How to fold a book Christmas tree table decoration

Do you do Christmas crafting? A few years ago I tore this how-to page out of a magazine. The project was to make Christmas tree table decorations from old books. I put the page away to do "later". It is now "later". 

I had a quiet morning to myself the other day, so I sat down with the bits and pieces I had, to make the book tree. I had stored away a couple of 6-monthly programme books from our city entertainment centre which had a thicker paper and coloured pictures which I thought would be nice to add some colour to my book tree. Old Reader's Digest condensed books, or unloved paper back books, the ones with slightly thicker paper, are great for these projects too.

The instructions say you need about a 100-150 page book for this project.  It is a good idea to have a paper folding tool or a ruler, so you can fold nice crisp edges, and work on a firm surface.

First you need to carefully tear off the cover of the book.  Then fold over the right hand side of the first page diagonally longways so it lines up with the spine.

 Then fold this page again diagonally longways, so it again lines up with the spine. Sharpen your folds with your folding tool and make sure you get your fold right into the spine as far as you can.

 Then fold up the little triangle at the bottom of the page, and tuck it in, so that the tree has a flat bottom.

Repeat with the rest of the book.

Form the completed folded pages into the tree shape, and put a line of glue down the spine to hold. I had two 50 page books, which I glued together once I had folded all the pages. Make a star to go on the top, or decorate as you like.  For some reason I didn't end up with a star on the top of mine, I might have to fix that!

 Another project I did this week was started at one of the free mini workshops at our local library - making stars and trees out of twigs. All you need is thin twigs, a hot glue gun, leaves, gold, silver, red or glitter paint if you wish, string, ribbon and embellishments. Thin florestry wire is also useful. These can be small to hang on a tree or bigger to decorate your front door instead of a wreath. And can be as plain or decorative as you wish.

 Thank you so much for stopping by. Do you have a craft project for Christmas. Perhaps you would like to tell us about it in your comments. I value your comments and look forward to hearing from you. I will try to visit your blogs in return. Have a wonderful week.  

You might also like:
How to make a paper wreath 
How to make a simple paper flower 
Exploring your creative side in retirement

I am linking up to the link-ups below. Please click on the links to see fabulous contributions from around the world - virtual touring at its best!

   
All Seasons
MosaicMonday at Letting Go of the Bay Leaf

Our World Tuesday

Pictorial Tuesday 

ThroughMy Lens 

Image-in-ing
Wednesday Around the World at Communal Global
Travel Photo Thursday 

The Lovin' Life Team over at: Deep Fried Fruit and 50 Shades of Age
Little Things Thursday

Life in Reflection

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December!

December is here! In all the flurry of end of year events and Christmas preparations, I think I need to have a little lie down, with a book preferably. Doesn't this relaxing spot at Peppermint Lane Lodge in the Ferguson Valley look delightful? I want one!

Seriously though, during this time of year do you feel like you are being pulled every which way? We knew it was coming, but now December is here, and only three and a bit weeks to go! what!!!!

At least we have put up the outside Christmas lights at the front of our house, and today hubbie and I sat down to write Christmas cards and letters, and my sister (teacher-farmer's wife - always organised) has been on the phone to sort out Christmas with me.  

But no sorry, I don't have any magical tips to get you through the mad rush of December, but I am sure there our lots out there in blog-land.

I know it is December because the Candlestick Banksias - Banksia attenuata - are flowering in bushland near where we live.  I always think they rather fit into the coming Christmas season.

 I love my December summer garden - I've shown it to you before - and this year is no exception - these are the gorgeous purple agapanthus with a backdrop of red coral bush - they look so gorgeous in summer.

What else has been happening.....

During November I displayed my wares at three markets - at Peppermint Lane Lodge for the Ferguson Open Gardens trail, at the Stirling Street Art Centre Christmas market, and the Bunbury Market.  

At these markets I have been able to showcase some of my work - photography prints, greeting cards and on products such as cushions and tote bags, and my leaf eco-prints - framed prints, greeting cards, and silk scarves.  And also hand folded paper flowers.

 Peppermint Lane Lodge in the Ferguson Valley is a Bed and Breakfast property set in forrest, with wonderful walks which incorporate land art.  Kim is very supportive of the arts and promoting the Ferguson Valley and I have worked with her before.  And I sincerely thank Kim for the opportunities she has sent my way.

 But you also need to take time out in the bustle of life, and we drove up to the Ferguson Valley one Friday to have lunch at Green Door Winery. The food is mainly shared grazing plates, and they bring you little sample bottles of wine to your table. The views over the rolling hills and vineyards to the ocean are beautiful.

 Also this month I borrowed a beautiful book from our local library - Sea Prayer by Khaled Hosseini, author of The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns. Beautifully illustrated by Dan Williams, Sea Prayer was inspired by a 3-year-old Syrian refugee who drowned in the Mediterranean Sea in September 2015, and is a vivid portrait of life in Homs, Syria, before the war, and of that city's swift transformation from a home into a deadly war zone.

In the rush of our relatively safe suburban life, this little book in a few pages puts our life into perspective, and how grateful we should be.

