Fauve Gingerbread Church Tree Topper

"Peace, Good will towards man.

       I have decided to decorate one of my Christmas trees with cotton batting homes and churches. This will be my summer project. Perhaps I will be able to complete enough of these little structures to turn the tree into an entire village? (We shall see, if time permits.) 

       To top off my tree, I recycled a small wooden music box. I payed $3.00 for this charming little church in a resale shop. Often I see discarded items such as this these and wonder how can I transform them into something more appealing? It's seems so wasteful to just toss something with that much detailing on it.

       Although the music box was broken the church still had all of it's green, tinted glass windows intact; plus a very cute, little steeple. It's sturdy wooden form also made it a perfect object to cover with cotton batting. I would not need to reinforce it's walls to prevent the glue from warping the church structure and with the removal of the music box, there should be plenty of room for top tree branches to fit inside!

       So I gave it a try and here is what it looks like now. I think it will make a fine tree topper!

More Fauve Gingerbread for The Christmas Tree:

• Gingerbread clay recipe for ornaments from the imagination tree 
• Gingerbread igloo - with an Eskimo on skies!
• I adore this gingerbread carousel - but if I put all that work into it, I'm not going to eat it!
• Old-Fashioned Gingerbread Ideas
• Paper village patterns and links
• Gingerbread Recipe & Printable House Template
• Gingerbread house treat box with free printable
  

I purchased a small broken music box at a resale shop. I thought it would need just a bit of sprucing up before topping off one of my Christmas trees with it. Left, this old music box was manufactured in China. Center I removed it's base so that it could be neatly snuggled inside the tree branches of a Christmas tree. Right, here you can see the old music box inside. I removed it to make room for branches.

Left, I prepared the cotton balls by unraveling them. Center, the surface of the church was quite clean, so I began to glue my first layer of cotton batting to it's surface walls. Originally I thought I might paint the roof, steeple, doors and windows. However, I changed my mind quickly as I worked; the little church began to look like gingerbread and I found this very appealing. Right, here you can see the church is almost finished; all it needs now it just a few added touches, a couple of  bottle brush wreaths and a cross at the top of the steeple.

Here is the completed project, I'm very pleased with the results and I can't wait to nestle the
 little fauve gingerbread church at the top of my Christmas tree this year!

"All In The Family" Christmas Retro Gift Tags

       These Eight Christmas, retro gift tags are redrawn, colorized and made printable by Kathy Grimm. Enjoy crafting your own personal, retro thematic Christmas designs with three color options: black, green and red.

"All In the Family Gift Tags" by Kathy Grimm for Baby.

"All In the Family Gift Tags" by Kathy Grimm for Daughter.

"All In the Family Gift Tags" by Kathy Grimm for Grandpa.

"All In the Family Gift Tags" by Kathy Grimm for Brother.

"All In the Family Gift Tags" by Kathy Grimm for Sister.

"All In the Family Gift Tags" by Kathy Grimm for Mother.

"All In the Family Gift Tags" by Kathy Grimm for Son.

"All In the Family Gift Tags" by Kathy Grimm for Grandma.

Vintage DIY Play Kitchen Stove Top & Oven

Most of the children's furniture in our basement is very old, so I decided that any additions made to our collection should be vintage or antique looking as well.The oven rack on the inside came from an old refrigerator. The copper lobster mold, miniature iron skillet and tin nutmeg cylinder came from a resale shop. The tin log cabin syrup container from my own pantry. The bread is not real, I picked up this pretend loaf in a garage sale.

       The first of several child furnishings I have created using old junk furniture. Because the majority of children's furniture in my collection is either stained and varnished or painted blue, I decided to restore and paint this little kitchen stove top/oven bright red. I have yet to purchase the oven light but I am very pleased with my efforts thus far. I can't wait to fill the top drawer with pots and pans.

The "Elbow Grease"

       I think this heavy duty piece of furniture was intended to be used on a patio? Then someone's teenager painted it black to use in a very tacky bedroom no doubt.
       I purchased it from a resale shop. There was cat hair stuck to the black painted surfaces as well. It cost me six dollars. The cashier could not believe that I was  seriously interested in it! I loved the "Deco" handles, and the wood was sturdy.
       I asked her, "Can you imagine this looking like a play kitchen?" She then took another look at it and agreed that perhaps it could be salvaged with a bit of  elbow grease. I felt very happy with my selection and assured her that it was money well spent for a winter project. I knew that someone small would think so too someday.

