Owl Cushion - free embroidery

I've recently finished sewing up an owl cushion, my own embroidery, and thought I'd offer it up as a free pattern. Perfect for Mother's Day if your Mum loves owls like mine does!

The making -

 The free owl embroidery -

If you use the pattern let me know. I'd love to see your take on it!

Tray makeover

You know those old bamboo trays you see in op-shops and garage sales for a few cents?

Here's an idea (link) with what to do with them.

Customize the try for whoever will receive it. I made the mushroom one for myself, and the rose one for my Mum.

Golden Dinosaur Ornies

Here's a simple and fun idea. You know those plastic dinosaurs that you find in toy baskets in op shops, or even in your own home?

 

1. Collect the ones you want and spray paint them gold.
2. Get some wire and pliers, and push your wire into the dino's back until secure enough. I used jewelry bits with loops in already but you could easily curl the wire around to make a loop yourself.
3. Now simply cut your clear thread to size and tie a knot in the end.

They're ready to hang and enjoy!

Of course, you could use any sized and type of plastic animal, like kitties, or farm animals.

Shabby Christmas Tree Tutorial

Has anyone else noticed all the beach-themed Christmas crafts around lately? I've also noticed some beautiful drift-wood Christmas trees. Too much work for me, but it sparked an idea.

Ingredients:

• Branches of your choosing
• Pruning shears
• Scissors
• Spray Paint in your colour choice
• Hot glue gun and glue sticks
• Twine or string
• Cardboard
• Floral foam
• Pot or container of your choice
• Artificial moss or some other ground cover (I used wool)
• Artificial birds and mushrooms or whatever you wish.

Directions:
1. First, start by finding the perfect branches and pruning them to your desired length to create a Christmas tree effect. Secure your "branches" to your main "trunk" with hot glue, and then twine or string.

2. Paint your chosen container whatever colour you wish, or leave as is. Allow to dry.

3. Take your floral foam and cut to size of your container and secure into it with some hot glue. Push your Christmas tree into the foam and secure again with hot glue.

 4. Cut your cardboard to fit around your tree and whatever pot you've chosen, and secure it down with hot glue. Now spray paint your cardboard the same colour as your container, or green. Wait until dry, then cut any over-lap.

5. Now attach your artificial moss or other chosen "base." I chose wool and wrapped it in a spiral effect, securing with more hot glue.

6. Add your decorations! I put two toadstools at the base of my tree, along with a fungus owl I found in an op shop and some birdies I picked up at a cheap shop. You can always add a star on the top if you wish.

I adore my finished tree, and it looks good simply standing on it's own!

DIY Hurricane Candle Holder

I found some great owl napkins while out shopping a week ago. I bought a pack and set them in a drawer until I could decide what to make with them.
May I introduce my handmade cheap-as-chips hurricane candle holder!

What you'll need: 

• Paper napkins of your choosing.

• Mog Podge Matte finish or a clear-drying glue.

• A glass jar of your choosing (make sure the opening is large enough for heat to escape).

• An embellishment like ribbon or twine.

• One tea-light candle.

 Instructions:

1. Open your paper napkin and cut the picture to fit around the jar. Peel off the two layers of plain paper on the back of the napkin so it's tissue paper thin.
2. Mod Podge your glass jar all the way around then gently lay the napkin onto the glue and press into position.
3. Wait to dry then gently apply a layer of Mod Podge over the top of the napkin, taking care nto to tear it.
4. Once dry, add your final embellishment to the top of the jar. I used twine and tied it into a bow.
5. Put your candle inside and light it.

Viola! Your very own customized hurricane candle holder!

Beware, never leave candle alone while burning. Do not leave alone with children. Glass may get hot.

braided

I finally sat down and taught myself how to do a fishtail braid.

It's easier than I thought it would be, once I found the right instructions!

It's my new favourite way to wear my hair.

Snow Ball Ornament Tutorial

Gather your supplies -

1. Wool, preferably white or cream
2. Cardboard or pom pom maker
   
3. Glue
4. Glitter
5. 2 matching buttons
6. small amount of thread
7. pink blush makeup

Make a pom pom the traditional way using circles of cardboard, or a pom pom maker you can buy in any craft shop.Lightly paint glue onto the pom pom using a paintbrush, then sprinkle glitter onto glue. Tap off excess glitter and allow to dry overnight.Add a piece of wool for hanging.
Glue the button eyes and thread mouth into position.Lastly, gently brush some pink blush onto wool where cheeks should be. Blow off excess makeup and you're done!

A cute little snow ball that will never melt!

Mini-Wreath Ornament Tutorial

Gather your ingredients:

1. Curtain rings, wooden or plastic. I got mine from the op shop for cheap.
2. Wool of your colour choice. Also from the op shop!
3. Felt scraps of your choosing.
4. Scissors, glue, hot glue gun.
5. Assorted decorations of your choice. I used a touch of glitter too.
   

Directions:
Cut a length of wool, tie it off on your curtain ring and continue to wrap around until whole ring is covered.You can use a bit of craft glue to keep your ends in place if you like.Cut your felt into the shape of your choosing, and hot glue it to the inside of your ring on top of the wool.Add your chosen decorations, and embellish with glitter if you wish.Lastly, cut a length of wool and make a loop to hang your decoration from.Tada! Cute-as little mini wreaths!I'll be making more of these, I'll show them once they're finished. If you make some, be sure to let me know so I can come and see them!

Beaded Glittered Christmas Decorations Tutorial

Get your ingredients -

• hot glue gun
• normal "dries clear" craft glue and paintbrush
  
• styrofoam ball or other needs to be bedazzled item (I used a glass tea light candle holder as well)
  
• beads of your choice
• sequins of your choice
• glitter craft paint (or just use the other glue and glitter by itself)
• kebab stick

Step 1: Poke the kebab stick into your styrofoam ornament.Step 2: Paint your dries-clear glue onto your styrofoam ball in segments, and cover with the sequins.Once fully covered leave overnight to dry.Step 3:Grab your hot glue gun (make sure you're working on a plastic surface so you can pick up the dry bits of glue later) and start applying your beads randomly.If you're planning on hanging the completed ornament, don't cover up the hole that the kebab stick was poked into.

Step 4: Once the beads and glue cool down, you can start applying your glitter paint (or glue drops then sprinkle with glitter) around your beads where there's small gaps.Step 5: Once the glitter dries, it's done. Unless you want to hang it in which case cut a small length of ribbon or string, and stick into the gap you've left in the ball (where the kebab stick was) using a dress pin and some glue.Voila! See how pretty they are? I reckon a few of these balls in a tall glass vase would look quite nice with some smaller silver decorations.Or a few candles all grouped together.

PomPom Flowers

So there's this picture tutorial on Pinterest -and I love it! So much in fact that it's inspired me to make my own little version.I used the traditional method of making pompoms though, and used natural twigs as stems.Pinterest Craft Challenge Complete!