100 days to Christmas | reindeer noses

So, want to know how I did it?

I purchased my bags from Pack It In via their ebay shop, and the bag toppers were a free printable from Pigeon Baby. Print, red glitter on the nose, 8 malteasers and 1 jaffa, and the bag is sealed. This pile was well recieved by Chloe and Douglas' friends, next I need to make some up for Natalie and Riley's daycare friends.

Do you make class gifts or teacher gifts?

100 days to Christmas | what's under the tree?

Back in July, I shared that those words came out of one of my children's mouths... you know, the words that make you think your children are being ungrateful, and have you questioning why you put in the effort every year. "Where's the rest of the presents?" Needless to say, in an effort to overcome the words, I have built a mental hill of at least two handmade gifts per child... and in true procrastinator form, I haven't even decided what those presents will be, let alone started making them!

Source: None via Cate on Pinterest

Pinterest really is becoming a part of my every day. Writing these posts is making me go back and explore each board and find new ideas (but it is also overwhelming, and sometimes freezes me into inaction)

Source: flickr.com via Cate on Pinterest

I love the look of this sewing kit. I think this would be an awesome gift for a big girl I know - a piece of me wants her to become a bit crafty (and not wait until she's 30-something before she discovers a crafty bone), but a piece of me gets frustrated teaching the kids, so if she was given a box full of stuff to dive into and explore as she wanted to, it might be easier to do the teaching.

Source: melissagoodsell.typepad.com via Cate on Pinterest

This fabric hopscotch mat has been on my must-sew list for two years now! This has to be the year that I make two of them, maybe even three now that Riley thinks he's the bees knees cause he can jump!

Source: marthastewart.com via Cate on Pinterest

This eyeball tshirt has also been on my list for two years. It's perfect for Douglas (and maybe any other little boys I know)

Source: tatertotsandjello.blogspot.com via Cate on Pinterest

Riley is just starting to get into playing with the dress ups with the kids. I think if we had more costume stuff (instead of sparkly dresses) he might play even more.

I've got other ideas for gifts, but they'll keep for another day.

handmade christmas - printables

Hereare some of the printables that I've purchased as gifts this year.

This collaboration from Paislee Press and Biograffiti (available at Oscraps) looks nice and clean and simple. I'm going to put some recipes together for my brother, and might make one for my sister, too. First recipe will be mum's fruit mince pies.

I've shared the links for these memory cards on this post earlier this month. I can see lots of card games happening this summer.

I saw a link to this calendar earlier this year, and it has stayed in my mind ever since. When I read Kate's post about etsy yesterday, I knew I had to hunt it down now! I'm going to print out the calendar on white cardstock, bind with my bind-it-all, and give to the girls in my bookclub.

I made diaries for my mum and sister last year (and forgot to photograph before posting), and mum's been hinting that she wants another one this year, so I've purchase this self-paced class from Creativity Prompt. The planner is 4x6, week-to-a-page, and the class contains 4x6 jpegs or 8.5x11 pdfs that you can print yourself. I'm going to print on 120gsm paper (because I like the weight for writing on), and I'm thinking of making one up for myself, too!

Have you seen a good printable that would make a great gift?

handmade christmas - mini diaries

inspired by marta writes

{sized to 4x6... please let me know if you download}

I created this before I saw the above post from Marta.

I loved the idea of her diaries, and thought they would make a great gift.

I was having trouble with the inside pages sticking out when folded.

Deb has had success with her notebooks, so I asked for advice.

The answer is to make the inside pages slightly smaller.

(I have 8 pages, so slice down the inner 4)

I cut 1 mark off each side, so the length ends up being 15cms.

Fold all the pages, remembering which are the shorter pages.

I used a bulldog clip to keep my pages together, and stapled

(almost in the middle)

Because I'm planning to make lots of these, I invested in a long reach stapler.

Stick the label on the front

I'm going to bundle them in 3s

(equaling 3mths of diary notes)

Paper is American Crafts - Moda Bella

Punch from Stampin' Up

Font is fling LET

can I borrow that idea?

Did you read Elise Blaha's blog on Tuesday?

I like the idea of being "skilled in the techniques of art and craft." I like the thought of practicing and growing to become a Craftsman.

I want to be a craftsman when I grow up.

