Kid's Apron

I'm so excited that something worked the first time I made it!  I whipped up (over several hours!) this kid's apron last night and I'm really happy with the way it turned out.  My biggest challenge was turning the tie (which is one long sausage of fabric) inside out... but I finally sourced the right tool for the job and that made such a difference!  I'd like to post a tutorial, but I didn't take photos of the steps along the way, so I'll have to catch up on this one later!

Ribbon Ring

Kids love to dance, and it's so much fun to have something to dance with! Shakers or bells are great, and one thing my oldest child had fun with was some cardboard tubes with ribbons sticky-taped to them.


I was thinking about making ribbon sticks, but with two boys I know that sticks usually turn into hitting each other over the head.  So these ribbon rings are a great alternative - chunky enough for chubby hands to hold, and good fun when the music is turned up loud!

Start with a wooden curtain ring wrapped with satin ribbon (secure the ribbon with hot glue), and then tie with ribbon streamers.  Use a candle flame to singe the ends of the ribbon so that they don't fray.  Dance!

Decorated Tiles

I'm really excited about sharing today's stocking stuffer with you.  It's a decorated tile that I made using a plain 15x15cm tile, some scrapbooking paper that I ran through my printer, and the wonder-of-all-wonder products, Mod Podge!  (This is another one of those things that I've had in my craft stash for years and have never used until now!)


The longest part of making these tiles was the design process... not my strength at all.  But putting it all together doesn't take long!  Hopefully I can get a chance to make a few more this week and show you how it's done (I've just been out to our recycling centre at the tip and picked up a stack more tiles for next-to-nothing!).

Have a great start to the week!

Bottle Gift Bag Refashion

On my list of things to make for the street stall were bottle gift bags.  And then last weekend in a seconds shop, I happened across a whole stack of new calico wine bottle bags that had been screen-printed with a logo.  I thought that if I could refashion the bag I might save myself a bit of time... (insert positive thinking here.)

Anyway, after hours trying to figure out the best way to 'makeover' the bag and cover up the printed logo, this is the best I could come up with.  It's not what I had originally planned, but it does the trick.  I still might try and embellish it with something Christmassy... any ideas would be welcome!

White Chocolate & Cranberry Cookies

I had some visitors for morning tea today and to use up the time between telling my toddler that they were coming and the visitors arriving, I made these biscuits!  (2 1/2 year olds don't have much patience!)


They're really easy to make and as the recipe shows, the mix makes a great gift when packaged in a cute little jar.  You can download the recipe here.

This photo is from the taste.com.au website

Just to prove that I made them, here is a picture of the biscuits!  They're not all that pretty, but they taste good! :)

Candy Cane Reindeer

Today's idea is super-simple!  These cute candy cane reindeer are made using pipe cleaners (now known as 'chenille sticks') for antlers, two goggle-eyes and a small pom pom for a nose.  They're quick and easy to make, and they look very cute!

More ornaments!

Here's another type of tree ornament that has been in the making until today! It's like a 'double-stuffed-yo-yo', and instructions to make it can be found here.


I'm hoping for a super-productive night of sewing so that I can share some more projects - especially some gift ideas - with you over the next week!


Hope your Christmas countdown is going well!  It really is a crazy season, isn't it!?  (Especially trying to find a parking space at the shopping centre!)

Raggy tree ornament

Here's a quick idea to make a tree ornament with some scrap fabric and a styrofoam ball!  Just cut fabric into small squares (about 4x4cm) and use a skewer or embossing tool to poke into the styrofoam ball.  Keep going until the ball is covered.  Attach a ribbon and hang!


You can find another example and some more instructions here.

Felt Christmas Tree

Here are some instructions to make this cute felt Christmas Tree!

What you need:
Coloured felt
Felt scraps
Embroidery thread
Polyester stuffing
Cardboard


1. Cut the felt into a cone shape with two straight edges and one curved edge.  My tree has sides measuring 22cm.  Cut the felt scraps into small circles about 1cm in diameter.

