Art Break! - Sleigh Gift Box and Present Gift Box

This is a two part post!

Part 1: Sleigh Gift Box

This is a simple idea for when you have a gift already purchased for someone but want to add a little extra effort/ personal touch to it.
Great for a hamper and/or you have many boxes in your house (certainly saves on wrapping paper).

To start, get a box big enough to hold your gift/s.

Standard box.

Then use a marker to draw where you need to cut to make the box into the right shape. Don't worry about the marker being all over the box, this puppy is getting painted.

Cut off the excess box and cut out the runners and other decorative bits you want from the scrap cardboard.

I cut out one side and used it as a stencil for the other to get close to symmetry.

I'm going with a gold and red sleigh, but you can pick any colours you like.
I painted the outside of the sleigh red, the inside gold, and the accessories gold.

Then we glue our accessories on and Voilà!

Runners are up on the side because I don't need it to be like a real Sleigh.

Then you just load up your goodies, add a little tissue paper, and you have a festively prepared gift!

Part 2: Present Gift Box

This is for when you have a box that fits the item perfectly and don't want to use wrapping paper.
A more structured twist on the classic look.

I painted the box itself blue (because the recipient's favourite colour is blue).

I cut up an empty toilet roll (it was just going to be recycled anyway) into the loops and curls of a ribbon and painted them gold.

I also cut out some stars from some thin cardboard and painted them gold too.

Finally, we glue the 'ribbon' and stars on and done!

I love the way it looks!

Verdict: They loved them!

Art Break! - Christmas Stockings for F, D, and L

I wanted to make some personalized stockings for some of my friends so I decided to do it through embroidery.

I bought some basic stocking online.

And embroidered each name into some embroidery cloth. I would have done it directly onto the stockings, but I don't think the fabric could take it. 

I cut them out with a sort of snowflake-esqe edge, washed off the pencil marks, and put clear nail polish on the edge to prevent further fraying.

I then sewed them to the stockings using red and green cotton thread.

All done!

They have the kitten seal of approval!

Verdict: They were impressed! :D 

Video - Why A Christmas Song Makes Me Think Of Car Crashes

WARNING: This one is graphic and may be upsetting!

This ad aired in 1997 on Australian television, when I was nice and young.
Ever since then, I visualize car crash victims when I here "So this is Christmas".

It didn't help that the TAC has/had run a series of graphic ads about car crashes, which only adds to the images I can see in my head.

On the plus side, I'm now desensitised, so I can get onto administering first aid quicker should I need to (touch wood I never need to).

Art Break - 2016 Christmas Tree

Apparently I missed the meeting where it was decided who would put up the Christmas tree... I was told I had to do it.

Daytime near the fairy house.

Due to space complaints, I scaled the operation down.
I used a little tinsel tree that I already had, put beads on strings to make ornaments, a gold button for a topper, and used a battery-powered string of lights.

Night time near the fairy house.

Both PU2 and SU2 asked if I would also put up the big tree.
I told them if they wanted the big tree, they should put it up.

There was no big tree last year :p

Art Break - Mumbling Christmas Ribbon

One of my 'bits' (comedy bits) is to mumble under my breath about something for an extended period of time.

I mumble about trivial things and PU1 especially finds it funny.

I had some white paper ribbon and wrote an mumbling length about having to be awake while people are over for Christmas lunch.

I used red, green and gold sharpies (markers).

Verdict: PU1 thinks its funny! XD

She wants it near the front door so it is one of the first things people see.