Most of my photos look better enlarged - just click on the photo to do this



Sunday 16 December 2012

An idea for you

The other day a friend gave me two of these little packages, one each for Mr M and me, along with a Christmas card.  Inside each were some Quality Street chocolates.  I thought what a simple and effective idea this was and wondered if you might be interested to see how they were made as they'd look great at each place setting for Christmas dinner, on the tree or as little gift packages.  You could even add names and use them to mark the places couldn't you?  And of course they needn't only be for Christmas I can see I might be making some at Easter too.

Having already eaten my sweets (there were 3 of them not half a pound!)  I am hoping Mr M will hurry up and eat his too so I can have his package as I want to use them to give a couple of little tree decorations I have just made - one for my yoga teacher who likes crazy patchwork and one for a yoga friend at this week's class as it is the last one this year.  Of course I could make my own but you know what I am like for recycling and reusing things!

 How simple is it to make?  Just a rectangle of card scored and with holes punched as shown and ....

 .... then pulled into shape with a ribbon threaded through the holes.

I must go and clear up the mess in my sewing room now - how can making two tiny crazy patchwork tree decorations cause so much mess?  I guess it is because I need so many bits and pieces, fabrics which go together plus ribbons and yarns etc.  Must be neater!!!

Thank you all for your lovely comments on my recent "outing" posts.  Funny that so many of you liked the photo of Stonehenge in the mist so much.  As one of my friends said "you could have been staked out for days trying to get that picture" and there was I speeding past on the bus so no chance to go back if it hadn't turned out!! 

23 comments:

  1. I haven't done any work with paper for such a long time so I think I might have a little play with this one, thank you for the pictures.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I love the idea - think I may have a go, would be great anytime Easter as you say and Birthdays too. Might suggest it to my future DIL for their wedding
    Julie xxxxxxxx

    ReplyDelete
  3. Those patchwork tree decorations are just gorgeous! Do you have plans to sell any? Or maybe write a tutorial? Please, pretty please...

    ReplyDelete
  4. What a good idea for a small gift, so much more sensible than giving people boxes of chocolates.

    ReplyDelete
  5. That's a very clever idea Jane, thanks for sharing it with us!
    If Mr M doesn't hurry up and eat his sweets, you could always help him out! ;)
    Vivienne x

    ReplyDelete
  6. your workroom looks lovely, I can imagine taking a cup of tea in, closing the door and playing with fabric!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Lovely litte patchwork decs.

    ReplyDelete
  8. That's a great idea Jane, thank you for sharing it.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Simple ideas are so good but they take clever people to think of them in the first place. I'm sure that will be very useful to a lot of us in the future.
    Cheers

    ReplyDelete
  10. Having seen these, I think they will now be featuring here.... thanks Jane. Lovely looking workroom!

    ReplyDelete
  11. How clever, I'm going to have a go at some of them. And your work room is no messier than mine, in fact it's slightly better as I have less carpet visible here!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Great idea and those little patchwork decorations are delightful. I had to smile at the picture of your sewing room - I could say 'snap' after the mammoth card making and then wrapping session that I had this last week. I came to turn up my mother in laws skirt this morning and guess what - I haven't an inch of free space to do any sewing!!

    ReplyDelete
  13. What a clever idea! I must try these, thank you Jane.

    I know just what you mean about the mess a small project makes. I seemed to be returning different tools and supplies to every drawer in the house after making my little felt Christmas tree!

    ReplyDelete
  14. your room looks like my room! full of interesting bits and bobs.

    ReplyDelete
  15. What a clever friend you have. Love this idea. I'm at the point in life where I want gifts I don't have to dust forever! Well, I wouldn't say no to a new pair of earrings, or a new car, or a ...

    It's fun to see your quilt room - looks a lot like mine. Hope you and yours have a wonderful Christmas time.

    ReplyDelete
  16. What a clever idea with the paper container! And I love your little patchwork ornaments too.

    ReplyDelete
  17. How typical of the man not to eat the sweets straight away! I'd be like you Jane and scoffed them by now just to get into that package and see how it was made. I'm off to have a go later, not because I've got anything to wrap, but just because I now have to see what it's like! I dare not show you a photo of my desk....

    ReplyDelete
  18. so very super cool. very nice. great idea!

    ReplyDelete
  19. That is a fabulous and easy effective idea - I love it...and may have to make a few of my own.

    Nina x

    ReplyDelete
  20. Always the simple ideas are the most effective. I am thinking that this might work with fun paper stuck on the card but there might be unwanted rumples. Thanks for the idea.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Fantastic idea, Jane :0) You clever lady! Thank you.
    Wishing you have a Magic Christmas, dear friend
    Lot of love from Moscow
    Natasha &Fam

    ReplyDelete
  22. Always find that clearing up the mess when crafting can take longer than the actual task.

    ReplyDelete
  23. playing catchup here! those little boxes are very simple and effective! but i especially love those little crazy patchwork decorations they are so sweet can we see a closer view?

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for visiting and I hope you have found what you read of interest. Do please leave a comment as I love to hear what you think.