Welcome to Antique Mommy’s Homemade~Handmade Holiday Carnival featuring the best in hand crafted holiday gifts and decorations from around the world wide web!
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Today I have for you two super simple projects that can be used as ornaments or as package decorations.
For many of us, budget friendly is the operative word this holiday season. Most of the stuff you’ll need for these two projects, you probably already have around the house or can pick up at your local craft store for just a dollar or two.
My first project is a bird nest. I love to see a charming little bird nest hidden away among the boughs of a Christmas tree. I recently read that in Germany, placing a bird nest in a Christmas tree is suppose to bring a prosperous new year, so I say load’er up! We need some prosperity around here!
When Sean and I were at the park the other day, we found some little pods that had fallen off a tree and he suggested that they look like bird nests so we took them home and went to town making bird nests.
Here are two examples of what we made:
If you would like to make some of these, here’s what you need: pods, Spanish moss, tiny plastic eggs and tiny birds (you can find these in the floral department), other greenery if you like, and a hot glue gun.
If you can work a hot glue gun, you can make one of these little bird nests. First I ran the pods under cold water to get off the dirt and bugs and whatever else might be lurking therein and then let them dry.
Then, using my trusty Thermogrip 208, I put a dab of hot glue in the bottom of the pod. Then I took some Spanish moss and rolled it up into a little ball and stuffed it into the center. After that, I hot glued on a few little eggs and a tiny bird. A tiny piece of holly or ivy would be a nice touch. But basically, that’s it. If it were much harder than that, I wouldn’t do it.
Tuck this little nest somewhere among your holiday greenery and sit back and wait for prosperity to blow the doors down.
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The next ornament, a tiny jute wreath, is one that has a decidedly Southwestern flavor and one that I used to make many seasons ago.
Here’s what you will need: heavy jute (you can even get this at the grocery store), little chili peppers, ribbon, other holiday greenery, a hot glue gun and a pair of scissors. I’ve used a bandanna print ribbon in the past which I think is a lot cuter, but I couldn’t find any this year, so I went with red and green gingham checked ribbon instead and it works fine.
Take a length of the jute and make two circles leaving an inch or two of slack at either end. Pinch at the top, as shown below and hot glue together at the top.
Make a small garland from the chili peppers and greenery (appropriate in size to the wreath) and hot glue that at the top of the circle.
Cut a length of ribbon and tie around the top of the circle into a festive bow to hide the garland stems and any hot glue. Add a small bird at the bottom. Or not. Give each one it’s own personality.
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Kitty says:
Cute little decorations. Would love to win them!
November 24th, 2008 at 1:30 am
Sue says:
I especially love the birdnests! What kinds of pods are they? I can’t picture where to find some similar. Gracias!
November 24th, 2008 at 1:53 am
Alpaca Farm Girl » Homeade Holiday Goodness - Alpaca Scarf says:
[...] scarf is part of the Homemade Holiday Goodness Carnival. Visit Antique Mommy’s carnival for all sorts of great homeade/handmade gift ideas for the [...]
November 24th, 2008 at 1:55 am
JanMary, N Ireland says:
Love that Texas wreath – can think of all sorts of variations – Irish, scottish……
Thanks for the inspiration.
November 24th, 2008 at 3:23 am
Sam says:
I love that little wreath, it looks beautiful and simple!
November 24th, 2008 at 3:37 am
Jeana says:
Aw! I like those!
November 24th, 2008 at 8:44 am
Homemade Handmade Holiday Carnival « Minnesota Mom says:
[...] 24, 2008 Filed under: Crafty Stuff, Holidays, The Internets — minnesotamom @ 6:55 am Antique Mommy is having a carnival today! Here’s some hats I made recently. They’re not really [...]
November 24th, 2008 at 8:55 am
ks grandma says:
Your “pods” look to me to be acorn shells from a burr oak tree. My granddaughter and I have been collecting them this fall – found in great abundance in our neck of the woods – for various projects. Now we have a new project. Thanks!
November 24th, 2008 at 8:58 am
The Roost says:
I love anything with a little bird on it….very cute!
November 24th, 2008 at 9:04 am
Beverlydru says:
I am totaly impressed. Crafting skill has completely passed me by so I will be content with winning some of your aptitude. : )
November 24th, 2008 at 9:26 am
Thechickadeefeeder says:
I’m going to very much enjoy seeing what crafts folks come up with!
November 24th, 2008 at 9:48 am
We are THAT family says:
So cute! I love it.
November 24th, 2008 at 9:55 am
Joni says:
Totally awesome ideas! I wondered how you do a carnival. Lovely and full of many good ideas! Love the birds nests.
November 24th, 2008 at 10:40 am
Kathy says:
Love the red birds! I’m a red bird fiend. I’m having an open house a few days before christmas and my dessert plates are the red bird plates from pier 1. (Have you seen them? Too cute!) I’m on the hunt for a cute way to create “food labels” or photo holders with red birds. You know, those long sticks with paper clips on the top and the base is too cute? Also known as place card holders for the dinner table but with a buffet, I’ll use them to label the food…. Any ideas for a red bird theme place card holder?
