Another Project - Spooky Halloween Truck With Drawers

Sorry, this is yet another project that I will probably carry over several weeks/months because I don't really want to do it in all in one go as some bit's will need to dry properly and I also think I may need some thinking time between stages, as I develop idea and in turn need to source one or two extra embellishments, so please bear with me.

Marc gave me this wonderful Advent truck when I saw him last a few weeks ago ........

..... originally from Aldi a couple of years back and costing around £10 at the time, I know he bought several up when they were reduced to half price after that Christmas, thinking that we could "do" something a little more elaborate with them.

They are wooden and really solidly made, however, not that it really matters, the wheels don't actually go round.

After thanking Marc profusely we got to thinking where to take the idea and within a minute or two I came up with a Halloween theme, replacing Santa with a skeleton and that's where I left it until I got it home.  Before I could really do anything I needed to make sure I could easily remove Santa from the driving seat and the drawers from the back and then see if the knobs could be taken out too without causing any/much damage, as my plan was to cover the drawer fronts with Halloween papers and going round said knobs could be a trifle tricky.

My worries were soon allied when they all popped out like a dream. I covered one drawer front with an appropriate paper, colouring over all the red paintwork edges with a black Sharpie pen before replacing the knob, which, for now I have left gold.

Then just to add some extra fiddle fart and attention to detail I glued another piece of matching paper to the inside, which in turn hide the back of the knob.

So far so good!  All drawers will be varnished, several times and some may be embellished a little bit more ...... but the next stage is to paint the truck black using an acrylic paint (Hobbycraft £1.60) ... after which I hope to get a better feel of where to go from there.

Insects Of Desire

I love a bejewelled insect ..........

As soon as I spotted these two at Evesham Garden Centre up at The Valley, Evesham, I could just see them in an Ikea Ribba box frame on a black velvet background.  Then I wondeed how easy it would be to snip off the metal ring that they hang by because  I knew, if framed, if not removed it would irritate the life out of me!  I could also see them hanging from a door handle ..... and as for on a Christmas tree, stunning!

As I am on a minimal spend this year, they were much admired, but at £8 each I knew I didn't really "need" them, however, I thought I might start scouring Poundland or other bargain stores to see if I can find any large plastic insects that I could perhaps spray gold and embellish instead!

Iris's Foam Christmas Card (The Works)

I bought these foam cards from The Works ready for Christmas 2018 when they were buy one get one free, so they actually worked out at 50p each. Sadly, time was against us and they never got done, but just before Christmas 2019 Iris found the pack in my craft drawers and naturally wanted to make one.

I have to say, I was impressed, the instructions were very easy for her (and me) to follow and as the shapes were self adhesive and just had be pushed out of the foam there was no need for scissors or glue.

I suppose the only guidance Iris really needed was threading the ribbon through the top of the card.

I'll be honest I wasn't expecting such good results after using other cheap craft packs where pieces have been  missing, the instructions confusing or fiddly pieces needing to be cut and one false snip and they are ruined ...... so for just 50p for a good hour of one to one Nanny time with much concentration, creativity and fun ........... priceless!

The Works often carry the same or similar seasonal stock for several years, I know these were available in 2019, so if I saw them again, on offer, I could be tempted as I can also now see how the pieces could also be used on a card blank with good effect, leaving you with two sheets of decent red foam for other projects ........ hmmmmm.

Wooden Toy Christmas Wreath

I saw the idea for vintage wooden toy wreaths on Pinterest and just loved them, and set my heart on making one, although the prospect did daunt me.

I had a small collection of vintage wooden toy decorations picked up in various charity shops over the past couple of years but wasn't sure if I had enough to complete a wreath, it was touch and go for a while, but after searching every single nook and cranny of my crafty drawers and cupboards I just about managed it.

I started off using a card ring that I have had for ages and simply covered it with a gold lame ribbon that came with the Christmas hamper Marc sent me for Christmas, gluing it in place with my glue gun.

It looks OK from the front but because it was just a tad short, the back is a bit dodgy, but there again, no one is ever going to see the back but me.

