ornament exchange, and tons of chit chat....it's a whirlwind 2 hours.   I started having it on Sundays years ago because everyone seemed to have so many commitments on Friday and Saturday during the Christmas season. It's a great way to stay connected with my girlfriends from all walks of life, it might be the only time we have been able to get together all year!

 Do you host any parties over the Holidays?

Happy Creating!

Carol

Shabby Little Mitten Ornaments From Vintage Linen Scraps

Every year I make these mitten Christmas ornaments.  They are a great way for me to use my torn and stained vintage linen scraps I have been squirreling away all year! 

I am always saving vintage hankies, and embroidered linen that is stained or has holes, I just can't bare to throw them out when some portion is useful

This is the perfect project to use some of those scraps

I drew a free hand pattern of a mitten 5 1/2" X 4 1/2", cut two, sewed them together and embellished

These were from an old tablecloths and an antique quilt

An old hand towel, table cloth, and quilt

Hanky, hand towel, and tablecloth

I adorned these with vintage lace, buttons, flowers, and jewelry

They are hung on a coffee mug holder in my booth at Orange Tree Antiques

 I also box them up pretty for hostess gifts over the holidays.

I think we could call these "Second Hand Mittens"!

Happy Creating!


Carol

Linking with
Christmas Crafts@ Project Queen
WOW@Savvy Southern Style
Sugar Bee Crafts
 Coastal Charm NIfty Thrifty Tuesday 

Chef in TrainingTuesday Talent Show

Christmas Altered Books

I made up a couple Christmas altered books for my booth at Orange Tree.  Here is the whole altered book tutorial.  The only thing I did different was used rubber stamps with holiday words and of course holiday ornaments.

I didn't realize my salt shaker snowmen were peeking around the books as I took pictures!

I put Christmas items in my booth right after Halloween

One thing I keep my eyes open for all year are vintage hymnals

Because.... Every hymnal has Christmas music!

These hymnals are pretty easy to find at thrift stores and could be used on lots of different craft projects.


I'm not sure if the snowmen peeking around the books is cute or creepy!

So kids, that's my tip for the day....... Keep your eyes open now, for hymnals to do Christmas projects later!

You guy's are the BEST!

Happy Creating! 

Carol


Joining
Project Queen
Primp

Salt Shaker Snowmen & Snow Women

Whats a girl to do when she finds a whole bag of salt shakers at the thrift store?

She waits patiently, knowing that some fabulously talented blogger will inspire her!

 That blogger is Mamie Jane's.   Go take a look at her snowmen salt shaker's and while you're there, follow her! She is a crafting magician....I'm not just saying this to suck up to her because I copied her idea, I really mean it, this girl can make anything out of nothing!

Mamie Jane's does the whole tutorial

Here's my princess snowman, can you be a princess and a snowman?...I say equal rights for snow women!

I'm going to put them in my booth at Orange Tree after Halloween

and will probably price them between $5-$7

They're a little kitschy but, adorable, fun to make, and would be great little hostess gifts!


I can't believe I am getting Christmas projects done since the temperature here in Orlando has yet to leave the 90's, finally cooler weather is predicted this weekend, I am going to need my sweater if it gets in the 80's!

Happy Creating!

Carol

Holiday Candle Transformation

It's time to start making my holiday candles

Every year I sell out of my altered Christmas candles in my booth, so this year I thought I would start early.  I am going to do about 30 so, I got started on my first batch.  I don't know about you, but I seem to run out of creative energy if I try to do to much of one project at a time.

Here is the tutorial I wrote last year on making these candles

The one above was made with clay roses. Here is the tutorial for Making Clay Roses

I brought out my vintage bling and attached with my hot glue gun. The larger pins I attached with E-6000

I used the peel and stick rhinestones

After I spray paint my candles with regular acrylic paint I fill them with grout to give them a little weight.  I explain it here in last years tutorial

If I can get enough done I might put some in my online store

This one has a porcelain rose I chipped off a nick knack, the tutorial is here

I look for these candles all year as I am out at estate sales and thrift stores

Here is the one I made for myself last year

So, there you have it, my first batch of Christmas candles

I am heading out tomorrow to visit Baby Boy in DC, I haven't seem him for 9 months!  He is in his last year of intelligence studies and his Girlfriend works for the senate, (Don't tell anyone, but the girlfriend is getting promoted to fiance in the next couple of months)

Last year I took my Mom along and we went from Orlando to DC 17 hours via the Amtrak.  We got a sleeping room and had delusions of it being like the Orient Express.  It was no where near the Orient Express!!!

You can read all about it here.  You will be happy to know I did not "Throw Mama from the train"

This year, I'm flying.  I'll be staying in Old Town Alexandria, right on the main street loaded with cute little shops and boutiques for me to amuse myself while my son is working.  He'll be taking a couple of days off and we will see the sights of DC and get some good bonding time.

See you in a week!

Happy Creating!

Carol

I am linking up with
Rustic Crafts
Shabby Creek Cottage
Beyond the Picket Fence
Coastal Charm NTT