Pallet for Home

Ok, so I've avoided all things Christmas this month simply because it hasn't felt like Christmas to me yet. Maybe because I'm not going to shopping malls and don't have kids yet. It really is a more festive season when you have kids (or are a kid). But here's a selections of Christmas card illustrations for good measure, from Webneel.

Just something I made Great round labels.

I love graphic design and creating blogs, postcards, posters, flyers, business cards and more. Not that I have any proper Photoshop or Illustrator skills, but by keeping things simple and using good quality images and type fonts I seem to get away with a lot! ;-)

Lately I have come across some absolutely gorgeous free downloadable images and photoshop textures, which I didn't want to keep to myself. I mean, what better finishing touch than a customised, vintage label to go with your hand-made gift?

So. Here we go! Have fun and do share links to your websites if you've created anything with them!

Fuzzimo
A great site with lots of vintage downloadable images including postcards, stamps and envelopes as well as polaroid frames, canvas textures and old sticky tape. Yum!





I-Do-It-Yourself
Wonderful website with lots of ideas and inspiration for weddings - but of course these great labels can be used for your homemade Christmas gifts too. Worth a look.





Demilked
I found a great selection of free downloadable Retro type fonts on this website, ready to be used on all your labels, cards and other creations...



Shadowhouse creations
More yummy type fonts! Which one to choose???




World Label
Heaps of great vintage labels to stick on jars, bottles, boxes, gifts, anything!



Miss Cutiepie goes 80s
Lots of free printable vintage Christmas labels and tags...





DigitalCollageImages (via Flickr)
Some more lovely vintage Christmas tags. Oh my - are those gifts going to look good this year or what.!



Lilybox Designs
Cover some tin cans in these vintage wrappers. You may want to keep some yourself as a home for your pencils, scissors and other bits and bobs too!



Maybemej
Great collection of printable paper scraps, including old maps, flower patterns and labels:





Hope this list has given you some ideas and inspiration! Enjoy!


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It felt like I was finally officially launching my business in 'real life' yesterday, at the Christmas Fair in Inchmarlo. I had my table all set up, my products displayed, my labels and packaging organised...how exciting! It's all very well running an online shop and blog from behind the safety of your computer screen, but physically speaking to customers and seeing what they pick up, look at, like and buy (or don't!) really is a different ball game...and so useful!

I learned a lot in three hours. I am however pleased to say that my lovingly hand crafted patchwork cushions went down very well and so did my Christmas decorations and vintage items. I'll definitely do more fairs next year!

In the meantime I had to update my web shop as I sold quite a bit! If you would like to buy anything, please order in the next few weeks - my baby's coming soon! www.ninasapartment.com

Here's me, proud owner of my stall!

Felted garland tutorial from Small Bird Blog

I have been asked by my friend and artist Fenneke of Fenfolio to sell some of my handmade cushions and vintage wares at a Christmas Fair she's organising in November and I am SO excited about this! It will be the first time I am going to officially be 'out there' with my business and goodies, other than just being online. Eeek! In addition to selling my home decor items I have been browsing the internet loads to find inspiration and cool ideas to create handmade Christmas decoration to sell as well. I have already made some lovely fabric rag wreaths, but am also going to have a go at making tree ornaments and anything else that is beautiful but relatively easy to make. After all, my maternity leave is starting next week, so an ideal time to get cracking with those crafts!

As you're probably not all going to be able to rush down to my stall at the Christmas Fair (but wouldn't that be great!), I thought I share some of the DIY projects I found with you so you could have a go yourself at creating a 'homemade Christmas' this year. Enjoy!

• Fabric covered polystyrene/styrofoam ball
  This is one of the things I will be attempting soon; baubles covered in fabric squares. Endless possibilities here with your favourite pieces of fabric! Go to the tutorial

• Using vintage papers
  Clear, glass ornaments decoupaged with vintage papers, sprinkled with glass glitter and tied with "Noel" made on a printer. There's no real tutorial here, but I guess it's using the decoupage technique and glue such as Mod Podge to get the paper to stick to the ornaments.
  
  

• Clay ornaments with doily print These are super simple to make but oh-so-elegant. The one pictured is featured on the beautiful website of Marley and Locker.
  
  1. Use air-dry clay, roll it out so you have a thin even sheet (about 3-5mm thick).
  2. If you want start by pressing a piece of linen or cotton onto the clay to create a textured effect.
  3. Press a doily or piece or lace into the clay and carefully take it away to reveal the imprint.
  4. Take a small round glass or other shape you like and press it into the clay to cut out the shape. Use a nail or similar to pierce through the ornament so you can put a ribbon through it later.
  5. Use rubber stamp letters to create a word or Christmas wish.
  5. Let the ornament dry completely.
  6. Paint the ornament with white acrylic paint or leave it natural.
  7. Fill in the imprint of the word with a darker shade of paint.
  
  
  
  
  

• Clay doily bowls
  If you really getting into this technique, why not try these gorgeous little bowls as well?
  Go to the tutorial

• Fabric rag ornaments
  Couldn't quite find the tutorial to go with these, but aren't they lovely? My guess is cutting out thin equal strips of fabric, then using pins to hold them in place on a polystyrene ball. I'm gonna give this a go...Please let me know if you've discovered a better way of doing this!
  

• Branch candle holder
  No Christmas without candles, so of course I am including a tutorial for a candle holder! This one is made with little twigs and will add a bit of rustic beauty to your home. Go to the full tutorial
  
  

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