Scandinavian Style! Simple Christmas DIY Craft Deer Head

In the days before department stores and online boutiques people generally gave handmade gifts and baked goods to their loved ones at Christmas time, many people still do, so in the spirit of a hand made Christmas I thought I would share this simple Scandinavian Inspired DIY project with you... it will cost about $10 to make and can be completed in under an hour, which in my book makes for a brilliant craft project!.

I found the instructions to create this look via Manmadediy here you will find the template and the link to enlarge the image to your desired size using blockposter. I then simply painted mine white and attached twine to the back to hang from my wire door... I also made one for my sister and attached pom poms to the antlers for extra detail.

To complete this project simply print out the template found here

You will also need

hard board or thick cardboard

jigsaw cutter 

protective eye wear (the saw dust goes everywhere)

paint

Then simply trace, cut and paint

This was my first time using the a jigsaw cutter... can't say I loved the experience loud, jumpy, dangerous - not my fave combo but the result was worth it... as you can see I made a few little mistakes around the antlers!.

Enjoy your weekend

xx

Also sharing here at Scandi Coast Home

Yarn Bombed Christmas Tree - Easy DIY Craft Activity

This year my better half proposed the idea of two Christmas trees in the living room and I was delighted by his festive enthusiasm but wondered how our small 4x5 meter living space would accommodate this much Christmas cheer!.

Then I remembered that I'd stashed away a fallen oak branch in the garage and in keeping with the array of twiggy DIY Christmas Trees in magazines etc I yarn bombed mine, stuck it in the centre of a ceramic garden stool and hung a few rustic metal stars from the branches.

When the festive season is over I'll continue to display this piece year round.

The entire look cost all of about $7 including the decorations that were found at Masters (our version of Home Depot) and it adds a nice touch to our festive theme for 2012.

I must confess I cannot knit (putting that on my new years resolution list!) so this is more of a yarn wrapped tree... if you want to make your own all you need is yarn in your choice of colours, a nice long branch and some Christmas decorations. Simply knot the string to one end and wrap the yarn around alternating the colours as you go - that is it!.

Before

My Vintage Inspired Christmas Tree

I thought I'd share some images of my tree this year. I love Christmas decorating and after 6 years of married life my husband enjoys it more and more which is even nicer!. We've collected a lot of decorations over the years and I make an effort to buy decorations when we travel overseas. We have decorations from New Delhi, Paris, Versai, Rome and London and some vintage decorations that belonged to my Aunt Celine who was known for her to the minute kitsch 60's style think teak, Tretchikoff's, fiber optic fountain lamps, yellow roses and fuscia pink lippy!.

Each year the crowning jewel on our tree is the over-sized vintage inspired glass baubles I picked up in Richmond... they're the size of a melon and my siblings and I own 150 of them - long story short they were being cleared as a lot so we bought them all!!.

Merry Christmas

xx

Vintage Thrifting - Shabby Vintage Style Clock and Coastal Bits

Well it's much warmer in Melbourne than it was earlier in the week, it hit 30 degrees yesterday and it's set to be high 30's today, so it's really starting to feel like summer!.

 I started my Christmas shopping this week and stumbled across this oversized repro railway clock while I was out and about... it was in the back corner of the store tucked behind a number of prints and packages and I was thrilled to have found it. Truth be told it doesn't tick any more, was covered in glass splinters and the printed map face is quite scratched but it was all of $18 and I couldn't say no!.

The clock currently serves as a tray on top of my vintage steamer trunk coffee table

vintage thrifty Saturday!

These antique keys were a thrift store find at $2 each, I also found a few more capiz shell coasters and the sea shells and starfish were all bought at Trash and Treasure in Coburg. 

I think the clock and vintage coastal bits create a nautical, treasure chest kind of feel on top of my steamer trunk coffee table and for under $30 I'm loving that!.

Have a great weekend 

Happy Thrifting!

xx

Vintage Christmas bits and other Pinterest finds!

Thought I'd share some Christmas pics today, mostly found on pinterest and all vintage or vintage inspired... by the way it is freezing here in Melbourne at the moment, went to Collingwood (for a samples and seconds clothing sale I couldn't miss!) this morning and the sun was shining and now it's ugg boots and blanket weather... summer where are you?

Anyway, here are some of my fave vintage-esque Christmas pins found here

 

I've already posted this image but I had to include it again, this wreath is made from old antique metal trays

I took this pic at Selfridges - To me these mannequins are a combination of Sinéad O' Connor and Robert Palmer's Addicted To Love back up singers.... do you see it??.

1950's Christmas Tree

Mid Century Christmas Magic!

Isn't this a gorgeous way to create place cards...

wreath made from old family photos

vintage world map

xx

Vintage Style Honeycomb Paper Bell & Thrifty Buys

Well the Christmas count down is officially on! I'm looking forward tree decorating this weekend and listening to my fave old school carols sung by Bing Crosby, Dean Martin, Etta James and my favourite Christmas album Ella (Fitzgerald) Wishes You A Swinging Christmas - no one sings carols better than Ella - FYI there are no keys in a bowl action going in Ella's "swinging" wishes I promise!!. Another fave Christmas song  is Donny Hathaway's This Christmas, released in 1970... my hubby and I enjoy a lil dance to this one each year!.

So in the "Christmas Spirit" of all things vintage and old school I bought two honeycomb paper bells that I fondly remember my Aunties having in all the colours of the rainbow when I was a little one... thinking I'll hang these above the Christmas table this year... if only I'd kept the vintage originals!.

 you can buy similar from lark made - here

and on the Thirfty Saturday front here are two vases I found at the local store... The Milk Glass above was $3 and the shell shaped wall vase below $4...

Have a lovely weekend!

xx