DIY Paper Bag Advent Garland

When I saw this idea from See Vanessa Craft on Instagram, I was inspired to whip up my own paper bag advent calendar.

This is a super easy project that you can create using paper sandwich bags, some acrylic paint and stencils of your choice.

Materials:
25 paper sandwich bags
Metallic paint in the color of your choice (I chose Spun Gold Crafters Acrylic)
Accent paint in the color of your choice (I chose Brandy Wine and Crimson Tide Americana)
Number stencil
Pattern stencil
Sponge dauber

First, place your pattern stencil on the top 2/3 of your paper bag. Daub with your metallic paint, I chose gold,  and lay to dry.

One your bags are dry, it's time to stencil the numbers. I mixed my two accent colors, Brandy Wine and Crimson Tide, to get a nice rich berry color. Simply daub with your sponge over the stencil and lay flat to dry.

Once all of your bags are dry, hang them with burlap twine using clothes pins. These two materials give a rustic charm to your otherwise classically elegant paper bag advent calendar garland.

 

 

Now just fill your bags with special treats, notes to bake cookies together or watch a new Christmas movie as a family.

Happy Holidays!

DIY Homemade Peppermint Salt Dough Ornaments

Tis the season for getting your preschoolers and toddlers into the kitchen and creating some fun salt dough ornaments.

To put a spin on the traditional variety, I added pure peppermint extract to the recipe so they have a hint of minty freshness.

Ingredients:

2 cups flour
1 cup salt
1 cup water
1 tsp pure peppermint extract (I added this to the water, then mixed the wet ingredients with the dry)

 

Mix together, then knead into a ball. This takes some time, and don't be too worried if the salt doesnt dissolve into the dough 100%.

Once you have kneaded the dough into a ball, you have a couple of options. You can either roll out the entire dough and use cookie cutters, or you can break off pieces, reknead them and flatten them with your palm. We opted for the second option, and Owen used mini cookie cutters to cut the dough into shapes.

We also made some handprints, which he was very excited about.

Bake at 200F for 2 hours.

Once hardened completely, pull out some paint and decorate! I opted for DecoArt 3D Gloss Enamels Writers in red, white and gold to decorate the trees, mittens and Santa hats.

The writers make precision work really easy. I was able to decorate all of the ornaments really quickly, with no mistakes and very little clean up.

Leave to dry and then you're ready to string with ribbon, then hang on the tree!

Happy holidays!

Holiday Home Decor on Etsy

On of my favourite new Etsy shops is Oaklea Cottage Designs by Amanda Hunter.

This month for the home decor how-to, I wanted to talk about transitioning your fall decor to winter and holiday themes, so when I found the beautiful new items in Amanda's shop, I really wanted to share them here.

Our fall decor has been very black and white, with little punches of purple and green here and there. Now that it is time to transition to winter holiday decor, I need to go on the hunt for new branches and figure out our color scheme.

Obviously, there is the traditional red and green, and Oaklea Cottage Designs has fantastic options for that with pre-selected letters in various holiday words.

What I love about Amanda's designs is that she focus on current trends like chevron and quatrefoil to make her letters and numbers unique. She also embellishes them with pretty little flowers for that rustic touch. My favourite pairing is her navy and white qautrefoil with mustard flower.

While definitely less traditional, I think this color pairing is perfect for the winter holidays. Blue and white is rather classic when going with the ice type themes, and mustard is reminiscent of the silver and gold theme. Pair them together and you have something pretty unique!

To transition, think outside of the box. Pair colors and patterns that aren't necessarily typical for the winter holidays, then mix in your favourite ornaments and beautiful stockings hung on your mantle. I definitely can picture the word NOEL in the blue quatrefoil with mustard flower, paired with these and some fallen branches from the forest behind our house.

Source

Pretty perfect and all set for the holidays!

Fabulous Finds Friday: Luminaries

Picture this...

A midnight dinner party for your very closest friends
Everyone dressed in beautiful glittery cocktail dresses
The table set with candles and clear glass

Leading them up to your door, in the moonlight...

Very simple...white bags with a stamped tree and fringed top {folded over to create a pennant effect}. Pop in a tealight candle, or even a votive and you have a romantic and beautiful way to light the path for your guests!