November 24th, 2008 at 11:00 am
HarryJacksMom says:
Great crafts! I love that bird nest idea – my boys are thrilled with bird’s nests at the moment and my beloved Gramma loved cardinals – that would be a nice tribute to her on our tree. Thank you so much for that idea
Happy canivalling!
November 24th, 2008 at 11:27 am
Sarah says:
love your wee little birds nests, they are too cute…
November 24th, 2008 at 11:33 am
Christmas crafts…phase one… « beauty in the mundane says:
[...] I am joining antique mommy on her carnival ride, http://antiquemommy.com/2008/11/24/homemade-handmade-holiday-carnival/#comment-44317 for homemade Christmas crafts…I will have to add phase 2 when we make the external [...]
November 24th, 2008 at 11:37 am
Sarah at themommylogues says:
These are so fun!! I can’t wait to see more!
November 24th, 2008 at 11:45 am
chickadee@afamiliarpath says:
i love birds’ nests. we may have to try that.
November 24th, 2008 at 1:14 pm
Becky says:
Cute! Makes me wish I lived in TX so I could make those for all.
I live in FL and it wouldn’t bee as cute with a plastic palm tree. LOL
November 24th, 2008 at 2:01 pm
Rose says:
Lots of fun stuff! I submitted a project that I had made earlier in the year but it could be adapted as a Christmas theme depending on the photos used. Thanks for hosting this fun carnival!
November 24th, 2008 at 2:03 pm
Shelly W. says:
I have not received the crafty gene–I wrote about that just today (ironic, huh?)! Anyway, I’m so proud of all you women who do craft. Have fun with your carnival, but sorry I can’t participate in this one.
November 24th, 2008 at 2:11 pm
Praise and Coffee says:
I used to be crafty..not sure what ever happened. If I would have realized I could do something with food, I may have jumped in.
I can make the cutest little “hamburgers” with nilla wafers, mint cookies and some clever frosting colors…the best part is the green coconut “lettuce”
But for now, I’ll just enjoy all your ideas!
November 24th, 2008 at 2:23 pm
wanda says:
I love homemade! It’s always a treasure to me.
Great idea.
November 24th, 2008 at 2:47 pm
sprittibee says:
Love your ornaments.
November 24th, 2008 at 3:07 pm
Linda says:
Wow!!! I love them! Did you ever think of selling them? I would never make them …not the crafty type. I the “buyer” not the maker of…LOL!
November 24th, 2008 at 3:23 pm
Robbin says:
Oooh. I would post a link, but I have been too tired with trying to keep up with my completely-insane-what-the-heck-was-I-thinking idea of knitting gifts for all my nieces and nephews. My links would start with ‘learn how to knit…’.
Decorating? I can’t even THINK about it right now.
November 24th, 2008 at 4:35 pm
Melissa says:
Those are adorable. I love the little birds eggs.
I’m skipping the crafts and decorating this year, since I decided that being able to see the floor would be more important than crocheting more scarves. My creativity will consist of fitting about 3 closets-full of wedding gifts into half a closet! Does that count?
November 24th, 2008 at 5:15 pm
Susan J. says:
Ummmm….I got nothin’. I am not artsy-crafsy. I can sometimes copy other people’s ideas, but a Susan original? Not gonna happen.
I do need a little Texas on my tree though, don’t you think?
November 24th, 2008 at 5:44 pm
jj says:
I went to the site with the overalls and since i don’t have a bolog i couldn’t live a message but i wish she would tell us how to make the overalls.
jj
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I’ll find out and let you know. I don’t sew much beyond a straight line, but those were really cute. ~ AM
November 24th, 2008 at 7:52 pm
Carly says:
Beautiful! I especially love the wreath with a Texan flair. Thanks for stopping by my blog.
Blessings,
Carly
November 24th, 2008 at 9:20 pm
PastormacsAnn says:
Sorry AM, I didn’t read the directions all the way through. I’ll write a new post linking back to this with the links that I’ve included in your Mr. Linky. I get to that ASAP. Sorry again.
November 24th, 2008 at 9:41 pm
Tracy says:
Fun idea!
November 24th, 2008 at 11:05 pm
Aleesha says:
This is such fun!!
November 25th, 2008 at 1:36 am
Break Out That Glue Gun | Mommy Points says:
[...] that in mind, Antique Mommy is hosting a blog carnival of Homemade Handmade Holiday Crafts. I love this idea. I also love [...]
November 25th, 2008 at 7:20 am
Carly says:
Thanks for coming by again – I’ve always wanted to be a Queen of something other than dirty laundry.
)
Blessings!
November 25th, 2008 at 11:20 pm
Jennifer says:
My personal favorite is the jute wreath. Sadly though, I only have one.
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November 26th, 2008 at 10:39 am
Linds says:
Thanks so much for getting it up again – I had half made bits around here and was tearing my hair out at the roots. Sigh. All is peaceful once again, and you can’t see the bald patches. I think.
December 10th, 2008 at 1:12 pm
tam says:
Thank you so much for fixing this. I was in a panic. I can now finish the gifts. Thanks again.
December 10th, 2008 at 11:01 pm