Welcome to The Five Days of Christmas!
This week will consist of several things: fun, simple projects, recipes and wonderful giveaways! And... an opportunity to share your Christmas blog posts with us!
Today through Friday we are going to have a Christmas Blog Hop going, and we would love for you to share your blog! Make sure to follow the guidelines for the hop. Make sure to thank the link participants when you visit their blog! And always read to the very bottom - you never know what you might find!
This part is really going to be fun...
Old Time Radio Theater!
Every day we will include:
A story a day, all from 1939-1947! 30 minutes to an hour long and perfect for the little ones to have a break from modern media.
MP3 format. Right-click the link - choose SAVE LINK AS and download to your computer. Enjoy as you would any other MP3!
Today's audio story:
A Christmas Carol by Lionel Barrymore - 1 hour long
Today through Friday we are going to have a Christmas Blog Hop going, and we would love for you to share your blog! Make sure to follow the guidelines for the hop. Make sure to thank the link participants when you visit their blog! And always read to the very bottom - you never know what you might find!
This part is really going to be fun...
Old Time Radio Theater!
Every day we will include:
A story a day, all from 1939-1947! 30 minutes to an hour long and perfect for the little ones to have a break from modern media.
MP3 format. Right-click the link - choose SAVE LINK AS and download to your computer. Enjoy as you would any other MP3!
Today's audio story:
A Christmas Carol by Lionel Barrymore - 1 hour long
Today's Giveaway...
One 2013 subscription to Seasons at Home Magazine
and something to sip while you read it...
How exciting is a Starbucks gift card and magazines? My Enter below in the Punchtab box to win today's giveaway! Go through the Punchtab steps at the bottom of the post, and the more steps you complete, the more entries you get!
Please share this event with your friends!!
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Dotty Christmas Burlap Runner
Plus, I think there's something therapeutic about weaving twine through fabric. It's easy, monotonous and relaxing. Along with sponging the dots... what grand fun. Dot, dot, dot, dot...
Instructions
Another fun thing about this runner is that you can make it any size you want - long and narrow, or even square! I made mine 17" x 34"
You Will Need:
~1 1/4 yds. burlap - Plain, color, or patterned (and yes, there are lovely Christmas patterns available!)
~ bakers twine - This is currently available in almost all the craft stores. It's a decorative twine and comes in red/white, green/white, and blue/white. You can also use yarn or crochet thread.
~ large eye sewing needle and scissors
~ large cutting mat, quilter's ruler and rotary blade
~ 1 1/2" round sponge and 1 bottle white acrylic paint (permanent)
~ large piece of cardboard (to place under the runner when you stamp it. A large cereal box works great!)
1. Cut a single layer of burlap the size you desire the runner to be. Again, I cut mine 17" x 34". Burlap can be
a little messy to cut! Make sure that the burlap is flat and even on the cutting board, as it tends to shift around a lot, and the edges are straight after you cut them.
2. Find the center point of the two short parallel sides. Estimate the amount of twine you are going to need by running the twine around the edge of one half of the runner, leaving about 18" extra at each starting point as shown. Cut two measures of twine at this length.
3. Thread the needle with the twine, do not knot the end. Insert the needle in the center of the short side, about 1 1/2" from the edge and pull through, stopping to leave the 18" tail. Begin a long running stitch as shown.
Continue the running stitches along the edge, stopping when you reach the center point of the other side, parallel to the one you started on. Trim the twine, leaving an 18" tail.
Repeat the same steps for the other side of the runner. When you are finished, you will have two sides that meet in the middle. Tie a bow!
If you happen to knock off some of the threads while you are stitching (like I did), you can go back with the quilting ruler and rotary cutter and even up the edges again. I had to straighten mine out a bit.
Now to sponge on the dots! I had bought a package of assorted round sponges (the cute kind with the handles) and chose the largest one, about 1 1/2" in diameter, but you can make them as big or small as you like. I also stamped the dots sporadically, but evenly, on the runner, but you can be precise about this if you wish... I was having fun just stamping dots as I thought they looked pretty!
5. Lay out the cardboard. Fill a paper plate (or other dish you don't mind putting paint on) with a large puddle of acrylic paint. Don't be stingy on this part, I used quite a bit of paint. Dip and dab the sponge in the paint until it's good and wet.
I recommend testing your stamping skills on a scrap of burlap before starting on your runner, just in case.
Keep dotting... and keep the runner on the cardboard, or you will have a polky dot floor. Stop when you have enough. Can you believe that's the end of the project? Let it dry for a little while, and lay it on the table!
So adorable, and so easy! I was very happy with it. :) So go get some burlap and make a runner!
Now for the giveaway...
Follow the steps in the Punchtab box below. And yes, you need to be a newsletter subscriber in order to qualify to win!
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