A storyteller and editor by trade, I love creating and sharing helpful, informative content. I'm happily married and have two smart, funny daughters. Impromptu dance parties and glitter are an everyday reality. Running and reading are my go-to stress relievers and I really want to like yoga someday.
#HealthyMe: Crafting Away Stress and Gift Lists with Michigan Mitten Ornaments
3 min read
When it comes to crafts, I’m a really good curator, but not necessarily someone who regularly executes her creative vision. Translation: I like to shop for homemade stuff, but I don’t often make it myself.
I recently wrote about the stress-busting effects of crafting, and since I really like the idea of making things , I decided to sign up for a recent holiday crafts workshop held at 6.25 Paper Studio in Grand Rapids.
If you live in or near Grand Rapids, the selection of unique cards, pretty office supplies, Michigan-themed merchandise, and gift wrapping supplies is well worth a stop at 6.25 Paper Studio. It’s seriously cuteness overload and I knew the store’s unique aesthetic would translate to a great crafting night.
I was not disappointed! I dragged along a couple of friends and the shop’s staff walked us, and other ladies in attendance, through three crafts. Over three hours later, I walked out with a gold leaf lined paper mache bowl, a ceramic watercolor mug (created with nail polish!), and an adorable felted Michigan mitten ornament (this link gives a good tutorial, the only thing we did differently was add batting to stuff the ornaments we made before sewing them up) .
The bowl and the mug turned out well, but I didn’t see myself making more to keep or give as gifts. (Definitely check out the links above if you want to, though.)
The ornament definitely stood out as a craft that turned out really cute and was something I wanted to make more of. Cutting out the felt Lower Peninsula shape is probably the hardest part of completing this craft, and pssst, it’s not that hard. I really did find the motion of sewing my little ornament’s border to be soothing and selecting just the right felt, sewing floss, and hanging ribbon was a fun artistic exercise.
I liked the ornaments so much that I invited friends over the following weekend for a wine and crafts night. We all remarked about what a great, relaxing time we had just chatting, sewing, and stuffing ornaments to hang on our trees and give as gifts to family, friends, and co-workers. It was a nice way to get into the holiday spirit, while at the same time taking a break from the hustle and bustle of the season.
I hope to add holiday crafting as a yearly tradition that my young daughter might eventually enjoy. My husband and I are even taking our leftover crafting supplies to our family celebration this year and offering it up as an after-dinner activity for everyone to take part in if they wish. You could make a ton of different ornament shapes using the same basic steps. I think I need to work on locating an Upper Peninsula pattern for next year to make a complete Michigan ornament pair.
It felt good to make something with my own hands and I can’t wait to give some homemade gifts, which will hopefully be appreciated and loved by my recipients.
Are you crafty? Share your homemade holiday decorations with us!
Photo credit: Julie Bitely
