I only needed 3 little owls for my 3 boys.... so what to do with the spare....
turn it into a Christmas shirt of course!
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Waste Not
The owl softie panel I recently bought from Spotlight
had 4 small owls and 2 large owls.
I only needed 3 little owls for my 3 boys.... so what to do with the spare....
turn it into a Christmas shirt of course!
I only needed 3 little owls for my 3 boys.... so what to do with the spare....
turn it into a Christmas shirt of course!
Some May Say Late, Others Will say Head Start.
Bright idea on Christmas Eve morning to make a couple of reindeer softies... didn’t get them finished before Christmas.
But at least they will be ready for next year!
These were made using the Molly Monkey pattern I already had, ditched the tail and ear pieces.
Made felt antlers and drew my own eye and ear patterns.
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Hoot Hoot Little Owl Family
I couldn’t resist buying this Christmas panel during Spotlight's recent 50% off Christmas fabric.
It felt a little cheating to merely cut out the image, sew, turn and stuff.
I considered adding stitching details and ribbons and buttons etc.... but soon opted for the easy way.
The big ones make great decoration pillows during this festive season... and the little ones.... seem to be flying around the house, scattered in different rooms.
It felt a little cheating to merely cut out the image, sew, turn and stuff.
I considered adding stitching details and ribbons and buttons etc.... but soon opted for the easy way.
The big ones make great decoration pillows during this festive season... and the little ones.... seem to be flying around the house, scattered in different rooms.
Monday, December 12, 2011
SUPER Cheap Stocking Holders
These stocking holders cost me less the $2 to
make! And look GREAT holding my handmade stockings!
HOW TO
1)I went to the local hardware store, who told me to go and look in their scrap wood bin to see if something suited my project
They even helped by cutting the piece I found in to my desired size. Because it was a left over bit of wood, they didn’t charge me anything, however even if they do charge you a little, I'm sure it would only be a little, and perhaps $1 per cut... it would still be super cheap :)
2)I bought a packet of screw in hooks (from memory these were $1.50 for a packet of 6)
3)I wrapped each block in wrapping paper I already had here from previous years.
4) Placed a little piece of sticky tape where I will be putting the hook, so the paper would rip.
And screwed in the hook!
5) Add bow, ribbon or other gift decorations to really set it off.
And you’re DONE!
It's that SIMPLE!
HOW TO
1)I went to the local hardware store, who told me to go and look in their scrap wood bin to see if something suited my project
They even helped by cutting the piece I found in to my desired size. Because it was a left over bit of wood, they didn’t charge me anything, however even if they do charge you a little, I'm sure it would only be a little, and perhaps $1 per cut... it would still be super cheap :)
2)I bought a packet of screw in hooks (from memory these were $1.50 for a packet of 6)
3)I wrapped each block in wrapping paper I already had here from previous years.
4) Placed a little piece of sticky tape where I will be putting the hook, so the paper would rip.
And screwed in the hook!
5) Add bow, ribbon or other gift decorations to really set it off.
And you’re DONE!
It's that SIMPLE!
Best of all, I can easily change the paper each year to bring in different colours or if I change my colour theme all together!
Mini Christmas Trees
How super cute are these?
AND a great use of your Christmas scraps.
AND a great use of your Christmas scraps.
HOW TO
1)Using a compass draw the largest circle on a piece of paper (for the large tree I just did the largest an A4 page would allow)
2) Then make your compass 1cm smaller and continue to down size your circle in this manner to the smallest circle you like to make- remember it halves again in size when you sew it (be sure to use the same centre point inside the previous)
3) Starting with the largest template, cut this out and out of your fabric
4) Trim your template to the next circle and cut out of a contrast fabric
5) Continue this until all the circles are cut out of fabric
6) Then it is time to make the yo-yos
7) Join together, almost like you are threading beads by sliding the needle and thread through the centre of each yo-yo, one at a time. And finish off the top with a normal button or star button.
And you’re DONE!
It's that SIMPLE!
I used a wooden cotton spool (which had been cut in half through the middle) and hot glued to the bottom as the tree trunk!
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Gifts for Under $10!
Handmade gifts are becoming bigger and
bigger, and I love making handmade for personalisation (and more often than not
it's more cost effective on my pocket)
So I thought I would share with you, a gift I have been making for a few years now and always appreciated (and one year when I had a new born, I had a few disappointed people when they didn’t receive this)
Best of all, it costs under $10 per gift!
you will need:
2 different plain colour sheets of card stock ($1.10 each= $2.20) - the more calendars you use this may be 2 per 2 calendars, because you use a large piece of piece A and small of piece B on one calendar, and the other will be the opposite
1 sheet of print scrapbooking paper (up to $2)
buttons, ribbons and other embellishments (I benefit from having a heap here, but you can often get coordinating ribbons from scrapbooking shops for 50c a metre)
standard photo (15c from big w)
memo board calendar from reject shop ($2) - this can be found in the craft/stationary/diary section or near the front counter. it has a white board/memory board at the top and a whiteboard pen, but it provides a nice sturdy top to cover with our new scrapbooked layout
minimum total of $7.35 (working on 2 different ribbons)
I make these for all of the grandparents, great grandparents and 1 of my aunty's.
