Cardboard Box Kitchen

Do you have a surplus of cardboard boxes or are you looking for an inexpensive and imaginative play idea for your kids?  That is how the idea of the cardboard kitchen was born.   You can use just about any size box and this is what I did. 




Found two larger boxes (approx 1.5' x 3' x 2') and found a file box bottom
I also had two shoe size Rubbermaid containers that I wasn't using
the Contact paper isn't necessary, but it helps hide the outside of the box and to provide a personalized surface.
Tape will hold the top 'hutch' in place
Cutting blade or knife.

 Cut a hole to inset the storage container as a sink         Attach a shelf (cut out of the file box bottom)                                                                                      adhere with tape.


Now you get to sit back and watch your kids enjoy their new kitchen.

Polka Dot bird mobile

For this project, you will need some scrap fabric, batting, ribbon, and a stick that is about 1" thick and about 2'-3' long (with branches and moss if you can find it)

I chose to sew the scraps of fabric into free-form bird shapes, varying sizes, 2 brown polka dot, 2 white burlap

Then, I made fabric rosettes and tied them off with scraps of fabric. 

Assemble and hang

Pics coming soon.

Altered Curtains

One of my favorite things is making something new out of something you have on hand. For this project, I up-cycled some plain off-white curtains and added a little scrap of ribbon and fabric... viola! Cute new bird panels for my friend's nursery. 

Pic coming soon.

Large tissue paper flowers

I wanted to make a focal point in my daughter's room (as well as decorations for an upcoming birthday party), so I decided to make some 24" wide tissue flowers to hang.  These look more like pom poms or peonies depending on how you trim the edges.  I used full 20" x 30" pieces of tissue paper from a 20 piece package.





1.Accordion fold the paper approximately 3/8″ – 1/2″ per fold
2.Fold the wire or ribbon over the middle and twist. I left the ribbon long so it can be hung from the ceiling.
3. I then trimmed the edged to be rounded in a semi-circle or into triangle points.
4.Puff flowers. Gently pull apart the pieces of tissue and make it pretty.

You can also attach smaller  pom poms onto a ball or wreath form for decorations for your next event. How sweet would these be at a baby shower?

Handmade Easter basket liners

Last week, I found two wicker baskets at our local thrift store and they were perfect for my little ones' Easter baskets, but they were a little lacking in style. I then made a pattern for the baskets following  tutorial:
Basket tutorial link

 I then used the zigzag stitch on my sewing machine to embroider my son's name across the front.  The stitches came out a little uneven on the 'M', but he loves it and I like having my two baskets with different sizes and finishes being tied together by using the same color off-white canvas.  Liam's name is in Royal blue and Macey's name is in Fuchsia. 

Spring is here!

I made this banner out of scrapbook paper, white card stock, ribbon (I heart ribbon) embellishments, ink and scalloped scissors.  It took about and hour to make and is simple to make and looks uber cute!

Directions: Cut out your letters on coordinating paper (I used a Circut with the letters at 5 1/2")

attach the letters to 1/2 a sheet of white card stock

scallop the edges

ink the edges

embellish the design

punch a hole for the ribbon and feed it through!

Nothing is better than a helper!

This is my very own Macey and she helps every time I have the sewing machine out.  This picture just makes me smile!

Hats from an Old Sweater

So, if you have an old knit sweater lying around, put it to good use with this week's project.  I found a slightly shrunken sweater and turned it into 2 hats for my kids and 2 baby doll hats (using the sleeves).  Here's how:

 Find an old sweater and trace a template out of a hat you currently own.  You may be able to make an adult's hat if you can find a sweater that doesn't open in the middle.  Turn and sew right sides together.

 For the doll hats, I used each sleeve and ran elastic through the cuff.  Finish in the same manor as above. 

Time for playtime!

Crepe Paper Kissing Ball

I made this Crepe Paper Kissing Ball to hang in my daughter's room. I chose a broken whiffle ball for this project's base, but you could easily use a Styrofoam ball, or even a wadded up piece of newspaper that has been tapped shut.

Supplies:
ball form
crepe paper streamers (recycled from birthday parties or events
hot glue gun and glue sticks
about 12" of ribbon for hanging


 First, string the ribbon through the ball (or glue it)

Then, fold each length of streamer in 1/2 and start rolling into a rose shape.  After rolling about 24" of streamer, your rosette is finished.  Now, complete between 30-50 of them depending on the size ball you are using.  The whiffle ball I used needed about 50 of the rosettes.







You can vary the colors of the rosettes, but I rather like the monotone of using one color

Here it is 1/2 finished and about 30 roses in.  Hot glue each in place.


**side note, I love using a Silpat when using my hot glue gun as NOTHING sticks to it! It is a cinch to clean up!

Upcycled Book Wreath

This week, I tackled my ever-growing stack of books. I don't know about you, but I adore old books, but then the problem comes into view, what should I do with all of them.  For this first post, I decided to show you all how I made a rolled paper book wreath.

I first started with a cardboard cutout  that was about 4" thick and 24" in diameter.  Then, I inked the edges of two books (one moss green and one cocoa) with the covers removed.

 

 Don't worry if you don't fully ink the book all the way around the three sides. (don't ink the spine)

Start rolling the book pages with the spine of the page as the narrow part of the cone. This is the part you will glue onto the wreath.  To make gluing easier, I folded 'tabs' out of the bottom 1" or so. 

 Pick a spot and start gluing! If you are using two different books, be sure to mix the pages so the wreath doesn't look like you ran out of one 1/2 way through!

 Hang and done!

Welcome!

Welcome to my blog. My name is Joscelyn am a mother to two wonderful children, Liam and Macey and have adopted a use-what-you-have ideology to design and home crafting.  I hope you love my stories and simple ideas to beautify your space.  Enjoy!