DIY Snow Globes

Snow globes are everywhere on Pinterest at the moment. I mentioned them back in my Handmade Christmas post, and have been dying to make them since. I finally gathered all the supplies together and made a couple the other day!

These are so easy to make. I decided to go simple and make waterless ones, but you can make the ones with water using distilled water and glycerine. I think the waterless ones still look really sweet and effective though.

You will need:
Glass jars (Hobbycraft)
Christmas figures (I used cake toppers which I found on ebay and in Hobbycraft).
Glue
Artificial snow (Hobbycraft)
Glitter (optional)



First, glue your figure to the lid of the jar. Leave to dry (it shouldn't take long).



Put a small amount of snow into the jar. You could also add some glitter for extra sparkle.



Screw the lid on, and ta-da! You have yourself a snow globe.



Add a ribbon to pretty it up, and admire your creation on your window sill.



These are so fun and cheap to make, and would also be a great craft for kids to join in on too. I think they look lovely out on display this time of year. I really want to make some more to dot around the house now!

Have you been doing any Christmas crafting?

DIY Gift Wrapping

I love Christmas, and I love putting a bit of effort into wrapping my gifts. I'd happily wrap presents all day long! I've been really organised, as I am most years (yes, I'm one of those people who start their shopping in August), and I've already wrapped the majority of my presents. I try to do something a little different each year. Last year I did bows and bells and this year I've decided to use luggage tags and also make some pretty gift toppers...

I knew I wanted to add something to my luggage tags, to make them a little festive. I found this Christmas themed wax sealing kit, which include three coins - a snowman, holly and Christmas tree. I really enjoyed using this to decorate my tags, and really like the finished look.





With the gift toppers, I attached some wooden snowflakes onto wooden pegs using strong glue, and then spray painted them silver. They dried overnight and I then attached them to the bakers twine wrapped around the gifts. My wrapping paper is just good ol' Tesco!






I also got these really cute toadstools from our local garden centre, which I've attached to the luggage tags. I think they are so sweet!



I'm hoping my family and friends will like how I've wrapped their gifts, and also like the fact it will be obvious which ones are mine under the tree :) How are you wrapping your presents this year?

A Handmade Christmas

Apologies if this post is a little early for some of you, but I have been thinking about Christmas for a good few weeks now. I'm well on the way with my shopping (about halfway done!) and have been playing Michael Bublé's Christmas album non-stop (even, quite shamefully, on my iPhone in the gym).

I do love a good crafty project and I really love handmade gifts - they're so much more personal and I think people appreciate them that little bit more. Pinterest is a great source for creative ideas, and I thought I would share a few of my favourites which I have come across so far.



DIY Snow Globes
Such a sweet idea. And they seem very easy to make too! I really want to make some to dot around the house. We are quite big for decorating when it comes to Christmas - my Mum goes a bit mad!



Chocolate 'Dipping' Spoons
These looks super easy, and who doesn't love cosying up with a cup of hot chocolate? I love the fact you can customise them so much - marshmallows, sprinkles, chocolate drops (if you can't get enough), nuts, coconut etc. These would look lovely wrapped in cellophane bags and tied with baker's twine. A little token attached to a gift perhaps?



Glitter Candles
I love making candles, and the idea of adding glitter makes it even more appealing! Gotta love a bit of sparkle at Christmas. This step by step DIY makes it super easy.



Filled Mason Jars
I love the idea of filling mason jars with sweet treats. The possibilities are pretty much endless - hot chocolate, peppermint bark (recipe here), sweets (Ben's personal favourite), cookies, brownies, fudge...or you could create a kit depending on the person's interest. Craft kits full of mini craft kits, nail kits full of nail polish, nail files, decals etc. Decorate the jar as you wish, complete with a pretty ribbon, and you have a lovely personal gift!



Gold Dipped Cups
These cups look so lovely and classic. Very simple and effective. I think I would be very happy if I received something like this as a gift!

I'm looking forward to trying some of these in the lead up to Christmas. I'm also excited (moreso than I should be) about wrapping. I have some ideas up my sleeve and I can't wait to get started. I doubt I'll be able to wait much longer!

Will you be doing anything creative for Christmas?

DIY Gold Dipped Druzy Ring

You will need:
A druzy cabochon - Lots can be found on Etsy
A ring blank - Etsy
Liquid Leaf metallic paint - ebay
A thin paintbrush
Strong glue




Cover your surface! The liquid leaf stains, so it's best to put some paper down before you start.



Start by painting the black of the druzy cab with the liquid leaf. Leave to dry for about an hour.




Flip the cab over and carefully paint around the sides, and slightly around the top of the stone as well. Leave to dry for another hour.



Use the glue to secure the druzy onto your ring blank.



I absolutely love liquid leaf, and there are so many things you could use it for. I decided to make a dipped quartz necklace, too!



What do you think of this DIY?

DIY Floral Rose Crown

I really love all the floral crowns around at the moment and have been tempted to buy one. However, they aren't the cheapest of hair accessories and, being pretty thrifty, I decided to make my own.

I was pointed towards this DIY by Danielle, who commented on my floral garland bracelet DIY with her headcrown DIY! I absolutely loved the idea of creating my own, so off I hopped (though not literally) to Hobbycraft for my supplies.



My alice bands cost me £1.99 for a pack of 3 from New Look, and the roses were £2.99 for a bunch of 6 in Hobbycraft. So, really, it cost a lot cheaper to make my own and I got to choose my own colour combo!

The idea is that you wrap the wire stems around the alice band to fix the roses into place. I started with a lilac rose in the centre, then worked my way along one side, alternating the colours, then did the same the other side.



And this is the finished result...



I also made one with both large and small roses!



I would wear this to some sort of an event, such as a wedding - or perhaps on holiday. I did get an 'are you getting married?' (a question usually reserved for my Grandad) from my Mum - ha-de-ha-ha...I think it's pretty!

DIY Floral Garland Bracelet

Start by folding your length of string/cord/thread in half and knot to make a loop at the top. NOTE: Make sure the length fits all around your wrist when it's folded.



Thread the other ends through your button and tie a knot. Snip any excess ends off.



And you're left with this!



Now you can start adding your flowers. Wrap the wire attached to the flower around the thread to secure it in place.



Carry on until you get to the end of your bracelet.



Secure your bracelet by hooking the loop over the button!

DIY Glitter Candle Holder

You will need:

♥ Mod Podge
♥ Glitter (I used some GOSH nail glitter which I'd had for ages but never used)
♥ Candle/tealight holder (mine's a £1 job from Primark)
♥ Small bowl
♥ Paintbrush

Put some of the glitter into your small bowl...oooh, so pretty!



Squeeze some Mod Podge into the bowl and mix with the glitter.



Apply the glitter-glue mixture onto your holder using the paintbrush. You will have to place the holder onto a sheet of paper so you can get all around the holder. I also applied some of the mixture around the top of the holder. Allow to dry, then apply a second coat.



Part-way through making this, I remembered I had some blue glitter from a Crafty Creatives box so I decided to try a dip-dye/ombré look. I used the same method as before, but only applying the blue glitter-glue about half way up. I then finished with more of the greeny-blue glitter-glue, merging the two colours together.




You could also use this to store bits & bobs - such as make up brushes - and this DIY can be used on a whole load of other things! I'm thinking shoes next?