D.I.Y Holiday Decorations

Christmas Decorations made from felt

Felt Poinsettia Bloom

Create everlasting felt poinsettia stems that you can display all winter long.

Materials:

• Dark blue, bright red, dark red, and aqua felt
• Green paper-covered floral wires
• 6 turquoise self-shank buttons
• Blue and red embroidery floss

Instructions:

1. For the center of the flower, cut six dark blue felt circles slightly larger than the buttons to help camouflage wires. Thread a floral wire through a circle and a button and twist the ends of the wire to secure. Repeat for all six buttons and circles, then wire the stems together.
2. Create five medium and seven large leaf shapes by stacking bright red felt atop dark red felt. Use a dark blue running stitch to secure. When stitching, leave an opening in the curved base of each leaf.
3. Make 2-inch loops at the ends of 12 floral wires. Insert a looped end into each petal base. Arrange medium and then larger petals around button stem. Twist additional floral wires tightly around all of the stems to create one thick stem.
4. Accentuate the buttons with five small petals, created by stacking aqua felt on top of dark blue felt and securing with a centered red-floss running stitch. Tuck small petals under buttons and adhere with fabric glue.

Festive Felt Table Runner

 After decorating your tree with ornaments, decorate your table with trees. Cut evergreen tree shapes from green felt, cutting some of the trees in half lengthwise. Cut felt circles from two contrasting colors; glue the circles on the trees. Place a white runner in the center of your table, and then simply layer the felt trees on the runner.

Felt Holly Tree Skirt

Make a tree skirt that you won't want to cover with gifts. For the skirt, cut a desired-size circle with a slit for the tree. Cut holly leaves in two colors and sizes (24 and 26 inches long) and red circles for berries. Hand-stitch long straight stitches with embroidery floss down the center of the leaves. Glue on leaves and red berries.

 

Felt Advent Calendar

Reflect on the meaning of the season with a spirited felt Advent calendar.

 

Materials

• Turquoise, dark blue, dark red, and white felt
• Dark blue, turquoise, dark red, and white embroidery floss
• Assorted buttons
• 2-inch-wide double-sided satin ribbon
• 2 bamboo skewers or dowels cut to size

Instructions:

1. For wordy rectangles: Cut five 5-1/4 x 2-2/3-inch rectangles from felt. (We used two turquoise, two blue, and one red as backdrops for our white-lettered words.) Use a running stitch and contrasting-hue floss to stitch a line around the perimeter of each rectangle.
2. To create the backing: Cut five slightly larger felt rectangles. Layer each small rectangle atop a larger contrasting-color rectangle and pin pieces together.

3. Determine which buttons you will use on each set of rectangles. Mark the center on each set of rectangles. Use a sewing machine and thread matching the smaller rectangle to create centered buttonholes. (Remember, when layering buttons, holes should accommodate the largest button in the stack.)

4. Remove pins. Secure each set of rectangles together with fabric glue. With smallest rectangles facing up, trim edges of larger contrasting rectangles, leaving a small border that will highlight the stitch-edged rectangles.
5. Cut letters from white felt to spell out words. Glue letters in place on small rectangles.
6. For banner, cut a 7x21-inch turquoise felt panel and a 7-1/2x21-inch dark blue felt panel. Center turquoise panel on dark blue panel and pin together.
7. Machine-stitch panels together along 21-inch sides. Create rod pockets at top and bottom of banner. Fold top and bottom edges over 3/4 inch and pin. Machine-stitch 1/2 inch out from fold. For hanger, pin an 8-inch length of ribbon to top the back corners of banner and stitch in place, following rod-pocket stitch line. Slip bamboo skewers or cut-to-fit dowels into rod pockets to help banner hold its shape.
8. To pull it all together, position and stitch buttons on front of banner. If desired, stack on another button and stitch through first button to attach to banner. Button on the embellished felt rectangles, with flowers facing up and lettered sides facing banner.

Source: http://www.bhg.com/holidays/christmas/crafts/felt-decorations/