Decorative Packaging

Hang lots “o” luck on your front door just in case any Leprechauns stop by.  This easy craft can be made with a variety of materials starting with lots of green, woven, sheer ribbon.

The shamrocks can be cut from craft foam, heavy card stock, or even wood.

Trace the shamrock on 2 colors of the same material.  Alternating colors for letter, punch a small hole in the top and bottom of each one.

You can use fine wire, fishing line, or narrow ribbon to attach each shamrock to the next like a chain.  Tie a green sheer ribbon bow in between each one, that will help hide the chain, Cut out the letters WELCOME from white foam, card stock or what ever you decide and glue onto the the green shamrocks.

Attach a hanger like a small chain, or ribbon, hang with a festive green ribbon and your guests will be welcomed in Irish Style.

Many of the items you may need to create your own version of this idea can be found on our website by clicking on the link in my post.

Decorative Hangers for all Seasons

These are so cute and a great idea for guest rooms or entry closets where coats go.  They also make great house warming and shower gifts.  Pick your fabric to match the occasion or the décor.  These will help keep dresses that slide off, or slick tops that like to slip off the hanger.  They will encourage your kids to hang up their stuff if you make them hangers from fun fabric.

TO MAKE HANGERS

You will need dishtowels, wooded hangers, needle and thread, poly-fill batting, assorted rickrack and piping, ¾ yard decorative ribbon for each hanger

Hangers

Cut batting into strips 9 inches wide. Wrap each arm of the hanger four thicknesses, baste the batting in place.

Use the template to cut four pieces of fabric, deciding first which directions to run the stripes or patterns, With fabric folded right sides out, cut two pairs of pieced.

To apply piping or rickrack, machine bastes on right sides of two of the pieces along ½ inch seam allowance. If using rick rack, center stitching line along center of rickrack.  If using piping, stitch just to the inside of the cording, making sure that the piping itself is towards the inside of the piece, in either case, apply trim only around the two long, curved sides of the piece, not across the short flat end, which will form the opening.

Lay one piece that has trim attached over one that does not, right sides together, turn pair of pieces over so that the basting side is face up.  Use the basting line as a guide for your seam. Sewing the seam just slightly inside (toward the center of the p9iece) the basting line

Clip seam at curved ends, turn right side out, remove any basting thread that is visible, press

Stuff a 2-inch ball of batting into the end of each half of the hanger cover. Insert batting covered hanger ends into covers, keeping seams straight along top and bottom of hanger. Where the two sides of the cover meet, turn ends inside and slipstitch together by hand.

Fold ribbon in half and place around neck of hanger with ends hanging in front, pull ribbon around to the back of the hanger an to the top, tie a bow in front, trim ends.

Many of the items you may need to create your own version of this idea can be found on our website by clicking on the link in my post.

Erin Go Bragh !

Celebrated each year on March 17th, Saint Patrick’s Day commemorates the religious feast day of St. Patrick, a fifth century Christian missionary.

Flatten loops, cut off triangles at end, be careful not to cut too close to the center.

Bring ends together to meet in center, overlapping triangles.

Secure ribbon at center over notches with wire. Pull out loops, twist towards center, alternating sides to form pompom.

Born under the name Maewyn Succat in the year 387, the man we now know as St. Patrick was kidnapped by raiders as a boy and sold into slavery in Ireland.   There he became a shepherd and endured many hardships and trials that led him to a deep and profound spirituality.  According to tradition he escaped captivity by following the guidance of an angel, and then traveled back to his homeland where he entered the church and became a priest.

After his ordination as a bishop he returned, as a missionary, to Ireland where he impressed the people with his courage, wisdom, and compassion — setting off a wave of conversion that eventually engulfed the entire island.    St. Patrick’s legacy includes numerous legends, most notably his teaching the trinity with a clover leaf and his driving the snakes out of Ireland.

In America, Saint Patrick’s Day is celebrated with great festivity in those cities with a large Irish population.  There it is embraced by Catholics and non-Catholics alike and is often more a celebration of Irish heritage than a remembrance of good St. Patrick himself.

A leprechaun (Irish: leipreachán) is a type of fairy in Irish folklore, usually taking the form of an old man, clad in a red or green coat, who enjoys partaking in mischief. Popular depiction shows them as being no taller than a small child.

Start with a key chain hook or clip, Plenty of narrow satin ribbon.  You can cut off what you don’t need.

Leprechaun
Pony Bead Pattern

You need:
–26 Green Pony Beads
–4 Ivory Pony Beads
–7 White Pony Beads
–6 Black Pony Beads
–2 Silver Pony Beads
–4 Feet Satin Cord
–1 Lanyard Hook

Basic Instructions:
Fold your ribbon in half to find the center. Use a half hitch (see detail below) to secure it to lanyard hook. Lace beads using the pattern above right as a guide.

Many of the items you may need to create your own version of this idea can be found on our website by clicking on the link in my post.

