i’m loving these felt ornaments from filzfelt. you can pick up a pack of 4 for $20 right here- those little houses are so, so cute.

So much to do with white paper.

I collect vintage books on paper craft and was intrigued by this idea for a playful paper Santa beard.

Print out the template and cut out the two pieces, cutting along the line for the folded edge and cutting loosely around the rest of the pattern. Paper clip the beard template onto a larger folded rectangle, lining up the pattern along the folded edge. Do the same for the lips on red card stock. With an x-acto blade, cut along the template edge, cleanly cutting through all layers of the paper. Unfold and glue the lips to the inside of the beard, just at the corners, allowing a bit of them to show.
My kids had fun with this! Adults may need to fidget around with the length of the arms or the size in order for it to fit.

The streamline silhouette of these paper angels could be adapted with great variety.
Print and cut out the template, placing the pattern on the fold of white card stock or drawing paper. Trace with pencil and cut out. With a straight edge and bone folder, score a straight line between the point where the top edge of the wing meets the body and the point where the bottom edge of the wing meets the body. Glue the strips on the bottom together in back, creating a loop for a stand.

This white paper bird ornament has a simple, sculptural quality that I like – I look forward to making more for my tree.

This project requires two different weights of white paper, text -weight white to print out the template and fold the wings and tail, and more substantial white drawing paper or card stock. First print the template out and cut each side of the bird body into a larger rectangle.
Place each side of the bird body template onto larger rectangles of white drawing paper and secure the template with cellophane tape. With an x-acto blade follow the interior lines of the bird body, applying enough pressure to cut through the top layer template and to cleanly score the the thicker paper underneath. With the blade or scissors, cut out the bird on the outside lines. Gently press on score lines with your finger to flex the curves of the paper. Carefully glue { I use PVA adhesive} the two sides together at the scored panel along the top of the bird and along the bottom part of the head, allow to dry.

Cut out the wing pieces and tail piece of the text weight paper so that none of the grey lines are showing. Accordion pleat the rectangle tail piece, by folding it in half crosswise, folding those 2 panels in half and continuing folding each panel in half until you have 16 even panels. Glue one end closed and with the folded edge on top, cut a rounded slant on the opposite end. Glue the tail inside the bird.

For the wings, repeat the process of accordion folding each piece until you have 8 equal panels, the slant on one end of the pattern should create a zig zag. Apply a small amount of glue in the valleys of the folds on both sides to glue the zig zag end closed. With the folded edge on top, cut a rounded slant on the opposite end. You should have two wings that mirror each other. Glue these to the side of the bird at the zig zag end.

Punch a small hole in the body of the bird { best to determine center of gravity first } and thread a thin silk ribbon through it. I attached a paperclip wrapped in white card stock to the inside of the bird to add weight and allow it to hang balanced. Cut a small notch into the beak and with a touch of glue adhere the laurel sprig. I used a paper punch for this shape, but freehand can work as well.

A snowman garland can be fun for an older child to cut out and for a younger child to draw faces on. Print and cut out the template, place the pattern on the folded edge of white card stock and trace as many as desired. Cut each out, punch hole with 1/8 inch hole punch and thread on baker’s twine.

Templates for all of the projects are available to download here.

oh man, now that i’m home in VA all i want to do is curl up on the couch in front of the fire. so my apologies if my posts are short today. i wanted to kick off the day with two diy projects: this fantastic felt holiday project from kathy at merriment design (click here for instructions) and a great holiday guest blog project right here…just in case you want to do some crafting while you’re watching the macy’s thanksgiving day parade.

i love seeing homes owned by people who aren’t afraid of color. these gorgeous rooms belong to laura gunn of paint in my hair and are inspiring me to pick up a paint brush and get started. i just love the way paint wakes up a home. click here to view more of laura’s work.

ps: my next wedding post on ms weddings is up now…

…some afternoon pillow love from margarita lorenzo of chocolate creative, a multidisciplinary studio based in south london. if you’d like pricing or purchase information you can contact margarita right here.

i’m loving these colorful furniture pieces from chroma lab- so lovely. click here for for more information. [thanks, alicia!]

oh to be the lucky child who gets to play in this room. jessica levitt at juicy bits made over her basement and turned it into an adorable playroom. click here for more information and more images.