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K. surprised me with this BHG book, which he found on Paperback Swap. (I’ve said it before: this man is a keeper.)
You know, if I had unlimited time and money, I’d research and write a book titled: What Happened to Craft in the 80′s? It’s so interesting, how the glorious crafty experimentation of the 60′s and 70′s morphed into the country-kitchen sensibility of the 80′s. I have very few 80′s craft books, because I rarely see anything cool in them. But I always have a soft spot for Christmas books, and this one has some hidden gems.
…Like, for example, these ornaments. They’re a styrofoam ball with loads of toothpicks stuck into it, then glued and glittered. Seems pretty involved, but the results are very pretty. Imagine these in some of those Martha Stewart glitter colors!
Sometimes one detail makes all the difference. These bells, without those bended-wire dangles, would be right at home in a 70′s craft book. (They’re made with papier mache clay pressed into a styrofoam form. I should play more with that mache clay…)
Just gotta pause and respect here – have you ever tried to make these stained glass cookies? It’s not easy – these detailed beauties are the work of a very steady hand.
Ah, how quintessentially 80′s are these? Plastic tubing! I probably wore bangles that looked a whole lot like this at some point in my misguided youth.
On the one hand, little cars made from candy are a cute idea. On the other hand… yeah, I’m thinking what you’re thinking. Still, you have to respect the quiet genius of that M&M steering wheel.
Here’s a nice variation on the pinecone bird feeder – enjoy it on the tree, and then take it outside for the local birds.
Here’s a good project for bored kids: these finger puppets are simple tubes of felt, with cut-out embellishments glued on.
So, I have one more vintage post coming up for you on Monday. And then it will be necessary for me to acquire more books. :-)
I made one of those toothpick ball ornaments when I was a kid!!! It was silver glitter and it was my class’s Christmas project that year (probably 3rd or 4th grade)–each year in my K-8 elementary school out in the boonies between Canby and Hubbard, Ore., we’d make an ornament as a gift for our parents. Everyone in the whole school would make the same project, so sometimes 8th graders would be making ornaments more suited for 3rd graders, sometimes–as in this one–3rd graders were making an 8th grade project. And it was VERY involved and I remember the glittering part being really messy and frustrating. And I also remember the toothpicks falling out when it was on the tree; it maybe lasted two or three Christmases. I think all the toothpicks compromised the structural integrity of the Styrofoam.
~Sarah
I made one of those toothpick ball ornaments when I was a kid!!! It was silver glitter and it was my class’s Christmas project that year (probably 3rd or 4th grade)–each year in my K-8 elementary school out in the boonies between Canby and Hubbard, Ore., we’d make an ornament as a gift for our parents. Everyone in the whole school would make the same project, so sometimes 8th graders would be making ornaments more suited for 3rd graders, sometimes–as in this one–3rd graders were making an 8th grade project. And it was VERY involved and I remember the glittering part being really messy and frustrating. And I also remember the toothpicks falling out when it was on the tree; it maybe lasted two or three Christmases. I think all the toothpicks compromised the structural integrity of the Styrofoam.
~Sarah
still feeling the vintage love -
those stained glass cookies are such a relic – and no, I’ve never tried to make ‘em. think it’ll stay that way, too.
Those tubing wreaths could easily be turned into candy bracelets – that is something my girls would love to make, eat and wear. Can’t say that about many things :)
still feeling the vintage love -
those stained glass cookies are such a relic – and no, I’ve never tried to make ‘em. think it’ll stay that way, too.
Those tubing wreaths could easily be turned into candy bracelets – that is something my girls would love to make, eat and wear. Can’t say that about many things :)
Ok as a child of the 80s I am going to defend them a little bit…..great crafts of the 80s include friendship braclets, friendship pins and and and…..ok can think of anything else….but I think I need distance to appreciate it……
Ok as a child of the 80s I am going to defend them a little bit…..great crafts of the 80s include friendship braclets, friendship pins and and and…..ok can think of anything else….but I think I need distance to appreciate it……
Thanks for your generosity in sharing these pictures! :)
Thanks for your generosity in sharing these pictures! :)
OMGolly, the bent wire. Where’s the two things dangling, like hand dipped candles in the 80′s? And the plastic wreaths? Totally had candy in mine — Santa only brings them that way.
Specially not-so-scientific way to make stained glass cookies? You need a thin, flexible paint brush to move the candy dust from the cookie dough to the cutout. There’s always candy dust. And overfill the openings. And don’t move the cookie – under penalty of certain failure – until the molten candy has cooled and set up. Aren’t these the best? Sugar on sugar!
OMGolly, the bent wire. Where’s the two things dangling, like hand dipped candles in the 80′s? And the plastic wreaths? Totally had candy in mine — Santa only brings them that way.
Specially not-so-scientific way to make stained glass cookies? You need a thin, flexible paint brush to move the candy dust from the cookie dough to the cutout. There’s always candy dust. And overfill the openings. And don’t move the cookie – under penalty of certain failure – until the molten candy has cooled and set up. Aren’t these the best? Sugar on sugar!
Those toothpick stars are actually really nice. The styling in the photos might be dated and a bit cheesy, but the actual ideas are still good, aren’t they? I bet there are families out there who have decoration like these that were made years ago, but still get dragged out every Christmas. My Mum’s still got a snowman tree ornament I made almost 40 years ago! Cardboard snowman shape, cotton wool stuck on it and a dusting of glitter …
Those toothpick stars are actually really nice. The styling in the photos might be dated and a bit cheesy, but the actual ideas are still good, aren’t they? I bet there are families out there who have decoration like these that were made years ago, but still get dragged out every Christmas. My Mum’s still got a snowman tree ornament I made almost 40 years ago! Cardboard snowman shape, cotton wool stuck on it and a dusting of glitter …
Do you think it’s our sensibility and taste? There was tons of craft in the 80s but I’m definitely more of a bright/folksy/ethnic hippie person than a country/Victorian person. I don’t really remember 90s craft. What happened then? Probably hard to craft when minimalism is in….I remember lots of grey and tiny, tinny earrings. And then Martha came…. :>
All I can think of when I look at that toothpick star is how do you pack it away?
Vinyl tubing wreaths would be good on a tween tree.
Great posts!
Do you think it’s our sensibility and taste? There was tons of craft in the 80s but I’m definitely more of a bright/folksy/ethnic hippie person than a country/Victorian person. I don’t really remember 90s craft. What happened then? Probably hard to craft when minimalism is in….I remember lots of grey and tiny, tinny earrings. And then Martha came…. :>
All I can think of when I look at that toothpick star is how do you pack it away?
Vinyl tubing wreaths would be good on a tween tree.
Great posts!
Those glass stained cookies! What a great idea, and must be so time consuming I can only dream of baking a batch of those Christmas delights. They would look so magical in a Christmas tree with little light behind them.. thnx for posting these! xoxoxo
Those glass stained cookies! What a great idea, and must be so time consuming I can only dream of baking a batch of those Christmas delights. They would look so magical in a Christmas tree with little light behind them.. thnx for posting these! xoxoxo