Paper Garlands and Getting to Hawaii

Did you know that I am no long the Glue Gun Queen? I have a SEWING MACHINE and I use it all the time. Most recently I used it to create a bunch of paper garlands to sell at our garage sale on the weekend.

Miss Fab and I are fundraising to get her (and me) to Hawaii in June for an international Cheerleading competition. How cool is that?
Me and Fab in Hawaii. Competing with the best cheerleading teams from around the world.
But first we have to get there.

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We Made a Jungle

I just wanted to share with you these photos of the Jungle me and my clever friend Carla created in the foyer of the Mercury Theatre for Shout Kids school holiday programme this week. We sewed acres of vines, cut out thousands of felt leaves, sewed a four-metre giant snake, a gazillion cushions, made a waterfall from cheap taffeta and tarps and a rock wall from brown paper.
But the pièce de résistance had to be the AMAZEBALLS pallet bridges that Carla's amazing hubby made from pallets, from the dump.

Together with an army of Bible college student volunteers we pulled an all-nighter on Sunday and transformed a boring foyer into a magical jungle. All the months of planning and sewing and gluing and cutting came together and, just WOW.

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Introducing My Talented & Beautiful Niece, Jasmine

It would seem that we only produce geniuses in our family. Remember my dancer nephew Joel? He's now off in San Francisco at the Lines Ballet School, thanks in part to the support of you, my blog readers.

Now I want to introduce you to my gorgeous and clever niece, Jasmine and ask for your support again.
I hope you'll be suitably impressed with her talent, and place your vote for her at the AMP People's Choice Awards.

Jasmine is hoping to make it into University to study and be trained in design. Obviously study doesn't come cheap, and being the eldest of eight kids Jazz is going to need some outside help with tuition fees.

Sharing her genius here on my blog is one of the best ways I can offer this lovely girl my support.





Here's what Jazz has to say:

The reason I not only want, but need this scholarship, is because I am from a small town and the eldest child of eight children hoping to go off to Massey University in Wellington next year to pursue my dreams of becoming a world class internationally recognised designer.  

I'm hoping to use this scholarship to help me pay for my course at the College of Creative Arts. I am someone who hasn't had the money to buy expensive equipment and resources, so I have made the most of what I've had, and I know that if I was awarded a scholarship such as this, it would not go to waste.  

It would absolutely change my life forever and allow me to not only continue with my art, but to develop my skills further, have greater accessibility to resources I could not otherwise afford and  to step out into a bigger and better world.  

This is the link to my profile :)  

I do digital art, pencil drawings, oil paintings, water colour and acrylic paintings. I have done a few commissions involving digital portraits of people's children to help me set myself up for next year too. 

P.S . The AMP Peoples Choice Scholarship is a $10,000 scholarship awarded to the person who gets the most votes. The applicant writes up a profile to show off what their "thing" is and then everyone votes for the person they support or the person whose profile they like :)

Today I have crawled off my sick bed to switch on my computer and put this request out there: If you haven't already voted in the AMP People's Choice Awards, would you please click the link and vote for Jazz?
THANKYOU, in advance, kind sir, kind madam, for helping a young artist fulfill her potential and realise her dream.

VOTE FOR JASMINE

Here's just *some* of her work...

if you haven't already...

VOTE FOR JASMINE

(thankyou!)

♥

New At My House

There's almost nothing I love better than lazing on the couch with a good book. Even better if the place I'm lazing is pretty and full of sunshine. Better still if this sunny haven is a corner of my very own bedroom.

This is the sunroom attached to our bedroom, where the computer used to live and where I loved to blog. Just before Christmas I had grown fed up with the kids constantly in my bedroom using the computer, so I kicked the computer out into the hallway.

Not such a pretty place for me to blog, but it left my room a kid-free haven once more. But in spite of it's awesome potential as a sanctuary for me and hubby from the noise and crazy, that little corner of the house had never been given much attention. It was under-achieving.

So last week I gave it some love, scattered some cushions (and invested a bit of dosh on some new cubby shelves). Now it is an inviting space to relax and create in. I can write (with a pen), draw, paint (I've even organised all my craft and party supplies)... and spend sunny afternoons enjoying a book in the sunshine.

I love it.

 Meanwhile Dash's poor cupboard of a bedroom was trying to over-achieve. A welcoming space for a ten year old boy that can fit nothing more than a divan bed and a shelf or two? Nothing a lick of blackboard paint can't fix!

I painted the whole wall with black board paint and added some words in bright colours at the top: NO FEAR... to relieve the dark colour in a small space. Funny thing is that rather than closing the room in, it actually feels bigger, because you notice the height all the way up to the roof. Dash' cupboard room may be small, but it is pretty cool now. And what's more it's all his (he'd rather have a tiny space all his own than share a large space with his pesky little bro).

