DIY : Christmas headband

Last year I made this super simple, eye catching headband for Mima, she was too young to enjoy it but this Christmas it is number one on her outfit list. All you need is:
tinsel
headband
hot glue gun

Glue the tinsel on to the headband.
Voila!

DIY : salt dough star decorations

Over the past week Mima and I have made some decorations for the Christmas tree and gifts. One is salt dough stars. I used the recipe in 'Recipes For Play', full of loads of great ideas, but there are recipes for salt dough on the internet.
Basically you make a dough from flour, salt, oil, lemon juice and warm water. Knead it and let it rest then get creating.
I rolled the dough out and we cut shapes with a star cookie cutter. I used a chopstick to put holes in the stars for the twine. I then placed them on a lined baking tray and baked them on low for 4 hours or you can leave it to dry for 48 hours.

Mima painted them and I added bakers twine for hanging to finish.

DIY : peg santa

A few months ago I received a lovely email requesting detailed instructions for the peg Santa I posted an image of last Christmas.

I have tweaked him a little but here are instructions for everyone.
You will need:
the template - print at A4

a wooden peg
paint - red, black for his boots and blue for eyes
paintbrush
felt - red, white, black and grey
a loop of bakers twine for hanging
a hot glue gun
a large glass to sit them on while you work

1. Print template and cut out all the felt pieces.
2. Sit the pegs around the top of your glass. I always make more than one at a time.
3. Paint the red areas - body, legs and top of his head.
4. Paint the boots black.

5. Glue on his red felt cone shaped body. I place a dot of glue at the top front of his body then down one felt edge at the back, then overlay the other edge of the felt. I have noted where to put the glue on the template in red.
6. Add the white felt beard, hat and boot trims. When gluing the hat trim place the two ends of the bakers twine loop under the felt at the back of his head.
7. Glue on the black belt so the ends meet at the front of his belly.

8. Cover this join by gluing on the grey felt rectangle, his buckle.
9. Glue the white arm trim to the short flat edge of his arm, glue front then fold and glue in place to cover the back as well. Then place a dash of glue at the top curved end of the arm and attach to Santa's body.
10. Lastly add to dots of blue for the eyes.

flying fox

We have had a few inside days over the holidays so I have had to come up with ideas to entertain Mima. One successful creation that was used all day was this flying fox. It was from a childhood memory of a cable car I made as a child and loved.
It is so simple, you need:
a matchbox
twine
safety pin
scissors
tape (I used a small amount of tape to reinforce the holes where the twine threads through the box)

From the start of the journey to their destination make sure the twine is one a steep incline and nice and tight. Hours of fun, whoosh!

fast boats

Like most people in New Zealand we have been watching the America's Cup, which Mima calls the 'fast boats'. Today was rainy and with nothing else to do we made fast boats and raced them in the bath. So easy just a cork with a tooth pick mast and paper sail (which Mima decorated) and the all important keel - made from a paper clip, coin (for weight) and duct tape to attach the coin.

moo's present for mima : handpainted beads

Wow Mima just turned 2!
This year Moo wanted to make something special herself for Mima. I had a bunch of really nice wooden beads, so we decided to paint them and make a necklace. Moo chose the Neon Pink acrylic paint. 

She handpainted the beads and once dry threaded them onto cord with some big buttons and some shiny wooden beads we had.

Tip: To make threading easier for little hands, wrap some tape tightly around the end. 

Happy BIrthday Mima my little friend, love from Moo x.

around my house : eight

The ultimate dollhouse.

I have recently completed a little project I have been thinking about for years, miniature interiors. I am slightly obsessed with thinking about interior spaces. As a print designer I am always thinking about patterns for fabric and walls. 
Each image has a real object (blueberries, flower, thyme, acorn) which illustrates the scale of these models. I have created and designed everything else.
At the moment they are nice prints hanging in our lounge which I love to look at, I hope you do too x

DIY : cloud mobile

Since we love clouds so much, I thought I would share the cloud mobile I made for Mima's room.
You will need:
Felt for cloud and raindrops, 2 of each (front and back)
Sewing scissors
Sewing machine
Pins
Embroidery thread for eyes and mouth
Thread to sew
Thread for hanging
Needle

Here is a template if you need it. You will need to print it A3.

1. First cut all your cloud and raindrop pieces. 

2. Use chalk to draw on the clouds face, then embroider the eyes and mouth.
3. Pin the two cloud pieces together, front and back, right sides facing out.

4. Sew and stuff.
5. Sew up the hole, I also did this using a sewing machine.

6. Repeat with each raindrop.
7. Lay out the cloud and raindrops on the floor.

8. Then connect each raindrop to the cloud using thread.
9. Hang and enjoy.

DIY : cat mask

We have had a few birthdays for Mima's friends lately and I wanted a fun homemade gift to include in their present. Since Mima's favourite animal is a cat I decided cat masks would be perfect. 
Below are some basic instructions...
Here is a template, you will need to size it and print it.

