Popsicle Stick Ballerina

This is not my original idea, I found it and then pinned it on my Inspiration Board on Pinterest  https://www.instagram.com/p/BAOW-BBMZop/ 

Iris loves watching ballet dancing, funny thing and so when I saw this idea for a little Popsicle stick ballerina on Pinterest I knew I had to make her one. The body of the ballerina is made from a plain lolly stick.

The hair was a bit fiddly to get to cover up the end of the stick, but I finally got there.  I glued down the end strands at the back with PVA glue, as it dries clear and tends to hold fast.

I then drew on the face, top and shoes with a pink Sharpie pen and black fine liner pen. 

The skirt is made from three pink cake cases, one on top of each other and folded in half.  I made a small slit in the centre of the fold  with a craft knife, to push the stick through.  I then added a little blob of glue to the stick and each layer to help keep them in place.

I then wondered about adding arms to add movement when Iris twirled the ballerina, this was not part of the original idea I found.  I found some wooden beads and knotted them at each end of a short piece of wool (left over from the hair) and glued it down at the back with PVA glue.

I then got all anal ……  deciding to glue a small scrap of card, coloured the same as the dress top, on the back, to hide the wool, but which also secured it a little more from coming off.

The finishing touches were a flat back flower gem on the ballerina’s hair and tiny gems on her décolletage and slippers. I could gone totally overboard by adding more gems to her dress, but decided to stop there, to gauge madams reaction first.

But,  I am now thinking …….. Christmas fairies, made in the same way but using white cake cases instead, with silver wings, and a lot more bling?

Sharpie Pen - Snowman Christmas Plate

The original inspiration idea for this Christmas Plate came from Pinterest - https://uk.pinterest.com/pin/332984966186944740/

I haven’t painted a Christmas plate for a couple of years, but I thought that having one or two squirrelled away might be useful “if” I have a craft stall later on in the year, and if not, I could always give them as presents.

I found the dinner sized plate in Poundland, I loved the ribbed edge, thinking that it would add an extra texture to the finished design.  I used Sharpie pens to paint it, and was going to measure the stripes round the edge, but soon gave the idea up, if this was to be hand painted, a few wobbles and uneven spaces here and there wouldn’t do it any harm.

I drew the stripes in red as a rough guide and then gradually filled them in, colouring them in randomly round the plate so as not to smudge areas that might still be a bit wet.

I then added the snow border in the slope of the plate, this was fiddly, and if I am being critical, it may have looked better in a paler blue colour.

With that done, I then added black spots round  the edge of the plate in the areas that I had left blank.

I was nervous about doing the face, but I knew I had a short amount of time to rub out the pen if things didn’t look right, fortunately it only took three attempts to do the nose and two for the mouth before I was happy.

The final touch was, after some thought, to colour the white snow, pale blue.

After a little research on using Sharpie pens on plates etc. to help set/secure the ink, I baked it very slowly at 130c for two hours, keeping a careful eye on it.  That being said I wouldn’t trust the plate in a dishwasher, but would wash it very gently by hand, but being a Christmas plate I wouldn’t anticipate it getting very heavily caked in food, I am thinking mainly biscuits or mince pies?

Post Note; I made several plates at the same time - one plate I was planning to use on a regular basis but on the very first wash the pen came off without too much effort - I thought 130o didn't sound very hot.  I am now going to use this plate to experiment with at various increasing temperatures until the pattern "hopefully" stay puts, and then I will revise any future posts.

Pink Bunny Fridge Magnet

I made this bunny for this Easter ……… but just didn’t have the time to get “him” posted.

I used five mini/half sized, plain lolly/craft sticks from The Works, (£1) and coloured them in pink using a Sharpie pen.

I used a square of white card to act as a base for the bunny’s head.

I am a bit of a messy worker, especially when I am experimenting, but am also anal enough to cover up said messy work, as I did after adding ears to the bunny. 

I also like to colour any of the lolly sticks showing on the back to match the front. I then added a square of self adhesive magnetic tape so that he could sit on my fridge door.

To make the face I used two googly eyes, an upside down puffy heart sticker for his nose and two, small, punched circles for his cheeks, adding extra details with a black fine liner pen, used lightly to minimise any ink bleeding into the wood.

I then decided then to go the whole hog by adding Ranger Glossy Accents to accentuate the pink on his ears and cheeks. 

HAPPY EASTER

Wishing you all a very happy Easter …….. I think I am ready …… with many thanks to the pound shops of Wolverhampton on my last visit.

Iris and Bertie, Laura, Tom and Lucy will all round for full and robust Easter Lunch, when donning bunny ears and tails will be compulsory for everyone.  Then, if the weather is good, there will be an Easter Egg Hunt in the garden, and some egg and spoon racing.  I hope this will become a new family tradition, laying down happy memories for years to come for Iris and Bertie as well as us grown ups.

HAPPY EASTER WITH MUCH LOVE

Easter Chick Lolly Stick Fridge Magnet

For this Easter Chick fridge magnet I used five mini/half sized, plain lolly/craft sticks found in The Works, (£1).

I used a square of yellow card to act as a base for the chicks body and then coloured the sticks in with a yellow Sharpie pen.

