DIY Christmas decorations _ Christmas stars / flowers

CHRISTMAS STARS / FLOWERS

This must be one of the easiest, yet cute decorations to make! Each star takes 2min to do and the cost is basically 0.
You'll need:
1 toilet paper roll per star (or decorative paper)
scissors
stampler
thread
hole punch

1. Cut the toilet role into 6-8 pieces (each one is around 1 cm thick). Each circle will be a petal
2. Staple two circles together at the bottom of each one. You will now have 4 pairs.
3. Start stapling  the pairs together.
4. Punch a hole in one of your "petals" and thread a thread through the hole. Make it as long as you wish depending on if it will be a Christmas tree decoration, or as part of a garland.
DONE!
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If you are using decorative paper instead of a toilet paper role you'll have to add a step.
You will have to hold the circles in place when stapling the pairs together, as each one won't be a circle, but only a strip. It just takes a little extra patience, but it isn't too complicated.
The paper I used for these is wallpaper samples that I had left over from my wedding DIY decorations. In particular the unique ceremony programs:
http://pulmonate.blogspot.it/2011/12/wedding-inspirationceremony-program.html

What you need

2. cutting the toilet role into 1cm thick pieces.

3. Stapling the pairs together

Stapling the pairs with each other, creating our star / flower

The extra step when one is using decorative paper instead of toilet paper roles.

The finished star / flower.

DIY Christmas decorations _ clay Christmas tree decorations

This is a fairly simple decoration to make and the result is very sweet.
You will need:
Clay (white or natural)
cookie cutters or a knife
a small round object (I used a pencil)
a roller (I used a bottle)

Work the clay until it is soft.
Roll it out until it is about 3mm thick. Any thinner and you risk it to break and any thicker means it will take longer to dry.
Place your cutters out onto the clay in order to optimize the space. A smart way to get "2 in 1" is by placing a circular cutter and then a smaller cutter shaped as a heart or a star on the inside. This way you have one that has a circular shape with a star or heart hole, and one in the shape you placed on the inside.
You can carve a little message into the clay if you wish, or leave it plain. You can carve the year, family members names, or messages such as MERRY XMAS, LOVE, HOPE, etc.
Make a small hole in the top part of the shape in order to be able to thread a thread through the hole and hang it up.

An example of "2 in 1" shapes. A Circle with a heart or a star inside creates 2 pieces.

Clay decorations are put on a piece of paper to dry.

DIY Autumn Christmas Decorations

As soon as it starts getting cold, I start thinking of Christmas time. I love this time a year when you can spend time making decorations, drinking hot drinks, and singing.
I started with two wooden wreaths about 20cm in diameter. They are just twined together and held together with a thinner twig wrapped around the thicker ones.
I collected some colourful leaves and berries. One of the wreaths is a table decoration and the other will hang on the door.

These are the two wreaths. The table decoration to the right, which isn't finished yet. I want to add some moss to cover the plate and add some berries and pine cones.

The colourful door wreath.

The table decoration with a candle and chocolate chip cake.

Shopping...in Malmö, Sweden.

When I was in Malmö, Sweden this Christmas I did a bit of shopping and had a nice browse in the shops. I have to say that design is much more accessible in Sweden. With that I mean that it's much easier to find design stores in the center of town or even normal furniture stores where they might sell special items. Also it's much easier to find cheaper copies of things, making design accessible to everybody.
My favorite design store in Malmö is Olsson and Gerthel on Engelbrektsgatan just behind Lilla torg. They have the latest fashion design and furniture-wise. They only have the originals and as expected everything is quite expensive. But it's a delight to just stroll through the shop and get inspired!
Formargruppen just across the street is a shop/gallery with a lot of handmade and unique items. They have a lot of pottery, sculptures, glasses etc. which is always nice to look at .
Form and Design Center just off Lilla Torg is a must. They have 3 floors of Gallery space, shop and café. You can find furniture, kids toys, unique fabric, glasses, cuttlery, etc. Obviously it always changes from month to month and always have some great gems to look at.
I was also pretty impressed by Bolagret. They have affordable furniture, carpets, picture frames etc. I have to say what they had in the store was very "up to date": i.e. COLOURFUL!
I was also at Charlotte Trend which had a few gems. One of which was this lamp by Herstal which can be found in various colours.
The herstal lamp for 399kr at Charlotte trend on Balzaargatan.


I loooved these playfull clocks that I found at Olsson and Gerthel on Engelbrektsgatan!
Also these lovely scandinavian chairs and table were found at Olsson and Gerthel.
Lovely wooden lamp that looks very scandinavian and solid at Form och Design center (behind lilla Torg).
A lovely black wooden table at Form och Designcenter!


These are one of many copies of the Random Light by Moooi that can be found. This particular one is at Bolagret and can be found in 2 different sizes. The biggest one is 899kr and the smaller one was 699kr I believe. They also sell the huge lightbulbs and the fabric electric rope in case you want to make your own (like I did.. instructions here).
Some colourful storage boxes at Bolagret (gågatan).

The Sigrid stool at Bolagret for 299. I thought it looked very cute.
Some of the different colours of the Sigrid stool.
A bench sold at Bolagret.
The bench and folding table sold at Bolagret. I talked about these kind of tables in an older entry "I always thought you were odd". Here they sell the sawhorses for 179kr and the benchtops for 695 or 895kr depending on the size. Obviously if one wants to make this kind of table by themselves they can buy the sawhorses in most hardwear store (such as Hornbach where I think they only cost 149kr, or Ikea for 249kr) and then put any benchtop on (you can even use an old door that you take of it's hinges when you need an extra table!).