#CRAFTS WITH ANASTASIA--CHRISTMAS IN JULY

Last Thursday was not only Independence Day, it was author Lois Winston’s second blog post over at Booklover’s Bench, where she's now one of six mystery authors who blog on a rotating basis.

As mentioned here earlier, Booklover’s Bench offers a monthly Rafflecopter giveaway of books by the contributing authors. However, in addition, sometimes the authors also have giveaways connected to their posts. If you post a comment to the blog, you’re entered in that author’s additional giveaway.

For her post this month, Lois is talking about her upside-down world where, as a designer, she’s spent years working on Christmas in July. This year she’s pulling double-duty because not only is she working on designs for a Christmas cross stitch book that will release in 2020, she’s also working on the latest book about me, which happens to take place at Christmastime. Handmade Ho-Ho Homicide, the eighth Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery, will be available in October. Want a sneak peak? Click here to read the first chapter.) 

But there’s more…

Click on over to Booklover’s Bench and post a comment for a chance to win a cross stitch book featuring cross stitch charts of the Twelve Days of Christmas as seen above. One winner will be randomly drawn from all the comments posted.

Don’t delay, both drawings end July 18^th.

CRAFTS WITH ANASTASIA--HOLIDAY SOCK ORNAMENT

Holiday Sock Ornament

Whether we get holes in them, or the washing machine eats them, we wind up with mate-less socks. And for some reason most of us hold onto them, hoping that eventually the singleton will find itself a new mate and once again become a pair. It rarely happens. So why not take those mismatched socks and turn them into ornaments? Here’s a quick and easy project to do just that for our last Christmas in July project this month.

Materials:

3” Styrofoam® foam balls, holiday sock, 12” length 1/8” wide satin ribbon, wooden skewer or chopstick, tacky glue, straight pins, scissors

1. Using the chopstick or skewer, poke a 1/4” wide hole at the top and bottom on foam ball.

2. Cut the toe off the sock. Slip the sock over the foam ball so that approximately 1/2” of sock extends below the bottom hole of the ball.

3. Fill hole with tacky glue. Using the skewer or chopstick, push cut end of sock into the hole. If necessary, pin the sock to the ball until the glue dries.

4. Cut the other end of the sock so that 1/2” of fabric extends beyond the top hole of the ball. Secure the fabric in the hole in the same manner.

5. Knot cut ends of ribbon together. Cover knot and cut ends with tacky glue. Using skewer or chopstick, force knot and cut ends through top hole. Allow glue to dry before hanging ornament.

CRAFTS WITH ANASTASIA--SEASIDE INSPIRED CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT

People often tell me they don’t craft because they have no talent. Nonsense! Anyone can craft. There are plenty of crafts that require no talent or skill but still produce items you’d be proud to display in your own home or give as a gift to someone else. In keeping with our Christmas in July theme this month, here’s a Seaside inspired Christmas Ornament that anyone can make.

Materials:

3” Styrofoam® ball

thin jute cord (approximately 3mm in diameter)

tacky glue

straight pins

12-15 small seashells

assortment of pearl and white buttons in various sizes

jeweler’s glue or low-temp glue gun

1. Secure the end of the jute in the ball with a straight pin dipped in tacky glue. Then wrap the ball randomly with the jute until the Styrofoam® is covered.

2. Make a 4” loop from jute. Dip a straight pin in tacky glue, then secure loop with pin. Bring jute to opposite end of ball from loop, cut end and glue in place, securing with another glue dipped pin. Allow to dry.

3. Using the jeweler’s glue or glue gun, attach seashells and buttons randomly around ornament. 

CRAFTS WITH ANASTASIA-- SANTA YARN DOLL

Keeping with our Christmas in July theme, here's another project for getting a jumpstart on the holidays. -- AP

SANTA YARN DOLL DIRECTIONS

Refer to the materials list and directions from May 23, 2011 to make the basic yarn doll using red mohair type yarn.

Note: If you prefer a Mrs. Santa doll, don’t tie off the legs, omit the curly beard, and use a pink colored pencil to color cheeks.

