| Since snowflake designs are so much a part of | | | | the snowflake stencils to paint on the jar. You can |
| Christmas I came up with a few ideas for using | | | | find paints especially for glass at a crafts supply |
| them in some gift giving projects. OK I know | | | | store. If not, craft acrylics work well too. Just |
| what you're thinking. This is all about making some | | | | secure the stencil to the jar with tape and use a |
| tacky, juvenile pictures for a grandmother to | | | | dabbing motion to lightly tap on some paint. |
| hang on the fridge. Not so. You'll learn how to | | | | Remember, stenciling is a dry brush technique, so |
| make a nice glass jar with tasty goodies or bath | | | | don't overload your brush. Use more layers of |
| salts, embellish a wine bag for a classy look and a | | | | paint to achieve deeper colors instead of more |
| few wrapping and card making ideas for a vintage | | | | paint in a single application. Also, don't brush back |
| look. Yes, they are easy but I think you'll be | | | | and forth because that will drive paint under the |
| surprised at the finished product as will the lucky | | | | stencil. Use a brush made for stenciling or a foam |
| people on your gift list this year. I hope you find | | | | brush. You can use one snowflake, several images |
| inspiration in these ideas and have a great time | | | | of the same snowflake, several paintings of |
| creating these unique gifts. | | | | different snowflakes and even different color |
| To start any snowflake crafts project you'll need | | | | snowflakes. It's your design so be creative. |
| to cut out paper snowflakes. This will give you a | | | | If you want the snowy effect, consider lightly |
| snowflake design. Snowflakes are six sided | | | | spray painting the jar with white before or after |
| (hexagonal) so you'll need to fold a piece of paper | | | | the snowflakes with a soft light spray. Don't |
| so that the finished design will have six | | | | cover the glass in white, just mist it. Hold the can |
| symmetrical extensions. Fold a piece of paper | | | | of spray paint a little further back then you |
| starting at the top right corner. Make sure that | | | | usually would. Maybe make it a little heavier near |
| the top of the paper and the right side are | | | | the top to look like snow accumulation. There are |
| aligned. Cut off the paper at the bottom not in | | | | so many ways you could enhance a jar. |
| the folded area. Bring the two points of the folded | | | | But wait! You need to fill it with goodies and top it |
| side together and mark the center along the fold. | | | | off. Make some cookies or fudge or other |
| From the unfolded corner opposite the center | | | | goodies for your jar. Whatever you specialty is. |
| mark, measure 3 and 1/8" along either side and | | | | Does the person receiving it have a love for a |
| make a mark. Draw two lines from the center | | | | special candy like peppermints, butterscotch or |
| mark on the fold to each of the marks on the | | | | M&M's? Then fill the jar with that. It's so |
| unfolded side. Now fold along each line. I know it | | | | easy to make them happy. Maybe your friends |
| sounds complicated for just a paper snowflake | | | | would like a jar filled with homemade bath salts. |
| but once you see how it's done you'll find that it's | | | | That's easy. Just mix 2 cups of Epsom salts with |
| easy to just fold without all the measuring. | | | | 2 tablespoons of baking soda and 9 drops of |
| Now that you have the paper folded, cut away a | | | | essential oils (flavor of your choice - like rose, |
| few pieces. If you are cutting along the outside a | | | | gardenia, mint, chamomile...). Lock the top of the |
| scissors will work fine. But if you want to get | | | | jar back in place and cover with a piece of |
| more detail, you can use a craft knife to cut out | | | | festive fabric and secured with a ribbon. Again, |
| holes any where in the center. I like to draw out | | | | you can customize this for the person you are |
| a pattern before I start cutting. When finished | | | | giving it to. If they like cookies, fill it with cookies. |
| cutting, unfold carefully and flatten. Now you have | | | | If she likes the scent of roses, make a rose |
| a snowflake cutout design. This snowflake pattern | | | | scented bath salt. Your gifts will be the ones of |
| will be the start of many great projects. | | | | envy! |
