An Alice in Wonderland Challenge.

 

 

A few weeks ago I was set a bit of a challenge from my sister. She is a bridesmaid for her friend and they were organising an Alice in Wonderland High Tea.

 

The challenge was this: she needed a pin-up board for a game. Sounds kinda simple. But I wanted to make it just a little bit different.

 

So thinking Alice in Wonderland theme, and having a little glance around Pintrest, I then took a look in my craft cupboard.... And what did I see? A roll of astro-turf. (who doesn't have a roll of fake lawn in there craft cupboard?)

 

Then I needed a frame. So I put the call out on Facebook asking if anyone had one they no longer needed. And what do you know? My neighbour gave me this!

 

 

 

Perfect! The glass in the corner was busted - but that was ok, as I didn't need the glass!

 

So then I just had to cut the grass to size and staple gun it into place!



 

 

Action shot of me!

 

And then I added some sting lines to make it usable.

 



 

 

My sister added some cute little tea cup pictures and wooden pegs. And TA DA! Here's the finished pic!

 

 

 

She also printed out this cute little teapot (she prettied it up a bit) and put it in a frame next to the pin-up board.

 

 

 

 

 

I did request a finished pic of it at the event - but I'm not sure if she took one! I'll update this post with it if she did!

 

And here the game she played:

 

 

All guests pick a teacup.

Each tea cup has a lucky number

Numbers are used through out the day for random tasks and prizes!

 

 

Oh and the best thing about this little task was that everything was recycled and FREE! 

To Infinity (Scarf) and Beyond!

 

 

I have a confession to make.... I'm a tad bit obsessed with scarves this winter. I think its the ease of being able to dress up a plain top whist keeping me warm at the same time!

 

Now you know me... I don't like to spend money on something I can make myself, so, I thought I'd make myself an infinity scarf, and show you how to do it at the same time!

 

Lets flash back about a year ago. I decided to make an infinity scarf for my mum and sis for Christmas. I kinda just winged it, as I couldn't understand the tutorials I found on how to do it. They turned out ok, but I now know the best way to make them. It's really easy and you can make up a scarf in less than 20mins once you know how. And now I'm going to show you!

 

What to do:

 

So firstly, you need a large piece of fabric. I found this amazing piece in the remnant bin at my fabric store (remnants get 50% off - BARGAIN!) This piece was just under a meter long and about 70cm wide.

 

 

Lay your fabric flat and fold it in half longways. Pin it together and stitch down the side. You will then have a 'tube' - with an opening at both ends.

 

Now turn it in the right way, and lay it flat again. (I put the seam in the middle facing up.)

Now take the bottom of your 'tube' and pull it up on itself. This will fold it back in half with the wrong side facing out.

 

 

Now you need to sew around the top. To do this, separate the tube so that you are sewing only the 2 pieces of fabric together. (don't sew all 4 together or you'll get in a huge mess!) Leave a few centimetres gap.

Using the gap, turn the scarf in the right way.

 

 

 

Hand stitch the gap closed, and your done!

I love my scarf!

After making this one, I think I may now have a sight obsession with making them too!

Weekend Project - Bunting

Whats better than balloons, streamers, tinsel and tacky decorations?? Whats handmade with love and care and can be used year after year?? BUNTING of course!!

I think using bunting to celebrate special occasions is a great tradition to start! I'm going to make each of the kids their own special ones for their birthdays, as well as a Christmas one...maybe Valentines, Easter, Halloween.... oh the possibilities are endless!!!!

Making bunting is something that I find really therapeutic. Maybe it's because of the repetition? Not sure really, but it's something that I enjoy, so I thought I would share it as a Weekend Project for you to try too.

So firstly - gather your fabric supplies. Either co-ordinated or random, or make it all from the same piece, it's up to you. You'll also need some Bias Binding Tape or ribbon or something to string it all together, Plus a sewing machine and your usual sewing supplies.

 

Then, I like to make a stencil. This makes it easier to keep all the pieces the same size. Empty cereal boxes come in really handy for stencil making! My stencil is about 18cm across the top, and measures about 23cm from the top to the point.