2. Attach the felt dots onto the tree body using a small cross stitch.  Make sure you secure the threads on the wrong side of the felt.  Decorate your tree as much as you like!

3. Pin the two long sides together (inside out) and sew either by machine or hand.  Turn the tree the right way out.

4. Cut a felt circle and two cardboard circles for the base of the tree.  An easy way to do this is to fill the tree with stuffing, and then find a cup that matches the size of the base of the tree.  Trace around the cup to get the right size circle.  Whip stitch the base to the tree, inserting the cardboard to create a firm base for the tree to stand on (see picture).

5. Finish sewing up the base and you're done!

Every day is a gift

Eek!  Two weeks to go until the Stocking Stuffer Street Stall at church... which seems like long enough if I could be a full-time crafter, but isn't much when I only manage to make two things every day!


I have made a commitment that my family, and the general tidiness of the house, comes first.  But it seems that the washing is piling up, and the boys naptimes are getting shorter!  I need to put my skates on, but I can't find them under the increasing number of boxes being stored in my laundry (for ease of access to craft materials)!


One of the most difficult things I have found about being a mum is the 'interrupted' day.  It's hard to concentrate on a task (like writing a blog entry!), when your two-year-old is sitting on your one-year-old and they're both screaming!


But, as I realised a few days ago, God will provide the time I need to get done the things I need to do.  Remembering to 'keep it simple', I just need to keep going and see what can be achieved in another two weeks.  There are some exciting projects in the works!


I love these words from the song "Life means so much" by Chris Rice:

Every day is a gift you've been given

Make the most of the time every minute you're living

Teach us to count the days

Teach us to make the days count

Lead us in better ways

That somehow our souls forgot

Life means so much

Every day is a bank account

And time is our currency

So nobody's rich, nobody's poor

We get 24 hours each

So how are you gonna spend

Will you invest, or squander

Try to get ahead

Or help someone who's under

Have a great weekend!

Sock Bunny

The week really has been all about stockings, so I thought it only right to try and make one more day of it.  Last night, I researched as much as I could and then ended up making my own pattern anyway - for a sock bunny!


Earlier this year, I bought a 'mystery pack' of kids socks, and got 10 pairs of girls socks... which was lovely, except that I have boys.  It seems I continually need to learn the lesson that mystery packs will never be what I want them to be!  But, it means that I have resources at the ready for some sock bunnies, which make great baby toys, because there are no little pieces that could come off, and ears make great things to suck on!

I'm interested in your thoughts before I go ahead and make more... it's a big deal to me to cut up a perfectly good sock! :)

Stocking Pattern

This week's theme seems to be Christmas stockings, and I am delighted that today, one of my favourite bloggers has featured a free pattern and heaps of decorating ideas for stockings!

Hop on over to Wendi's site and have a look!  If you're new to crafty stuff, Wendi has posted a whole heap of instruction videos to look at (see Sewing School and Embroidery School).  They have been a big help to me - especially this cool trick to tying a knot!


Have fun!

Stockings to Stuff

I got a package in the mail yesterday from my wonderful mum!  She had sent some full-size stockings to be sold in the street stall - they are so fantastic and I am sure they'll be really popular!


When we were growing up, mum made each of us a stocking to hang on our fireplace.  I can remember the first year we had them, Santa got all mixed up about which stocking belonged to which child, and we all opened the wrong presents... after that, all the stockings got name tags!


Ahh, Christmas.  It's the most magical time of the year.

Stockings Galore!

Yesterday I showed you the felt stockings that I was making, and I've spent all day today finishing them off!  I've added a felt star with iron-on interfacing, and my little stockings are going to be sold on the stall filled with a mini bottle of bubbles! (The perfect way to keep kids amused at Christmas when they're on the edge of a meltdown!)

Hope you're having a great day!

