Bring the joy and celebration of holiday traditions from around the world to your home this season.

From the quaint custom of placing hand-painted luminaries in windows throughout Ireland to the beautiful embroidery folk art found in Scandinavia, Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores has created craft projects inspired by traditions from around the world to share with your loved ones. For more crafting inspiration, project guides and supplies, visit www.joann.com.

Hand-Painted Holiday Luminaries

Skill Level: No experience necessary

Crafting Time: 1 to 2 hours

It’s an Irish tradition to place lit candles in windows.

Let this quaint holiday custom add warmth and joy to your home.

Glass containers with handpainted designs and flameless candles look welcoming in windows or on a table.

Supplies and Tools:

Black marker

White computer paper

Computer and printer

Provided templates

Scissors

Square and rectangular glass containers

Tape

Enamel paint: red, green and white

Flat brush

Detail brush

Flameless or wax candles

Create templates using a black marker to draw snowflakes and other decorative holiday motifs on paper. Visit www.joann.com/luminarytemplate to print out additional templates. Cut the templates to fit inside the desired glass containers.

Tape templates securely to the inside of glass container with design facing out. This will act as a guide when painting.

Using enamel paint colors, paint over template designs on glass surface.

Create snowflakes, trees, words, deer, etc. It may take several coats of paint to attain desired coverage. Let paint dry between coats.

When finished, let the painted design dry completely. Remove templates from the inside of containers. Fill the container with flameless or wax candles to display. Note: If using wax candles, do not leave burning candles unattended.

Scandinavian Tree Skirt

Skill Level: Some experience necessary

Crafting Time: 3 to 5 hours

Artists from Scandinavia are famous for beautiful embroidery. Simple stitching and folk art patterns influence their style. A felt tree skirt showcasing these colorful Nordic designs offers a fresh look for your tree. It’s simple to make since it requires minimal sewing.

Supplies and Tools:

1 1/3 yards 72-inch wide cranberry felt for skirt

Scissors

Glass or mug, 3 inches in diameter

Provided design patterns

1/4 yard each felt for designs: olive green, green, red, dark maroon, gold, black, white

Embroidery floss in the same colors as felt designs

Hand embroidery needles

Tacky glue

Three 1-inch buttons and thread

Fold cranberry felt into quarters and mark for the center tree circle, 23 inches from corner. Cut out circle.

Mark and cut 1 1/2 inch from corner for trunk.

Cut through only one fold from center to edge for opening.

With skirt folded in half, mark scallops 1 inch from edge using mug or glass as template.

Cut scallops.

Visit www.joann.com/treeskirttemplate to print pattern pieces. Enlarge pattern pieces to sizes indicated. Following pattern pieces, cut each design as pictured. Layer colors. Add as many design elements as desired around skirt edge.

Embroider the felt shapes with simple stitches: running, blanket, French knot, daisy.

Divide skirt into sections and lay out finished pieces as desired.

Glue in place. Let dry.

Overlap back edge 3 inches. Cut three 1-inch buttonholes and sew on buttons.