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Distractions


Crescent shaped Christmas biscuits - Kourabiedes and Vanillekipferl
Greek Kourabiedes and Austrian Vanillekipferl were a feature of Advent in my childhood. Little did I know they are related!

Julia


On the Christmas tradition of wreath making
Making your own Christmas wreath is such a creative and rewarding activity, and doubly so if you do it with friends.

Julia


Gift wrapping the sustainable way
In the age of abundance so much is consumed and quickly disposed of. Wrapping gifts sustainably can make a very small but important difference - choose the right gift wrap and ribbon and learn a new wrapping technique that can reduce waste.

Julia


Create a pocket for your journal
Easy to make paper envelopes and pockets that can be glued into a diary or journal to help keep important bits of paper safe.
3 days ago2 min read


How to tie a ribbon into a bow
There are so many ways to tie ribbons into bows - and the best technique is not the one we use for our shoe laces!
Dec 17, 20252 min read


Gilded pine cones for the Christmas tree
A pine cone is such a simple treasure from nature, I actually think it doesn’t need to be improved - but Christmas wants red and gold, so out comes the gilding wax!
Dec 12, 20251 min read


Chocolate coins are not just for eating
Use chocolate coin wrappers to create these Christmas decorations
Nov 27, 20253 min read


Paper Christmas bauble - with a pocket for a gift
I have created a free template and tutorial for this DIY paper bauble (although it's only 2D) that can be hung on your Christmas tree or attached to a gift. It's got a secret pocket for a small gift.
Nov 12, 20251 min read


Window stars
Folding square or rectangular pieces of transparent paper into geometric shapes and then assembling them into a star is an almost magical process.
Oct 31, 20251 min read


Froebel star - a paper ornament
The Froebel star (sometimes referred to as Moravian star) is a paper craft that most likely originated in Scandinavia where it was already widely practised in the 18th century - for example in Denmark these stars are known as 'Julestjerne'. But there is more to their history and the reason why they are commonly known as Froebel stars or Moravian stars.
Oct 30, 20252 min read


Simple straw stars
Straw stars are one of the oldest Christmas decorations. There are beautiful and intricate variations that can be complicated to make, but this is a simple version that children as young as 7 can muster.
Oct 30, 20252 min read


Modular paper stars
Another simple paper craft for a big impact over Christmas are these modular stars. All you need is a few pieces of paper and some scissors (no glue needed!).
Oct 28, 20251 min read


Paper bell decoration (aka German bell)
Folded paper bell decoration - just a few origami-style folds help you to create a beautiful 3D shape for a hanging Christmas ornament or mobile.
Oct 2, 20251 min read


Paper bell
A quick paper craft using a single square of paper, this is a lovely decoration for your home at Christmas or any other time of year.
Oct 1, 20251 min read
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