Holiday Recap and Wintertime Paper Craft Ideas

Hello there! I hope your holidays were good ones and that you had a chance to spend some time doing things you enjoy. Today I bring you my annual look back at the paper crafts that happened at my house this past Christmas. Perhaps you'll want to adopt them as little projects to fill quiet winter evenings.

 

 

I wrapped this present for a close friend and had hoped to show you what's inside because it's 100% paper-themed (and a hoot to boot :), but alas, I have yet to give it to her due to postponed plans, not to mention she just might see this post. I'm glad now that the wrapping doesn't shout Christmas too loudly since it may be a few more weeks until we can get together. 

 

The retro-style paper and gift tag were from Casey Starks Studio. The paper star ornament, also with a vintage vibe, is one I first wrote about at this link where you'll find a video tutorial.

 

I made the paper bow using 1/4-inch metallic quilling strips. (This Amazon JUYA set [affiliate link] contains beautiful colors.) The bow is easy, looks pretty (imho), and will come in handy any time you don't have a store-bought one on hand that coordinates with your wrapping paper.

 

Here's how to make it: 

 

1. Cut four 10-inch strips, two 8-inch strips, and one 2.5-inch strip.

2. Working with one 8 or 10-inch strip at a time, bring the ends to meet in the center (don't overlap them) and glue in place. This will create an upright loop on each end. 

3. Stack and glue the looped strips so that the loops don't overlap one another. 

4. Make a circle with the 2.5-inch strip and glue it upright in the center of the looped strips. 

 

 

Helen Hiebert compiled an extensive list of 100 Papery Picks from 2021 that could keep a paper enthusiast busy exploring until 2022 has ended! Loaded with interesting finds, I can only imagine how many hours she spent working on it.

 

I've enjoyed getting to know Ohio quiller Laurie Bortolotto this past year via email (her framed wedding invitations were featured in this post), and then in November we met for dinner here in Delaware when she was visiting relatives... it was so nice to meet in person! Laurie brought me this set of cute gift cards that she made... not only are they perfectly quilled, but the designs are so clever.

January is a good time to carry on making quilled snowflake ornaments. After all, Christmas decorations might be put away, but winter is just getting started. Hang quilled snowflakes in your windows for a bit of shine or save them to give as little gifts next Christmas... it's a great feeling to be ahead of the game.

Here I used one to dress up a package of handmade soaps. (fyi, I've ordered from Daisy Lancaster's Etsy shop Fresh As a Daisy Soaps [affiliate link] for years and highly recommend her products.)

 

This illustrated list of 30 Creative Ways to Use Washi Tape assembled by The Washi Tape Shop is not only beautiful, but it's full of neat ideas. This one from Pinterest only takes a few minutes... USBs look so much nicer when covered in pretty paper tape!

 

 

Washi tape is durable, tearable, repositionable, easily removed - and even reusable - yep, I'll admit I've done that a time or two.

 

Lastly (and not a bit paper-related, but I just have to share), I made a batch of sweet potato and apple dog treats using a recipe posted on the PattyMac Makes blog for my sons' dogs and they loved them. 

 

 

You might remember PattyMac's elegant embroidered card for which she posted a tutorial when we teamed up to create paper stitching star designs. It's another little project that would be enjoyable to work on during chilly January nights to keep the holiday spirit lingering. I even think it would be nice to have one on hand whenever a sympathy card is needed. 

I hope 2022 will prove to be a fulfilling, creative year for you and that all of us will continue to take an interest in the many ways simple paper can be used to brighten lives.... our own and those we're close to.