Happy Christmas

Kayleigh and I love Harry Potter. It's no secret. I also let you know last week that my Christmas theme for this year is "Harry Potter", so today I have a craft that I'm using to decorate my tree. 

"Happy Christmas" Scrolls

what you'll need: a brown paper bag or two, pen, scissors, and possibly matches or a lighter

cost: free! get the bag from the grocery store next time you go 

difficulty level: this is a great craft for kids if you skip the fire part. I will not be responsible if they burn your house down, fair warning.  

first cut strips of paper about 1 1/2" x 6".

then write "Happy Christmas" or another special holiday message in your best writing... or you can just say Hagrid wrote it :).  This is where you can burn the edges to make it look beat up, or you can tear them if you'd like the look better.

Next roll the edges of one side up, and the other side down.

AND NOW get to decorating! I love Christmas so much!!! Harry Potter Christmas just makes me happy in my heart.

Yes, by the way, I am aware that I am a grown woman who has no children to use as an excuse for all this.... but my apartment will be a magic winter wonderland just like Hogwarts.

Christmas Card Hanger

Getting lots of Christmas cards already like I am?? Seriously, how are these people so fast?! Anyway, here is an easy, free way to display them in your home as decorations.

Cost: FREE

Difficulty level: EASY

You need:

Yarn, string, or thin rope

Push pins

*Hang the string or rope between two walls using the push pins as anchors. >> OR hang it across the mantle, or drape on one wall...really you can put it anywhere.

*Add your cards!

If you get lots of photos and post cards, hang them using a clothes pin. Of course, I glittered mine first ;)

You can always add more rope if you run out of room! Didn't I say it was easy?! You're welcome.

No-Sew Ruffle Tree Skirt

Christmas is my favorite time of year. I love decorating so much that I think I actually scared my husband yesterday with my enthusiasm.... Anyway, this year's Christmas theme at my place is Harry Potter-so think the Weasley's house meets Hogwarts at Christmas. I've seen this tree skirt around the blogs lately and I had to make it!


what you'll need: Fabric for skirt base and ruffles. (this takes a little math and will be different depending on the size of your tree.) My skirt base is 17" long so I used about a yard of muslin fabric for that, plus about 2 1/2 yards of muslin for the ruffles. You will also need fabric glue, scissors, and a measuring tape. 
*fabric note: this would also work well with felt!


cost: less than $10


difficulty level: easy


First, I took my 2 1/2 yards of unbleached muslin and ripped it into strips that are 5-6" wide and 2 1/2 yards long. I like the unfinished edges, but if you really want to get crazy you can finish your ruffle edges with ribbon or a roll hem, but do it before you attach them to the skirt base.


Next, I made a circle skirt for my base. Measure the from the tree trunk out passed the branches or as long as you want your skirt to go. Remember there will be a 5" ruffle added to the base. Mine skirt was 17".


Your fabric should already be folded in half when you buy it (Hot dog style) so then you need to fold it in half one more time (hamburger style). 

From the top corner-where all edges are folded- use your measuring tape to mark a quarter circle 1" from the corner. Then another quarter circle 17" (or desired length of skirt) from the corner. Cut along both curves and you will get this:

Then cut a slit like the picture below-this will be the back of the skirt.

Now for the fun part!

I laid down a piece of cardboard first because the fabric glue gets messy.

Line up one ruffle with the slit of the skirt base about 1/2" from the outside edge and start gluing. 

Pleat and glue the fabric around the whole outside edge. If you run out of one ruffle before you reach the end, just overlap another ruffle and continue.

Move a few inches up and glue the next row.

Continue until you reach the center-closest to the trunk. By now, your pleats will need to be small an closer together than the outside row.

Let it dry for a few hours and then wrap your new tree skirt around the tree and admire your handy work! 

P.S. I wanted to do something no-sew for people who don't have machines, but sewing would probably have been faster and longer lasting than the glue.