Thank you so much for stopping by. I hope you have enjoyed this little look into life in my part of the world. I value your comments and look forward to hearing from you. I will try to visit your blogs in return. Have a wonderful week. 

I am linking up to the link-ups below. Please click on the links to see fabulous contributions from around the world - virtual touring at its best!

   
All Seasons
MosaicMonday at Letting Go of the Bay Leaf

Our World Tuesday

Pictorial Tuesday 

ThroughMy Lens 

Image-in-ing
Wednesday Around the World at Communal Global
Travel Photo Thursday 

The Lovin' Life Team over at: Deep Fried Fruit and 50 Shades of Age
Little Things Thursday

Life in Reflection

Hello there! I love reading your comments. If you scroll down to the bottom you can comment too! I would love to hear from you.

If you are a blogger you can also link your blog to Wednesday Around the World at Communal Global.

An InLinkz Link-up

How to hand print wrapping paper

 Last week I had the opportunity to attend a workshop run by Marie Wilkinson from TLC Marie (Tactile Learning and Creativity) at the Dardanup Shire Hall as part of the Dardanup Shire's range of free short workshops.   Marie is an artist who is very generous with sharing her techniques, and I spent a very enjoyable couple of hours creating with a lovely small group of ladies. These workshops are so much fun and you go home with something you have made.

At the workshop we learnt how to hand print wrapping paper and I would like to share the basic steps with you here.  It is so easy when you know how!

There is a simple and economical range of supplies - 
* sea sponges - collected from the beach and washed, or I think you could use a shower sponge
 * acrylic paint - doesn't need to be an expensive brand
* sheets of light weight cartridge or roll of brown paper
* some old cardboard rolls to make into shapes
* something to use as a pallet - ie a takeaway plastic container lid, which can be washed and reused.
* gloves if you want to keep your hands clean
* a flat surface to work on
* some A4 paper to practise on!  

Yes sea sponges!  If you are near a beach you may be able to collect these, and rinse them well to get ready for use. Or I think you may be able to use a shower sponge. 
First we dabbed the paint onto the paper. You can have multiple layers of paint and as thickly covered as you like. I tended to be rather light handed with my dabbing.  But make sure you dry the paint (you could do this with a hair dryer) and rinse the paint off the sponge between colours. There is no right or wrong, just go for it and have fun.

The next step is to use some shapes to make patterns over your sea sponge prints. This can be done easily with shapes fashioned or cut from the end of a cardboard roll, or you could use cookie cutters. Anything that you can put into the paint on your pallet and transfer the shape onto your paper. 

At this point I would highly recommend practising on a smaller piece of paper first so see how it all works before you commit to your final piece of paper.  I probably got caught up with this flower pattern on both my white and my brown piece of paper, and didn't have time to experiment with anything else, but I liked it. The patterns can be as formal or random as you like.

 So there you have it! easy! You could make greeting cards this way too.  My best advice is to not overthink, just do, and enjoy! Put some nice music on in the background to wrap you in your inspirational space. 

Thank you so much to Marie from TLC Marie for the very enjoyable morning and workshop.  
And the Dardanup Shire for their fabulous library workshops.

Thank you so much for stopping by. I value your comments and look forward to hearing from you. I will try to visit your blogs in return. Have a wonderful week. 

I am linking up to the link-ups below. Please click on the links to see fabulous contributions from around the world - virtual touring at its best!

   
All Seasons
MosaicMonday at Letting Go of the Bay Leaf

Our World Tuesday

Pictorial Tuesday 

ThroughMy Lens 

Image-in-ing
Wednesday Around the World at Communal Global
Travel Photo Thursday 

The Lovin' Life Team over at: Deep Fried Fruit and 50 Shades of Age
Little Things Thursday

Life in Reflection

Hello there! I love reading your comments. If you scroll down to the bottom you can comment too! I would love to hear from you.

If you are a blogger you can also link your blog to Wednesday Around the World at Communal Global. 

An InLinkz Link-up

November roses

 November is a beautiful time for roses, I shared a few on display in the Ferguson Valley Open Gardens a couple of weeks ago - Ferguson Valley Open Gardens
and they are beautiful in my garden too. So I thought for today I would share a few for you to enjoy. 

And a beautiful red rose bouquet for my friend's wedding, made by a mutual friend. Glorious.

Thank you so much for stopping by. Just a short post from me today, few words, just flowers to enjoy. I value your comments and look forward to hearing from you. I will try to visit your blogs in return. Have a wonderful week. 

I am linking up to the link-ups below. Please click on the links to see fabulous contributions from around the world - virtual touring at its best!

   
All Seasons
MosaicMonday at Letting Go of the Bay Leaf

Our World Tuesday

Pictorial Tuesday 

ThroughMy Lens 

Image-in-ing
Wednesday Around the World at Communal Global
Travel Photo Thursday 

The Lovin' Life Team over at: Deep Fried Fruit and 50 Shades of Age
Little Things Thursday

Life in Reflection

Hello there! I love reading your comments. If you scroll down to the bottom you can comment too! I would love to hear from you.

If you are a blogger you can also link your blog to Wednesday Around the World at Communal Global. 

An InLinkz Link-up