       I washed and scrubbed it down and let the little cabinet sit out in the bright sunshine for a week; it had a peculiar odor. Then I sanded off the embedded cat hair. Above you can see that I spent a day spray painting primer on the outside surfaces. One of the drawers was in excellent condition. I kept it for pots and pans. The drawer on the bottom would be converted to a play oven so I removed the sides and back and only kept it's front for the oven door. 

       After removing the handle from the front of my oven door, I repaired the damaged surface with wood filler. The door needed a bit of sanding and silver paint but it was well worth it in the end. I could have put a door with a window in it for my oven. However, decided to keep it simple in the end thinking it would stand up to harsher use and that it would look more old-fashioned like the rest of the Grimm's play furniture.

      I spray painted some of the play cabinet in advance of applying the tiles, thinking it would clean up easier in the end.

       Here you can see that a large cardboard box comes in handy when spray painting outdoors. It keeps the driveway clean of paint and when I am done, all I need to do is crush the box and toss it into the recycling bin. I masked the remaining "Deco" handle before using the bright red paint. I was not yet ready to apply the grey paint to the little kitchen's surfaces.

       I glued white, square tiles to the backsplash of my play oven prior to smearing the surface with black grout. Below you can see the backsplash cleaned up. I thought it would match the iron burners nicely. These burners are actually coasters. The coasters/trivets were not cheap but I felt them so perfect for pretend burners that I splurged and bought them anyway. You can find a wide variety of similar choices all over the internet. My husband used black, flat screws and washers to attach these to the counter top. It was a good thing that I had purchased a cabinet made with solid wood!

       Above you can see that I also purchased unfinished door knobs for the stove and oven temperature knobs. These were later painted black and attached by drilling holes into wooden table top. I used wood glue to attach a small wooden dowel inside each knob and every drilled hole. I wanted the oven built tough enough for a toddler to bang around on it.

More DIY Play Kitchens:

• The cutest play kitchen by Mod Podge Rocks! 
• Make your own play kitchen! by bugbitesplayfood 
• Play Kitchen by Reubenscube
• Over 100 Nostalgic Toy Ideas You Can Craft for Christmas

Craft Your Own Reproduction Retro Elf Drummer

This little retro drummer was made in 1967.

   Some of you may remember hanging drumming elves on your Christmas tree when you were quite small. You could make these for your own tree now with just a bit of glue and paper.  Don't fidget over getting your own to look just like the one above though. His felt clothing has faded and the paper drum has turned yellow with age. Make your own bright and charming for the next generation to remember.

Pattern pieces for the elf's hat and collar.

Supply List:

• Paper tube, such as a toilet paper tube
• scissors
• decorative paper
• narrow decorative ribbon
• holy leaf and berry sequins
• 1 inch Styrofoam ball
• a bit of grey felt or any color you like for the hat and sleeves
• a small piece of white felt for the collar
• yarn for hair
• nylon stocking, any flesh color
• permanent black and red ink marker (felt tip)
• one chenille stem (matched to nylon stocking in color)
• white tacky glue
• light weight cardboard
• pencil 
• a razor or craft knife 
• metallic string for the hanger 
• pink soft pastel or blush from your makeup kit
• needle with a large eye

