from the blue shed

Cheap and cheerful photo display

I have just uncovered my "to be framed" pile of photos in the cupboard that has been accumulating for about 10 years! It is a rather large pile and with the amount of wall space we have and the number of frames needed, it never would have happened. So for maximum bang for my photo displaying buck, I made this photo wheel. 

Materials

2 wire coat hangers
1-2 meters of fabric (can be 1-2 inches wide and can be a few smaller lengths)
Wire cutters
Flat nose pliers
Teeny tiny clothes pegs (found at the $2 store)

1. Cut the hook and coiled end off both hangers leaving only the body of the hanger to work with. I spent a bit of time straightening them out. This can conjure up a few expletives but it's worth it in the end.

2. Bend each end of the 2 hangers into a hook so the ends from one hanger can hook onto the ends of the other. Bend the wire into shape before you start to cover it. 

3. At one of the joins, start wrapping the fabric. I wrapped it around the join a few times to anchor it. 

4. Continue wrapping the fabric tightly all the way around to cover the wire. The wire will bounce around a bit. Once it is all covered though it will be easier to work with. 

5. To finish off tie a knot around the wire then cut off any excess leaving a tail approx. 30cm long. Tie the remaining tail into a loop for hanging. If you are using multiple pieces of fabric, tie a knot once you are finished with one piece and start your new piece by wrapping around the knot first and then continuing.

I spent a bit more time shaping the hoop into a circle. It doesn't however need to be perfect as it will be covered in photos.

Now grab your photos and a coffee and get pegging. I attached all the photos while the hoop was flat a on table. I had so much fun looking back on all our old photos and rummaging through the shed to retrieve some more.

A twist on the photo collage, with the ability to change the photos. I have made another one now and if it wasn't for the shortage of wall space I would make more. 

Total project cost - $2 - Snap! 

 

birds nest tutorial

Inspired by a tromp through the bush, here is an easy, inexpensive family craft that gets you out there in the elements. Easy enough to whip up in time for Easter this weekend.

Head out to your nearest park or bushland.

Collect dry grass and reeds and any other small treasures suitable to feather your nest with.

Get nesting.

To make nest

1) Make a solution from white craft glue and water. This is not an exact science. The consistency needs to be not as thick as glue, not as thin as water.

2) Cut grass down to pieces a about 1 foot long and mix in a large metal bowl with the glue solution, coating all the grass.

3) Using a small round bowl (we found metal best) start building the nest by wrapping the long pieces around the inside of the bowl.

4) Let dry over night. 

5) Tidy up the nest and trim off any wild pieces of grass.

5) Run a knife gently around the outside of the nest to loosen from the bowl.

A scrumptious little nest any bird would be proud to nest in. A perfect place setting for Easter, ready to nestle some chocolate eggs into or to perch on a counter top with a few treasures inside. Another great craft from my mum. Clever lady. 

wrist warmers - tutorial

Our little Rowen sliced her hand open last week and needed stitches! The poor thing was very brave, A LOT braver than I was. We needed a little distraction from the large bandage around her hand she was just itching to take off. Some "dragon protector" wrist warmers did the trick. In the theme of sock transformation (leg warmer tutorial here) we sliced up a pair of socks, new socks, and made some dragons.

Step 1. Cut the tube of the sock away from the foot. 

Step 2. Cut along one side of the sock up to the band without cutting into the band.

Step 3. Turn the sock tube right side in. Cut a strip of felt approx. half an inch shorter than the length of the tube and 1.5 inches wide. Give the felt some jagged spikes. Lay the felt strip inside the tube, spikes pointing in and sew along the edge of the tube.

Step 4. Cut 2 inches off the top of the foot of the sock. Leaving this piece with the right side out, slip it into the tube just sewn, meeting up the raw edges. Sew along this edge.

Step 5. Turn the tube right side out. I left the raw edge as is. If you prefer to sew it, see here.

Step 6. They are pretty cute as is, but to turn them into a friendly creature, add some button eyes.