Meanwhile changes are afoot in the dining room too. Gail is back from China (yay) which means that her  beloved Bus Blind art which has graced my dining room wall for the past 18 months has been returned to its mama *sniff*. I've had to make do with my "Family Words" canvas from the hallway. Not bad. But I might need to add something underneath it, I'm thinking. Some more words on canvas. Perhaps "BLESSED" or "PEACE"... can't hurt to have those words seeping into my brain aye??

And finally... while I've been playing interiors, My dear hubby has been busy outside.

He has ripped up our old rotten deck and it's wobbly apple-green balustrade and replaced it with this *sexy new deck* (as Scrag says in a hilarious Scottish accent). I am very proud of Mr G (not born a Kiwi = not born with DIY running in his veins). He has done a beautiful job. Even though this is only Stage One... it's a vast improvement on what was there before.

Hey! What's that I hear? More DIY projects are calling... this tin of duck-egg blue wants to be slapped on some walls. 

Phew. Once I start I just can't stop!

(more *at home* stories)

Make an Easy Kids Chef Hat & Apron (Glue Gun Magic)

You could spend a fortune on kitting out little chefs for a Baking Birthday Party.
Or you could make your own using cheap felt and teatowels, with the help of your trusty glue gun.

It's totally up to you. But I know what I'm choosing - and here's how to do it if you haven't got megabucks and aren't handy with a sewing machine...

We'll start with the Chef Hat. I promise this is simple.

YOU WILL NEED:
2 metres of white felt fabric
Glue gun + plenty of glue sticks
Needle and white thread
Sharp scissors
A pencil, some string and a thumb tack
Coloured felt for letter cut-outs (optional)
A child's head

1. Cut off a strip of felt approximately 12cm wide, and wrap it around the head of the nearest lurking child.
2. Pin it into a round band as shown and trim off the excess, leaving enough overlap for gluing. Glue gun the overlapping edges and press together firmly.

3. To measure a large circle for the top of the hat, first tie a knot in your string. Put a thumb-tack through the  knot and secure it towards one corner of the felt (have cardboard underneath so you don't mark the table)

4. Tie the other end of the string to a pencil; the pin becomes your anchor point for scribing a large circle (the larger your circle the more pooffey your hat)

5. Scribe your circle onto the felt as shown

6. Cut out your circle (perfection is optional)

7. Get your needle and thread and sew a loose running stitch around the edge of the felt, gathering it as you go. Make sure you have the unmarked side of the felt on the inside (this will become the outside of the hat)

8. When you have stitched right the way round, pull the two ends of the thread and even out your gathers.

9. Put your hat band inside your gathered circle and use this to get the tension right in the gathers. Once you are happy, tie off the ends with a double knot and snip the excess (at the moment you are working with the hat inside out)

10. Apply hot glue the the top edge of the hat band in smallish amounts, then press the edges together quickly for maximum stick.

When you have glued all the way around, turn your hat in the right way - Voila! A chef's hat for less than two bucks!

OPTIONAL:Add some colour by cutting out the child's initial in coloured felt and hot-gluing into place. 

(At the party, the little chefs can have fun adding bling to their Chef Hats if you can bear for your creation to be desecrated)

Now for the Aprons. No-one would ever guess that this beauty is made with a hot glue gun from a humble teatowel and the annoying straps off our new electric blankets.

The secret to true apronly gorgeousness is using good quality linen tea towels. (I bought a four-pack in a Farmers Sale. Ten Bucks for the pack.)

HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED:

The next most important thing is the folding. This is key to the success of your operation. It requires precision guesswork. In fact, you might want to have your iron heating up - a pressed seam is easier to keep dead-even. (Or do a practise run on an old teatowel first).

Fold the teatowel in half lengthways. Then fold back one corner of the teatowel, leaving around 10cm square at the top, as shown.

Press the folded seam with the hot iron (or pin in place) and flip your folded teatowel over. Use the already folded corner to be your guide, and fold the other corner at exactly the same angle.

Hot-glue into place; then flip over and repeat. When you open your teatowel out, it should look like this on the back (seam side):

Now we are ready to attach our straps.

Yes, you heard me right that I snipped the long straps off our new electric blankets - they are perfect as apron straps! (I also found some more white cotton strap-stuff in Geoffs Emporium for .6oc per metre.)

Estimate how long your straps need to be and hot-glue them on. I added another layer of glue on top and then folded the excess strap back on itself a few times for extra strength (helps prevent unraveling). Then snip and do the next bit.

I think it took me all of five minutes to make this apron. Honest. No measuring, no sewing, no trimming (unless you count snipping the straps). Too easy. And too cute.

Phew. one down, three more to make in time for Saturday's Brilliant Baking Birthday (with special guest all the way from China - wahoo!)

More Baking Birthday Stuff

• Baking Birthday Party
• Baking Party Pinterest Board
• Baking Birthday (50s style) Printable Party Invite 

Art Rules

This disorganised mother-of-three-crazy-kids embarked on a 14-week parenting course this year, in the hope that it would help me become a better parent.
Part of my parenting course homework was to come up with some Family Rules.
We were meant to talk with our kids and make a short list of the things that are really important to us, then put them up somewhere everyone can see them.

