The last Christmas projects

 

 

Making these lovely little beaded icicles became addictive.  I started making them the week after Thanksgiving and I ended up making eight of them!  I gave two as gifts and the rest graced our tree.  I've mentioned before that I've made the majority of the ornaments on our family tree over the last 40 years.  Decorating the tree is like a trip down memory lane, and I have to say it's my favorite thing to do.  These icicles are a variation of spiral rope, which for me is an addictive stitch anyway.  I really love doing it.  They use size 8's for the core and 11's and 3mm fire polished crystals for the spiral.  I used the column pendant bead from Swarovski as the drop.  I then made hangers for them out of 18 gauge artistic wire.  If I had colored artistic wire to match I wrapped some around the hanger. 

 

 

Close up of the hanger with the wire wrapping.

 

 

 

Another project that I finished in time for gift giving was a box that I wanted to make for my dear friend Kathy.  Last year I had made myself a cigar box covered with beautiful seasonal papers.  I knew Kathy loved the boxes and so I wanted to make her one.  Here is the box I made.

 

 

 

 

I had so much fun making this box.  I started with a gift box that I had.  It was a sturdy box and it was easy to cover with seasonal papers.  I used die cuts and paper embellishments on the top and painted wooden balls for feet.  I'm happy to say that she was pleased, and loved opening it to find it full of Lindt chocolate truffles!  We both love chocolate! 

 

 

I'll end this post with some close ups of the box.  Thanks for stopping by. 

 

inside  bottom.

side and feet.

 

the top.