What sort of creatures can you come up with??

t-shirt necklace

My inbox has been overflowing this week with links from my girlfriend on how to make t-shirt necklaces. Why had I never seen this before?? It's just so brilliant! So yesterday afternoon I set out... alone (does this project get any better) to buy up old T's. Last night, armed with our supplies, a few beverages and a whole lot to talk about, we got slicing. End result - extremely satisfying. 

I am now completely obsessed. My husband is down a few shirts since last night, good thing he is away. Below are some links to some great tutorials.

ThreadBanger
a pretty penny
luv in the mommyhood

Get rippin'.

A-line pocket dress - tutorial

I was sent a link to rhythm of the home's dress full of pockets post. Just like the recipient of that gorgeous garment, my girls too needed a treasure collecting dress. They didn't have a dress suitable to add pockets to so I had a stab at copying an existing one.

Materials

1m of dress fabric (I used a light cord)
2 pieces of complimenting fabric 9 inch x 12 inch each
1 button
thread
sewing machine
pinking shears
1 piece of A4 paper
small side plate
pencil
1 large piece of butchers paper

I turned one of my girls a-line dresses inside out and traced it onto some paper, adding half an inch on all sides for the seam allowance and 1 1/2 inches to the hem along the bottom. I also added an inch to one of the two shoulder pieces. This became a button and button hole strap. 

Now that you have your pattern;

Fold the fabric in half, pin your pattern to it and cut using pinking shears.

Using a small pair of scissors, clip along the scoop of the neckline and the arm holes, only a few millimetres deep. Press these edges towards the wrong side of the fabric and sew into place. I did 2 rows of stitching to secure the edge down and to avoid future fraying. Finish off the longer shoulder piece by ironing a 1/4 of an inch hem and sew two rows of stitches.

Iron the hemline towards the wrong side of the fabric 1/2 an inch, repeat and then sew.

Repeat with the other piece of fabric. Line up both sides of the dress, right sides facing each other. Sew along each side of the dress and along the unfinished shoulder piece. Turn right side out. Oh la la! the wee dress is coming together!

To finish the second shoulder piece, overlap the two pieces until they are the same length as the other strap. Mark where your button will go. Now, I have never made a button hole before and seeing as I only had to make one, I thought I would attempt it. I made it up as I went along. It seems to work but I think I will leave this bit to the professionals. Hop on over to the Purl Bee for a buttonhole tutorial. Alternatively you could use velcro. 

To make 2 big wrap around pockets fold a piece of A4 paper in half. Using a plate, round one corner and cut. Chose 2 complimenting fabrics. Fold one of the fabrics in half. Pin the pocket pattern to the fabric and cut. Repeat with other fabric. Take one pocket piece of each fabric, line them up with the right sides facing each other. Sew around the out side leaving a small place to turn your fabric right side out. Clip along the curve of the pocket making sure not to cut the seam. Repeat with other pocket. Use a ruler or better yet, a point turner if you have one and gently push the edges out to create nice clean edges. Iron both pockets taking care to make the opening invisible by ironing the opening flat.

Fold your dress in half, lining up the two side seams. Position the centre of the pockets on each side of the dress along the seams and pin into place. Top stitch the pockets into place. 

 

Ta da! A cute little pocket dress. Thanks Jean for the inspiration. Filled with a note book, pen and a chocolate bunny, these dresses are perfect for an Easter morning discovery, ready for the hunt.

*Now, I have the inability to be short and concise, so this tutorial does look rather long and time consuming. It really is though a simple project that this amateur seamstress could tackle. I managed to make 2 of these dresses in one day. Ahhh, the sewing machine is out and it's staying out.

clay toadstools - kids art club

Materials

~ air drying clay
~ wooden skewers
~ paint
~ paint brushes
~ craft sealer

Mould clay into small toadstools and insert wooden skewers. Leave to dry.

Paint in colorful whimsical colors.

Seal with craft sealer.

Hide amongst the garden.

recycled pop bottle flowers - tutorial

I love a good truly recycled project. I saw these amongst the garden in Kings Park and I have been looking forward to trying them out.

