Easter Gift DIY - Simple and Sweet

Our Easter crafting has been quite 'relaxed' this year. While in years past you would find me gathering supplies in order to paint paper mache eggs, decorate biscuits, craft cards etc. this year a teething baby has taken it's toll on my energy reserves and things have been kept quite simple. An Easter mask made at an Under 5's craft morning. Colouring-in Easter pictures at the library. The traditional bonnet making afternoon at school. But I did want to do a little something to get in the spirit. A thank you gift for Cohen's beautiful teacher, whose positive outlook and love of science have my six year old loving school.

Inspired by Pinterest, I stuck a sweet little porcelain bunny to a recylced jar, gave the lid a coat of gold spray paint, filled the jar with eggs, wrapped it all up with a saved ribbon and ta-dah, this little gift was less than $10. These jars would look just as sweet with almost anything on top, from a plastic dinosaur to a seed pod. 

They do make for a darling trinket jar and would be perfect in a craft room.

Damn Cute DIY's

L-R: Magical forest in jar, Miniature Pinata DIY, Dandelion Paperweight video,

Cat toe shoes, Wedding decoration, Mini string DIY's,

Whale, Modular gift bow, Arm knitting

A curated collection of cuteness I found while rambling around Pinterest. There are so many talented and creative people out there making such sweet and fun projects. That Dandelion paperweight has just gone straight to the top of my to-make list! I have resin and dandelions, time to find a vending machine for the 'mould'...

What's on your to-make list?

Scotch and Washi Tape DIY Nursery Art

I've been lucky enough to work with Scotch tape this month, as they encourage crafters to 'Make it Amazing' and win an Ipad Mini in the process. They sent me a box of goodies and I couldn't wait to have a play with their funky new tape. I knew just what I wanted to do. I have had an idea for a 'Princess and the Pea' inspired piece of art for Emerson's room for some time. 

I wanted to share it with you, because it is so simple and sweet that anyone can do it, no matter what your level of ability. Perfect for those who think they aren't crafty, for kids and for those who just love pretty tape...

You will need -

an assortment of Scotch tape and Washi tape

scissors

paper

black pen

frame

Step one- Draw a bed frame shape of your choosing in pencil, then draw over it again in pen when you are satisfied with how it looks. It doesn't need to be perfect, no ruler necessary, the imperfections make it all the sweeter. Make sure to leave room for the mattresses, as the tapes tend to be a bit opaque and you will see any black lines beneath them.

Step two - Start layering your Scotch tape and Washi tape in what ever order you like, at different lengths, keeping the corners of the mattresses in about the same place. Again, this doesn't need to be perfect, we will be drawing over these lines with the black pen. If you make a mistake the Scotch and Washi tape are both easily removed without tearing the paper. Gently pull them off and re-position them.

Step three - Cut another piece of tape to finish off the top of the mattress. I stuck the tape down, and with pencil drew on it the lines of the tape beneath. Then I peeled it off again, cut along the lines and stuck it back down. Go around all your mattresses with the black pen. Keep it free hand and a bit wobbly. Round the corners of the mattresses with your pen too if you like. This just finishes it all off and ties it all together.

Step four - Pop it in the frame, hang it on the wall, or place it on a shelf. 

Step five - Step back and admire your super sweet Scotch and Washi tape DIY nursery art.

Then enter the competition for a chance to win one of five Ipad Mini's!

Or, you could always click over and vote for me... :)

Cute Crochet Flower DIY

As the weather warms and wool and leggings are being replaced by short sleeves and skirts, Emerson's home made wardrobe was missing a few staples. I wanted a few t-shirts to mix and match with her skirts and shorts, but I didn't want too bright prints, lots of glitter and graffiti or lots of pink. A hard ask when looking at the girls department. I did find some sweet tops at Target with crochet embellishments on them for $18, which inspired this little homemade version. I picked up this plain T-shirt for $4 and had the acrylic yarn in my stash.

A little hooking and stitching later and Emerson has a sweet, thrifty new t-shirt and a happy Mama!

Simple, quick, cute and thrifty! I crocheted up these little flowers, making them up as I went, then played with the arrangement and stitched them on. I wrote the patterns down for you too. I think these little flowers would be just as sweet on hair clips, cardigans or hair ties.

 

 

5 Petal Crochet Flower

 

8 ply 3.5mm hook

Chain 4, Slip stitch to join - creating a loop

Chain 1, 8 Single Crochet in to hole, join

Chain 3, 2 Double Crochet in to next stitch, slip stitch in to next stitch, 3 Double Crochet in to next stitch, continue until last stitch, slip stich, cut thread and pull though loop to finish.

Weave in ends.

 

Chain 4, Slip stitch to join - creating a loop

 

Chain 1, 8 Single Crochet in to hole, join

 

Chain 3, 2 Double Crochet in to next stitch, slip stitch in to next stitch, 3 Double Crochet in to next stitch
 

Continue until last stitch, slip stich, cut thread and pull though loop to finish.

4 Petal Flower

 

8 ply 2.5mm hook

Chain 4, slip stitch to create a loop

Chain 3, 2 Double Crochet in to hole, slip stitch, 3 Double Crochet, SS, 3 DC, SS, 3 DC, SS, cut thread and pull tail through loop to finish.

