On the sixth day of Christmas ...

... we made for ourselves some Christmas Bunting.

Wow - half was through the Christmas Makes blog series - how did THAT happen???

Now we're the other side of Halloween and Bonfire Night it really is time to get those Christmas projects on the go - that is if you want to avoid having to adopt the mantra 'Keep Calm and Make It For NEXT Christmas'.

A simple one today - a couple of slightly different takes on bunting....

A paper and ribbon version that is a great project to make up with kids ...

 

 

 

and a scallop edged bunting that can be used as a Christmas garland to hang high or decorate your tree with.  If you're looking for a tutorial on how to make bunting, check out HQ's tutorial over at Tribemag.  In fact check out Tribemag ANYWAY for some brilliant family inspired ideas.  If you are based in or near Devon or plan to stay there anytime soon then it really is THE essential family magazine - helping you discover the delights of Devon as well as giving you loads of kid friendly stuff to do at home or when you're out and about.

 

Paper and Ribbon Bunting - ideal for keeping little fingers busy!

 

Inspired by the very first of HQ's Christmas tutorial series by Sue of Liberty Rose, I went out and got me some sheet music to turn into her beautiful Christmas Calendar.  I couldn't resist then turning some of it into this ditsy mini bunting.  This is a perfect project to do with kids - you just need some pretty paper, scissors and ribbon, et voila!  I've sewn the buttons on but if you use fabric glue to secure the ribbon then the kids could even stick these on.  A fab project to keep the kids amused on a rainy late autumnal afternoon (yes that's what they're predicting for this weekend, folks!)

 

 

 

 

I used a mixture of different sized white and cream buttons but you could use all sorts of Christmassy greens and reds.  I think these little shell buttons look really gorgeous.

 

 

You could make metres of this and wrap it around your Christmas tree ...

 

... but seeing as I haven't got my Christmas tree up yet, some nicey-drapey-over-thingies is the best way to show this off, methinks.

 

 

 

Scalloped Bunting

 

This is a break from the traditional pointy bunting we all know and love.  Again my initial thought was to use it as an alternative to tinsel round the tree, but it looks equally lovely draped along shelves ....

 

 

... or wrapped around beams. I used an Espirit De Noel Moda Charm Pack for these for a traditional Victorian Christmas feel but the Wintergreen or Midwinters Red would look equally as fab. You'd get a ton of this from a whole charm pack. You could go more modern with this and use something like Kate Spain's chevron-tastic Tree Line Holly Berry ...

 

 

... or Jolly Snow

 

 

It's really simple to make.  find a tea cup or something else that's round and fits onto your charm pack square.  Draw around it and cut out a circle with pinking shears to stop the edges fraying.  Cut your circles in half and then stitch into your binding as with normal bunting.  Carry on until you have the desired length and then you're done!

 

 

 

Check out the Tribemag article for more fun bunting ideas - especially for kid friendly cardboard and hole punch bunting.  Ooo the possibilities are endless!

 

Lots of you have been getting organised and choosing your Christmas fabrics.  Have a look at our selection to see what you could be making into Christmas bunting.

 

Have a lovely week, whatever you're making and we'll see you back again next week for our next Christmas make!