Materials

round plastic bottles
scissors
acrylic paint
paint brushes
corks
wire

 

1. Cut the plastic bottle off at the top of the funnel.
2. Cut petals around the raw edge of the bottle's top.  Bend some of the petals back to create a different effect.

3. Paint the outside of the plastic flower. 

4. Place a cork in the mouth of the bottle.
5. Insert wire into the base of the cork. I doubled over the craft wire I had and twisted it to make it stronger.

If you are doing this project with younger children, I suggest you prep the plastic bottles first. There was almost a full blown paint fight waiting for the bottles to be cut.

Enjoy!

reusable sandwich wraps - part 1

I saw David Suzuki speak at our public school when I was about 9 years old. I remember it making quite an impression. I saw him speak again on Friday night and it was an experience I will never forget. David Suzuki was asked what he would say if he gave one final lecture. The Legacy is his answer to that question. He crafted a very powerful and thought provoking evening about our impact on the environment. I wasn't expecting that I would be needing kleenex, well maybe I did. I have yet to completely relay the experience to my husband as I still get quite teary. He really is such a moving speaker. If you don't get a chance to hear his final lecture I suggest you buy the book

Coming home from an experience like that I started taking stock of our life, our household and our contribution. My humble start is going to be with the girls lunches. The aim - a package-less lunch. A friend of mine has been using reusable sandwich wraps for awhile now. I believe hers were made from oil cloth but seeing as I didn't have any, I thought some plastic table cloths would do the trick.

Materials

plastic table cloths / oilcloth
scissors
velcro with adhesive
ruler
pencil

1. Cut the material into a square measuring 24x24 cm. I then rounded the corners just because I thought it looked nice.
2. Attach the velcro to each corner, marrying up the 2 sides of the velcro on opposite corners with one side on the right side of the fabric and the other on the wrong side of the fabric.
3. I used sticky velcro and it stuck very securely to the fabric. You may want to do a running stitch through the centre of the velcro for extra re-enforcement.

Once you have your measurements this is such a quick an easy project! Go on and do it. You know you want to. Stay tuned for part 2 of reusable wraps. 

We were all asked this question, "What will your legacy be that you will leave for your/the children?" Oh dear, I am getting all choked up again... Check out the trailer to The David Suzuki Movie out soon.
    

painted floor cloth - tutorial

Materials

Large piece of canvas
Matt latex/acrylic wall paint for base color
Acrylic craft paint for the design details
Fabric markers (optional)
Shoe glue (or something as strong as)
Clear water based varnished
Ruler
Pencil
Scissors
Paint brushes

First we cut our canvas to size leaving an extra inch on each side for the hem. We painted the canvas generously using an acrylic wall paint and allowed it to dry before applying a second coat. 

Now it's time to get creative! We used acrylic craft paint for the children's hand prints. We then attempted to use masking tape to create a striped border, but the quality of the tape thwarted our efforts. Cheap isn't always cheerful. We decided to use fabric markers to write all of the children's names and nicknames around the edge to create a border. This was a really cute result.


 
Once it was dry;

1. We used a ruler to draw a border around the outside of the canvas, 1inch in from the edge. We then drew a 45 degree angle at each corner.

2. We cut the four corners off along the 45 degree line. 

3. Flipped the canvas over. Ran glue along the edge and folded along our pencil line to create the hem.

4. We continued this on the other 3 sides.


We then painted the whole thing with varnish. We applied six coats, allowing the varnish to dry between each coat.


Voila! A personalized, durable floor cloth that can withstand washing, scrubbing and a whole lot of traffic.
 



The kids made this for my brother to say thank you for a great summer at his cottage. He's such a softie, he's going to love it. 

felt flowers

Here is a quick little how to for the flowers I embellished the girls leg/arm warmers with.

1. Cut a circle out of felt.
2. Cut a spiral into the circle. Trim the outside of the circle to create a neat edge.
 
3. Start with the point of the spiral and roll tightly into the center.
  
Sew through the base of the flower a few times to hold together.
   
To create a more open poppy-like flower, start rolling from the center of the circle out.
   
Sew a few beads into the centre.
 
 Cute.