Christmas Stockings That Match My Decor

My husband just nods his head and smiles at me everytime I say "This years Christmas Decor" because... well I like to change it. I have two color schemes. A pretty red and gold and a beautiful blue and brown. Last year was blue and brown and I had made this wreath to hang on my picture window frame.

My ornaments are alos brown and blue. And I threw some gold in there for fun. I'll post pictures of my tree later this month when I get it up.

But there is a problem. Our Christmas stockings go with decor #1 the Red and Gold decor. Red and Gold stockings look a tad "off" next to a blue and brown decor scheme. So I decided to make my own.

Step 1. Go to Joann's. This is probably also the most expensive step. Buy ribbon, a yard of felt, some polyester shantung and some heat n' bond. Ignore the scrapbooking, yarn, floral design, and beads. Wait! Beads are 40% off. Go back to the bead section.

Step 2. Once you are home you either have the option of trying to craft with your kids around (not my first choice) or wait until they go to bed. If your anything like me waiting is not really a valid option when the creative juices are flowing so you try all the distraction methods you can think of. The one that always works for me is popcorn in popcorn buckets and a show. I only bring the popcorn in buckets out once or twice a month so they don't catch on that I'm trying to do something truly awesome.

Step 3. Use whatever large piece of paper you can find to draw a template of a stocking out on. My template was made on the back of a Trader Joes brown paper shopping bag. Cut the template out.

Step 4. Using the template and with your felt folded in half (so you cut two out at a time) trace the template and cut out how many stockings you want. I think I was able to get 6 stockings out of mine with a bit leftover.

Step 5. Involves the use of a sewing machine. Using either a thread that matches the felt or a coordinating color sew the stocking together leaving the open... well, open.

Step 6. Now it's time for the fake silk shantung. I love this stuff. It's so incredibly pretty. If I could make everything out of shantung I probably would. Following the instructions on the Heat N' Bond package adhere the heat n' bond to the shantung. It's best to do this before you cut out your letters. Trust me.

Step 7. In Microsoft word or whatever your favorite program is make a really big letter. I get the cutest and best fonts from http://www.kevinandamanda.com/fonts/freescrapbookfonts/. Make sure you measure your stocking before printing out your letter. (On the flip side I have a KNK Maxx so I just run the heat n' bond treated fabric through my craft cutter thus eliminating half of this step.) Pring out your letter and cut it out, using it as a template. Trace the template onto the shantung and cut that out as well. Cut out 3 inch high strips of shantung for the cuff of the stocking (if three inches is too small or too big do what you need to do to make it look right).

Step 8. Heat up your iron and iron on your shantung letter and cuff.

Step 9. Cut 1 inch wide strips by four or five inches of felt for the hangars of the stockings. Fold in half and hand stitch to the inside of the stocking. I used cute little cross stitches for detail.

Step 10. Cut and tie a 10 inch long wired ribbon bow to the hangar and oila! Beatiful, creative and best of all it matches your Christmas decor! (And looks so much cuter than the cheap red velvet ones.)

I made enough for the whole family. Please note that I made these last year shortly after giving birth to my third son. You may notice that there are 6 stockings. Yes, I did indeed make one for an as yet unborn child (no I'm NOT pregnant... just a planner.) Yes, my kids names spell a word. I like it that way.