Crafting for the Yule Holiday

 

Merry meet all,

This post is a little different from the paranormal posts. I have been busy preparing for Yule. I thought I would share how you can create beautiful wreaths and decorations for Yule. I want to do a Scandinavian theme this year. I crafted gnomes, a wreath and herbal recipes for Yule. So grab a mug of warm cider, sit down and read all about it!!

Before we get started, I want to share the most awesome news!! I successfully graduated from the Introductory Herbal course today. I am happy. The course was quite detailed and I still feel a need to review all the notes, handouts, and what not. I shall continue on to the Intermediate course, which is more in depth than the Introductory. 

GNOMES

I am beginning with the easiest craft first then I shall delve into the complicated projects. I bought faux fur and blue and red felt at the fabric store, wooden pieces and I gathered scissors a razor to cut the fur- never with scissors, a hot glue gun, and beads. To make the gnome, get the fur and turn it over so the underside shows up. You cut the fur with a razor because if you use scissors, then the fur will make a real mess. Cut the fur – which will represent a beard, so that it tapers to a point. You can add a moustache too if you want. Glue the fur to the wood piece, preferably round, and smooth it all out. Cut a square piece of felt and cut a triangle from that square. Form a cone from the triangle and with the back side of the gnome fur and wood showing, glue it down. Then fold the edges of the cone in and glue that down. Turn the gnome right side up and depending on what bead for a nose you prefer, glue the bead to the gnome between the felt hat and the fur. See the photo. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You can make a knot with string, glue the string to the top of the felt hat on the underside, and then you can hang your charming ornament to your tree. I made gnomes with red and blue felt. The gnome in the photo was a gift for my Mother. She adores the gnome I gifted her. 

WREATHS

Wreaths are beautiful and festive decorations to enhance the warmth of your home. I hung my wreath indoors so I can appreciate its beauty. The wreath in the photo is the one I crafted this Yule. Here is how you can make yours. Dress warm and venture outdoors. This is a herbal wreath. It is best made from natural local greenery in your neighbourhood. If you can cut branches in your area, then feel free to do so. Obtain cedar, pine, spruce, juniper, holly, ivy and rosemary. Don’t forget citrus slices, pinecones, berries and acorns. 

I bought a straw wreath when I should have bought a grapevine wreath.  I had to rethink how I would attach everything. I came up with an idea. I listened to Blackmore’s Night, lit a candle and sipped hot cider. I laid everything out. I used scissors, a hot glue gun, ribbons, and rubber elastic bands,. I put down paper towel and a large clear plastic bag on my table then laid out the rosemary, cedar, pine and spruce, and juniper. I arranged the herbs into bundles – the spruce and pine, juniper, cedar and rosemary. Then I secured it all together with a rubber band, tied the bundle with silver ribbon to hide the rubber band, and then rested it on the wreath. Once I had it all the way I wanted it, I tied the bundles all interconnecting with each other to the wreath with wide brown paper ribbon. The brown ribbon almost concealed the silver ribbon. I hot glued an acorn and pinecones to the brown ribbon. I am dehydrating citrus slices now and I plan to add them to the wreath. tied the big bow on to the wreath and hung the wreath up!!! The bundles can be removed and released later on when I am done with the wreath. I foraged for the greenery on the trail! I am very pleased with the wreath! The wreath smells as beautiful as it appears.

Citrus Slices

To dry the orange slices, cut them very fine and be careful. Arrange them on a cookie sheet and sprinkle with very fine sugar. Dry them in the oven at 200 %F for 4 hours. Check on the slices periodically. Once they are done, let them cool. Fasten the fragrant slices to the wreath. 

HERBAL REMEDIES AS GFITS

I have studied the herbal course for the last 4 months. I was stressed deciding what to gift my Mother this year for Yule. I searched lots of options until it hit me. I should put my herbal education to good use. I crafted herbal chapstick, one for her, and one for me, and herbal tea for her. 