Mini Felt Christmas Stocking

Another Christmas ornament which can be hung on the tree or attached to a present as a little 'extra'!  With this mini stocking, you can also give an extra gift - lollies, some rolled up cash, or perhaps some diamond jewellery(!).


Here's my stocking in a few simple steps:


1. Cut a template out of paper.  I folded my paper into eight and cut out eight templates at the same time.


2. Pin templates to a double thickness of felt.  (ie - two pieces, or one piece folded over)

 3. Sew around the templates as close as possible.  Remember to keep the top of the stocking open.  Remove pins.

4. Cut around the stitching leaving a small (3-5mm) seam allowance.  Turn stocking inside out.

5. Attach a ribbon at the back of the stocking, and hand-stitch a cuff to the stocking.

6. Fill with diamond jewellery (or other treats).

One that won't make it...

I just thought I'd share with you one of the projects I made that won't be making it to the Street Stall.  Although I think it's lovely, it took me five nights, two T-Shirts,  and twenty sticks of Hot-Glue to put together, and that's all too much!


If you'd like to have a go at making your own ruffle ball, check out the instructions here.

Small things

We can do no great things; only small things with great love.

   Mother Teresa

Ahh, small things. Everyday things. Mundane things.

Another load of washing. Picking up the toys and books. Taking out the rubbish.  Depending on our heart attitude, these things can make us weary and annoyed, or they can be opportunities to show love to one another.

I hope your day is full of 'small things'! Be blessed!

White Chocolate, Raspberry & Macadamia Slice

I've found it!  My 'recipe of the season'.  You know, the recipe that you'll make over and over again for Christmas gatherings, meetings, visits from relatives, those days when you've spent too much money, so you decide to go home and have coffee instead of dropping into a cafe...


This is a winner, because it keeps for a few days (and gets better with age), and freezes really well too!  And it's ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS!  (And healthy - it's got fruit!)

White Chocolate Raspberry and Macadamia Slice
Ingredients:
125g butter, chopped
200g white chocolate, chopped (I used Nestle Melts)
3/4 cup caster sugar
2 eggs beaten lightly
3/4 cup plain flour
1/2 cup self raising flour
100g white chocolate, chopped (extra) (I used Nestle white Choc Bits)
1/2 cup macadamia nuts, toasted and chopped coarsely
150g fresh or frozen raspberries (don't thaw if frozen)
Icing sugar, to dust

1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees Celsius.
2. Grease a 16cm x 26cm slice tin.  Line with baking paper.
3. Combine 200g chocolate and butter and melt in the microwave.
4. Transfer to a large bowl and stir in rest of ingredients.  Add frozen raspberries last.
5. Spread mixture in pan.  Bake in moderate oven for about 50 minutes or until firm.
6. Cool in pan (if you don't let it cool first, it will fall apart)
7. Cut and dust with icing sugar.

Keep stored in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

Going dotty

I've been using my scrappy bits of time to cut up my scrappy bits of felt into little dots.  It's quite therapeutic during a day of sorting out squabbles and wondering why the kitchen floor needs to be washed again.  There is some small sense of accomplishment as the pile of felty confetti grows.


I'm getting these ready for a project that I'm hoping to share with you next week!  In the meantime, I'll just admire them and let them make me happy. :)


Have a great day!

Do what you can

A few years ago, I was fortunate enough to travel to Mozambique to see some of the programs that are supported by Australian Lutheran World Service.  I can remember bouncing around in the back seat of a four wheel drive as we drove into the African wilderness and thinking 'where do I begin?'. I laugh at that thought now - as if it was all up to me to change the world!


The thing that impressed me on my two-week visit was understanding a little bit more about how aid agencies work.  ALWS operates in villages and communities with a goal of 'capacity building', which means that local people are empowered to make decisions about what they need.


For example, if a group of community leaders want to build a bridge, or a school, they work out how they can provide labour and raw materials, and ask for help in sourcing concrete, heavy machinery, etc.  The community sets up a committee who will look after the project and maintain it as well.