I made mine out of felt but you could also use card, cut all the pieces.

Then use a hot glue gun to glue all the pieces together.

I created shape with the ears by folding them back and glueing them in place.

To finish add some elastic. Cut small holes, one either side of the face about 0.5cm in from the edge of the checks. Thread black elastic through the holes and tie them in place.
So cute! 

DIY : doll face purse

You will need:
felt - hair, skin and eyes
ribbon for strap
thread - edge of hair, black crosses on eyes, lips
glue
scissors
needle
pins
sewing machine

1. Glue the bottom edge of the 'hair' felt piece to the top edge of the 'skin' felt piece.

2. Do a decorative running stitch along the join, this will also reenforce it.

3. On the front, stitch a small curve for the lips.
4. Glue on the two blue diamonds for eyes.

5. Stitch a black cross on each eye.

6. To attach the strap, lay the back flat then create a large loop with the ribbon, let the two ends overlap and run in opposite directions (these end will be the tie closer).

7. Stitch the strap in place.

8. Lay the front over the back and pin together. Sew up the sides and bottom edge.

DIY : ribbon wand

Ribbon wands- so good for indoor play on raining days and homemade birthday presents.

You'll Need:
10mm dowel 
25mm  ribbon
15mm split ring
Small ring screw
Washi tape

Method:
Cut your dowel into wand lengths using a little saw - the standard length from hardware store is 1.8m, which makes into 4 x 45cm wands.
Sand the ends so they are nice and smooth.
Screw your ring screw into one end of the dowel - the dowel is soft so this is very easy.
Decorate your wand if you wish - this time I have used some cute washi tape my friend gifted me from a recent trip to Japan. I have also dip painted wand or left plain.
Cut a 2.5m length of ribbon, fold in half and thread through your split ring, create a loop and stitch in place. 
We''re ready for play!

DIY : rainbow badge

This super simple badge is the perfect accessory for any little girl. Everyone I have made them for LOVES them.

You will need:
fimo - I choose to use four colours
badge back
grease proof paper
hot glue gun
oven
knife
rolling pin
a hard surface to work on, I used a plastic chopping board

1. First place one colour of the fimo between grease proof paper and roll into a snake, repeat for each colour.

2. Starting with the darkest colour create a narrow arch, then working darkest to lightest place the other coloured fimo snakes around the outside of this arch to create a rainbow.

3. Cover with grease proof paper and gently roll with the rolling pin.
4. Then using a knife cut the uneven ends off.
5. Bake using manufacturers instructions to harden.

6. Finally hot glue gun the badge in place on the back of the rainbow.

DIY feather headdress

for Moo and her tribe of mischief mates...

DIY Feather Headdress 

You'll need:
Large white feathers x5
Assortment of small coloured feathers 8 -12
Buttons and sequins - whatever else you feel like decorating with
25mm wide x 90cm long ribbon or grosgrain tape
15mm wide x 30cm long ribbon or grosgrain tape
Needle and thread
Craft glue
Sewing machine

Method:
Fold your 25mm ribbon in half to find the centre front for your headdress.
Place the white feather evenly along 15cm in the centre of your 25mm ribbon, stick down with a little craft glue. 
Place coloured feather over the white ones  extending out to the sides a further 5cm, stick down with craft glue.
Place 15mm ribbon over the top of the feathers, fold raw ends under 5mm and stick in place. Stitch over the top of this ribbon to secure all the feathers. 
Now decorate by glueing on your buttons and sequins. You may want to hand stitch these to make them less likely to fall off. 
Keep the ribbon ends long to tie up behind your head.

DIY : cloud light shade

Last week we had Mima's room painted, a lovely pale grey-blue colour. I wanted to create a new light shade for the center of her room, and thought a cloud would be perfect. 
Here it is...

To make one you will need:
LOTS of white tissue paper
white balloons - I used eight
double sided tape
vaseline
string
wallpaper paste
the top wire hoop and central hook from a paper lantern, you need to connect these two parts. I bent the wire around the hoop and then covered the wire ends with tape.

1. First blow up all your balloons and arrange them to create a cloud-like shape. I used small pieces of double sided tape to connect the balloons.

2. Tie the string to a hook on the roof, then slide the top wire hoop from a paper lantern on to this string, and tie the other end of the string to a balloon end within the cloud. The wire hop should sit snuggly at the top of your cloud.

3. Then tear your tissue paper into strips and mix up your wallpaper paste (it would be good to do this in an ice cream container or something that you intend to throw away).

4. Grease the balloons in a thin layer of vaseline.

5. Then start placing glue covered strips of tissue paper on the balloons. Starting at the top wire hoop, you need to make sure this is securely in place, so wrap strips of glued tissue around the wire and back onto the balloons. Completely cover the balloons in a few layers of tissue. 

6. Leave it hanging for a couple of days to completely dry. Then using something sharp pop the balloons and remove them. I crumpled the shape a little to make it more cloud-like.

Hang it up and enjoy.