I also used my glue gun to attach all the wooden bits and pieces, sorry no pictures of a work in progress until the very last part because I was sooooooooo engrossed in what I was doing.  To fill in the gaps round the edges I used small, bottle brush trees  (The Works) 

It was when I got to the stage (above) that I needed to search high and low for bits to fill the last small gaps. So far it had cost me nothing to put together as I already had everything in my stash and to stumble at the last hurdle to either look for (and buy) something on eBay or even worse, leave the project unfinished until the months running up to Christmas to see what I could find in charity shops ....... that, I was determined wasn't going to happen!

So in the end, not everything I used was wooden, or vintage, but it still works. Small, wooden, flat backed teddies and resin Santa's and snowmen helped to add layers and fill the gaps.

I need to alter the string on the back ever so slightly so that it hangs a little more to the left using the yellow figure at the top as my guide, but that's me being ultra picky.

If I see any more tiny wooden/resin flatbacks I might be tempted to add a few more.  Initially I was also tempted to add a few beads and stars to the bottle brush trees, but I know I must resist the temptation as that would really over egg the pudding, as well as spoiling the vintage feel/look I was looking for.

I wouldn't mind repeating the idea, so if I find anymore similar wooden decs. on my charity shop travels and they are going for a song, well, it would be rude not to buy them wouldn't it?

The Crafty Adventures Of Sam's Study - Cabinet 5 and Ladder

To be honest I was dreading putting this Cabinet 5 bookcase together ..........

........ but I have to say it all slotted together very easily ........

....... with very little gluing ........ if only every piece was that easy!

The stepladder wasn't too bad either, despite my reservations.

The only fiddly bits were the two small slates ........

....... that fit on the back ........

........ and needed to be held into position for a minute or two to stop them from slipping.

Please excuse the gratuitous glue shots, I promise all trace will be removed when everything is finally put together!!

I think I got away very lightly with these two pieces ...... having looked ahead at the instruction manual, I am not so sure it will be such plain sailing with the next three!

A Rainbow Jumper For Bertie

I have started knitting again! Well, I have just completed the back of a jumper so far.

Bertie loves wearing bright colours and said he'd like a rainbow jumper, so I decided to take the plunge. The pictures (above and below) don't do the colours justice, as the dark blue is actually purple and the cream, lemon.  About 30 odd years ago, when Tom and Lu were small, I was never without some knitting on the go, but as they grew up hand knits weren't what they wanted to wear, so I started crafting. However I kept my knitting bag, needles etc. until I moved to Evesham when I gave them all to a charity shop along with all my patterns .........

......... except for my hand knitted by Helen Geddes labels and two 1950s patterns, that were knit for me and my brothers way back when (the cross over neck style) and then I knitted, after tracking the pattern down on e-bay for Tom. It was so easy to knit and sew up and looked so stylish and just a bit different. I might even knit another for Master Bertie yet.

I bought the 100 gram balls of wool from the Crafters Companion store  up at The Valley, just outside Evesham.  It cost £1.99 per ball.  I cadged the knitting needles of other Granny Denise.  However, if I decide I still rather like knitting there is a charity shop in Evesham that has hundreds for just 20p a pair.

The pattern is also from Granny Denise and is as old as the Lovely Laura, in fact I am pretty sure I had the same pattern which I used adapt for my two, using my own designs rather than Thomas.

Hopefully this project won't take me too long to complete, though I have to admit it's not entirely been plain sailing with quite a few dropped stitches needing to be picked up plus a few rows having to be undone and reworked ........ so watch this space.

Felt Easter Carrot Brooches/PIns

This is just an Easter idea I am playing with using the self adhesive carrot embellishments I found at The Works this year.

There are sixteen carrots per pack for £1 and measure very approximately 4.5cms at their longest by 2.5cms at their widest.

My first initial was they would make cute pin badges for Iris and Bertie to wear at Easter and I think they worked out pretty OK.  As they had a self adhesive backing I simply stuck self adhesive cotton fabric scraps on the back and then applied a couple of coats of PVA glue to help stiffen it.  I then used E6000 glue to attach the small bar pin fastenings to, hopefully, really secure them.