ALWS also focuses on awareness raising programs, for things such as HIV Aids, child and maternal health and farming practices.  They also provide business programs, women's education programs, leadership development, and resources for schools - such as kitchens or latrines.


It's about sustainable development, with the aim that one day communities will be self-sufficient and able to continue without support from outside agencies.

The picture above is of a wooden sculpture that I purchased while in Mozambique.  It is a reminder to me that 'from everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded' (Luke 12:48, NIV).  Not that I am 'above' those who have less, but it is my responsibility to do what I can with what I have in a way that serves God and blesses other people.  I don't have to change the world, but I need to be faithful with what I've been given. That's my motivation behind this whole Street Stall project!


As a closing thought, ALWS also provides opportunities to give to many projects through the Christmas 'Gifts of Grace' catalogue.  Have a look at it here.  It's a simple way to use what you have to change someone else's life!


Blessings!

Rose Petal Ornament

Here's what you'll need to make this beautiful ornament:

• Styrofoam ball (I used a 70mm ball)
• Artificial rose petals
• Hot glue gun & glue sticks
• 2 sewing pins
• 30-35cm satin ribbon

First, glue one petal to the styrofoam ball.  This will be the top centre of the flower.

Start attaching rose petals, overlapping them as you move the ball around.  Try and work in circles, starting from the top and moving downwards.

 

Ensure that the petal at the base of the ball is glued in place completely.

Attach the ribbon using two sewing pins.  Put them in place and try hanging the ball to ensure you have the ribbon centred.  When you are happy with its placement, put some hot glue over the pins and ribbon to stick them in place.

Cut a small slit in an extra petal and thread the ribbon through it, pushing the petal right down onto the ball to hide the pins.  Glue in place.

The List

A few people have asked what sort of things we're preparing for the street stall, so here's a summary of my ideas so far.  Hopefully I'll get time to prepare even more!


For Babies
Stencilled bibs, soft toys


For Kids
Little Monster kits, ribbon sticks, Candy Cane reindeer, hair clips


For the Tree
Felt heart ornaments, angels, stockings, various other ornaments


For Her
Earrings, necklaces, needle cases


For Him
?  What do you make for him?, wine bottle gift bags


For the House
Christmas trees, plaques, candle holders


Food
Honey biscuits, shortbread, biscotti


I'd be glad to hear if you have any other ideas!  I'm looking for small gifts that are easy to make and can be sold for under $10.  Leave a comment, or send me an email at streetstallblog@gmail.com

Keep open house; be generous with your lives.

   Matthew 5:15,16

We've just spent the weekend in Sydney with some wonderful family and friends.  As much as it's difficult to get away with two small children, it's worth it to visit people who are special in our lives.


I love these verses from the Bible.  They're a reminder about our purpose in life - to know God and help others to know him, too - and that the best way to do that is to share our lives by walking alongside people and sharing the ups and downs of the journey.


I want to encourage you at the start of this new week to make the most of the relationships around you.  Think of a way to be especially kind to someone whom you take for granted.  Get in touch with a friend you haven't talked to in a while. Write that note or email of encouragement that you've been dwelling on for over a month.   Invite someone into your house for a cuppa, a meal, a chat.  Keep open house, be generous with your life.  It's your chance to make a difference!

Shortbread Stars

One of the best parts about Christmas is the food - and I love Christmas baking! Most shortbread recipes call for rice flour, but this recipe from my mum makes it too easy to whip up a batch from ingredients I have in my kitchen every day!

Shortbread

Ingredients (makes about 75 biscuits):

1/2 pound (225g) butter, softened

3/4 cup caster sugar

2 cups plain flour

1/2 cup cornflour

Cachous for decorating

1. Preheat oven to 170 degrees Celsius.

2. Mix butter and sugar together.  It doesn't need to be creamed, just given a bit of a workout.

3. Add sifted flour and cornflour and mix to combine.  At this stage, the mixture will be quite crumbly.  Using your hands to mix and knead the dough will help warm up the butter and get the dough to come together.

