Fae Fabulous Tutu Tutorial!

Recently while shopping at our local thrift store ~ where most things can still only cost a quarter! ~ my eyes landed on a big bag of pink tulle. I almost walked away (self control Shanti, self control...) until I remembered seeing the sweetest no sew tutus on line that I had someday hoped to make. So the pink tulle came home with us and was quickly transformed into some fabulous fae wear for my youngest!

Here is a girl you will often find up in a tree with a dirty face, battered jeans and an old plaid shirt, but offer her a pink tutu and she can switch roles rather instantly ~ soon to be found spinning in graceful delight. I suppose what girl can resist the allure of fluffy tulle...

Here is a super simple way to create a tutu. 

Thinking it would make a sweet gift for Easter or as a quick great gift for a birthday party.

In the words of my eight year old "It looks complicated but really it's SO easy!" She made her own version in navy blue and dark green, almost completely on her own ~ simple it truly is!

Enjoy...

You need 

 3-6 yards of Tulle (or 2 rolls of 6" tulle)

elastic

scissors

Hows that for simple!

To begin..

Measure the recipients waist and cut your elastic to fit (with extra to overlap where you sew).

Sew your elastic together ~ zig zag on the machine or by hand

Decide how long you want your tutu to be, then double the desired length of the tutu + one inch. For example- If you want your tutu to be 12 inches long, you need to cut the tulle in 25 inch lengths. 

Then you can cut your squares that length and pile on top of one another

Next cut you pile of squares into strips of about 8 inches or so (cutting them all together makes it go a lot quicker).

I must say tulle is the MOST forgiving fabric I have ever worked with. Your lines can be a rough cut and it still looks fabulous when put all together!

Stretch your elastic around a chair, your knee or (as we used) a stool.

Fold the strips in half & loop it around the elastic by pulling the ends through the loop. Pull  tight. 

Keep tying the strips of tulle onto your elastic until it fills up full. 

This one only took about 30 minutes or so.

There it is... pretty and pink awaiting a fairy to dance in it.

We also decided to add a little extra color. 

So we tied on some grass green ribbon to swirl when twirled.

One very happy fairy discovered her new skirt and took it out to play.

Magic ensued...

and more joy!

A fitting gift for my Solana Fae!

I had so much fun creating this and loved being the photographer on the sidelines while the "new skirt" directed a whole story ~ unfolding with dragons, a wedding, tree climbing, a handsome fairy prince, dancing and best of all big grins and giggles!

May you have a "fae"bulous day!

~ Shanti ~

Acorn Bird's Nest

The hunger for spring is in the air! We can't wait to feast our eyes on the return of the Robins, listen to their cheerful song and hopefully get a peek of sweet bright blue eggs nestled in a nest.

Until that day arrives we decided make some wee nests to bring spring into the home!

To craft these miniatures you will need
Acorn caps
Small beans (we used soy)
Moss
Glue gun and glue
Robin blue paint
String

To begin paint your beans blue
Tip ~ I discovered that by painting on tinfoil, it keeps the beans from sticking as they dry.

Next put a dab of glue inside your acorn top and add the moss

Add your eggs with a dab of glue on each

With your glue gun draw a fine line of glue across the bottom of the acorn and up the sides. Carefully place your string into the glue and tie at the top to hang.

Oh the magic in miniatures...

For the love of spring

~ Shanti ~ 

Flower Children to Welcome Spring!

Here's a little tutorial on how to make some sweet little flower children!

Last night we had a snowstorm...when I went outside this morning I was knee deep in snow...so you can well imagine that spring crafts are my only reassurance that the beauty and promise of spring is near.

You'll need:

some unfinished peg dolls

embroidery floss and needle

wool felt, (in colour of your choice)

paint and brush

 I never paint faces on my peg dolls...this is a first for me!

The lovely Mrs Bloom of We Bloom Here, (who incidentally is celebrating her one year blogiversary), assured me that I CAN paint faces on my peg people!  She is also hosting a peg doll swap...although sign ups are closed, you can go and visit her for some peg doll inspiration.  These little flower children are my contribution.  So...to start I painted some hair, eyes and a simple mouth.

Next cut some "tubes" to fit around them...I blanket stitch around the bottom edge, and then blanket stich them on in the back seam to hold them in place.

Please don't feel limited by my colour choices...you could do a rainbow of these little flower children!

Next, cut a little "collar" and glue it on.

Then add some petal caps.  I used this daisy template, and added a yellow center, (again use your blanket stitch...it looks neater)!  Do a gathering stitch on the underside of the petal and pull tight, until it resembles a hat.  Using glue I attached them to the peg people!

Now...of course little flower children are still sleeping in my part of the world...so they needed a little bed to slumber in.  Simply cut out 2 leaf shapes...I cut one of the 2 into 1/2 the size of the first.  Add some "veins" with embroidery floss...

Then attach it all together.  I did a blanket stitch all around, to make it look nice and neat.

And here they are enjoying a little flower children slumber party!

"And Spring arose on the garden fair,

Like the Spirit of Love felt everywhere;

And each flower and herb on Earth's dark breast

rose from the dreams of its wintry rest."