Weave in ends.

 

Chain 4, slip stitch to create a loop

 

Chain 3, 2 Double Crochet in to hole, slip stitch, 3 Double Crochet, SS, 3 DC, SS, 3 DC, SS
 

Cut thread and pull tail through loop to finish.

Let me know if that doesn't make sense!

If you make some flowers I'd love to see them - leave a link in the comments. :)

Doll House DIY - Before

 

Had you told me, prior to having a daughter, that I would be planning to renovate a dolls house. And that I found perusing and purchasing the intended furniture and accessories for said doll house quite exciting, I most certainly would have laughed. Such things would not have fitted with the image I had of myself. Funny the power motherhood has to transform one. It is with unabashed glee though, that I am here to inform you that this darling, well loved dolls house is to be my next project. A gift from a friend, saved from her childhood. A slow burn project, as I intend to give the finished product to Emerson for her third birthday - which is still a year and a half away. I'm thinking that that is a good age for her to appreciate and enjoy a doll house, and not just chew on the entire contents?

 

In the meantime I am looking forward to stripping it, re-wallpapering and re-flooring it and adding brought and DIY'd furniture and accessories. Already I am feeling incredibly inspired by the fantastic creativity and ingenuity Max employed while decorating a similar style doll house. 

 

So, here are the before photos. I hope to be referring to this post again in the future when I reveal a sweet, finished doll house for a gorgeous three year old.

 

You just never stop learning about yourself, do you?

$4 Wall Art DIY

I've been working on a simple, colourful DIY art work for our dining room this morning. I'm so pleased with how it has turned out! I wanted something quick and in-keeping with our space. Not too precious, but fun and handmade. I had been looking at framed screen prints for this wall, but there wasn't room in our budget after our kitchen renovations. Instead I came up with a thrifty alternative using cut coloured paper, which gives a similar look, for the sum total of $4!

I decided on a tea theme, but you could really make this your own with any sort of silhouette or design. (We've had a rainy, overcast morning, so I apologise for the washed out photos.)

I picked up the large piece of white paper at a news agency for $1, and the book of coloured construction paper from a discount variety store for $3. Alternatively, you could buy the paper in individual sheets from the news agency for about 50 cents an A4 sheet. You could also use scrap book paper or recycle printed paper - like maps or sheet music.

Sketch out your design on a spare piece of paper, lay it over the top of a few pieces of your chosen construction paper and cut out the design. This saves time, as you don't need to trace out the design several times, and keeps the shapes uniform. If you aren't confidant about drawing your own design look for simple shapes you can trace from children's drawing books and magazines, or Google silhouettes of your desired shape and print them out.

Play with the colour and layout until you are happy with the result. Initially, I had in mind to create a tea pot and four cups. After cutting and playing, my outcome was quite different, and I added an extra cup and saucers to the overall design.

You aren't limited by the size of your paper. To create the tea pot I cut the components separately and tucked the handle and spout under the body of the tea pot when I stuck it down.

Stick down all your pieces, grab some blu-tac and hang your masterpiece.

Stand back and admire it!

When the budget allows I intend to frame my DIY art work. I'm also thinking of adding some floral designs to the cups and teapot using a white pen. In the meantime I have some colouring in to do with my little ones. 

If you have a go at making your own cut paper wall art I would love to see! 

If you like this tutorial, why not pin it? :)

Air-dry clay ornament tutorial

I love playing with clay. It was always the high light of art class in school. I have dreams of one day throwing a pot on a wheel. But in the meantime, my forays into clay are on a smaller scale. Some of you may remember the doily plates and brooch I once made from air-dry clay. While brainstorming about the ornaments I would make for the swap those creative ideas came back me. I made these simple and sweet ornaments and took photos of the process in case you were interested in making some too. 

1. String, straw, doilies, DAS air dry clay (under $7 at Lincraft), cookie cutter, rolling pin, baking paper.
2. Pinch off some clay and roll it into a ball in the palm of your hands and squash it a little on to the baking paper.
3. Roll it out to about a 6mm (1/4 inch) thick.
4. Position doily over the top of the clay and gently roll rolling pin over doily to impress the texture on to the clay. (If it doesn't work the way you hoped, roll it into a ball and start again.)
5. Use the cookie cutter to cut out the desired shape and the straw to poke out a hole for the string.
6. Use the side of the straw to smooth out the edge of the ornament. (The cut edge of the air dry clay looks like torn paper, but the frayed edge can be rubbed smooth with the straw, or gently filed off once dry.)
7. Leave to dry on a sheet baking paper. Pop doilies in the wash.
8. Attach the string and admire your handiwork.

It's a great project to do with kids. When Cohen got up from his nap he joined me in making them. His bumpy little ornaments are perfectly imperfect and will be pride of place on our tree this year. You can have fun and experiment with them. You could use different shapes and textures, or letter punches. You could also paint them, dip them in glue then glitter, or engrave a message or the year on the reverse. They would look great on a gift as well.

I will be sending sets of three of these ornaments to my swap partners. Has anyone else started on their swap ornaments? Leave a comment and a link so we can come visit!

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More creative spaces here.

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Thrifted spoons and alphabet punches from the depths of father's wondrous work bench.
Perfectly imperfect.

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Tutorials found here and here.