{source}

Sharyn shared a recipe for Guinness cupcakes, now added to my list for baking this weekend. And Sian shared potato bread for St Patricks Day (I remember mum making these with leftover mash when I was younger, but they never looked that yummy!)

I desperately need a pin cushion, I keep poking myself every time I need a pin for something, so I bookmarked this one from CraftyPod today - it's either an excuse to buy a yo-yo maker, or beautiful eye candy!

Today, One Pretty Thing shared this mod-podged hand trees that have now been added to my Christmas craft list, and last week there was another Christmas crafts blog showcased, Twelve Crafts Until Christmas. If you craft, go check them out! (don't forget the 25th of each month is Handmade Christmas over here! I'm working on a couple of simple things for this month, and have been slowly filling my ideas pages for the rest of the year!)

Last one for today - Dolly Donations. Need I say more?

handmade Christmas - taggie blanket

 

 Silly me, I updated to the "new" blogger post editor a couple of days ago (I think it's been around for a few months, but I'm very slow at discovering these things), and I'm having no end of dramas figuring it all out. It might mean I have to get serious about using LiveWriter, which I downloaded during Blogging for Scrapbookers, but have never used. {speaking of Shimelle, did you see her new class offering? No prizes for guessing who signed up, my stash is over a year old, so I'm hoping it will spark some new uses for "old"}

So, the first project up is a taggie blanket for bubba. I've seen tutorials for these in various places - Chica and Jo, and a few others. They are easy to make, and make a great simple gift idea. Mine make a scrunchy noise, much loved by Riley!

First, cut your materials. I used one layer of flannel, 6.5" square, one layer of cotton print 6.5" square, one layer of "scrunchy" material (in this case, I bought space blankets off ebay. The material is fragile, and tears easily, but holds up to baby slober [and therefore washing] and makes an awesome scrunchy noise. I found this tutorial via One Pretty Thing this morning, where she used cellophane [loving the triangle shape, might try that myself!]) 6.5" square and 8 lengths of ribbon of varying textures about 2" long.

Pin ribbon to the flannel square, two lengths on each side, at about 2.25" and 4.5" (to allow for .25" seam allowance) Make sure loops of ribbon lay inwards to the centre, so they poke outwards once you turn everything right way out. I make sure the pins poke out past the edge of the flannel, to make them easier to take out later.

 Then add your cotton layer, making sure your pattern is facing inside to the ribbon (I had to triple-check this, but I had helpers)

 Place the space blanket layer last. Because it is fragile, I only used four pins, one on each side.

  

Sew all the layers together. In the past, I haven't been a careful sewer, but I took my time with this, and it showed in the finished piece.

 Turn your piece right way out (I sewed from ribbon to ribbon the second time, leaving a good gap... the kids could hear me from downstairs swearing when I was trying to turn the first one ~lol~) Being the lazy mum that I am, I didn't iron the material flat, but if you want your final layer to sit neatly, ironing will make it neater and easier to topstitch.

 

  

Topstitch all around, ensuring to turn the open corner inwards. I find it easiest to pin it together, and then it looks neat when it's finished. (If I had ironed it, it would be neater ~lol~)

Finished item! This is the second one I made for Riley, and he loves them all! I enjoyed the process so much that I'm going to make a few extras (Steve had some silly idea about making some and selling them, but I don't know if I would go quite that far!), but I'll definately be gifting some!

Please link me up if you have a go at these, I'd love to see what you make!

{I've decided to theme each month's gifts, so far I'm researching gifts for males, things to create with kids art, decorating candles, album gifts, and I've got an idea for using Emily Falconbridge's wet felting technique! Please add any ideas you'd like to see}

5 {blog binder pages} on Friday

lots of ideas for 5 on Friday
(I'm also making an a5ish size one, 2-to-a-page)

to expand on each idea and turn it into a post

one of these at the start of each month, slowly filling with chicken scratchings as I think of something

I'm seeing lots of stuff as I wander blogs and the web, so need to acknowledge that if I use the inspiration.
Again, one page in each month.

This is where I'll expand on how I have/will re-create an idea for Handmade Christmas

{all canvases are 7.5x11}
font is typewriter (my new favourite!)
paper is Katie Pertiet for Designer Digitals

{please leave a comment if you use these pages}