Cross Stitch Snowflakes

These snowflakes are another project I found in the Handmade Christmas magazine. There are two different designs, and I stitched them in thread colours from my stash that complemented each other. I snipped round the edges of the plastic canvas, and used my glue gun to attach a hanging ribbon and a felt backing. I love how these look on the tree! The patterns were a bit fiddly (two stitches here, one stitch there), but enjoyable and quick to make. Any snowflake cross stitch pattern found on the internet could be created on plastic canvas (I used 14 count) to make similar ornaments! The possibilities are immense.

Origami Fairy Lights

Whilst reading Handmade Christmas, I noticed a tutorial they featured for origami fairy lights, and I realised that was what my fairy lights were missing. Mini origami light shades. Obviously.

I followed the tutorial in the magazine, but this tutorial is almost identical.

I love the burst of colour the paper shades add during the day, and I also enjoy the tones created by the paper when they are lit up at night. Depending on the colours of paper used, it can make some lights much darker, so be aware of that. I also decided to just do it on my battery powered fairy lights, as it meant I only needed to make 24 lanterns, not 100+!!