 

You then need to fold your fabric in half, with the pattern facing in, and pin together. Then either trace around the stencil or pin it on and cut out. Do this until you have your desired amount of 'flags' in each of your chosen fabric.

 

Stitch around each set of flags leaving minimal seam around the edge. I leave the top of the flag unstitched as this will be sewn later. Then cut any extra fabric off, so the stitching is as close to the edge as possible.

 

Turn the flags in the right way ensuring you have a good point at the end. I like to use a knitting needle to poke it all out.

 

Then iron your flags flat and order them how you would like them hung.

 

 

I use Bias Binding Tape along the top of my bunting. I fold it in half and iron it flat. Then I slip the top of each of the flags into the fold and pin down. You could easily run a length of ribbon across the top if you didn't have the Bias Tape.

 

 

Then sew it all together!

 

 

And there you have it! A funky new bunting to hang around the house or to use for a special occasion!

 

Why not try one for yourself this weekend! - or if you would prefer head over to my Etsy Store where I have some for sale!!

Weekend Project - Mouse Pad Making!

Whilst sitting at my computer, mouse in hand, trying to think of my next project, my eyes gazed down to my tatty old rubber mouse pad. Perfect. 

Ive been looking for a quick and simple project to use up my scrap fabric. A mouse pad will be perfect. 

Here's what I did:

Materials: 

scrap fabric

Piece of felt

Pins

Iron

Sewing machine

Step 1: Gather the scraps you wish to use. These can be either co-ordinating, random or just a single piece. 

Step 2: Cut your piece of felt to the desired size and shape of your mouse pad- who says they have to be squares? Why not try a heart or flower shape? 

Step 3: Pin the scraps together (patterns facing inside) and sew leaving minimal seem. 

Step 4: Unfold and iron piece flat. 

Step 5: Lay the right side down on felt. Sew around the edges leaving a gap of about 3cm. 

Step 6: Cut excess fabric off. 

Step 7: Turn in the right way and iron flat again. 

Step 8: Zig zag stitch around the outside of your mat, making sure to fold in the open edge. 

Step 8 Ta Da!!!! Your very own hand made mouse pad!!! 

Completely easy and would make a cool gift for Father's Day, Mother's Day, or a gift around the office!! 

Why not make one this weekend! 

Weekend Project- Chilli Garland

So a little while back I told you all how overrun with chillis we are in our house! Yes we have millions of chillis. I have been handing them out to family, friends, neighbours - anyone that will take them really!

 

I used a whole batch for some awesome Sweet Chilli Sauce, and now as the chilli seasom is finishing up, I thought I would make a Chilli Garland with the last lot from the trees - yes Trees, my plants are HUGE.

 

So this will be my first post in my new Weekend Projects series. Here's how I did it!

 

First I filled my bowl with an assortment of the chillis. Red- green - and orange, and all the shades inbetween.

 

 Then I used some embroidery thread and needle to string them all together

 

I like to thread randomly. The colours are amazing. They are so autumn-y!

 

And finally I have strung it up in the garden. It looks great as it spins in the wind! I know technically a garland is usually draped, or a circular shape - but I'm still going to call this a Garland as that sounds better than "Hanging Thing"!! 

**** BIG hint..... Don't touch your face whilst threading the chillies!!! And be sure to wash your hands well after! 

Here's some others I made as well. These ones are with some herbs from the garden. These smell so devine! 

  

 

So this weekend why not make your own garland? Maybe a herb or flower one?

 

Have Fun!

Today's little project

Todays Project - updating the wall art in my bedroom!

Its something that has been driving me crazy for ages now. The old pictures up in my room have been there for nearly 10 years now, from when we first built our house - as you can imagine I'm a bit sick of them now!!

So down they came, and on to making some new ones!

I just covered some canvas's with some material that I picked up cheap a while ago. I actually really liked this fabric and was waiting for the perfect project to come up to use it - and this was it!

I couldn't find my staple gun - so Hot Glue it had to be.

 

So there is just one slight problem now - they don't match the blue wall! So although I can cross off "replace bedroom pictures" off my "to do" list, now I have to add - paint bedroom wall!!