Decorate the doll as follows:

Materials:
white curly doll hair
1 large head red ball straight pin
1/2” white pompom
two 1/4” green pompoms
3/4 yd. white curly chenille
3” x 5” red felt
1/2” x 6” black felt
1/2” x 3/4” yellow felt
1/2” jingle bell
12” x 12” natural hopsack
1/2 yd. 1/8” red/green striped grosgrain ribbon
small amount polyester fiber-fill
1-1/4” gold doll glasses
needle and thread
scissors
compass
paper
tacky glue and/or glue gun

1. Make doll according to Basic Yarn Doll directions (5/23/11.)

2. Divide body in half below tied waist for legs with chenille stem as part of one leg. Tie each leg 2-1/2” from end.

3. Cut 3-4 strands at a time of curly doll hair into 8” lengths. Fold pieces in half. Glue midpoint of the hair to head, applying along the edge of muslin first. Then work in neat, evenly spaced horizontal rows from back of the neck up to top of the head. Glue additional hair to face for beard. Untangle and trim to even out the length.

4. Dip red topped pin in glue. Insert in head for mouth.

5. Glue glasses in place over eyes.

6. Using the compass, draw a 5” diameter half circle on the paper. Cut out. Use the paper pattern to cut out hat from red felt.

7. Overlap straight edge of hat 1/4” to form cone. Glue in place. Glue white pompom to top of hat. Glue curly chenille around bottom edge of hat. Glue hat to head.

8. Cut curly chenille into two 2” pieces for wrists and two 4” pieces for legs. Glue around tied ends at legs and wrists.

9. Glue black felt around waist for belt. Cut a small rectangle in center of yellow felt for buckle. Glue to center front of belt.

10. Glue green pompoms to chest above belt.

11. Using a dinner plate as guide, cut a large circle from the hopsack. Sew a gathering stitch around the circle 1/2” from edge. Place fiber-fill in center of circle. Gather thread to form sack. Know in place.

12. Tie grosgrain ribbon around sack, slipping bell onto ribbon before tying bow.

13. Glue arm around sack and sack to side of body.

CRAFTS WITH ANASTASIA-- VICTORIAN CHRISTMAS ANGEL YARN DOLL

It's Christmas in July! Get a head start on your holiday gift making with this Victorian Christmas Angel. -- AP

VICTORIAN CHRISTMAS ANGEL YARN DOLL DIRECTIONS

Refer to the materials list and directions from May 23, 2011 to make the basic yarn doll using 4-ply white silver glitter yarn. Decorate the doll as follows:

Materials:
white curly doll hair
4” strand white craft pearls
2 silver tinsel chenille stems
18” of 4” wide white and silver tulle
6” length 1” wide white flat lace
2 white irredescent 1/2” ribbon roses
approximately 60 6mm glass beads
needle and thread
pink colored pencil or blush
scissors
tacky glue and/or glue gun

1. Make doll according to Basic Yarn Doll directions (5/23/11.)

2. Cut 3-4 strands at a time of curly doll hair twice the desired length of hair. Glue midpoint of the hair to head, applying along the edge of muslin first. Then work in neat, evenly spaced horizontal rows from back of the neck up to top of the head. Untangle and trim to even out the length.

3. Wrap flat lace around upper body of doll, overlapping ends in front to form shawl. Glue in place at front with small amount of glue.

4. Wrap pearls around neck, securing at back with glue.

5. Cut tulle into two 9” pieces. Place one on top of the other and tie together in the middle with thread. Spread ends apart to form wings.

6. Form a 2” circle at one end of one tinsel chenille stem for halo. Bend remaining length down at a 90 degree angle from halo for stem. Slip stem inside yarn wich tied off upper body at back of doll. Adjust height so halo seems to float over head of doll and stem is not seen from front.

7. Center wings over stem. Wrap end of stem around tied center of wings Glue to secure.

8. Glue one ribbon rose to upper right of doll’s head at hair line and second where lace forms a “V” at front of angel.

9. Thread three beads each onto random front strands of doll body, knotting ends of yarn. Space evenly on strands.

10. Twist remaining tinsel chenille stem into five-pointed star. Fold arms to front of angel. Glue in place. Glue top center point of star to hands.

11. Color cheeks with pink colored pencil.



Are you enjoyed this series of doll projects? Any other crafts you'd like to see featured on the blog? Let's hear from you on this or any topic. Post a comment to enter the drawing for a book from our Book Club Friday guest author this week. -- AP