• kid made fingerprint Christmas cards
    Christmas - crafts - Crafts for kids - handmade

    Kid-made Christmas cards

    October 8, 2012 - By 

    I mentioned the other day how we were aiming for a handmade Christmas. The first step was to make a start on our kid-made Christmas cards. There’s so much inspiration on Pinterest but I narrowed it down to simple ideas I could do with the toddler. He absolutely loves finger painting at the moment so we got the paints out, covered the table in newspaper and got stuck in! Kid-made fingerprint Christmas cards Christmas finger print lights This was so much fun. I opened four pots of paint and let the toddler loose. He’s pretty good if I give him…

  • Christmas - handmade - reviews

    The C word

    October 5, 2012 - By 

    I’m going to be brave and use the C word. There’s something about September that just gets me thinking about Christmas. I’ve written my Christmas wishlist (iPad mini please), been buying stocking fillers and joined in some swaps for Christmas crafting. Christmas doesn’t have to be all about the money. We’ll be keeping it simple. I’ve decided to  buy and wrap 24 books to put under the Christmas tree. I love the idea of reading Christmas stories with the children during Advent so have been buying second hand festive books whenever I see them. We’ll also been starting early on…

  • Christmas - Day Zero - gingerbread house - handmade - sewing - swap

    Day Zero – Month 15 (December)

    December 27, 2011 - By 

    On the 19 September 2010 I started a Day Zero list: a place to record your goals, discover new challenges, and gain motivation to achieve them. I have a list of 100 things I want to do over 1001 days. The list is due to be competed by 16 June 2013. This has been a rubbish month for me personally. I think I underestimated how much time I would have with a toddler and new baby to look after so I haven’t managed to complete a single action on my Day Zero list. Aside from changing lots of nappies and…

  • Christmas - gingerbread - gingerbread house - handmade - swaps

    Felt gingerbread love

    November 13, 2011 - By 

    ‘Tis finally the season to be jolly which means I’ve been snapping up everything gingerbread to show you over the next couple of weeks. My energy levels are disappearing but I have a few swaps to honour before the arrival of Second Baby. This week I’ve been making a new type of gingerbread house for one swap partner, very simple with a red and white bead hanger and a metal heart on the door. I’m hoping my crafting mojo will return soon. I’ve been struggling to pull out my sewing basket after Edward has gone to bed yet there are…

  • Christmas - crafts - handmade - Recycled crafts - toddler - tutorial

    How to make a wooden Christmas tree

    October 23, 2011 - By 

    I know we haven’t had Halloween yet but I’ve been itching to show you our wooden Christmas tree. I’ve seen lots of variations of wooden Christmas trees using driftwood so every time we were at the seaside I would scour the beach for suitable pieces. After months of looking and not finding I gave up and decided small branches from the local woods would do just as well! I also found a piece of scaffolding wood outside our house so knew this project was meant to be. How to make a wooden Christmas tree You will need: a selection of…

  • Christmas - crafts - handmade

    Candy garland – good enough to eat

    October 17, 2011 - By 

    My Christmas decoration making has begun! One of my favourite craft books is Fa la la la Felt which is full of festive inspiration, from ornaments, decorations and stockings. I’ve made a couple of projects from it, including the felt bird garland, as I just love working with felt. We’re not quite sure how to decorate our house this year with a toddler who can’t help but touch everything, but I would like to have a colour scheme. Red and white always seem very Christmassy which is why I liked the look of the Christmas Candy Garland. It’s a simple…

  • Cath Kidston - Christmas - crafts - gingerbread house - handmade - sewing - swap - swaps

    Christmas swapsies

    January 6, 2011 - By 

    As part of my Day Zero challenge I’m aiming to take part in at least one swap a month. So in the run up to Christmas I signed up for a couple of Christmas swaps. First up was the Blogger’s Secret Santa organised by Leanne where I received a copy of Cath Kidston’s Sew! from Helen. It’s full of beautiful projects to make (some of which will probably end up as birthday and Christmas presents). I sent a Moleskine recipe journal to Domestic Goddesque. Then I joined up for the Secret Christmas Ornament Swap organised by Denise and I received…

  • How to make Soy Teacup Candles
    Christmas - Handmade gifts - Recycled crafts - tutorial

    How to make Soy Teacup Candles

    December 10, 2010 - By 

    We made our own soy teacup candles! Yep, our final present related task. This was on my to-do list for ages. I think I first saw them in Vogue and thought they looked so simple yet pretty and practical. Ever since, I’ve been looking out for vintage teacups and china beakers. Equipment to make soy teacup candles: soy candle wax candle dye candle wick wick pins sustainers How to make Soy Teacup Candles: You don’t need much equipment to make them and I bought a great candle making kit from eBay which contained soy candle wax, candle dye, candle wick,…

  • baby - Christmas - shopping

    Felt bird garland

    December 7, 2010 - By 

    I was busy sewing, sewing, sewing…. I’ve taken part in a few handmade decoration swaps lately and made these lovely little birds for a garland from my favourite felt sewing book Fa la la la Felt. My partner asked for something red so I hope she likes it. We also managed a shopping trip for some more Christmas presents (see, I told you I was addicted to buying!). Edward now has some new socks, Christmas bibs and adorable suede booties.