San Francisco Chronicle and SFGate.com | Sunday, December 1, 2013 | Section P
Home&Garden
Handmade for the holidays The do-it-yourselfer’s guide to seasonal decor, gifts and homespun style starts on Page P4
Russell Yip / The Chronicle; styling by Courtney Cerruti
Decor: Tree care and trimming tips P2
Shopping: Bargain Hunter tracks the sales P6
Trends: What’s hot — invites to gift wrap P7
P4 | Sunday, December 1, 2013 | SFChronicle.com and SFGate.com
FROM THE COVER
Russell Yip / The Chronicle
DO IT YOURSELF
Festive touches for the tabletop By Chantal Lamers Texture, vintage ephemera and a touch of gold — all together they can be whimsical, artful and still radiate elegance. This season’s do-it-yourself projects were dreamed up for Chronicle readers by Courtney Cerruti, an instructor with San Francisco’s Creativebug (www.creativebug.com). The 18-month-old startup has created more than 250 online videos on a variety of crafts. Co-founder Julie Roehm says it’s the team’s aesthetic that sets Creativebug’s projects apart from the myriad DIY crafts that can be found online. “We are our own audience, so we know that we are compelled to make something — even if it is above our skill level — if it is beautiful.” Roehm searches for projects with a style that will resonate and then taps experts from around the country to teach the techniques and skills needed to replicate each project step-by-step. “We have a very talented production team who figured out how to make videos feel like a tactile experience, so you feel like you are learning right alongside the person who is teaching you.” Classes can be purchased a la carte or on a subscription basis for as little as $16.99 a
Photos by Russell Yip / The Chronicle
Leaf and feather paper garland The pages from a discarded dictionary make this garland a conversation piece. Its wire backbone also lends it plenty of versatility, so while one evening it makes a great centerpiece at the dinner table, it can also be shaped into a wreath, twisted along the staircase handrail or draped atop the mantel. Materials Black 50-bond paper Old dictionary pages Scissors Gloves Extra scrap paper Gold metallic spray paint 24 gauge wire in black 1 roll each: ¼-inch black and white masking tape
Cut black paper and dictionary pages into 2-by-3-inch shapes: Stack five sheets, fold in half and cut into leaf shape. Repeat. (The version shown required about 80 pieces.) Open up shape and lay it flat on a work surface covered with scrap paper. Cover with scrap paper, exposing a
portion of the leaf to spray tip or stem. Holding paper down for a nice clean edge, spray the exposed section of the leaves and let dry. Repeat. To make feathers, stack five leaves. Hold the stem away and use scissor to make 45-degree cuts downward. Open up feathers,
separate and repeat. Cut wire in 4- to 5-inch lengths. Use masking tape to secure wire to back of leaves and feathers about ½-inch up. Bend feathers and leaves to give them motion and movement. Bundle three to four paper feathers and leaves by twisting wires together. Once
Playing with image transfers Courtney Cerruti, author of “Playing with Image Transfers” will teach a class on transferring images to wooden plaques from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 7 at Makeshift Society, 235 Gough St. (between Fell and Oak), San Francisco. Students will learn how to reproduce giftable images from photos, drawings or print and should bring several types of images to transfer, all of which should be high-contrast black-and-white or color photocopies (not ink-jet prints) that are a maximum of 4½ inches. Bring scissors and a notebook. Class fee is $50, plus a $15 materials fee payable at class. Register at makeshiftsociety.com. Courtney Cerruti
month. The team adds two new classes each week; its main craft categories span sewing, knitting, quilting, jewelry, printing and more. Among the most viewed are courses on knitting
a scarf, applique sewing, embroidery basics, making a leather cuff from an old belt and sewing a tunic. Cerruti, artist and author of “Playing with Image Transfers” (Quar-
ry, $24.99) released in October, works full time for Creativebug, designing beautiful backdrops for each course and coaching artists through the process. Her book covers the
techniques for five basic image-transfer methods, including packing tape, blender pen, acetone, gel skin medium and acrylic transfers. Then she offers up 19 projects that can be made utiliz-
bunches are complete, begin attaching them, working from one end and overlapping bunches as you work down the garland. Finish the garland by adding a final bunch in the opposite direction. Attach on the backside of the garland and ensure wires are tucked away.
ing these skills, including transferring images to votives, canvas, fabric bunting, craft jars, gift wrap and stationery. All which make for lovely handmade gifts, too. Cerruti’s crafts on this page employ glue, scissors and imitation gold leaf to dress up some very utilitarian items, from wood to leather and discarded dictionary pages. The effect is an unforgettable setting that is certain to shine. Chantal Lamers is a freelance writer. E-mail: home@sfchronicle.com
Golden-touch leather napkin ring For these gold-accented napkin rings you can purchase a new piece of leather from a craft store, check out your local thrift store or ask your local tailor for scraps.
Woodland ornament Using image-transfer techniques, you can easily copy images from photos, prints, drawings and more onto a variety of surfaces. (The process will only work using color or black-and-white photocopies, not laser ink jet copies.) Use them as ornaments, gift tags or place cards. Materials Wood shapes with predrilled holes (available at art and craft supply stores) White acrylic paint Two small paint brushes Black-and-white or color photo copies (images pictured were downloaded for free from www.graphicsfairy. com) Cup of water Gold leaf adhesive Gold leaf sheets Twine Paint an even layer of white acrylic paint onto a wood shape. Place photocopy face-
down into the paint and, without rubbing too hard, press lightly with fingertips to burnish. Dry completely, up to about 1 hour. Once dry, sprinkle a bit of water onto the paper and using your thumbs, gently rub away paper pulp. Keep adding water and rubbing until image is fully revealed. Once the wood is completely dry, paint gold leaf adhesive onto desired area. Let dry for 5 minutes. Apply a small piece of gold leaf onto adhesive. Press lightly with fingertips, then tear away excess. Brush any lingering bits of gold leaf away with a dry paint brush. Loop and tie twine through hole and hang.
Materials Leather X-Acto Knife Cutting mat Masking or painter’s tape Small paint brush Gold leaf adhesive Gold leaf Hole punch or ice pick Brass brads
Photos by Russell Yip / The Chronicle
Using X-Acto knife and cutting mat, cut leather into strips about 2 inches wide and 4 to 6 inches long. Use masking tape to tape-off desired section for gold leaf. Use adhesive to paint section. Remove tape. Let dry for 5 minutes. Place gold leaf sheet onto adhesive. Burnish lightly with fingertips. Rub away excess. Overlap the two ends by about half an inch and punch hole. Push brad into place to secure ring.
Photos by Russell Yip / The Chronicle