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1.  Cut 1 1/2 inch section from the paper tube. 
2. Hold this paper tube against the light weight cardboard and draw around it's circumference. Repeat and cut two of these cardboard circles. 
3. Use a bit of glue to attach the cardboard circle cut-outs to the bottom and top of the paper drum.
4. Cut from the decorative sheet of paper a 1 1/2 strip of paper approximately six inches long if you are using a standard size toilet paper roll. This should cover the paper drum neatly. Apply the tacky glue to secure the paper to the paper roll. 
5. Cut out matching paper circles to cover the top and bottom of the drum.
6. Paste down a decorative ribbon along the top and bottom edges of the drum.
7. Tack on the sequin holly leaves and berries.
8. Cut two inches from your chenille stem for the drummer's arms.
9. Wrap the chenille stem with a bit of grey felt to create sleeves. Tack this felt down with tacky glue.
10. Bend the chenille stem to form two arms and glue this piece to the top of the drum.
11. Cut the 1 inch Styrofoam ball in half with a razor or craft knife.
12. Wrap and pin a small piece of nylon around one of the Styrofoam balls and pin it down at the back flat side of the Styrofoam head.
13. Glue a small piece of yarn at the brow of the elf.
14. Wrap the felt hat piece about the top of the head with some tacky glue. Let it dry
15. Cut another two inches of felt. Stab the chenille stem through the bottom of the elf's head to act as a neck.
16. Cut the collar from the white felt.
17. Stick the other end of the stem through the round collar and cardboard drum top between the arms with a little tacky white glue.
18. Draw eyebrows, eye lashes on with the black permanent marker.
19. Draw the lips with a red permanent marker.
20. Add a bit of blush to his checks with a soft pink pastel or makeup.
21. Cut the metallic string and thread it through a needle. Sew on the hanger.

DIY Sculpted Shell from Cotton Batting

       This cotton batting sea shell will make a lovely heirloom someday. It has an impressive "cork screw" design.  

      You may choose to finish this project by gluing glitter inside the open cup or just leave the cotton shell unadorned if you prefer.

Supply List:

• cotton balls
• masking tape
• paper egg carton
• white school glue
• wire for hanging
• glitter (optional)

 Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Cut and trim shapes from a paper egg carton. You can glue and tape these shapes into paper shells.
2. Cover the sea shell shape entirely with masking tape.
3. Decide in advance, where you want the hook for hanging the ornament will be and tape a wire loop down to the masked form. Add glue to the tape to make the bond more secure. This wire will get buried underneath a few layers of cotton but you can find it again with a fine needle when you are ready to add a fine wire or thread for hanging.
4. Unravel a fist-full of cotton balls.
5. cover the surfaces with white glue; spread this with a fingertip.
6. Layer the cotton strips on top of the glued surface and press gently.
7. Let this first application dry a bit and repeat the process.
8. Now roll some of the cotton strips into long "snake like" shapes. 
9. Squeeze the white glue out into a spiral trail around the faux sea shell. 
10. Now twist and apply the cotton rolls into the glue.
11. Let this dry and then apply another layer of white glue, smoothing down the surface with your fingertip as you go.
12. Apply more cotton to the raised areas again and repeat the the glue layers until you are satisfied with the results.
13. Twist cotton and white glue around the wire for hanging and push it through a hook embedded inside the cotton.

Masked shapes made from recycled paper egg cartons.

• See This Shape as a Mosaic Shell Bauble

Drawings of California Sea Shells. Print and look at while
designing your own cotton batting sea shell crafts.

Silver and Gold Tinsel Icicles

   These fun homemade icicles are so easy to make, even a child would enjoy the process. Of course, I can't guarantee they won't poke each other with the skewers while they craft these; so parents, watch them closely to make sure your kids behave!  

A silver and gold tinsel icicles hanging on my
white Christmas tree.

Supply List:

• wooden skewers or toothpicks
• wire for hanging
• aluminum tape
• decorative gold wire with stars
• aluminum foil 
• masking tape

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Cut or break your wooden skewers to the lengths you prefer for icicles. I choose to make my versions 6 inches in length.
2. Bend your wire in half and attach it with masking tape to the top of the icicle.
3. Crush a bit of aluminum foil to the upper part of the icicle in order to wrap it into a tapered shape.
4. Cut the aluminum tape into stripes and twist these down the skewer, overlapping the tape a bit. Cover the entire skewer with the aluminum tape.
5. Cut and twist the gold wire around the silver tinsel icicle.
6. Add a hanger.

Step-by-Step wrapping process for tinsel icicle.

Safer Tin Crafts for Young Kids:

• Tin Foil Christmas Tree Ornaments
• 5 minute embossed ornaments
• Tin Foil Bells for Little Hands 

Clip Art of Old-Fashioned Sleds

Description of Illustration: wooden sleds drawn by Kathy Grimm, boards, hand-built, for sledding, Victorian scrap of a young boy in red with holly on his sled.

Have a question about the illustration? Just type it in the comment box and I'll get back to you as soon as possible. I only publish content that is closely related to the subject, folks.

 

 

Victorian die cut of a small boy on a sled