So the night before our homework was due I dragged out Miss fab's whiteboard (while the kids were trapped eating dinner at the table) and we brainstormed some Rules. They came up with a very long list which included things like, "Brush your teeth twice a day" and "Wash your hands". Riveting stuff.

Our list was long, unwieldy and full of Don'ts.
Don't swear. Don't hit. Don't pull hair. Don't Come in Your Parents Bed Before 6am.

I took my list along to the course... and realised that our Rules needed some refining.
Our facilitator's Family Rules were much more inspiring - short sharp positive statements like "LOVE OUR PETS" and "OWN YOUR MISTAKES".

Armed with this inspiration I re-wrote our list, focusing more on the positive and the values. I *channeled the spirit of the list* into a few snappy, easy-to-quote statements of our own.

Then I turned them into Art...

I ruled horizontal lines across the canvas at various intervals, and then blocked in the words in capital letters. They are all hand-drawn, there was no measuring (as you can tell) which gives it a very loose organic wibbley-wobbley look.

I left the letters white - that's the canvas showing through. I painted the background, using a small brush and a steady hand. The paint is a metallic-blue testpot* from Resene (which is really hard to photograph but has a lovely sheen.)

{*Resene Lucifer - hate the name, love the colour}

It took me an evening and an afternoon to complete...

Yes, I borrowed "OWN YOUR MISTAKES".
It sits nicely alongside "Be Honest", dontcha think?

I love the result, and the way it's right there in our entry hall for everyone to see.
When other kids come to our house, they'll know we want them to MIND their LANGUAGE.
When my kids are tempted to pretend it wasn't them that broke the plate, I can remind them to BE HONEST and OWN their MISTAKES.

There will be no confusion about what we value as a family.
After all, it's right there on the wall, in metallic blue-and-white.

Family Rules as Art. Who would have thought?

♥

Other Stuff I'm Learning from My Course

Play (what I learnt  at The Incredible Years Parenting course)

What a Difference a Play makes
Stuff I'm Learning that's Changing Everything
Other Parenting Stories

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P.S. "Brush your teeth twice a day" and "No kids in parents beds before 6am" are still good rules, but they might have to get written in vivid on a refill page and blu-tacked to the fridge. They just didn't make good art.

No-Sew Felt Bunting

I whipped up some bunting last night.
Do you like how I said that?
Almost like a crafty blogger.

But not really. Not a stitch in sight.
This cute-as bunting was made entirely using my glue gun.

If you haven't got a glue gun, go quickly and get one. They are cheap as chips.
My one is a basic Warehouse job for $7.99. The glue sticks cost $2 for a pack of twenty-seven.
Bargain, right?
I love my glue gun. I mean, look what it can do!

I used the felt and hessian leftover from my teacher-gift crafting.
Turquoise green & white felt. Rust-red hessian (burlap).

Here's how to make my no-sew felt bunting. No stitching. no staples, just lovely hot glue.
{mine is Christmas themed, but yours could be anything}

What you need:
A hot glue gun + plenty of refill glue sticks
Green, red and white felt, cut into triangles - 8 of each colour
8 small stars cut from the white felt
8 small christmas trees, cut from the green fabric
Gold and red glitter or beads
A roll of gold ribbon

• Glue-gun the white stars into the centre of each red flag (on one side)
• Glue-gun the green trees into the centre of each white flag (on one side)
• Create a swirl of hot glue on each green flag and quickly sprinkle red or gold glitter (or beads) onto glue before glue sets. Alternatively, make a heart from hot glue. Shake excess glitter/beads off and voila! A gorgeous glittery shape. 

Roll out a length of gold ribbon from the roll but do not cut (yet). Leave a length of ribbon blank (for tying/attaching) then apply a stripe of hot glue onto the ribbon as shown, and quickly press on green flag. Leave a space, then another stripe of glue, attach a white flag. Leave a space. Apply another stripe of glue then attach a red flag.

Repeat process until all the flags have been attached, alternating which way the "decal" is facing so that you have some blank and some patterned on both sides.

Once you have used up all the flags, leave a length of ribbon long enough for tying/attaching and then trim.

Your bunting is now complete. See how easy that was?

This strand of bunting graces our dining room and brings out all the colours in my retro-kiwiana-teatowel cushioned room (I love the turquoise-green)...

I love this bunting. Love love love.

I'm wondering though, whether I should have probably ironed the flags before hanging them? They're a little crinkled from being stuffed inside a bag. But No. That might be taking things too far. 

Crafting-by-gluegun is one thing. Ironing is another thing altogether.

♥
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[Here's another version I made out of teatowels, dishcloths
and the straps off an electric blanket!]

[for a Baking Party]