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! 

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.

Thanksgiving repost

Give thanks! Thanksgiving jar

I love the concept of giving thanks. And I think it's so vital that I teach my modern, technology loving kids to stop and think about what they're grateful for too. 

This sweet project is so quick to assemble that you'll have it done by Thanksgiving. You could substitute most of the materials. A shoebox would work and if you don't have a styrofoam ball then you can omit that. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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!

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!)

Vive La France! Bastille Day and a little Eiffel Tower revisit

The 14th of July is Bastille Day in France which is a fantastic time to revisit our little Tour Eiffel embroidery from our book 'Craft It Up Around The World'. You don't need any embroidery experience to make this gorgeous souvenir of Paris. We used a scrap of fabric and a running stitch. 

We've left it in the hoop and it takes pride of place in the Craft It Up studio. You could use it on a patch pocket, or part of a quilt. It would also look great on a napkin or table runner too. 

We're thinking of doing an embroidery city series. Big Ben would look perfect in a hoop, as would The Golden Gate Bridge and the Statue of Liberty. 

But for now, Vive La France!

'Craft It Up Around The World' is available online or you can order it in bookstores.

http://www.amazon.com/Craft-Around-World-Traveling-Adventures/dp/1782490388

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

Everlasting love simple screen print

Screen printing is one of my absolutely most favourite things to do and I learnt from the best in the business, Cath from Prints Charming Original Fabrics, here in Sydney. 

It can be costly to set up, so if you just want to try your hand at screen printing to see if you like the technique, then you can set up a very basic little screen for a few dollars. I bought everything here from dollar stores, and the frame from IKEA. 

The inspiration for this sweet print was from the Mardi Gras parade. My friend Erik pointed out a logo with the two joining hearts. I love the connection to the infinity logo...and I also love the pop of glamour the gold heart adds.

'I'm stuck on you' jar decal

Here at Craft It Up HQ we like to store things in glass jars. The bonus is that they're free and you're reusing and repurposing! 

This project is quick and satisfying. If you share a craft room, office or bedroom, maybe you could colour code your jars?

Daisy chain bracelet. Happy Birthday Unikko!

As a kid growing up in England, I spent a lot of time on the side of the rounders field making daisy chains. So meditative! Carefully splitting the stem of one daisy with a fingernail, and pushing the stem of another through until we had endless pretty chains of tiny white flowers. 

This sewing project shouldn't take you much longer to do. But if you're really in a hurry, I had a couple of teenagers who used a hot glue gun this morning and the results were just as lovely!

Did you know that Marimekko has just celebrated the 50th anniversary of their iconic design Unikko? So this little daisy is tiny nod to that too! Happy Birthday Unikko!