designed by Lydia Carlsgaard

Embellishments are a prerequisite for all aspects of a successfully charmed-out holiday look. Winter season creative endeavors including home decorating, gift wrapping, and outfit accessorizing require just a touch of know-how and a spark of festive flair to come off beautifully. So why not indulge in as many craft projects as possible in the days leading up to your holiday celebrations?

Designed by Sonja Lee Austin

The two project designs featured in this post are happily heavy on winter whimsy and holiday cheer. The best part about them though is that the techniques and materials used in these designs can be applied to home decor, gift wrapping, and wearables! The project below is for a beautiful holiday brooch, but feel free to use the project as inspiration for anything you wish to make at the moment—a finely wrapped gift perhaps, or maybe a wreath for your neighbor’s front door.

Creative Troupers Lydia Carlsgaard and Sonja Lee Austin have waved their wands upon the magic ingredient, Lutradur^® with stunning results. Are you wondering, why Lutradur? This not-quite-fabric, not-quite-paper material invites such a diverse set of techniques: Painting with acrylic paints and inks, cutting and distressing with heat tools, printing on with your inkjet printer, and stitching together with your sewing machine (the tiniest seam allowance is all that’s needed)! The possibilities for holiday projects with Lutradur are endless, and with the durability of this material, you can bet that whatever you make will last for years to come.

Red Berry Flower Brooch

By: Lydia Carlsgaard

Materials:

• Lutradur^® Mixed Media Sheets (white)
• Lutradur^® (black) OR Liquitex^® Professional Acrylic Ink! in Carbon Black
• Holly berries
• Feather(s)
• Stamens
• Pin back
• Beacon 3-in-1 Advanced Craft Glue

Instructions:

If using both white and black Lutradur…

1. Cut three 4″ circles and three 3″ circles of black Lutradur.
2. Cut two 4″ circles and two 3″ circles of white Lutradur.
3. Fold each circle in half three times and cut into heart shape to form petals.
4. Layer petal pieces on top of one other with the smaller petals closer to the top of the stack.
5. Staple the stack of petal pieces to secure it in place.
6. Lightly melt Lutradur^® petal pieces with a heat gun.
7. Adhere holly berries, stamens, and feathers with glue.
8. Sew coordinating fabric and/or felt to pin back. The pin back should be placed so that it runs vertically.
9. Glue flower to fabric or felt on pin back.

If using white Lutradur only…

1. Cut five 4″ circles and five 3″ circles of white Lutradur.
2. Fold each circle in half three times and cut into heart shape to form petals.
3. Arrange petal pieces in a single layer, lying flat on your work surface.
4. Lightly melt Lutradur^® pieces with a heat gun.
5. Apply black ink to three 4″ petal pieces and three 3″ petal pieces of Lutradur and let dry.
6. Layer petal pieces on top of one other with the smaller petals closer to the top of the stack.
7. Staple the stack of petal pieces to secure it in place.
8. Adhere holly berries, stamens, and feathers with glue.
9. Sew coordinating fabric and/or felt to pin back. The pin back should be placed so that it runs vertically.
10. Glue flower to fabric or felt on pin back.

Celebrate creativity with us all year round by joining the C&T Publishing Creative Troupe!