by Sharon | Dec 4, 2014
I like the rustic look of these stockings. At your favorite craft store you can get wooden letters to adorn them or put names on them using fabric paints. These letters have been “glitterized”. Glitter isn’t my thing, it gets all over everything, but for those of you who are into it — go to town!
As you’ve probably guessed these Christmas Stockings are made from burlap, but you can use whatever fabric you choose. I know of a woman who used leather and vintage fur and baubles to dress them up. She also got into a denim style with pockets. There are no limits to what you can do with stockings.
I think a “western” style might be nice with interesting handkerchiefs for adornment and use denim, too. I like the idea of having pockets on the outside where you can tuck in little goodies and also put in candy canes. They make such a nice variety of them in all color combinations and flavors.
Here’s another image showing off the mantle in a rustic style. It’s nice to bring the outdoors in with your decorating. I do like pine cones and the “southwestern” style this gives. It’s amazing what can be done with garden or artificial clippings, ribbon and imagination. It’s also nice to be able to bring in some family heirlooms or go to a thrift store to find just the right things. I know many from different cultures who like to bring that into their decorating, too. People who travel have some items they picked up and this is a perfect way to display them, too.
I know I moved away from stockings, but the whole mantle comes into play as you try to tie everything together to make an interesting focal point that attracts the eye of your visitors and guests.
I do have some free templates for you. They’re of the stockings in three sizes:
Large Stocking Template
Medium Stocking Template
Small Stockings Template
Now, for the cuff, you’ll need to work that out and the burlap loop. The loop is no big deal, just a strip of fabric and sew it on your stocking. I was thinking about the cuff. You could fold it down and then sew fabric on it. You can also add to the top of the template — if it doesn’t fit on the size paper you use in your printer, you can print out another one and tape the extra section on your template to make it longer or free hand it.
You may want to do some interesting decorating with bells, garland strips, fake fur and who knows what you’ll find that will make these stockings special. I do like giving you the basics and then you get your imagination and creativity into high gear.
I hope this Rustic Christmas Stocking images and the mantle were food for thought and the article was helpful. We always get ideas from seeing what others do and then make our own to fit our taste and preference.
I included three sizes of stocking templates. You may be able to re-size them to create the size you want. I thought the small ones would be nice to put silverware in for your Christmas dinner. There are lots of things people do for that purpose. They’d also make excellent hostess gifts filled with goodies.
Thanks for stopping by!
by Sharon | Oct 9, 2014
I got up early this morning. Just looking around for something interesting to share.
I absolutely love paper crafts with FREE templates. I have a Haunted House on my other website http://oldhauntedstuff.com and thought for here at TwoCansOnAString.com I could do so very much better. I could give you a whole village with a whole lot of micromonsters to add to it. Along with anything else that grabbed my attention.
I understand this is a major undertaking on my part and will be a major project for you. I am very much into family and having a family work together on projects. That’s what makes paper crafts so very much fun as far as I’m concerned.
Haunted Houses are very popular for Halloween with ghosts, ghouls, witches, vampires, zombies and all things creepy.
This is a wonderful craft project you can use as a centerpiece on your dining room table. It may look nice on your mantle. Or any space you would like to decorate for Halloween.
When people realize you made these yourself, be prepared to print out some more or tell them about TwoCansOnAString.com I would greatly appreciate it.
All right, enough rambling, let’s get started!
I print these free templates on card stock. The instructions I print out on regular printer paper.
All Images and Free Templates compliments of http://ravensblight.com
Haunted House with a Secret Chamber
Ghost House Assembly Instructions
Ghost House
Starc Manor
Starc Manor Assembly Instructions
Starc Manor
Darc Mansion
Darc Mansion Assembly Instructions
Darc Mansion
The Cliff House
Cliff House Assembly Instructions
Cliff House
Gothic Chapel With Hidden Chamber
Gothic Chapel Assembly Instructions
Gothic Chapel
Ravensblight Manor
Ravensblight Manor Assembly Instructions
Ravensblight Manor
Ravensblight Main Street
What’s really great about Ravensblight Main Street is that you can either print out more buildings or change the signs . . . you can even add your own . . . now that should be fun! There are also two backdrops: Moonlit sky or Sunset sky . . . or you can have two different Main Streets . . . one by Moonlight and another at Sunset . . . There’s even a miniature hearse you may make and set up wherever appropriate.
