Mia Bella Passions Red & White Christmas

Here's a peek at this years Christmas decor 

in the red sitting room.

I really do have a soft spot for the colour red.

I wear lots of red.

I adore red lipstick.

One cannot have too many pairs of red shoes

(or shoes in any colour!)

I love strawberries, cherries...

in fact any red berry will do!

And the couch in the sitting room is red too!

(How's that for a little impromptu poetry?)

Maybe I love red so much because... 

it reminds me of Christmas cheer and joy...

 So this year Mia Bella Passions 'red' sitting room is decorated:

red & white.  

The mantel displays a collection of snowmen

(now that is wishful thinking isn't it as my Christmas is a summer Christmas.)

'Air New Zealand' have made this funny Christmas video starring Ronan Keating;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmfIfqZc-jE

- watch it and you will understand my longing for snow. 

The wreath is decorated with berries lights and antlers.

There is of course a sack or two.

And a rust covered HOHO...

(find out how to make faux rust here.)

I've reused music sheet angel wings from a previous Christmas - find out how to create here.

There are loads of white, and red ornaments.

Some shop bought, others crafted.

And yes that is a Bearington Bear atop of the tree.

There's a painted carafe and berries...

(find out why I had to paint my berries here).

My favourite handcrafted ornament this year is the white scottie dog.

(Tutorial here).

with the felt reindeer nudging in at second place.

(Tutorial here.)

I hope you have enjoyed a peek into my summer red & white Christmas.

It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas!

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#christmasideas #christmascrafts #diychristmas

Felt Reindeer Christmas Decorations...

Here's another little cutie felt project for ya all.

A 'Felt Reindeer Christmas Decoration'....

I made  a whole lot of these darlings for the main Christmas tree ornaments a few years ago.

This is a slightly modified version, 

as the first were hand stitched, and had separate ears.

To make:

Copy & paste the template to your computer and print.

Cut out the antlers and reindeer templates.

Choose felt in the colours of your choice.

Pin to felt that has been folded in half as you need two antlers and two reindeers per ornament.

Using a sewing machine:

Stitch the two antlers together using a contrasting colour thread.

Do the same with the reindeer but leave a gap to insert stuffing on the under tummy.

Stuff using a chopstick to push into small areas.

Stitch up the gap.

Add a sequin nose.

Handstitch antlers in place.

Two bead eyes.

A ribbon bow or bell at the neck.

Add a hanger.

Hang on the Christmas tree.

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#christmas #felt #crafts #sewing #ornament

Painted Carafe & Christmas Berries...

Carafe vases are a nice shape and perfect for arrangements of Christmas lillies and berries.

My clear glass carafe vase needed a bit of oomph for Christmas,

so out came the white paint.

All I did was pour a little paint inside the vase, and slowly swirled it around until the inside was completely coated.

The paint I used was Dulux Aquanamel in white,

 because it is water-resistant, and a lovely, thick paint.  

This makes the coating of the glass exceptionally easy.

It took 5 minutes from start to finish for this glass painting project.

As I have already shared, here in New Zealand it's summer.

Which means no winter berries!

At the moment, I have one Ilex 'Holly' shrub in berry, but the berries won't turn red until Autumn.

So what does one do when one must have red berries?

Get out the spray paint, of course!

Before painting them, I stripped the leaves off the stems.

Then using a bright red paint, spray painted them.

After 24 hours drying and fume release time,

place into the vase.

I haven't put water into the vase.

 as the spray paint seals the berries with a thick coating of paint, and preserves them.

Red berries and a white vase to match the Christmas themed cushions.

Place vase on a coffee table, mantel or sideboard,

for a little bit of berry red and white fun.

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#Christmas #crafts #berries #red #painted