| For some projects you will need a stencil. To | | | | Spruce up a plain brown bag by painting on some |
| make a stencil, place the cutout on a full sheet of | | | | snowflake designs from stencils or gluing on a |
| paper (or stencil film if you want a permanent | | | | snowflake cutout. Then tuck your gifts inside |
| stencil for multiple uses). Trace around all the | | | | wrapped with some loose tissue paper. Again, if |
| edges and then cut out with a craft knife. Now | | | | you want the snowy effect, hold a can of white |
| you're ready to make some gifts and decorate | | | | spray paint about 12" away from the bag and |
| the wrapping. | | | | spray a very light mist over the bag. It will only |
| Oh! By the way, it's a good idea to make copies | | | | take one or two passes to get that misty, |
| of the snowflake designs, and preserve your | | | | snowy look. |
| originals for more projects. Also, since these | | | | Have you seen those nice cloth or velvet wine |
| designs are on paper, don't forget that you can | | | | bags at the discount stores? If you find some |
| resize them to fit any project size by reducing or | | | | plain ones they are great for enhancing with |
| enlarging on a copy machine. | | | | painted snowflakes. Just secure your stencils in |
| It's fun and easy to make Christmas Cards. Using | | | | place and tap on a little paint. I found one that is |
| colored construction paper, cut a rectangle to 8 | | | | simple red and green velvet with a gold cord and |
| inches by 6 inches. Fold along the 8 inch side in | | | | tassel. So I painted my snowflake designs in gold |
| half so that you have a 6 by 4 inch card. Use a | | | | paint and then used a light coat of gold spray |
| cutout snowflake design and glue to the front of | | | | glitter. |
| the card. Be creative and cut out two or three | | | | During the year I collect boxes. Sounds strange I |
| different snowflakes and make it snow. For an | | | | know but after covering them in a solid color of |
| old-fashioned vintage look, glue a ribbon along one | | | | paint, they are a blank canvas for decorating. |
| side of the cover or attach a colorful button to | | | | Stencil on a few snowflakes. Don't just stick with |
| the center of the snowflake. I like to use a | | | | white snowflakes. Imagine a box painted dark blue |
| hole-punch tool to make small circles of colored | | | | with pink and light blue snowflakes. It's up to you. |
| paper and glue them in random patterns around | | | | You can make your snowflakes traditional or |
| the snowflakes. | | | | absolutely funky. You'll start looking at boxes in a |
| Making gift labels is easy with paper snowflakes. | | | | whole different way. |
| Just cut out a small square, rectangle or oval in | | | | Make a sachet by stenciling a snowflake design |
| construction paper and glue on a snowflake | | | | onto a small pouch. Wet a few cotton balls with a |
| cutout. Write your greeting and who the package | | | | fresh scent or essential oils and slip into the pouch. |
| is for and attach to the gift with a ribbon tied | | | | You can find simple drawstring bags at your local |
| through a hole made with a hole-punch tool. | | | | crafts supply store. I really like to add these to a |
| The best thing about crafting or designing is that | | | | gift box that has a scarf or piece of clothing |
| you can custom build any item for the person | | | | inside. When the box is opened the fresh |
| who is receiving it. If you have traditional friends | | | | fragrance is released for an added surprise. |
| on your list, work with red, green, silver and gold. | | | | Stencil a snowflake on the corner of a nice linen |
| But if you have friends into retro, then create | | | | handkerchief. You can give it as the gift itself or |
| snowflakes in bright colors like cyan blue, neon | | | | wrap a treasure inside. I like to hang them over |
| green and hot pink. They will feel very special | | | | the side of a basket and fill the basket up with |
| when they receive a gift tailor made for them | | | | goodies like cookies and fudge. Also, filling the |
| (including the wrapping). Don't forget about all of | | | | basket with some fresh red and green apples |
| the fun you'll have designing and giving! | | | | makes a nice gift arrangement. |
| Here's a great way to turn an old jar into a nice | | | | It's easy to decorate with stencils. Plus, it's the |
| gift. Clean the jar well and remove any labels. Use | | | | perfect way to create a one-of-a-kind gift. |