-Percy Bysshe Shelley

in the spirit of Spring!

xo maureen

                                               

Envelope Tutorial...and the cutest free stationery ever!!!

here are some of our finished envelopes...

So with our penpal match up well under way, I thought I'd do a little homemade envelope tutorial.

You'll need envelopes of various sizes, patterned paper, (think old books, gift wrap, scrap book paper),

a glue stick, scissors and pencil.

Get your envelopes...oh this is just so simple.

Tear them open...this is your template...trace this onto your paper.

Using your template...make all the folds in the right places!

Now glue it together...

and here's your fancy and fun new envelope!!! I told you...so simple!!!

(you can either make your own address label with paper, or buy those stick on labels)!

Of course, you'll need some super sweet stationery to go with your super sweet envelopes...

go here!!! for the cutest stationery in the world.  You just bring up the image...click on it to make it bigger, and then right click to print.  Super duper easy, and so so sweet!!! 

Here is some of our stationery we'll be using to write to our new penpals!

Now, if you haven't already, you have until Friday the 25th to sign up your kiddies for our pen pal club!

Please go to the original post here and leave your children's ages, and your location, as well as an e-mail address...if I don't have your e-mail address I can't sign you up.  In the next week I'll be sending out penpal matches for your kids...I'm doing it little by little, so if you don't hear back from me immediately don't worry.

I am so thrilled to see the number of people who are signing up...yes it's a bit of a job to organize, but I just think of all of our kiddies writing letters to each other...actually writing, and mailing letters...it's like a lost art these days...and it makes it all worthwhile!!

xo maureen 

Felt Shooting Stars Tutorial!

Here's a super sweet craft for the wee folk in your life.  Shooting stars!

I know my stockings are going to be stuffed with shooting stars...my girls just LOVE anything that has ribbons, (especially in rainbow hues), attached to it!

So here's how you can make one of your own...

You will need:

wool felt (yes use wool felt...it holds up so much better than cheapy felt)!

ribbon

thread

needle

stuffing

First cut out 2 stars...if you don't want to free hand your star just google "star templates"...you'll find printable templates in every shape and size.

Then cut your ribbon into 3 ft lengths...we did rainbow ribbon on ours, but you can use whatever colour(s) you wish!

Starting in the middle of 2 points start sewing your way around...I recommend using a blanket stitch, only because it makes your end project look neater.  I typically also split my embroidery floss and use 2 strands at a time.

Sew until you get to the last point...leaving a gap to stuff.

Using a pencil or knitting needle, stuff stuffing into all of the points of the star...then fold your ribbon in half and sandwich in your ribbon in between the felt...you can hold it in place with a pin, or just use your fingers.

  

I sew through a few strands of the ribbon just to attach it in place, (using blanket stitch)...tie it off and you're finished.  

If you're a pretty good sewer it should take you about 10 minutes from start to finish!

Now toss to an adoring child and have fun! 

xo maureen

Pine Cone Skier

Today is a beautiful snowy day in my part of the world, so I have been inspired to share these festive pine cone skiers with you...

To create you will need

Acorn

Felt

Embroidery floss

Pine cone

Pipe cleaner

Birchbark

Toothpicks

Blue gun & glue

Sparkles

To begin wrap your pipe cleaner around your pine cone to create little arms

Cut out your  felt pieces ~ mittens, scarf, a rectangle (for your hat), feet and your circles for your ski poles.

Cut your skies out of birchbark

Wrap your felt around the acorn head, add a dab of glue and seal.

Tie your embroidery floss around the hat and knot.

Cut your tassels

Brush the scales with glue and sprinkle on your glitter 

Glue together

and 

Voila!

These fun folk shall be skiing down our tree and across our nature table all winter long.

As well, a wee warning ~ in the hands of a child they seem to zoom all over the house, up down and all around ~ who could resist ; )!

Wishing you warmth and wonder this season

~ Shanti ~

A Welcome Wreath

Tis the season to opening our doors and basking in the warmth of each other. 

Here is a woodsy wreath to welcome with...

I began creating this wreath to place on my father's grave. I wanted a piece of us and his Canadian homeland, to grace his grave in the states. As the wreath came to life I decided that it would adorn my door first, filling up on the love and wonder this season offers and then travel to lie with him in his resting place. The idea comforts me ~ a simple offering to feel connected in our separation.

To create you will need

A grapevine wreath 

Cedar boughs

Berries

Chestnuts

Floral wire

Twigs

Milkweed Pods

A glue gun

To begin gather up your twigs, floral wire and grapevine wreath. Following these instructions  create your twig wreath.

Next add your cedar boughs with a dab of (glue gun) glue until all wire is hidden and your wreath looks flush. 

Glue chestnuts around the inner center of your wreath.

Glue pine cones around the chestnuts.

Glue on your berries.

For the center ~ Glue milkweed pods into a star shape. Add their center strips into the star and place a piece of star anise in the center.

To attach in the center, glue a thin stick across the inside of the wreath and then glue your star to that.

Here it shall fill to the brim with all the comings and goings of this magical season. 

~ Welcoming ~

(who could resist ; )

With Welcoming Warmth

~ Shanti ~