Welcome


Hello, my name is Dionne and I have been crafting for a very long time. As a very young child my mother tried to teach me to knit, it was a disaster. However, it must have sparked an interest in making things and, partly to prove that I was not totally useless and partly because I really wanted to make things, I taught myself to crochet. Over the years I have developed a love of cross stitch and all types of paper craft ..... I eventually even taught myself to knit.


I am married to a very understanding man, thank goodness, because I spend all my time either crafting, thinking about crafting or talking about crafting. I am hopeless at housework and dinner is often late!


Thank you for visiting my blog.


Dionne

Tuesday, 1 December 2015

Countdown to Christmas

It is the first of December already and the time many people set out their Advent Calendars.  I have made a very special Advent gift for a very special person.

Each year I put together an Advent Calendar for my oldest and dearest friend, but I have to confess that I am rubbish at finding very tiny gifts, so they never fit into one of those pre-made Advent Calendars, you know the ones with 24 little boxes to open, which are only really big enough for a wrapped chocolate.

Every year I search the shops looking for a suitable receptacle to put my gifts in, over the years I have used a variety of large Santa stockings, vases, boxes and baskets.  However, this year I decided to make my own fabric covered box.


I cut my box shapes from the card you can buy for mounting pictures and then attach the lining using Pritt Stick, it is amazing what a great bond it forms and it does not mark the fabric.


I then hand stitch all of the pieces together, it takes me ages as often I accidentally stitch through the board as well as the fabric.  I use wadding to give the lid a lovely cushioning and finally I cover the outside with a contrasting material.


As you can see, I have decorated the outside with some Christmassy ornaments, the flowers and berries came from Wild Orchid Crafts.  I have only put s few stitches in the decorations so they can be easily removed after Christmas, when hopefully, the box will have a new purpose.  Finally I wrap all of the gifts and this year I cut the tags from glitter card and numbered them with more glittered card.

Happy Advent.


Dionne

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6 comments:

  1. Pamellia1 December 2015 at 11:54

    What a great idea, I love the fabric covered box! Hmmm, you have sparked some ideas for how I can decorate some gifts this year!! Thanks for the inspiration Dionne! hugs :)

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    Replies
    1. Dee's Craft Room1 December 2015 at 13:54

      Thank you Pamellia. It is so nice to be able to inspire you for once. I hope you enjoy making whatever it is you have in mind.

      Dionne xx

      Delete
  2. Mrs Beez1 December 2015 at 20:58

    Love the idea and love the finished item - so perfectly done. How you manage to sew it all together is beyond me, I was struggle to secure all my coat buttons yesterday!!! Hope Candy loves it as much as I do xx

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    Replies
    1. Dee's Craft Room2 December 2015 at 10:18

      The box is 12 x12, so she could use it to keep her papers in if she wanted to, it is also the same size as another box I made her so it will stack nicely. I really should make more of them, they are such a handy size.

      I will happily sit and stitch a box but I am rubbish at mending my clothes. We really are too alike.

      Dionne xx

      Delete
  3. Dawn1 December 2015 at 21:09

    What a great idea! A gift & a gift of a useful & very pretty box too!
    Love it!
    Hugs
    Dawn xx

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    Replies
    1. Dee's Craft Room2 December 2015 at 10:18

      Thank you Dawn, that is so kind of you.

      Dionne x

      Delete

Thank you for visiting my blog, I look forward to reading your feedback on my work. I hope you will visit again.

Dionne

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