Category Archives: handmade

Crafting with Post-it Notes

We love taking inspiration from everyday items and the stormy weather has been perfect for staying indoors and getting crafty. 3M have just launched Post-it Notes Colour Cubes, packs of Post-it Notes in a range of vibrant hues. We were sent a selection of the new Post-it Notes Colour Cubes and challenged to create a piece of Post-it artwork with our favourite colours.

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Over the last week we’ve been inspired to have some fun indoors and so far we’ve made a photo booth backdrop, origami boxes and a temporary racetrack for cars!

We decided to create a London picture as the toddler loves maps at the moment. I let him pick the colours so we used the blue/green Post-it Notes Colour Cube.

First of all we copied the outline of Greater London onto a number of Post-it Notes and cut around it as closely as we could.

Then we chose our favourite London landmarks and copied them onto green Post-it Notes.

crafting with post-it notes

Finally we covered a canvas in the remaining colours to give a colourful backdrop to our picture and placed everything on top. A London picture created from Post-it Notes and a pair of scissors. What do you think?

Post-it note London

Don’t forget to check out the Post-it UK Facebook page for more ideas.  This post has been sponsored by 3M who provided a blank canvas and selection of Post-it Notes.

crafting with post-it notes

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Dyeing wool blankets

There’s something lovely about old wool blankets. They feel lovely and are easy to transform into something useful, thank goodness we no longer need them on our beds. I’ve been on the lookout for vintage wool blankets for ages and recently bought a double blanket in perfect condition in a charity shop in Frome for only £3.99. They seem to be getting harder to find but I was really pleased with this one. It still had it’s original label and was an unusual peach colour.

It was too big to use so I cut it into several smaller pieces and dyed two of the larger pieces with Dylon Bahama blue fabric dye and Tropical green fabric dye, both for use in a washing machine. They turned out really well which was lucky as I didn’t know how they’d mix with the original peach colour!

It seems an age ago that I made a badge blanket for the toddler. He quickly grew out of it as the blanket was cot-sized so once he stopped playing with it I carefully unpicked the badges and put them away. I’ve been meaning to stitch them on a larger blanket and, now he’s started building forts, it’s the perfect time.

badge blanket

I’ve been busy collecting more badges so I had quite a collection, in fact there were enough for a blanket for the toddler and his sister. They include Cath Kidston patches, vintage Girl Guide badges and some odd ones picked up in charity and vintage shops. Each one seems to tell a story and the children had great fun picking the ones they wanted.

So far I’ve finished the toddler’s blanket, using the green blanket, edged with navy blue binding. The toddler loves it and has been using it to hide under and snuggling under when he’s poorly.

badge blanket

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Day Zero – Month 31 (April)

Today you can find me guest posting over at PinAddicts Challenge about how to display vintage fabrics. If you haven’t yet, I would love it if you took a moment to vote for me in the BiBs Awards as I’ve been shortlisted in the Crafts section! (just click on the badge in the top right corner)

On the 19 September 2010 I started a Day Zero list: a place to record goals, discover new challenges, and gain motivation to achieve them. I made a list of 100 things I want to do over 1001 days. The list is due to be competed by 16 June 2013.

As I near the end of my Day Zero list my progress is slowing down so I don’t have much to report. In the last couple of weeks I have managed to complete

3.     Move house

Yep, today is Moving In Day!

67. Write 12 how-to crafty posts

I’ve had lots of fun with these so here’s my favourite 12 how-to posts

How to make a Toy Story garden container

Hand print dragon for St George’s Day

How to make an embroidered pegboard

Vintage bunting blanket

5 minute fortune cookie (for Chinese New Year)

Red and white candy wreath

Vintage letter cards banner

How to make a home made bird feeder

How to make the Troublesome Trucks

How to upcycle a duvet cover

How to make a clock from a vintage tin

How to make a simple crawling blanket (which is still very much in use!)

crawling blanket

 

 

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