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