Picks from Pinterest - Papier Mache Fruit, Vegetables and a Frog

I thought I would start a few new features on my blog.

The first one is Picks from Pinterest. The title more or less says it all but to clarify - I will find things I like, try them out and tell you about them. You can find me on Pinterest here

(I am also going to share some wonderful sellers and their gorgeous makes with you.  I cannot think of a title for this one yet!)

This is the pear I made using the Pinterest Pick

So here is my first Picks from Pinterest.

Papier Mache Fruit and Vegetables and also a Frog

This from my board Ideas for Children to Make.  Here is the pin but I couldn't find the tutorial on the web page so I have combined it with this  papier mache frog pin  and link to web page.

This craft tutorial appealed to me because at work we are doing Harvest and making some fruit and vegetables in different medium.  This is a lovely simple way of doing papier mache.  We have done papier mache before mostly round balloons but last term we used bowls.

This is great because you can make anything and are not dependent on a mould.

All you need is newspaper, masking tape, glue (the tutorial I looked at used modge podge but I used ordinary PVA glue as that is what I had) and tissue paper.
I was lucky enough to have this gorgeous tissue paper that I used for my apple but the pear I made (pic above) just used the normal coloured tissue paper.

Scrunch up newspaper (or magazine pages if that is all you have, like I had)

Cover with masking tape to hold it in the shape of the fruit of choice

Glue on the tissue paper

I rolled and twisted a piece of brown magazine paper to create a stalk. I had to put my sticky apple in an old jar to dry. I tried to stick a kebab stick up its bottom but I couldn't get in there so next time I might leave a little space between the masking tape.

The finished and dried papier mache apple.

It was very succesful and I am going to try making different shapes next. I will keep you informed.
The children's work was wonderful and they created some juicy looking pineapples, pears, plums, oranges and apples.

If you have a go then please let me know how you got on.

Baking

I had promised Mary that we would do some baking on Sundays.  She reminded me this morning, so armed with a shopping list we went off with trolley and her toy pram, to buy the ingredients.

Back home she kindly made my lunch for me (Quorn ham in rolls), then we got on with the baking.

We made Pink Swirly biscuits from her cooking book Cooking With Fairies ( you can see it here on Amazon).

I am afraid we didn't use enough red food colouring (it said pink in the book but they only had red or green in the shop), and  faded a bit in the baking.  But they are yummy! 

Simple Felt Rose Tutorial

I have seen some gorgeous fabric and ribbon flowers.  With Mother's Day coming up, my boss asked me to help the children sew something for their mums. I had the idea of doing ribbon flowers but the ones I liked I found too fiddly for me let alone the children.  I am sure they could do have done them but I needed something simple but looked really good.  We have children aged 4 to 11 so it needs to be something all ages can do.

I remembered those lovely paper flowers and at the time thought they would be good in felt. So I hunted down a tutorial - I used this one but there are lots of good ones about.

Here is my felt rose.

I am really really pleased with it.

Here is how to make it:-

You will need scissors and felt plus brooch back if you want to make a brooch, or hair clip if you want one of those instead, or some sort of stem if you want to make a bunch.

I started with a rectangle of felt.

Then cut off the corners to make them curved.

start cutting at one end, or middle. You will be cutting a spiral.

Cutting the spiral

Leave a circle in the middle as this will be the base.

Thread your needle, and secure it in the end of the spiral.

Start to wind, starting from the end, sewing as you go.

Just keep winding and sewing.

At the end you will be left with the circle. This is the base so just pop it over the rest.

Circle base popped over the rest!

Then sew little stitches (which will be much neater than mine) around to secure the base.

Turn over and see your wonderful rose.

It is now finished and ready for whatever you want to do with it.

You can make big ones, little ones. Stick a bead in the middle. Decorate the edges with glitter. Try using fabric other than felt.  I like these as I know that each child's will be different.

Have fun and let me know how you get on.

Update from 26 February 2013 - I now also have a tutorial for felt roses on a stem and corsage - so pop over here. 

Butlins

We have just returned from Butlins at Bognor Regis.

If the last time that you went was as a child then you may be pleasantly surprised. Or maybe as a child you had a fantastic time and are worried that as an adult you will not enjoy it. Well I don't know.

But I do know that we had a wonderful time.

My daughter is 6 and this is the third time we have taken her. The last time was 2 years ago. And this is the best time of all. She is old enough to enjoy more lots of things but young enough to still be entranced by Billy Bear and the Skyline gang. To be honest I am still entranced by Billy Bear. One evening the little children followed him to his bedroom in the hotel and saw his room and kissed him good night - I felt tears welling up and said a silent 'thank you' to Butlins for understanding the need for magic for children.

And we adults had a good time too. I read my book as my girl played on the indoor climbing frame (two hours she was in there). And I munched happily on chocolate smothered pancakes. I laughed and shouted at my first ever wrestling match (I watched it and did not take part). I happily peddled on a tricycle built for a mum and her girl. And lots lots more.

We don't drive so have to go by train and Bognor is just down the coast from us.

Incidentally I found a fantastic shop that I must tell you about. Squires - Suppliers of Model and Craft Tools. I was in paradise.

We are having camera issues so I didn't take one. To be visually appealing (!) I have littered this post with photos of past holidays at Butlins.

Butterflies on a Sunday

I want to tell you how much I love indietutes blog. There are a wealth of wonderful patterns and advice, and fun ideas of things to do for all the family.

I found this lovely butterfly idea and on Sunday morning we decided to make one. As you can probably tell from the photos, Mary and I had great fun with glue and paint.

Waiting to begin. Everything ready.

Putting the yarn in the glue.

The yarn is glued on, and now we paint inside the shapes.

Adding the finishing touches.

Have a look on indietuebs blog to see the original tutorial http://indietutes.blogspot.com/2009/12/butterflies.html and have fun with your little ones.