I hope she likes her gifts. I am putting together a care basket foe her. I plan to sew her a sleep eye mask soon too. Rather than explain here how the herbal chapstick is done, I am going to include the link so you can check it out on your own. 

https://theherbalacademy.com/chapstick-recipe/

https://theherbalacademy.com/herbal-skincare-gifts/

https://thepracticalherbalist.com/advanced-herbalism/making-a-heat-infused-herbal-oil-a-general-procedure/

I hope this post inspires you to try your hand at crafting for Yule. ‘Tis the season of giving and festivities, so have fun. I wish you all a merry Yule. 

Blessings, Spiderwitch

Snake + Spider Stew Wreath

Merry meet all,

Move over, Skellington. The Queen of Halloween is here! I will tell how I finished the wreath so you can have your own!! It’s easy and affordable to do!

I let the wreath dry overnight on a black plastic bag. I removed the wreath from the bag, it was sticky, and set it down on the countertop. I gathered a hot glue gun, a glue stick, and the large black widow spiders I bought at Spirit Halloween. I also had a jar of tiny black spiders- not real! 

I arranged the black widow spiders on the wreath in the best spots for them. I glued them on using the hot glue gun. Then I glued the skull on. But it didn’t stick so I will soon add a black widow spider there where the skull was. Then I glued the tiny black spiders to the wreath. 

I cleaned the wall and the candle holders where I wanted to hang the wreath. Then I hung the wreath above the stove. I wanted the wreath to be where I would always easily see it. It may hang there all year. I washed the candleholders with soap and hot water. I returned them to the tealight candle holders. I lit them and the effect was truly spooky!

Here is a photo of the snake and spider stew wreath!

 

Cool huh? You can do it yourself. It is so easy! I love my wreath. I hope you like it too. I hope this inspires you. Spiders are my totem and have always aided and protected me. 

You can add whatever you want to your wreath. The possibilities are endless. A wreath is a circle, a circle of continuity and symbolism. So since this is the Witches season, our time, pick what totem or symbol really stands out to you. 

It shows that if you use your imagination, you can create some beautiful – or spooky!

Blessings!

Stay spooky, Spiderwitch

October Crafts

Merry meet all,

On this cool autumn morning, I took my big wreath and a can of black spray paint to the picnic table. I set the wreath down on the picnic table then painted it black using the spray can. It looks so cool now. I was careful to completely coat the wreath on both sides. Then I left the wreath to dry on my stone step and now it’s on the top of the bookcase. When it is fully dry in twenty-four hours, I will hot glue the black widow spiders, smaller spiders and the skull to the wreath. Note* I put a black plastic garbage bag under the wreath to avoid any stains or the wreath sticking to the bookcase. 

It looks like this now:         

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I will post a photo when it is done. It will look really cool and spooky!

Tonight I plan to watch The Haunting of Bly Manor on Netflix. I do love a good ghost story! The wind is blowing hard here. That autumnal chill is in the air. The sky is grey and overcast. It’s October for sure. I plan to enjoy every minute of it. I don’t have to work too hard to decorate my home since it looks Samhain all year long in here. 

Samhain has hit me – well, technically it’s still Mabon, with an urge to be truly creative. I saw down to do sewing today. The wreath, changing my room around, the corn doll, and the desire to paint my furniture black. My only problem with painting is how to keep my kitty from it. I plan to barricade my bedroom, set down the drop cloth and start painting. I plan to do that once I finish the cosplay costume. One thing at a time. 

But today like the other time, something went wrong. That has been my week in a nutshell. The hot water was gone, this and that. Ugh anyway I hope the worst is over. So I will finish the costume once I buy more black thread. But doing one project at a time lets me focus on it more closely. 

Once the black stand the bookcase are painted black and the paint has dried, I want to add Halloween stickers. The black color will make the stickers look more natural. The Halloween skull faces will hopefully look like they are emerging from the bookcase- black paint. I have spider stickers to add too. Again, I promise pictures when I am done. 

I placed photos of my beloved late pets and of my grandfather on my altar today. I lit sage and a candle. I welcomed them to my space. It’s a tradition to acknowledge and honor those who have gone before us at this time. Here is a photo of my festive fall altar:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I love this time of year! I bought the skull hung above the altar at Spirit Halloween. I wish it was real! 

Tell me about your aspirations, traditions or crafts you do now. That voodoo you do!

Stay spooky!

Spiderwitch