The final touch just had to be a pair of googly eyes each  ......... I think they will go down well with the dynamic duo.  I might make a few more, but if I do, I would most likely put them on a small presentation gift card to make them look a bit more professional!

The carrots have a "certain""potential for card making, but for the moment I am looking to Pinterest for that inspiration for ideas beyond Easter.

Iris's Half Term Holiday Homework .......

I have had these pictures ready to post since November last year, but have just not got on with it until now.

Iris had to write all about her autumn half term holiday for her homework. It had all been very exciting, for the first few days she had gone to France with her mum to stay with a friend and when she got back there were another few days in Salcombe with all her family, staying with friends...... 

......... but bless her, according to her mum, The Lovely Laura, she was absolutely determined to be back in Evesham for my Halloween Sleepover!

Her picture shows Iris and Bertie, the bunting and the all important, brand new, especially bought for the event, Pick 'n' Mix sweetie dispenser!  

....... but it was the drawing of me that made me howl ...... the kid just got it so right, come hell or high water, my (Primark) reading glasses are ALWAYS perched on the top of my head!!!!  What is she like?

Easter Rabbit Brooch/Pin

This wooden brooch/pin is a bit of an experiment ............

I like it as it is, plain and simple, but I can also see how it could be embellished a little bit more, by adding perhaps tiny eyes, bows on the necks, a tiny white tip on the tails and some faux stitching round the egg???????

However, this first effort was to see if the wooden bunny and eggs shapes had the potential I thought they might have after seeing them on The Works website.  There are thirty shapes in each pack in three graded sizes.

For the brooch I chose the largest egg along with two middle sized rabbits.

I covered the egg with a spring type patterned paper and coloured the rabbits with a Sharpie pen, before gluing them in place in front of the egg, and then sealing it all with several coats of Gloss Lustre Modge Podge.  When everything was dry I turned it over and added the pin fastening.

The brooch measures 7.5cms at its widest, from tail to tail and stands 5.5cms tall.  

I think the idea works, I am thinking of making them for all the staff in Bertie's nursery class for Easter, using different coloured rabbits and papers, after experimenting a bit more with the aforementioned extra embellishments, so watch this space ........

Small Easter Card

This card measures 5cms x 10cm and is part of a pack of 50, including envelopes from Papermill Direct........ because of its size I think it's going to end up as another gift card to pop on an Easter egg or small Easter gift.

I've used scraps of paper in spring colours to create a background and then simply added foam effect, puffy Easter stickers to finish it off, with a little faux stitching and clusters of three dots here and there, using a black, fine liner pen

I'll be honest I am not that over enamored with it, but I am sure Iris and Bertie will appreciate it  (..... a lot more than me)  I was determined to work my way through the two sheets of stickers I had used for this idea, but I/they have exhausted my creativity, so what I haven't been inspired to use so far will be passed on to Bertie's nursery., where I am sure they will find a use for them.

The Crafty Adventures Of Sam's Study - Cabinet 2 and 3

Another two cabinets down in my great Sam's Study adventure ......

...... fortunately these two didn't prove to be as taxing as the first one which, I have to say, almost did my head in!

I found the fiddliest part was cutting and bending the drawer handles, it would be lovely to be a total perfectionist and make them truly square, but I am afraid life is too short!  It was a little disappointing to find that one of the beads that go on the handle wasn't originally pressed perfectly, so bits were missing, but I am sure once the whole thing is put together it won't be that noticeable.

The drawers/cupboards don't open, they are just fronts, and to be honest the sizing of the pieces doesn't give much for any margin of error ....... so I am just grateful that the glue is pretty slow to set.

The small pink shelves proved to be really easy to put together, however when the time comes I need to very carefully remove some of the glue I seem to have managed to smear everywhere!

When I put cabinet 1 and 2 together I discovered that they don't exactly line up straight when put together, I don't know how that happened .......

........ but I think I can get away with it, because  I am pretty certain that I going to glue each cabinet in place when I come to put the study frame together. It's not a toy but not one to be too precious, I am sure it's something that will fascinate Iris and Bertie so I reckon the more key pieces I can  battened down the better!