The Stars Come Out at Christmas

 

Distressed red is right at home for the holidays.

Distressed red is right at home for the holidays.

Stars are apparently my shape this year for Christmas.  I found some furring strip stars at a local antique shop for my holiday kitchen. (see post here).  I found some wood stars on my trip to the Round Top Antique show (see post here) that I will use to decorate.  Lastly, I found some wood star shaped trays in graduated sizes that I thought would be great for a Christmas project.

My project for this week is a tiered, star shaped tray.  I imagine using it for every day display of seasonal fruits in my  holiday kitchen or holding sweet treats and cookies for entertaining or perhaps holding silverware and napkin roll ups for a Christmas buffet.  At any rate, a number of  uses for the holiday and incredibly easy to make.  It took less than fifteen minutes to make and that included the time needed for the epoxy to cure.

What you need:

medium and large star shaped trays from Joann.com

red, wood candle stick from Joann.com

five vintage glass knobs (optional)

epoxy

 

From Joanns.com

From Joanns.com

From Joanns.com

From Joanns.com

The assembly is pretty straight forward.  I attached the candlestick to the smaller tray first and once the epoxy set, I attached the other end of the candlestick to the bottom, (or larger) tray and the vintage knobs for legs.  I found that weighting everything down with a brick helps created a strong seal with the adhesive.

 

A vintage glass container helps top of the display with cheery candy canes.

A vintage glass container helps top of the display with cheery candy canes.

Sweets are a natural choice to fill the Christmas Star Tiered tray.

Sweets are a natural choice to fill the Christmas Star Tiered tray.

Although optional, the vintage glass knobs are a great way to finish and refine the project.

Although optional, the vintage glass knobs are a great way to finish and refine the project.

This easy project can be used a number of ways while entertaining for Christmas.

This easy project can be used a number of ways while entertaining for Christmas.

 

 

 

 

Christmas Craft – Faux Vintage Paper and Pipe Cleaner Candlesticks

 

This is the very first one I ever made. Sweet little petite pipe cleaner candle stick.

This is the very first one I ever made. Sweet little petite pipe cleaner candle stick.

 

Oh yes…it’s time (past time, probably) for us bloggers to start sharing Christmas ideas. The first down the pike is a faux vintage candle stick using vintage paper, pipe cleaners and hobby store embellishments.   I came up with these a few years ago when I was looking for a hand made way to decorate my small, table top feather Christmas Tree.  These are actually fairly simple and a great afternoon project that doesn’t require much in way of materials.  Here is what is needed:

  • 2 silver pipe cleaners per candle
  • glue
  • strips of paper approximately 2.5″ by 8″, preferably cut with scalloped scissors on the long edges
  • Christmas themed embellishments

I hope you find some inspiration.

Always,

Cindy

xoxo

 

 

Pipe cleaners, hobby store holiday embellishments, glue or glue dots and strips of vintage paper

Pipe cleaners, hobby store holiday embellishments, glue or glue dots and strips of vintage paper.

 

These looks so pretty in a vintage container

These looks so pretty in a vintage container.

Here is the general progression. You will end up winding the coil up the corkscrew portion of the pipe cleaner. It acts as the bobeche.

 

The vintage paper adds a nice mellow touch.

The vintage paper adds a nice mellow touch.

 

Many different ways to decorate the finished product.

Many different ways to decorate the finished product.

 

Vibrant reds against the greens looks lovely.

Vibrant reds against the greens looks lovely.

 

 

Make each one a little different.  That is the fun part!

Make each one a little different. That is the fun part!

 

A pretty little Christmas poinsettia as a holiday flourish.

A pretty little Christmas poinsettia as a holiday flourish.

 

A tableside vignette that includes holiday blooms in a vintage ironstone pot.

A tableside vignette that includes holiday blooms in a vintage ironstone pot.

Found at Round Top several years ago, each one of the hand blown ornaments is shaped differently.  Kind of like these little pipe cleaner candle sticks!

Found at Round Top several years ago, each one of the hand blown ornaments is shaped differently. Kind of like these little pipe cleaner candle sticks!

Another great use for a vintage candy dish.

Another great use for a vintage candy dish.

Strewn about effortlessly makes decorating easy instead of stressful

Strewn about effortlessly makes decorating easy instead of stressful

Hand blown vintage Christmas ornaments.

Hand blown vintage Christmas ornaments.