I also write in our birthdates, so they are never forgotten.
So I thought I would share with you, a gift I have been making for a few years now and always appreciated (and one year when I had a new born, I had a few disappointed people when they didn’t receive this)
Best of all, it costs under $10 per gift!
you will need:
2 different plain colour sheets of card stock ($1.10 each= $2.20) - the more calendars you use this may be 2 per 2 calendars, because you use a large piece of piece A and small of piece B on one calendar, and the other will be the opposite
1 sheet of print scrapbooking paper (up to $2)
buttons, ribbons and other embellishments (I benefit from having a heap here, but you can often get coordinating ribbons from scrapbooking shops for 50c a metre)
standard photo (15c from big w)
memo board calendar from reject shop ($2) - this can be found in the craft/stationary/diary section or near the front counter. it has a white board/memory board at the top and a whiteboard pen, but it provides a nice sturdy top to cover with our new scrapbooked layout
minimum total of $7.35 (working on 2 different ribbons)
And...
TAAAA-DAAAAAH
I make these for all of the grandparents, great grandparents and 1 of my aunty's.
I also write in our birthdates, so they are never forgotten.
Friday, December 9, 2011
Results From Our Activity Advent Calendar
I thought I should show some photos from the
creations the boys (and I) have made from the instructions in our activity
advent calendar.
They are looking great on their tree and around the house as additional decorations.
They are looking great on their tree and around the house as additional decorations.
Monday, December 5, 2011
Christmas Treat Tubes
I thought I would avoid the standard candy cane this year for the kids friends (though now this idea seems very popular lol)
But here are our Christmas treat tubes to go with the kids Christmas cards.
I bought the tubes from Pack it in.
And the gift tags were from The Reject Shop, $2 for 16.
But here are our Christmas treat tubes to go with the kids Christmas cards.
I bought the tubes from Pack it in.
And the gift tags were from The Reject Shop, $2 for 16.
Colouring Carry All
For many years I have wanted a child (other than my own) to make gifts for, for Christmas, as I had so many ideas running through my head.
Now this year I had a 7 year old to make for and I became completely stumped!
Thankfully browsing my local Big W I found bunch of colouring in books on sale for $2 each and an idea sparked.
This colouring carry all has a detachable pencil case, plenty of room in the main part for colouring in books (currently has 3 from the sale, and room for more) and the small front pocket is holding an A5 sketch book since this photo.
Now this year I had a 7 year old to make for and I became completely stumped!
Thankfully browsing my local Big W I found bunch of colouring in books on sale for $2 each and an idea sparked.
This colouring carry all has a detachable pencil case, plenty of room in the main part for colouring in books (currently has 3 from the sale, and room for more) and the small front pocket is holding an A5 sketch book since this photo.
Saturday, December 3, 2011
"But The Christmas Tree Isn't a Girl"
Is what my son said when I showed him the new tree skirt (after I first tried to tell him I had made a skirt for him to wear)
I have wanted a handmade tree skirt since last year, but wasn't confident with my sewing then, so had planned to put it on my sewing to do list for this year.
Kind of slipped my mind until I pulled out my tacky store bought tree skirt, and discovered ALOT of storage staining.
After quickly drawing a rough template of an 8th of the previous tree skirt, it went straight in the bin.
And here is my beautiful new tree skirt (matches the stockings too :))
I have wanted a handmade tree skirt since last year, but wasn't confident with my sewing then, so had planned to put it on my sewing to do list for this year.
Kind of slipped my mind until I pulled out my tacky store bought tree skirt, and discovered ALOT of storage staining.
After quickly drawing a rough template of an 8th of the previous tree skirt, it went straight in the bin.
And here is my beautiful new tree skirt (matches the stockings too :))
Friday, December 2, 2011
Activity Advent Calendar
As well as our chocolate advent calendar,
I also thought I’d use our fabric hanging advent calendar for a selection of
Christmas activities, to help us get in to the spirit of Christmas.
Some are for the whole family to do,
and some are just a little quiet activity for the kids.
As well as some will be used for gifts,
decorations and other things that need to be done at Christmas time :)
1. Decorate Christmas tree
2. Write wish list to Santa
3. Colouring activity.
4. Christmas puzzles
2. Write wish list to Santa
3. Colouring activity.
4. Christmas puzzles
6. Visit Santa with wish list, and get
photo taken
8. Make paper chain decoration
10. Write Christmas cards for friends
13. Paper shape tree decorations
14. Hand and foot print creations
15. Make pipe cleaner candy cane
decorations
18. Watch a Christmas movie with
popcorn
20. Look at Christmas lights
21. Make paper lantern
22. Make Christmas cards for family's
gifts on Christmas day
24. Bake cookies to leave for Santa (and left overs
for Christmas day)