TWINE SNOWMEN

I have been obsessed with snowmen for as long as I can remember, and right now, I am certainly obsessed with string and twine! My buddies over at west elm humored my cord obsession, welcoming me to design my very first product line, a collection of holiday decorating items, all so reasonably priced and in the stores now. Many of the items in the line grew out of techniques we often employ for the hand-made elements we create for events. I am happy to let you in on one of our secrets.

A twine snowman is a no-brainer. Simply take 3 varying sized balls and stack em. But the drawn twine elements pipes, hats, any details you desire, all are created by re-wrapping twine around wire, hiding it as an armature inside the strand. You can then draw anything you want because the wire holds the shape. Write words, create a bow tie, a jaunty cap, and group a happy family on a credenza or a mantle. Create a centerpiece for a dining or buffet table, pairing the snowmen with items from our west elm collection to create a unique scene. Mixing naturals with glimmering metallics feels new to me and immediately propels twine into the holiday season.

Materials: 19-gauge floral wire Single-ply sisal twine Low temperature glue gun Wire snips Scissors Needle-nose pliers or board and nails Directions: Cut a few feet of twine and unravel it slightly. Squeeze a line of hot glue along an inch or so of the wire and wrap the twine around tightly so the wire is covered completely. Repeat along length of the wire. If you need a longer length, connect lengths of wire by overlapping the ends and wrapping the twine around them as if they were one. Shape with pliers or by bending the wire around nails in a board arranged in the desired pattern.

Lodge-Style Luminary Create a glowing piece of art that has the look of a handcrafted stained-glass luminary. You'll be surprised at how stunning it will be. Here's what you need to get started: 4 sheets craft plastic Pencil Ruler Scissors Clear tape 2 packages lead strips, 1/8 inch wide Craft knife Lead shapes: 6 stars, 2 moons Glass paints: denim blue, ivy green, sunny yellow, clear frost, crystal clear, amber, cocoa brown Glass paint tool set 4 black report cover plastic spines Electric candle To construct a Lodge-Style Luminary: 1. Cut plastic sheets into four 6x9-inch pieces. Download the pattern here. 2. Tape pattern to back of a cut plastic sheet, with pattern showing through plastic. Allow of clear plastic on each side of pattern.
1/2inch

3. Working on a section at a time, lay vertical lead lines down and trim ends. Then lay horizontal lead lines, allowing ends to overlap vertical lines. Trim excess. (Use trimmed pieces for short lead lines.) Lay down diagonal lines; overlap ends. Tightly trim ends at junctions, creating square pieces and/or small diamonds on top of underlying lead strips to look like mock solder joints. Place 2 stars and a celestial moon in sky area.

Lay down lead lines over the pattern and trim off the excess.

4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 on another plastic sheet. Repeat steps 2 and 3 on remaining plastic sheets, omitting moon and trees and placing 1 star on each sheet.

5. Paint each panel as follows: sky is denim blue; trees are ivy green; stars and corner squares are sunny yellow; moon is clear frost; top, bottom, and sides are crystal clear; mountain and background are amber; tree trunk is cocoa brown. (Note: Use sharp tip of metal combing tool to gently push paint into tight corners and junctions. If you are not using combing tool, use a liner brush to push paint into corners.) Let paint dry completely (see manu-facturer's instructions).

Use sunny yellow to color the stars.

6. Match 2 finished panels back to back (1 with trees and 1 without). Slide black plastic report spines over plastic panel edges to connect. Repeat for all panels and edges. Position luminary over electric candle.

Use black plastic report spines to connect the panels.

Light the Yule Log Add Christmas cheer to your mantel this holiday, along with the convenience of not having to look for the matches! This small decorative touch will bring lots of warmth to your family. Here's what you'll need to get started: Empty snack food cylinder Paper towels 10x12 inches corrugated cardboard Scissors Hot glue gun, glue sticks Copper spray paint 1 yard green ribbon, 21/2 inches wide Assorted Christmas greens, cut into pieces Copper berry spray, cut into pieces Wire cutters Copper blossoms Fireplace matches Christmas Cardinal Centerpiece Woodsy Winter Wonderland To construct a Light the Yule Log: 1. Use paper towels to clean inside of cylinder. Wrap corrugated cardboard around outside of cylinder. Cardboard can extend above lip of cylinder but should be flush with bottom. Trim cardboard if needed, and hot glue in place.

Wrap corrugated cardboard around the outside of the tube and glue into place. 2. In a well-ventilated area, lightly spray cardboard with copper paint. Let dry, and repeat. 3. Tie ribbon around center of cylinder, leaving 31/2-inch tails. Glue knot of ribbon to cardboard. Trim ends of ribbon into Vs. 4. Use photo as a guide to glue lengths of greens to center of knotted ribbon. Glue berry sprays to greens, then glue on blossoms.

Glue the greens to the tube as shown. 5. Cut striking surface from match box, and trim as needed to fit bottom of cylinder. Glue in place on bottom of cylinder. Place matches inside cylinder.

Christmas Cardinal Centerpiece Let that brilliantly colored bird, the cardinal, decorate your living room this Christmas. With bright berries and evergreen boughs, this centerpiece is sure to capture everyone's attention! Here are the materials you will need:

 Terra cotta pot, 51/2 inches tall Terra cotta saucer, 8 inch diameter Hot glue gun, glue sticks 4x2-inch foam piece Serrated knife Tape measure Assorted Christmas greens, cut into pieces Wire cutters 3 pinecones 2 red berry sprays, cut into pieces 3x9-inch red pillar candle 7 red crab apples 1 yard red plaid ribbon, 21/2 inches wide Scissors Floral wire Red cardinal Potpourri To construct a Christmas Cardinal Centerpiece:

Here is a finished Christmas Cardinal Centerpiece.

1. Place pot at back edge of saucer, and glue in place. Use knife to trim foam so it fits snugly inside pot and is 1 inch below rim of pot. Glue foamin place.

Glue the pot at the back edge of the saucer. 2. Glue short lengths of Christmas greens around base of pot, leaving front open. Glue pinecones to sides, and add a few berry sprays. 3. Place candle inside pot. Insert short lengths of Christmas greens around base of candle. Glue crab apples and berry sprays around candle.

Place the candle in the pot and cover the blank spaces with greens. 4. Cut ribbon into three 12-inch lengths, and form each length into a loop secured with floral wire. Glue a loop to each side of saucer and remaining loop to back. 5. Glue cardinal to left side of saucer. Fill saucer with potpourri. Caution: Never leave a burning candle unattended.

Glue the cardinal to the left side of the saucer.