I then cut out two feet, two wings and crown of feathers from scraps of orange card, sticking them on the back, with part to show from the front and then hid all the gunge and edges with another yellow square. I also added a square of self adhesive magnetic tape so he would stick to my fridge door.

For the face I used two googly eyes and a diamond shape of orange card to make the beak, with eyebrows made lightly with a black Sharpie pen

…….. all done and suitably dusted.

Easter Bunny in a Jar

This is what I put in Lucy’s room to greet her at the start of her Easter stay at The Towers ………

…… a bunny in a jar!  The mason style jar came from Home Bargains 79p and the mini chocolate bunny was from a pack (of 6???) from Aldi - £1.49.

The grass was in a bag of other Easter crafty bits and pieces, and there was just enough to swirl round the bottom of the jar, with an added sprinkling of punched white flowers to give it a little more interest.  I did buy some mini cream eggs to go round the bunny, but didn’t use them in the end because they made the jar look overcrowded.

The butterfly, stuck on with an adhesive foam pad, came from a pack of 6 assorted colours (99p) also from Home Bargains.  I must go and get another pack before they disappear after Easter as they were of a very good, sturdy quality and would be excellent for projects needing wings or on gift tags etc.

I must also start pinning some more “Gifts in a Jar” ideas from the many on Pinterest, as they are always good for small, fairing gifts, as well as inexpensive items to fill a craft stall later on in the year.

Easter Bunny Tags

For these tags I used two small, wooden frames (from a pack of six), along with the background papers from a 6” x 6” paper pad both from Poundland found last time I was in Wolverhampton.

I thought the frames would be something a bit different to use as a base for a gift tag.

The rabbits were part of a mix pack of rabbits and butterflies from this years Lldl Easter range. I glued the background papers onto a strong piece of white card to add strength to the tag, after it was glued onto the back of the tag, without it the paper came be a bit flimsy and curious fingers easily poked through.I used my modellers drill to add a hole for tying/hanging thread. I am always wary of using the drill on new materials just in case they splinter, but it went through a treat and a perfect hole was made.  I added a natural coloured bead to the blue thread.

A solid back is also perfect for adding an Easter message.

I finished the tags by adding a handwritten sentiment, obligatory googly eyes and, as I didn’t have any mini white pom poms, a swirl of pearl dimension paint for the rabbits tails, which worked a treat.

These tags will be attached to the Easter bags I have bought for Iris and Bertie to put their eggs in during our Easter Egg Hunt on Easter Sunday afternoon after lunch.

Iris and Bertie’s Easter Bunny Lollypop Stick Picture Frames

After having never used lollypop sticks in my crafting before, I think I am in serious danger of getting addicted!

These are two bunny picture frames I have made for Iris and Bertie for their invitations to Easter Lunch chez moi, followed by an Easter Egg Hunt, an Egg and Spoon Race and giant frog tiddlywinks in the garden, at the back of my flat.

I first coloured the lolly sticks with a green and yellow Sharpie pen and then glued them together with PVA glue to make the frame.

I stuck the background scene onto a scrap of strong white card to strengthen it, not wanting curious fingers to poke right through.  I added a square of self adhesive magnet on the back too, as one of the walls in their hall is painted with magnetic paint.

I then built up the pictures by adding bunny bodies etc. before adding the self adhesive, felt heads and carrots (from Yellow Moon), and then lots and lots of faux stitching in white gel and black fine liner pens.
A handwritten sentiment finishes off the design, but can be removed after Easter.
I now have quite a few more ideas for lolly stick frames …….. I am already thinking calendars and Save The Date fridge magnets.

The Twelve Frames Of Christmas – Festive Patchwork Box Frame Decorations

When I am browsing, looking for ideas, I love to look at how people, particularly in the U.S seem to decorate the whole of their home at Christmas.  Now, my flat is pretty small and I reckon I could just about manage it too …… and I am thinking about starting in my L shaped hall.

At the moment it has twelve Ikea Ribba box frames on two of the walls containing insect brooches, but I have only used masking tape to hold the backgrounds in place ……. they could be very easily replaced temporarily, if only for the month of December.

So, that is what I am planning to do……. making twelve festive patchworks, using Christmas papers and embellishments, and making good use of the giant square punch I got for £1 at the recent HobbyCraft Show at the NEC.

One a month should be easy, but as we are now in April I may have to double up on some months.

With a plan in my head, I gathered all the bits and pieces together and set them out roughly, but knowing that I would probably make changes as I went along.

Each square measures 1.5ins and was mat and layered on silver card, with faux stitching round the edges.  These squares were then arranged on a larger square that would fit within the mount that comes with the frame.

The next bit was to glue the twelve chosen embellishments and then fiddle fart some more by adding lots of flat backed gems, eyes, stars etc..

It was easy to get carried away, but at Christmas, less is more really doesn’t count.

Usually, I am quite particular about things fitting within the squares and being in proportion to each other, but I’ve let those ideas blow in the wind, I want the frames to look really homemade and not over overthought.

The frames also stand perfectly on a shelf, so I might consider buying a few extra (£3.50) to make up and give as presents to people, like my sister in law, who would really appreciate a decoration that is a little bit different.

Well, that’s one done, only eleven more to go!

http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/products/decoration/frames-pictures/ribba-frame-white-art-00078032/