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.

Crafteroo Pinterest Challenge - Fabric tape

It has been a while but here is the second project in the Crafteroo Pinterest Challenge. Remember this is my board here.  The challenge is to make something from it about once a month.  The first thing I made was the rag rug using the t-shirt yarn.

This next one is the Fabric Tape.

Now me being me, I didn't follow the wonderful tutorial exactly. I cheated and used double-sided sticky tape. The fabric I have used is also designed with bands going across, so I just used one of these bands.  So I cheated big time!

I have re-used an old tape inner thingy to put my new fabric tape on. As you can see I have only made a little bit so far.

And here it is in use.

Crafteroo Pinterest - First Finished Project - Rag Rug

I am taking part in the Crafteroo Pinterest Project Challenge.  The aim is to try and make (at least) one project from our Pinterest Board each month.  Actually I put the 'at least' there - I will be lucky if I manage to make one a month - you know me!

Here is my Crafteroo Pinterest challenge Board.  Anything I make I am moving to the new board which is the Finished Project Board.

And my first project uses more than one project - hurrah!!  It is a rag rug made out of t-shirt yarn.

I used my daughter's old pyjamas.  Don't worry she has plenty more. I used this tutorial to make the t-shirt yarn but as I didn't have anything without seams, I had to adapt it which is why my rag rug has more knots and bit of fabric sticking up. I also had this tutorial on my board which is more or less the same.  

Pyjamas

Pyjamas cut up

The Pyjamas have been cut up and cut into strips, and yanked to make 'curled' yarn.

Near the beginning

Finished Rug

Not very tidy! But still nice

When making my rug I used my Christmas pressie 20mm crochet hook.  I made the pattern up really - just started crocheting a few rows to make a rectangle and then the next row, and then on, crocheted all around until I ended up with rather a nice shape, and until I ran out of yarn and patience.  But here is a nice tutorial from my Pinterest board to show you rugs.

Amazingly enough I did it all in one day. Yes indeedy. Which is why I have rather sore arms now and a callous on my finger.

My daughter liked it and is is destined for her room but first she wants me to embroider her name in the middle.  I think this sort of thing is rather a nice project to use old children's clothes because as I used the different ones I remembered the age when she wore them, and often who gave them to her.  A nice memory.  A a fun project.

Crafteroo Pinterest Challenge

Crafteroo Challenge

 

This year I am going to try and make more things for me and my family and friends.  There are lots of things that I bookmark and think 'I will make that someday'.  Then I have a huge list of bookmarked tutorials that are not that easy to look though.  But hold your horses....as Kitty Ballistic has had a wonderful idea..and it is the Crafteroo Pinterest Challenge 2012. Pop over to her blog for details here.

The great thing about Pinterest is that you can organise things into areas - so you can have a board for crochet, one for knitting etc. It is easy to find things as you can see the photos.  And of course you don't have to just have tutorials on there.

Here is my Crafteroo Challenge board here.  I might not make all these things this year but intend to have a go.

Warning Pinterest is addictive!