Saturday 3 December 2011

Dogwood Reindeers and Saltdough Stars

 I meant to add some gift making ideas to my blog each day but yesterday was a marathon - the Folksy website has had a makeover and to celebrate they had a free listing day. Great I thought..... but of course I wasn't the only one and the mass listing exercise was rather frustrating as everything was so SLOW!  But as the day went on things speeded up and the lovely Folksy people extended the free period so in the end I was able to add lots of items to my shop. Very pleased but I didn't have time to add anything here.

Here's a couple of things I made years ago but I'm thinking of trying again this year.  Do you remember when salt dough was all the rage?  I was into it in a big way and still have a few things I made then - this star being one of them. It adds just the right finishing touch to my wine bottle tag. The star was cut with a biscuit cutter and I glued a short length of ordinary string and a green lentil to the centre before baking in the oven ( remember to pierce a hanging hole with a skewer).  I then painted it first with red and then gold acrylic paint.
The dogwood reindeer is also a long survivor I'm planning on reviving.  I first made them for my work colleagues at least 10 years ago and I kept this one for myself. Our workplace had a bed of red dogwood outside and instead of leaving the lovely red stems on though the winter the "slash and burn" groundsmen cut them off every year. So I gathered a few before they were taken away and made about 30 reindeer.  I remember they were very well received - and of course cost practically nothing to make. The twigs were put together with a hot glue gun and string was added to hide the glue a bit as its not very pretty.

Sadly I don't have access to the dogwood now but I have lots of willow in the garden that really needs cutting back so I'll be using that.

Just noticed Claire at Waltzing Mouse has a Christmas Tag Challenge on at the moment so I'll enter my bottle tag and cross my fingers that it "tickles"!

Supplies for tag: Papertrey Ink Bottle Tag Die, Waltzing Mouse Nordic Winter stamp set

11 comments:

  1. i love that reindeer and your tag is gorgoeus with that little ornament!

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  2. That reindeer is sooo adorable! This is a perfect little set. The wine tag is amazing with the way you combined the prints from Nordic Winter all in red and cream. So love that chunky gold star you made, too!

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  3. ah yes I remember the salt dough, didn't do any myself but remember craft fairs full of it. I bought a basket someone filled with miniature bread rolls made from it.
    Love the reindeer, so cute.
    Linbyx

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  4. Oh these are fabulous!! Love that reindeer especially!

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  5. Love your reindeer and its great that they have lasted all this time. Hugs Mrs A.

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  6. I just love your twig reindeer! and your tag is so pretty with your dough star! (we made those when we were young!)

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  7. A beautiful wine bottle tag, Ann! It is perfect topped with that gorgeous star. Love the dogwood reindeer, too! Glad you could play along with the Waltzingmouse Tag Challenge!

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  8. These are both so awesome! I just adore that reindeer and the star!

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  9. Your nordic tag just oozes charm!! LOVE it!!

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Thank you so much for visiting my blog and taking the time to comment - its hugely appreciated. Ann :o)

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