Sunday 13 October 2013

Scented Tree Decorations And Cat And Dog Christmas Cards For Handmade Monday


A few Christmas orders and enquiries have come in this week so i don't feel so bad about sharing some Christmassy makes while leaves are still on the trees... there are obviously quite a few people out there planning ahead this year!


Rustic Christmas Tree Decorations

These tree decorations are a result of my one and only bit of truly organised Christmas preparation as i conceived the idea for them back in the summer and had them photographed and listed for sale before the heatwave was over! I didn't blog about them back then though, it just didn't feel right with the sun shining and flowers in full bloom. (I also didn't have another Christmassy thought until very recently when i realised, as usual, that i have so much to do and so little time... so much for forward planning!)

I've seen various versions of the simple triangle style stuffed tree decoration and wanted to have a go at some with a Free Spirit Designs twist! They are made from a mix of cotton and linen fabrics and are stuffed with pure British sheep's wool. The tree trunks are made of wood collected from local woodlands.


Customers have the option of having them scented with natural essential oils - Christmas orange, pine needle or lavender (or alternatively unscented).  It evaporates gradually releasing the delicious aroma over time (the scent can be reinvigorated with a drop of essential oil to the base of the porous wood of the tree trunk).


They are available to buy individually for £6 or in sets of three for £15.50 from my website, Etsy shop and other outlets.

Here are the red and white ones with a distinctly Scandinavian feel...



...and these are the green and white ones with more of a country cottage woodlandy style.



I'm really pleased with how these turned out, i'd have them on my tree! :)  I've already sold a few too so i'm thinking of getting more supplies in incase i get a rush on them on the run up to Christmas...



Cat And Dog Funny Christmas Cards

If you're a regular visitor to my blog you probably recognise my 'Carols For Cats' Christmas card design from a recent post.


Well, its now been joined on my website and Print and Paper Etsy shop by two similar styled pet themed Christmas cards.

This one's i've called 'Santa's Been!' I shows a child discovering the food left out for Santa has been eaten... meanwhile a cat a cat in a santa hat licks lips in the foreground...!


This one which i've called 'Good Boy', features a dog inspecting a large stocking hanging from the mantlepiece, bulging with doggy treats!


They are priced £1.99 each and will soon also be available in sets of three for £5.25. I'll let you know when!


* A note about prices... i originally had my individual cards for sale at £1.85 - i was happy to be able to offer them at this affordable price, however, i've had to put them up to £1.99 this week due to the fact that the commission charge on some sites where i'm selling them would leave me making a loss! (not the general idea... :/) In my Print and Paper Etsy shop and my website though i will continue to sell multiples of 2, 3, 4 and 5 cards at cheaper a price per card so you needn't loose out :)


Handmade Monday


Its that time of the week again where i head over to Handmade Harbour to peruse all the superb crafty blogs that congregate there at the start of the week! Before i do though i'd also like to encourage you to pop by another superb post by Handmade Monday organiser Wendy, who has recently reviewed this fabulous book 'New Wings For Old Things', a beautifully illustrated family friendly booked packed with inspiring upcycling crafty projects, penned by regular Handmade Monday blogger, Eleanor Lucy Millenry.


A large proportion of the profits go to supporting the amazing work of the Children's Air Ambulance Service, so this is the perfect win win Christmas pressie for this year, priced at a very reasonable £5.99.

Have a wonderful week! x

34 comments:

  1. I love your trees and the scents 'sound' gorgeous - the trunks look very good. Gorgeous cards too. Hope you have a good week.

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  2. I absolutely love the trees. I really like the fact they can be scented. The cat cards are wonderful. No good if you don't make a profit and your supplying something unique, so the price is worth it. Have a lovely week.
    Ali x

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    1. thank you very much Ali!

      i'm glad you think so :) xx

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  3. What a super idea using real wood for the Christmas tree trunks, They look great hanging together - like Christmas tree bunting xx

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  4. love the trees .. very different... and I looovvee the cat cards (huge animal lover) ... off to track them down now.
    Lesley
    Bath Bomb Creations & Grumpy Joe's Pet Emporium

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    1. thanks Lesley! I'm really glad you like them :) x

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  5. I love the fabrics for those trees - the set of three really go together. Your cat and dog cards are always cute and the santa cat idea is funny as it probably happens in lots of homes!

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    1. thank you! i love those fabrics too :)

      Hehe :) it probably does!

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  6. The price of your cards in your shop (including the berries) isthat for a set or individual cards...? Thank you!

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    1. Hi Lesley, individual cards are priced £1.99. Sets of two are £3.50 and sets of three are £5.25. Not all my designs are listed as sets yet (that's on the 'to do' list!) but if you let me know what you're after i can create a custom listing for you.

      Alternatively, i will soon be adding more buying options and will give info on next week's HM post x

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  7. Well done to already have some Christmas gifts ready and made. The trees are so sweet and I love that they are scented. lovely cards too!

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  8. I really like the idea of the real wooden trunks. A really lovely twist on the idea. Brilliant.

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    1. thank you! i'm really glad you like them :) x

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  9. I really like your Christmas tree decorations. The real wood trunk is a lovely touch and clever touch, and I imagine must be quite fiddly to make.

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    1. thank you!

      they're not too bad actually, i've devised a special method... :) x

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  10. I love the idea that you can refresh the scent in the Christmas trees once it has worn off....and they look so good!! x

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  11. The animal cards made me giggle - I can just imagine my cat eating the food for Santa! I like the idea of scenting your Christmas tree decorations too.

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    1. Hehe :) aww thank you, i'm glad you like them x

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  12. I love your take on the triangle Christmas tree garland. The wood trunk and the scent option are just the little details that make them special! I also admire your pictures, they look really crisp.

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    1. thank you very much! i'm really glad you like them :) x

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  13. The trees are lovely, I make them with cinnamon sticks for the trunks but I like the twig idea if you wanted different aromas.

    Jan x

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    1. i love cinnamon stick ones! i bet yours are gorgeous :) x

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  14. Wow I love your trees, what a great idea to add a wooden trunk that scents can go on! Love it!
    Also your xmas cards are cute and funny xx

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    1. aww thank you! i'm really glad you like them :) x

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  15. Love your Christmas trees :)

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  16. Love the Christmas trees, the wooden trunks are brilliant:) as always your pictures of your items are superb:)

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  17. Love the idea of having a real wood trunk for your trees. Very original :-)

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Your lovely comments are much appreciated x