Ravensblight Main Street Assembly Instructions
Ravensblight Main Street
Hidden Cemetery
You can have some fun with the Hidden Cemetery — you can make it as large or small as you choose. You can place it anywhere you like in your Haunted Village . . . or you may want more than one . . . just a thought.
Hidden Cemetery Assembly Instructions
Hidden Cemetery
I’m wondering who or what lingers around this Haunted Village . . .
My, my, my what an interesting group of characters we have here . . . Yes, I do believe they fit in quite well with Ravensblight Village.
I may add just one more for fun: Pop-Up Card Haunted House
Haunted House Pop-Up Card Assembly Instructions
Haunted House Pop-Up Card
Postal Envelope
Parchment Envelope
I hope you’ve found something here you’re going to make and enjoy.
Thanks for stopping by!
by Sharon | Sep 24, 2014
‘Tis family fun to make some really cool and frightening things for Halloween that are cheap, fun and easy to make.
My cousin and her daughter are getting into the Halloween decorating mode of the season. It’s good to include the kids, but it may start out as a mother-daughter project. As you look through the archives, you’ll notice lots of great paper craft projects for the kids.
I have a video for you compliments of Miss Morticia Grave. I love the projects, but the music is outstanding!
I hope this was inspirational for you. I have another post and video that will truly blow you away https://twocansonastring.com/halloween-decorating-at-its-best/
Thanks for stopping by!
by Sharon | Jul 12, 2014
This is an excellent open candy box that is a delightful hostess gift. My cousin made dozens of these last year for Halloween. By using the Free Templates she traced the outside of the shoe on black cardstock and the inside on printed scrapbooking paper. She adored them by using a variety of buttons and used ribbons that were printed with Halloween themes.
This is one of those templates that can be used for many occasions. It has been used as hostess gifts for a bridal shower. Everyone loves having chocolate goodies wrapped up in a pretty shoe. A Special birthday party is another occasion where these templates have been enjoyed as party favors. I’m sure you can think of other uses for this template, too.
This image and Free Templates are compliments of http://www.skiptomylou.org
Here are the Free Templates:
Shoe Template
Shoe Lining Template
To make these Witches Shoes, you’ll need:
- black cardstock for the outside of the shoe
- printed scrapbook paper for the inside of the shoe
- templates for both the outside and inside of the shoe
- carbon paper to place between the template and the cardstock or scrapbook paper to mark the folded lines
- you may want to use a ruler when marking the folded lines onto your cardstock or scrapbook paper
- folder tool
- glue stick
- mini clothes pins to hold the glued pieces together until dry
- white pencil to trace around the template on the black cardstock
- suitable pencil or pen to trace around the template on the scrapbook printed pattern paper
- assorted buttons
- assorted ribbon
- any other adornments you want to put on your shoes
Assembling your shoes:
- Print out the templates on card stock for tracing onto your black cardstock and scrapbook printed pattern paper
- Cut out the outline of your templates — be sure to mark them for the outside shoe and inside shoe
- Use carbon paper to trace the folded lines onto the cardstock and scrapbook paper using the appropriate template
- Cut out the cardstock outside shoe and score the folded lines with a folder tool
- Fold it following the instructions on the template and glue, holding it together with mini clothes pins
- Use the same instructions when tracing around the template for the inside shoe and tracing the folded lines from the template to the scrapbook paper
- Cut out the scrapbook paper inside shoe and score the folded lines with a folder tool
- Fold the inside of the shoe following the instructions on the template and glue inside the black cardstock outside shoe, hold into place until dry using mini clothes pins
- Once your shoe dries you’re ready to decorate it
- Once all your embellishments are in place, you’re ready to fill them with goodies
With all the directions and materials you’ll need to complete this project, you’ll find it is much easier to put together than it seems reading the directions. If you’re going to make quite a few of these, you can get an assembly line going and have these completed in a relatively short time.
It’s a fun project once the shoes are made. That’s when the kids will want to help you decorate them with buttons, bows, and maybe even sequins. There’s no telling where your or their imaginations will take you or them.