The earliest known reference to the leprechaun appears in the medieval tale known as the (English: Adventure of Fergus son of Léti). The text contains an episode, King of Ulster, falls asleep on the beach and wakes to find himself being dragged into the sea by three lúchorpáin. He captures his abductors, who grant him three wishes in exchange for release. The leprechaun is said to be a solitary creature, whose principal occupation is making and mending shoes, and who enjoys practical jokes. According to William Butler Yeats, the great wealth of these fairies comes from the “treasure-crocks, of old and buried under rainbows  in war-time”, which they have uncovered and appropriated.

Decorative Trees in the Home

I keep finding wonderfully creative ways to display evergreen trees and decorative ribbon in the home. Of course everyone loves Christmas trees but this goes way beyond just putting up a Christmas tree. Some people have lots of live plants in their home; others use the artificial fig trees with lights for an intimate feel to the room. I have found many examples of decorating with evergreen trees that don’t have to be Christmas trees. This lovely tree is used in a log home dining room. Country ribbon tied into huge bows with long tails embellishes this tree along with pine cones that have a hint of white on them. A coordinating ribbon used as garland winds around the tree from top to bottom. Uniform white twinkle lights glisten through the ribbon and evergreens as if the sun was beaming through ice on a tree in the woods.

Another image of the beautiful tree with the lights off show that the tree is a warm welcomed decoration in this rustic cabin for any occasion and all the year through. Bring the outside beauty into the inside with out any danger of in climate weather. Have fun decorating.

Many of the items you may need to create your own version of this idea can be found on our website by clicking on the link in my post.

A few well placed green velvet ribbon bows such as the one above will easily take your home from Valentines Day to St. Patrick’s Day.

Whether or not your ancestors were Irish it’s fun to celebrate St Patrick’s day with the traditional green of Shamrocks, good food, and decorations. St. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland and was believed to have been born in what is now Scotland around 386. He is credited as using the three lobes of the Shamrock to teach the Holy Trinity.

Today the plant is symbolic of the season and the shape can be used as coasters, place cards, place mats, or napkin rings. Use a clover plant as the centerpiece or any favorite greenery. Snakes and toads can also be used as decoration since St Patrick was also credited with driving them out of Ireland.

Many of the items you may need to create your own version of this idea can be found on our website by clicking on the link in my post.

Homemade Gifts for the one who has everything

Whether you are gifting a neighbor, friend, teacher or family member, they will love the variety of goodies you can display on a platter.

Wrap it in plastic wrap and use a pre-tied bow or to wrap around the platter.  You can also use a satin holiday ribbon then add a bow on one end.  This is also a lovely way to bring goodies to a gathering when you don’t want to come empty handed.  This would make a great welcome to the neighborhood gift.  Maybe you are making a meal for a friend who is under the weather and want to take some treats for dessert.  This will brighten the spirits of receiver.

Many of the items you may need to create your own version of this idea can be found on our website by clicking on the link in my post.

Yummy Gift Idea

This is a great way to share your culinary talents with your friends.  You can give thoughtful gifts while not busting your budget.  This particular recipe is for Minty Hot Fudge Sauce… We have snow on the ground but I am now wishing I had ice cream.

Make your gift extra special by packing it in a basket with an ice cream scoop, some nuts and maraschino cherries and of course napkins.  Tie a narrow decorative ribbon around the jar and put a sticker on the top with the directions or recipe.

Minty Hot Fudge Sauce

Makes 4 cups (12 servings) ;4 ½ -pint mason jars ;1 cup heavy cream ;¾ cup granulated sugar ;¾ cup light-brown sugar ;1 cup cocoa powder ;1 stick (1/2 cup) butter cut into pieces ;6 ounces milk chocolate chopped ;¼ teaspoon salt ;¼ cup crème de menthe ;1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Heat cream in a heavy-bottomed medium-size saucepan over medium-high heat until bubbles form along edge, Lower heat to medium-low and stir in sugars, cocoa, butter , chocolate and salt.

Continue to heat over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, for about 10 minutes or until smooth, remove from the heat and stir in the crème de menthe and vanilla. Allow to cool, pour into jars. This can be Stored in airtight jars in refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Heat to serve, Enjoy!

Many of the items you may need to create your own version of this idea can be found on our website by clicking on the link in my post.

St Patrick’s Decoration using recycled materials!

Have you ever noticed that a shamrock’s leaves are shaped like little hearts? Well, this St. Patrick’s Decoration is assembled from empty heart-shaped candy boxes left over from Valentine’s Day. It’s the miracle of green paint and the luck o’ the Irish, of course.

One of the fun things about this craft is creatively embellishing it. Make it more festive with rubber stamps, stickers, glitter or whatever you have that is green. We were a little conservative because we liked the look of just the tiny green scallop fringe around the outside. By all means, try paper, ribbon or embroidered fringe around your St Patrick’s Decoration!

