Dala Horse free cross stitch pattern

The Dala Horse or Dalecarlian horse is a popular Swedish handicraft and souvenir. The name comes from its home province, Dalarna, in central Sweden. In the old days the Dala Horse was mostly used as a toy for children. In modern times it has become a symbol of Dalarna, as well as Sweden in general. Also now the horse has become the sign of good luck and these carvings are often given as gifts for hosts, family and friends. The authentic Dala Horse is carved from wood, but the symbol is now famous and replicated is a variety of mediums.

Mariya, the owner of LaMariaCha shop is a Scandinavian folk art lover I just couldn’t resist and had to create this Christmas ornament pattern. 

 You can use any color, not necessarily to use those in the picture. They can be embroidered on plastic canvas using woolen thread, then use this pattern for Christmas decorations or just put it in a hoop. These simple stylish embroideries can be a wonderful Christmas present for your family and friends or you can simply decorate your home.

If you use linen canvas, it’s better to begin from the middle. If you use plastic one, then began from any angle.

Colorful alphabet on pebbles DIY

My friend Nadya from HappyEmotions sell in her shop wonderful Alphabet Pebbles for Kids. I love them very much! It’s a fun way to teach a toddlers letters in a bright, whimsical way. 
On one of our tracking trip I found on the beach very similar stones (usually here there are only sand and seashells) . So I decided to make this alphabet to niece of my husband.

You will need

26 pebbles
Various acrylic paint colors
Paint brushes

Clear Satin Glaze

1. Wash pebbles to remove any dirt
2. Make pebbles in row to see which stone better for which letter

3. Using your paint color, paint the first letter.  Then with other colors paint all letters

4. Now we will decorate them - add polka dots onside each letter. You can outline white or yellow letter.

5. Add polka dots around each letter.

6. Spray with glaze.  Once dry, turn over and spray the back of the rock too

Your alphabet is ready)

Felt Christmas tree ornament DIY

Today I 'll show you how I decorated my Christmas tree this year. I'm tired of the traditional sphers etc, so I searched in Internet for interesting ideas and stopped on decorations made out of felt. You can make them in many variations: with embroidery or without it, with crochet snowflake... The last one I liked most, so I 'll tell you how to make it. 

You will need:

• piece of felt (which is not easier, sold by the meter )
• Crochet thread (I used white and azure , as I love the combination of red and azure )
• needle
• scissors
• button of flat
• optional filler cushions

Let's start with the making a small snowflake, like this one:

And then cut two circles a couple of cm larger then snowflakes.

Make these loose stitches. Place the snowflake on top and sew it as shown, using previously made stitches. 

Make a few decorative stitches between the rays of the snowflake and sew a button in the center of it, now you can connect two circles. You can use simply forward stitch, or as I did use back stitch. You can fill in with a little amount of filler.

At the end make a loop :

That's what we got:

With embroidery and filled inside:

and stars

I hope you like them as I like and you decide to decorate the Christmas tree with these ornaments)

Recycled paper Christmas tree DIY

In many houses there are stores up a lot of newspapers or promotional leaflets, especially before Christmas, and often we throw them. 

What you can make with all this paper - CHRISTMAS TREE!
This amazing tree was my Pinterest discovery. I changed it a little and added some details. You can do it also with your children.

You will need:

• a lot of paper (I cut up a thick newspaper and a couple of Christmas booklets)
• adhesive spray
• acrilic paint in spray (any color, I used silver one)
• wooden skewer or long nail 
• base (I used half of the foam ball - you can use wooden stand or polimer clay one)
• piece of felt
• awl
• salt
• Pearl dust
• paper star
• scissors 

You have to cut a lot of squares starting at 1" down to 6". For example, I made them from 14 cm to 3 cm. I've cut them by scissors and it took a lot of time. If you have paper cutter of course you will need less time.

First you will need to assemble a base for your tree. Base must be large enough, otherwise it will not sustain enough the weight of the paper. 

Cut the felt circle with diameter of your base. Cover the base with the paint. Then insert the skewer into the middle. When I put it in, I removed the skewer and put a little of glue into the hole and put the skewer back. So I'm sure that the skewer is secure.

Now all paper squares fold in half and then in half to determine the center. Then do the hole with the awl in the center.

Once the base is ready and paper is folded and holed, you can begin assembling your tree.
Start with the largest squares. Thread squares and turn them. ISometimes between large squares I put little one to make the tree airy. Work your way up the tree until you get to the smallest squares.

Here's mine tree, but it 's not the end.

Now cover it with a bit of paint spray. This and the next few steps, you can jump.

Then cover tree with glue spray

and before it dryes, dredge with salt. Salt perfect for the role of the snow! Shake off excess salt after glue will be dry.

Now cover again with glue and then dredge with pearl dust

Cut out two stars from the paper and glue them on top of the Christmas tree.

Here's what I got:

You can make a huge number of variations of this Christmas tree using different paper, scissors, paints or pearl dust.

Crochet snowflakes coasters for Christmas table decor DIY

Of course, the idea is simple, but to me (and I'm crocheting snowflakes for many years), it came in mind just this year, that's it)

You will need:

• scissors
• Felt
• crochet thread for number 8 or 10
• hook (pick up to the thickness of the thread)
• glue (if you want to stick snowflakes, the second option - to sew

Let's start with snowflakes. I used the following scheme:

I never made written crochet tutorials so I made a diagram. You can make other snowflake if you'd like. 

Here I made some photos so you can understans better:

Then pin the snowflake and iron. Do not need to stratch it.

Now cut out hexagons from felt, I cut out 4, but I think I will do some more later)

The last step - glue or sew snowflakes on hexagons. Then put for a couple of hours under a heavy book.

It's ready: 

Unusual touch for your Christmas tabe is ready!

DIY Christmas tree ornament from wine corks

I don't want to buy Christmas ornaments even more. So, I checked my craft supplies and came up with these: Christmas tree ornaments made from wine corks.

Yes, I love recycling) This is wonderful project to make with the kids! It happens that I live in a wine region and I don't have problems with wine corks) 

All you need is this:

- 4 wine corks 

- glue 

- a (serrated) knife to slice the corks 

- some thread or ribbon

To begin, cut wine corks horizontally with a knife into two parts (Do it yourself if you make project with kids)

Glue the tree working by rows (first 3 then 2) and next glue the rows together in a 3-2-1 triangular setting. So your Christmas tree will not come apart.

Take some thread, ribbon and work it around your tree twice. Make a tight double knot at the top. Make another knot so you have a loop to hang up your tree. 

We still have the two pieces of the wine cork. Take one of them and glue it or attach it with small nail at the bottom - so we got a trunk.

Here it's ready:

Today we are decorating our Christmas tree )

In next lession I will show how to make cute felt ornaments so you can decorate all tree with handmade ornaments!