December TUSAL

It's TUSAL time again, the final one of the year!  For those of you new to blogging, the TUSAL is a project run by Daffycat, click on the button on the right hand bar for more details.

Here is my ORTS jar posing with the current stitching projects:

On the right we have the ongoing progress on Plum Street Sampler's 12 Days of Christmas.  Here are pictures of the completed Eighth Day and started Ninth Day:

The green cow is rather interesting!

stitched over one on 25 count linen

On the left of the photo you can see my latest finish, this started out as the Creepy Tree design for November's theme on the Hallowe'en Ornie SAL Blog.  I enjoyed stitching the small so much I decided to stitch all 8 blocks and make them into an eight-sided box using another BRD as the lid.

All the designs came from this year's Just Cross Stitch Hallowe'en Ornie preview issue and are by Blue Ribbon Designs.  I stitched them using the recommended DMC on some 32 count blue evenweave.  The eight blocks are over two and the lid is over one.

Once I'd finished stitching the pieces I cut them to shape and the cut some mounting board to back them.  For the blocks I used eight individual pieces so they would bend in the right places.

I used double-sided tape to stick the edges to the back of the square cards and then used more tape to fix some blue felt on the reverse.  I did the same for the two octagons.

I stitched the two ends together, whip stitched along the edge and then whip stitched the base of the piece on all eight sides.  Finally I whip stitched the top to one edge of the side.

Because of my very basic finishing skills the lid did not sit perfectly straight so I added four little charms to help keep it in place.

Inside the box there is a little surprise!

Close-up of the lid design.

The original design has some bats and said Bag of Treats but the bats used fractionals and wouldn't have looked right over one.  And obviously this is a Box not a Bag!  The plan is to put sweets in it next year for Hallowe'en.

As ever, I learned some useful techniques for finishing; one being to use the felt to cover the join not to make it worse.  The other being octagons are really hard to make even!  Squares are easier.

Finally, we are jingling through the Advent Calendar Blog Hop.  I am delighted that my friend Astrid is taking part this year but while you are waiting to see her post I do recommend you visit this one of her's first - I Am Not a Turkey.  I don't know if this is an American thing or unique to her school but it is hilarious!  This is the third year she has posted and I love them, they make me laugh so much.  Enjoy!