Materials for this St Patrick’s Decoration

• Two (2) heart-shaped cardboard candy boxes, 7″ high, 7″ wide, and about 1″ deep.
• Green nubby trim, 96″
• Green ribbon, 36″.
• Spray paint, white primer and flat green
• Craft paint, light green.
• Varnish or polyurethane, liquid or spray.
• Natural sea sponge.
• Wide brush for varnish.
• Tacky craft glue or spray adhesive.
• Hot glue gun.
• Scissors or paper cutter.
• Hole punch (1/4″ hole).

Instructions

1. Start with the two cardboard candy boxes. Empty them carefully, eating quickly and discarding any chocolates you don’t like. Bury the little wrapping papers so no one knows you just ate two boxes of chocolate. If the top trays are embossed, rub the embossing as flat as you can with a bone folder, use spray adhesive to cover the tops with heavy paper, and trim off the excess. You should now have four heart-shaped trays.
2. On one of the trays, draw a line vertically down the center. Measure and draw a line 1″ in from the outside edge, ending at the center line. Cut out this shape, which will be the stem of your shamrock.

1. Lay three trays and the stem face-down on wax paper, with the edges overlapping and the bottom points of the hearts just touching. one by one, glue the edges together with the hot glue gun. Let the glue dry completely.
2. Spray paint both sides of the decoration with white primer, letting it dry between coats.
3. Punch two holes in the top rim of the top tray, for your hanging ribbon.
4. Spray paint both sides of the decoration green, letting it dry between coats (see Tips). Use the sea sponge to dab on a mottled pattern of green craft paint over the entire front surface.
5. Trim the vintage images and arrange them on the decoration. When you like the arrangement, glue them on with spray adhesive or tacky craft glue. Be aware that moist craft glue may buckle the image paper, so you will want to apply even pressure with a flat weight while the glue dries. (Alternatively, you can decoupage the images on with decoupage medium.) Add other flat embellishments, such as stickers or rubber stamps.
6. Brush or spray on several coats of varnish or polyurethane, letting it dry between coats.
7. 
8. Use the hot glue gun to attach the fabric trim around the entire outside edge of the decoration. 9.
9. You’ll have to cut the trim carefully to fit where the shamrock leaves meet.
10. Embellish your St Patrick’s Decoration further with glitter, buttons, bows or all things green.
11. Thread the green ribbon through the holes in the top, add a sprightly bow, and hang your decoration on the front door!

Tips

• We chose the most common heart-shaped Valentine candy box size we could find: 7″ high, 7″ wide, and 1″ deep. The box should be entirely cardboard, not the molded plastic kind. If the top of the box is embossed, add a layer of heavy paper with spray adhesive over the top and trim it.
• Our nubby trim (what Martha Stewart calls Small Scallop-Loop Fringe) came from Jo-Ann’s Fabrics, and it was bright green with tiny balls every 1/4″. You may find something you like better, like gold braid, fringe or sequins. Just keep it small-scale, because it has to get into some very tight places where the shamrock leaves come together. 96″ of trim is just enough to go around the entire perimeter of the four 7″-wide candy boxes. If your boxes are larger, measure around them before you buy your trim.
• White primer spray paint is essential for this St Patrick’s Decoration. The primer is necessary for covering the red and printing on the candy boxes. Also, the primer seals the cardboard so the addition of other paints and glue do not swell or buckle the boxes.
• We chose to spray-paint the decoration a flat medium green because we like the even coverage of spray paint. Once your white primer has dried, you can brush on green craft paint or enamel, if you prefer.
• For your St Patricks Day trivia-trove, “Erin Go Bragh” means “Ireland Forever,” and real shamrocks have three leaves, not four.

Many of the items you may need to create your own version of this idea can be found on our website by clicking on the link in my post.   

Shamrock hair bow

16 inches of green fabric 1 3/4 “wide

1 regular large rubber band for hair

3 – 7” curled grosgrain ribbon

14” printed holiday shamrock decorative ribbon

Heavy quilting threads that blends into the ribbon color

Sew the rubber band inside of the fabric as you sew the sides

Sew the ends of the fabric together making a circle.  Turn wrong side out and put the rubber band around the out side and fold fabric over the rubber band and sew edges so that the rubber band is totally inside of the fabric.  You now have a regular scrunchie type hair tie.

Take the 14”inches of printed ribbon and make a notch in both ends then make a large loop leaving 3 inch ends.  Lay the 2 grosgrain curled ribbon on top of the printed holiday ribbon.  Pinch the center of the loop making sure there is and end on each side, then wrap the heavy quilting thread many times around  leaving one tail on the beginning, wrap till secure, then tie both ends of the thread in a secure knot.  Adjust the ends to perfect the bow. You can sew the bow onto the scrunchie, or hot glue it, or use fabric glue.  However you decide to attach it, make sure you can still stretch out the stretchy rubber band.

Many of the items you may need to create your own version of this idea can be found on our website by clicking on the link in my post.

.