| Keep the focus on the simple pleasures of the Holiday | | | | not have a texture to it. You can find fabric paints at |
| season with some artful snowflake crafts. What could | | | | your local crafts supply store. When applying paint to |
| be more beautiful than simple decorations for a setting | | | | the napkin through the stencil use an up and down, |
| that is unassuming, honest, welcoming and warm? And | | | | dabbing motion to apply paint to the fabric. A back and |
| what could be simpler than a snowflake? It's an image | | | | forth motion with the brush will push paint under the |
| that let's us travel to the days of our Christmas youth | | | | stencil and smear your image. Use a brush made for |
| and all the years in between. Here are a few ideas | | | | stenciling. Foam brushes work well too. Keep the brush |
| that I have for you to bring the snowflake into your | | | | on the dry side. A brush loaded with too much paint |
| Holiday decorations by painting them on fabrics and | | | | can cause paint to seep under the stencil. Heavier |
| much more! You'll even find some tips on making | | | | color is achieved by applying several light layers of |
| unique gifts for giving. | | | | color with drying time in between. |
| Snowflakes are always six sided. So, to make paper | | | | Along with the "less is more" theme, I tied my napkins |
| snowflakes you need to fold the paper for a finished | | | | with a thin rope chord and glued a couple of wooden |
| design with 6 symmetrical extensions. First, fold a piece | | | | Christmas trinkets to each end instead of using a |
| of paper starting with the top right corner making sure | | | | fancy napkin ring. |
| that the top edge of the paper and the right side are | | | | I mentioned that you can find fabric paints at your local |
| lined up. Cut away the paper that is not in the folded | | | | craft supply store, but if you are not able to find these, |
| area. Bring the two points on the folded side together | | | | regular acrylics work well too. However, they may not |
| and mark the center. From the unfolded point, measure | | | | wash as well and tend to be a little stiffer when dry. |
| 3 and 1/8" along either side and make a mark. Draw | | | | Good golly - let's get jolly! Do you like to wear your |
| two lines from the center mark on the fold to each of | | | | Christmas spirit? Then paint some snowflakes on a |
| the marks on the unfolded side and fold along each | | | | t-shirt or sweatshirt. Maybe you know someone who |
| line. It seems complicated for just a paper snowflake | | | | likes to wear Christmas art. Then make a wearable |
| but once you see how it's done you'll find that it's easy | | | | gift for them. Paint several snowflakes across the |
| to just fold without measuring. | | | | front. Use a different color for each and then top it off |
| For the snowflake crafts projects you will need to | | | | with some spray glitter. There is so much you can do |
| create a snowflake cutout and a stencil. For cutout | | | | with simple snowflake crafts. |
| paper snowflakes, fold the paper and cut away a few | | | | When we picture snowflakes, we generally think of |
| pieces. To cut openings along the side, use a scissors | | | | simple kids crafts. But snowflakes can be classy. |
| but if you want to create a more detailed design, use | | | | Consider decorating a cloth wine bag with a painted |
| a craft knife to cut openings in the center of the folded | | | | snowflake. You can find plain bags at most of your |
| paper. I find it best to sketch out a design plan before I | | | | discount stores and the plainer the better. Just secure |
| start cutting. Unfold the paper carefully and flatten for | | | | your stencils in place and tap on a little paint. I found |
| your snowflake cutout design. Create a stencil by | | | | some that were green and red velvet with gold tie |
| tracing the snowflake design on to a sheet of paper or | | | | cords and tassels. I painted two or three snowflake |
| stencil film (for a permanent, multiple use stencil). Cut | | | | designs on one side in gold paint. Then I sprayed a |
| out the design with a craft knife. It's like creating a | | | | very light coat of gold spray glitter. Slide a nice bottle |
| negative. Now that you have a snowflake stencil and | | | | of wine inside the bag and you have a fine gift for |
| a cutout, you're ready to start having fun creating | | | | your favorite wine connoisseur. |
| some fabulous crafts. | | | | Stencil a snowflake on the corner of a nice linen |
| If you need a different size, you can put the designs | | | | handkerchief. You can give it as the gift itself or wrap |
| on a copy machine and reduce or enlarge the size to | | | | a treasure inside. I like to hang them over the side of a |
| fit your project area. | | | | basket and fill the basket up with goodies like the one |
| Set a unique and festive Holiday table this year by | | | | pictured above which is overflowing with red and |
| decorating cloth napkins. I found a great pack of | | | | green apples. I like to browse the flea markets and |
| colorful cotton napkins at a discount department store | | | | thrift stores to find vintage hankies. They lend an old |
| and painted a small snowflake in the corner. When the | | | | world feel to your snowflake crafts. |
| napkin is folded or strung through a napkin ring, the | | | | Well, I know you are ready to get started on some |
| snowflake is the centerpiece. Make sure to find a | | | | snowflake crafts. I hope this information inspired you to |
| napkin that is made from a smooth fabric that does | | | | create some wonderful Christmas art! |