Ho Ho Ho! Free Christmas Printable

What better way to welcome the big guy in red than with a free printable?

A charming felted red background, with a swirly snow overlay. Embellished with a white tag border, and the words Ho Ho Ho! in a lovely forest green!

Just download, print and frame in a white frame...then place lovingly next to a glass of milk and plate of cookies!

Yours free for the taking, here!

Holiday Order Reminder!

Some deadlines have passed, but there is still time for Expresspost and Local Delivery!!

Be it a painting, ornament, sculpted wearable art, wallflower or journal - your custom gift is just an email away at Sweet Stella's!

Email me your wishlist to shannon@sweetstellas.com

Fabulous Finds Friday: Green Christmas Wreath

Every wonder how to spruce up your front entry way or porch for friends and family during the holidays?

I saw this on Pinterest and thought it would make an excellent addition to any porch or entry way.

A hulla-hoop, covered with faux greeney, with lovely white and glittery ornaments hanging down. Then, tie beautiful white ribbons and hang from a light fixture {if safe} or the rafters and beams {if you have them}

Really really beautiful, and oh so simple to make yourself!

Fabulous Finds Friday: Apothecary Jars

We all have them...well, most of us do, and at the holidays we find ourselves filling them with beautiful, and sometimes yummy things

Candy canes, ornament and bows - all things that you have in the house during the holidays, but never know what to do with!

Put them in hurricane vases, apothecary jars and lanterns and Viola! Instant holiday decor!!

Avent Calendars...on sale NOW!

Last year, I was in search of a more whimsical advent calendar for our mantle.

By handpunching circles out of cardstock and stringing them on ribbon, I've created some really beautiful advent garlands.

Then with coordinated papers, pouches are attached to the back for you to slip in little notes for activities to do as a family! our notes last year were things like "Pictures with Santa", "Go See Happy Feet2", "airplane rides" and "pick up mommy at the airport" {since we were on holiday in Florida}

Advent garlands are now on SALE for the season!!Originally $21.99, now on sale for $15!

Currently in stock, I have icy blue tones with metallic grey, brown and bronze, brown and green, and whimsical pinks. That being said, a custom advent garland can always be created, at no extra charge .

Order today to ensure December 1st delivery!

Christmas Ornaments

Now's the time to order beautiful handpainted glass ornaments to give as personalized gifts, hang on your family Christmas tree, or use as escort card holders at your winter wedding!

Each glass ornament is painted and marbled in the colours of your choice. Add metallics and glitter, and finish off the coordinating ribbon!

Interested in a bulk order for a wedding or special event? Email me at shannon@sweetstellas.com and we'll figure out a discount to make sure you every guest has a beautiful ornament to take home!

How long can you expect your order to take? Since the ornaments are handpainted and need time to dry before shipping, please allow 1 week for production, plus shipping time.

Fabulous Finds Friday: Christmas Wreath Alternative

Have an old frame lying around? How about some Christmas ornaments? Well...then you can make this Fabulous Pinterest find!!

How lovely!! I really really love this idea...an old frame, spray painted a cheery red, with ornaments hanging down the centre and tied with a big green bow! It's bold, and very festive...and not your typical wreath {which is exactly what I love about it!! Out of the box thinking!}

Fabulous finds Friday: Upcycled Kellenex Boxes

I know I know...it's still more than a month away...but in my mind I've been planning since the summer as to what our new home will look like at Christmas. I mean, this is our forever home...and our first Christmas spent here will certainly be a magical one!

I saw this fabulous little idea on Pinterest and cannot wait to start making them!! What an easy peasy way to upcycle old wrapping paper, fabric, mints, dried flowers, bows and Kleenex boxes??!!

They'd look absolutely lovely in the guest bathroom for Holiday visitors!

Christmas Ornament Presales

That's right! It's not even Halloween and we're already talking Christmas!

Announcing PRESALES for hand painted Christmas ornaments!

Beautiful glass ornaments painted in your choice of colours, and finished with ribbon for hanging.

New for 2012: add glitter, monograms&names painted on the exterior, and hanging embellishments!

 $12 each plus shipping

To order, simply email me at shannon@sweetstellas.com with your colour preferences and once your PayPal invoice is paid, we'll get to work creating your ornaments.