Made By Hand

DIY air dry clay ornament tutorial from last year

I've started thinking about Christmas - day dreaming about all the crafts and gifts I'd like to try my hand at in the coming month. I've been perusing Pinterest, pinned a few things to my Christmas Craft Inspiration folder, I've written a list of family and friends we'll give presents to and I've been thinking about crafting and baking with the kids. And then reality kicks in and I'm reminded of how tired and unmotivated I am feeling whilst pregnant, how I've been told to 'just rest' by my doctor, how my pregnancy has been classed as 'high risk', and how much cleaning up those crafting and baking sessions necessitate...

Regardless, I so want to create a loving, memorable, handmade, simple Christmas. So this year, instead of trying to make as many of the gifts as possible myself, I will be turning to my favourite makers and crafters and buying from them. I'll focus on some simple crafts with the kids - like simple handmade Christmas cards, stamped wrapping paper and a paper bag advent calender. We'll be sticking to the golden rule for the children - 'Something they want, something they need, something to wear and something to read." And I won't be volunteering to do the family dinner here on the day either!

Last year I traded in the aisles of the major shopping centers for for the aisles of craft markets and online stores for our Christmas shopping. I pledged to celebrate a handmade Christmas and make as many gifts as I could, and buy everything else from Australian crafters. From wrapping paper to Christmas cards, we made as much ourselves. And what we didn't make, we brought from small businesses or thrifted. There was the occasional book for the hard to buy for, and this year there will be a bike with training wheels for a certain little boy. But my focus was on handmade and on encouraging others to think about where they are spending their money. 

This inspired the 12 Days of Christmas giveaway on my blog, where twelve of my favourite makers showcased their wares and one item a day was given away to one lucky reader. This year I am running a similar giveaway, only all 12 items will be included in the one giveaway, which will be open for one week, with one winner. So, to celebrate the season of giving, and to encourage all of us to think handmade and local, I have asked eleven of my favourite crafters to join me in a special giveaway which will be posted Monday. I would love it if you would consider these clever crafters when looking for your Christmas gifts.

Have you been thinking about Christmas? 
Or crafting for Christmas?
Do you buy handmade?

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. :)

How to make advertising buttons for blogs

I've been asked a few times how to make advertising buttons for blogs. And while I'm no computer expert, the following is the simplest way that I have found to do it, so I thought I would share. I use picmonkey.com, a free online photo editing program, to turn a photo like the one above into an advertising image like the one below. I also use picmonkey to make my blog headers and some of my image mosaics. 

This image is 170 x 170 pixels

To start, open picmonkey and click Edit an image. A pop up window will allow you to select an image from your computer. Using the editing tools in the left side bar (see image below) you can now change the contrast, add filters and play with your image. Then, to make the image smaller and square like the example above, select Crop and change the numbers in the box so that they are both the same - we want a square image - it doesn't matter at this point what the numbers are. I used 2243. Then click on Scale photo. This way the image window will stay square and you can adjust how big or small you want the square crop to be. When you are happy click Apply. If you change your mind you can always go back with the curved arrow keys above the image.

To resize the image, simply go to Resize and type in 170 in each box.

Then, to add text, click on the P on the furtherst left of the screen and choose your font. You can change the size, colour, transparency etc of the font with the Text box on the right and the white guidelines around the text itself. 

When you are happy save your work and you are done! Simple, yes?

Once you have your image, to add it to the side bar on your blog, log into your blogger dashboard and from there go to layout. Click Add a gadget, select Image, un-check Shrink to fit, choose the image file from the computer, copy and paste the link you want the image to link to and then save it. Then move it in to position  on your layout, save arrangement and ta-dah, it's done. 

I hope that all makes sense! Feel free to ask any questions you might have.

Do you use a different method? Is it easier, or does it have more options? Feel free to share in the comments.

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PS. And to make a screen shot on your laptop like I have done above, press Ctrl and PrntScr at the same time, open a Paint document and click Paste, then Save. To edit out the screen tab bars at the top and bottom of the screen shots (you'll see what I mean if you make a screen shot) I cropped the images in picmonkey. :)

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.

Christmas Ornament Tutorials & Swap details

L-R: DIY ornaments, clay birds,star decoration,
embroidered felt ornament, impressions in clay, smocked ornaments,
crochet snowflake, pinecone ornaments, folded ornaments.

Today is the last day to sign up for the handmade Christmas ornament swap! Thanks to all those who have put their names down and sent me their details. I have more names on the list than emails so far though! If you have signed up but haven't emailed me yet, please take a moment now to send me your address, likes, dislikes and the number of ornaments you wish to create/receive. Thank you!

There are so many beautiful and clever crafty Christmas ornament tutorials out there. I found those above after a short search and hope they will inspire or guide you as you start thinking about the ornaments you intend to make. Etsy has a list of 101 Handmade Ornament Tutorials. If you've posted an ornament tutorial on your blog before, please share it in the comments.

Once I have chased up everyone's details I will start partnering the swappers up, then email you your partners details. Don't forget to keep them a secret! 

At the end of the swap I will post another link list that you can add a link to your finished and received ornaments, so we can all have a look.

Like like

Inspiration, tutorials, podcasts and sweet things that find themselves in my bookmarks (and an unrelated photo of my puss cat.)

The perfect knot hair style tutorial

Five quick fixes to make your blog instantly more readable

This American Life podcast 

33 ways to stay creative
Turn your instagrams into magnets (and use this code to get $2 off your order: FRIEND616P)
Giant crochet doily rug 
tweek studios, found via Pocket Carnival, love the chess piece wine stoppers
Vincent Van Gogh colouring book 
Rohan's post on the downfalls of owning stuff




Any bookmarks you would care to share? 
Where do your spend time online?

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Another rainy day of quiet here today, as we nurse the little one through a cold and ear infection. My hands have been kept occupied with air dry clay, customers jewellery repairs and knitting, while my mind is free to wander. 

Inspired by tea with lucy and Sodapop Design, via Handmade Romance.

Pip's Blog Tour...

"Hello Pip, lovely to meet you! I'm Christina and this is my dear little boy, Cohen.

Let me take you coat and come in and have a seat.

I think you will know most of these ladies? Of course, it is a small world isn't it?

Tea? Sandwich? Scone? I made them myself.

I have been so looking forward to us all meeting like this. Thank you so much Pip for making the time for this lovely visit, I can't wait to see what you have been working on!"

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"How exciting to be visiting Christina today! I thought we could refashion these napkins (or whatever they are ...!) They are much used, tea stained and unravelling, so a re-make is just the thing! These are perfect for prettily picking up scorching hot coffee pots or tea pots.

Don't you dare use them on any grubby fry pans!" - Pip.

Ok, I am off to raid my basket full of linens!

-

PS. My University application has been accepted! I start studying again next month.