4. Roll dough out to a thickness of about 5mm.  Remember, this isn't a 'stretchy' type of dough, it just needs to be kind of pressed together (that's what makes it melt in your mouth!).  Cut out shapes and use a knife to transfer biscuits to a baking-paper-lined trays.

5. Decorate with cachous (little silver/coloured sprinkles) as much as you like.  Place trays in oven for 10 minutes or until biscuits start to turn brown.

6. Remove from oven and let biscuits sit on trays for five minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool.

Quickly give them away as gifts!  Otherwise, you might eat too many when you sit down with your next cup of tea!

Glue gun goodness

I'm getting to know my glue gun.  I purchased it about 15 years ago, and never really used it until now!  I have already learned a few things - it is hot, it leaves stringy bits of glue like spiderwebs everywhere, and you need to keep loading little glue sticks otherwise it won't work any more.  And it can use up lots of glue sticks quite quickly!


Anyway, here's a simple stocking stuffer that I made today using my hot glue gun:

With lots of different projects on the go, I have pins and needles everywhere. This is a very lovely way of keeping them close to where I need them!


Instructions for how to make them can be found here.

You learn something new...

I broke my sewing machine last night.  I was trying out a type of embroidery that I'd never done before, and fiddled with my machine.  When my experiment failed miserably, I tried to 'unfiddle' the machine and the threads kept getting caught.  I pulled it apart as much as I dared, cleaned it, tweaked it, tried this and that.  I went to bed cranky with myself and upset that I'd wasted a whole evening on something that didn't work.

Today, I dropped the boys off at a friend's house (I couldn't imagine trying to get a baby, toddler and sewing machine all out of the car and into a shop), and took my machine to the repair lady.  After looking at it for three seconds, she said "it isn't threaded properly".  Ahh, that would do it!

Instead of feeling silly in front of a whole shop of ladies doing their sewing classes, I walked out feeling thankful that it was such a simple solution.  And I decided not to drink any wine before using my sewing machine tonight.

So, a few lessons learned:

1. When it doesn't work, go back to basics.  Is that computer mouse plugged in when it doesn't work?  Is the car in 'park' when it doesn't start?  Is the sewing machine threaded correctly when it gets threads caught around the bobbin?
2. KISS - Keep it Simple, Stupid.  Great rule for someone like me who is lying in bed at night thinking of more and more things I can make!  Stick to what I know, what is simple and easy, and things I can do well.  There's time for learning and experimenting, but is that time now? (When I have three hundred more decorations to make before December 4th?!)

I feel lucky - I learned two new things today!

Felt Heart Tutorial

I'd like to share a few tutorials on the site just in case you're inspired to make something for someone this Christmas!


Here are some instructions for a felt heart ornament:

Cut out two heart shapes from felt.  Add the decorative stitching: I used 4 strands of embroidery thread and a running stitch in two different colours.
Attach a button to the middle of the heart.

Cut a ribbon approximately 30cm.  Place felt hearts wrong sides together and whip stitch around the outside, sewing the hearts together.  Make sure you sew in the ribbon when you get to the top centre of the heart.  Leave a gap to insert filling.  I like to use Polyester Fibrefill.


Sew up the gap and knot the end of the thread.

Try them in lots of different colours!

Little Monster Kits

A few days ago I wrote about where this whole idea started - mini tubs of Play-Doh.  And thinking about these mini tubs of Play-Doh made me start thinking about Christmas presents and little gifts for 'stocking stuffers', and that turned into a fundraising idea, and that turned into this blog.  And so, here is the idea of how to use the Play-Doh - Little Monster Kits!

Knowing how much kids love creating, I thought that if I packaged together a few elements they could spend hours during summer holidays inventing little monsters.  Here's a few I prepared earlier:

So tell me, what do you think?!