The Christmas Magazine UK features our Shine Bright Fairy Lights and Chalk It Up Place Markers

The Christmas Magazine in the UK have done such a fantastic job featuring 2 of our Craft It Up Around The World Christmas projects in their 2015 edition! 

Reloved Magazine in the UK features 3 of our Christmas book projects!

It's so lovely seeing our projects in magazines. We're so pleased that Reloved magazine in the UK chose our Glacial Lace Hangings, Stacked Christmas Trees and Bondi Beach baubles.

Best magazine in the UK features our Poinsettia sack in their Christmas edition!

This project is an extra special one in the book because we used beautiful fabrics, some screen printed by hand right here in Sydney, by Prints Charming Original Fabrics. This sack is reasonably quick and easy. The key is using really gorgeous bright fabrics. If you're in Australia you can buy printed Prints Charming fabrics in Spotlight.

Our beautiful wreath on the contents page of The Green Parent magazine in the UK

Stoked that one of my favourite projects from the book is featured on the contents page of The Green Parent magazine in the UK. This is such a simple but pretty project. And a hot glue gun speeds things up a treat if you're into instant craft gratification. Like me.

Tiny Table Top Tree

This Tiny Table Top Tree was one of the biggest Christmas hits of last year. Start collecting pinecones now and you could have these sweet Christmas trees running down the centre of your Christmas table. For sparkle, dip the edges in glitter, or use some silver thread for tinsel.

How to make a Pay it Forward Advent Calendar from Craft it Up Christmas ...

We love a chocolate Advent calendar as much as the next person. But we were thinking, wouldn't it be good to give something back in the days leading up to Christmas, instead of taking? The divine Jen at CICO books has made a fabulous You Tube tutorial so you can make one just in time for the 1st of December!

Craft It Up Christmas available now!

Our beautiful book Craft It Up Christmas Around The World is available now online and from all good bookstores.

This would be a fantastic addition to a pre-Christmas craft party. Just add wine...or milk and cookies!

I can see it rolled up in a stocking too. So maybe tip off Santa now? Or play Santa and buy it for all your pals!

Craft It Up Around The World and Craft It Up Christmas Around The World by Abadee and Armstrong are available from all good bookstores, online and also from our publisher.

http://www.rylandpeters.com/ourshop/craft/craft-it-up-christmas-around-the-world

http://www.rylandpeters.com/ourshop/craft-it-up-around-the-world

Happy Publication Day Craft It Up Christmas!

Hey Happy Publication Day! Craft It Up Christmas is now officially here. Whoop whoop! 

I know it's a little early for Christmas but over the next few months I'll give you little prods! Because as well as making a beautiful Christmas gift it would make an even more awesome pre-Christmas gift to someone else...or for you and your family! You can get a head start on some lovely Christmas crafting. Or planning craft group Christmas nights. Or Christmas decoration swaps. 

I can see it rolled up in a stocking too. So maybe tip off Santa now? 

Craft It Up Around The World and Craft It Up Christmas Around The World by Abadee and Armstrong are available from all good bookstores, online and also from our publisher.

http://www.bookdepository.com/Craft-it-Up-Around-World-Libby-Abadee/9781782490388

http://www.bookdepository.com/Craft-it-Up-Christmas-Around-World-Libby-Abadee/9781782491569

Christmas in July

We love Christmas and here in Australia many people celebrate Christmas in July too, so we get to celebrate twice! 

Here are a few of our favourite Christmas projects that we've featured on the blog. Simple enough to be made by small children but lovely enough to be made with pride by adults too!

If you can't be bothered to haul your tree out of the garage for Christmas in July but still want a bit of a festive feel, how about this tiny tree? 

Want some super fast Christmas decorations? Reach for the faithful HAMA beads!

 

(in July!)

Craft It Up Around The World: Christmas

Unbelievably excited today to bring you news of our beautiful Christmas craft book! Called Craft It Up Around The World: Christmas, it is already available online for pre-order!

How awesome is that! Release date is August.

We had so much fun making the book and we think you're going to love it! Christmas is such a special time and what could be lovelier than making heirloom crafts with your family?

This is what Amazon say about the book...

'Bring Christmas from around the world into your home with these beautiful treasures. Ice-skating in New York? Gazing at starry nights in India? Jingling bells around your wrist as they do in Cuba? Let your imagination take flight, and join in a whole host of celebratory traditions from around the globe by making beautiful treasures, either as keepsakes or gifts. Libby Abadee and Cath Armstrong, both keen travellers, have discovered Christmas traditions from around the world and cleverly adapted them into 35 accessible craft projects, complete with fun facts about each country. Not only will you love making a gorgeous Ice Queen, you will learn when and why the ice rink was installed at Christmas time at New York's Rockefeller Centre. From composing a Uruguayan crib scene to making a Japanese origami gift box, you can indulge your creative ability while learning about how things are done in other countries. Follow the simple step-by-step instructions and clear photographs to achieve delightful results. Christmas is a time of giving and spreading joy among friends and family, and this book presents a magical and inspirational way to help you do just that.'

Tiny table top tree

Here at Craft It Up! we know just how it feels to be a little overstretched in the run up to Christmas. Between us we have 8 kids, 2 dogs and a brand new book just about to reach deadline!

So whilst we may not have quite tackled the Christmas card list yet (New Years cards ok this year?) we have managed to make you a festive craft that'll take you moments to create.

Our tiny table top tree would look beautiful on a mantelpiece or as a centrepiece. Imagine several in different sized glasses running down the centre of your Christmas Day table!

 

Readers Pics: Christmas wreath

Full disclosure here...Libby's daughter made this gorgeous wreath using our Halloween tutorial and adapting it using Christmas colours. 

We're including it to show you that our crafts are can be simple and forgiving! She did this craft alone (she's 6!) and cut out every circle and made each hole. Because you thread the circles onto the coat hanger, you can really hack away at the felt and still end up with a gorgeous effect. 

We think her teacher is going to enjoy hanging it in her home this Christmas!

Reader craft pics: Sweden's 'Deck The Halls' Magazine Tree

When we started thinking about writing this book, we were really keen to include beautiful yet functional things. This magazine tree has a triple purpose here: it recycles a What's On magazine, it can be used as a beautiful Christmas table decoration...and most importantly...it's part of a heroic Lego police rescue! Brilliant job William! Thanks for sending it!

Happy 'Christmas in July' super fast decorations

At Craft It Up, we need no excuse for a celebration!

Here in Australia it is winter and those of us who have moved here from the other side of the world like to pretend it is Christmas!

If you want to celebrate but just can't be bothered to haul all of your decorations out of storage, why don't you make a few of these? They are super fast to make and everyone will enjoy making them, from tiny tots to adults. You could do stripes or patterns, or stick to one colour. We decided to leave it to fate and thread them randomly!

Now go and find some mince pies and dig out your Christmas CDs! Ho Ho Ho!