Early Summer Fun 2014

I made a little craft kit for the little girls of a good friend.  The girls and his wife are super crafty, so I knew I just had to send them a fun little packet!  It had stickers inside, small kits, extra craft supplies, bits of paper.  Their eldest is the same age as Tate, 8/9, so I knew she could handle a little stitching, so I added a stitched felt kit.  (Sidenote: Tate is doing stitchery in art class and finds it delightful!)

This kit was super easy to make.  2 felt hearts (cut with pinking shears), a little stuffing, a needle and embroidery thread.  I threaded the needle so that it would be ready to go, and she had it finished while we were all waiting for brunch at a restaurant!  

Soleil was not about to be left out of any sort of crafting.  Thank goodness I made her a fairy kit as well as my friends' girls.  She was so excited to put it together. 

Doll Clothespins+circles of scrap fabric and felt-small "x" cut in center+yarn or wool for hair+ribbon piece for shirt+wings cut from cardstock+pipe cleaner for arms+marker for face and feet.

And since it has been 90F, playing in the hose an sprinklers are almost expected.
(When you do this at other people's houses, you might have to walk home, shirtless, dripping wet, and in a Cars towel.)

Frozen treat on a hot day!!  

Frozen pineapple+splash of almond milk+squirt of honey+water as needed.  

Project 23: Weaved Yarn Basket

My mom gave me these "Yarn Basket Templates" from Clover.  I wasn't really sure about it, but after my first basket, I was hooked.  Ok.  The pink one is really ugly (so ugly, that I left it at my parents' house!) but it is so soothing and meditative to weave the yarn to make these.  

I tried a second basket on the way home from Michigan with prettier, chunkier yarn.  (GREAT cartrip craft project!) After changing yarn, I loved them for the look, as well as the process.  Soleil is using this basket for her stuffed kitty, but there are tons of things you could use it for.

Basket Tutorial

1. Glue fabric or felt on both sides of the bottom of the basket. (in blue)
2. Weave the yarn in and out of 6 holes, then return the other way all the way around the basket.
3. Continue weaving all the way to the holes.
4. Sew the in and out of the holes to secure. Knot and cut yarn.
5. Wrap, with the assistance of clothespins, more yarn around the basket until nice and thick.
6. Sew around the wrapped yarn (from the top to the next hole, as opposed to sewing side to side) and gather the wrapped yarn until it hugs the circumference of the basket.

Once I made one, I realized that you could trace the template on a cereal box and make as many as you want. I have the square basket, and the oval, and the link I attached is for a 3rd style, which looks great as well!