Better than Blogging…

Life has been really full lately, with creativity, family time and lots of finished projects.
We’ve had a bit more than our share of illness, too, but I’ve coped better this time because I’ve paced myself more.

• I found curtains for the kids’ rooms & the lounge room, and almost finished sewing a pair of curtains for our dining room.
  {by hand, because my machine is still packed away}

• I’ve altered a skirt for Wren’s period school excursion later this month, and am hunting down a cream blouse to match.
  {she’s either a convict or a lady, but she’s cute either way}

• Last night, I began a Birthday Garland {thankyou, SouleMama} for Wren’s birthday in October, and will share with you as it progresses.
  -With this much time up my sleeve, I should be able to finish it by hand if my machine hasn’t emerged yet. So no excuses.

• Wren had her first cubs camp the other weekend.

• The Bump had a sleepover at Granma’s place the same weekend.

• WonderHubby & I spent that weekend, from 7am Saturday until 2:30pm Sunday, alone together.
  It was the first time we’ve had for us for a few years, and it was wonderful.

• We found a fantastic computer cupboard at the op shop, which looks fabulous in our home.

• Our old computer came out of contract and we’ve bought a new one outright, which put an end to some of our debt, and lowered our monthly bills.

• Most of the boxes in our garage are now unpacked and we’re close to being able to put the carpet down and use it as a family room.
  {and then I can unpack my sewing machine, yay!}

• Today I even tidied the linen press {pictured}. Is it beyootiful or what?
  I had to take a picture, because it’s probably the last time it will evah be so neat.

• And blog-wise, I’ve chosen a new theme for Kidzarama and created a header image to suit.

For the moment, life is better than blogging.

Winter Berries ~ Crochet around a rock!

This is such a different idea, and it looks so effective. I love the idea of crocheting around a rock!

And now that we’re almost into Winter here in Australia, this tutorial is entirely appropriate.

Mona Lisa, the Preschool Edition

Ever wondered what the Mona Lisa would have looked like if Leonardo da Vinci had painted her just a few years earlier?

Now you can discover the answer for yourself, and keep the kids occupied at the same time.

Laura at All Dressed in Blue has a wonderful art project that any child can tackle.

Use pencils, crayons, textas, paints or oil pastels to create a fun version of the lady with the mysterious smile. Or any other classic painting you feel like hacking into.

Now I’m off to listen to some Natalie Cole. I’m going to be humming the tune all night.

Mona Lisa, my artistic kidz have made you,

You’re so like the lady with the mystic smile…

Paper Mache How~To with Humour

Back in April I mentioned that we had been doing some paper mache (or papier mache, for those sticklers like Carrie out there).

I was planning to write about it, but our camera broke, so there were no photos.

Just today I was at Molly Chicken, the site whose how~to inspired me, so I thought I’d share the love and send you on over to say hello to say hi to Lynn.

What really made me go and look at her site in the first place was the title of her paper mache post. I won’t tell you here, you’ll just have to go see for yourselves.

Let’s just say that I tried doing what she suggested and found the crafting much more fulfilling.

Ever the interfering rebel experimenting crafter, I couldn’t resist using some differently~shaped containers and paper colours for our paper mache efforts and this square one is my absolute favourite.

It now sits on my desk, slowly filling up with crafty bits.

Won’t be long and we’ll have to make some more containers for my junky bits creative equipment.

I’ve been collecting interestingly~shaped containers, so the results should be really fun.

Craft Round Up

I thought I’d do a list of some of the best craft posts that I’ve found over the past week.

Hope you are as inspired by them as I was…

Lusi at Fiskars Craft had a fantastic indoor treasure hunt with her 3 children, which would work well outside, too.

She and the kids created treasure maps and various special destinations in the house to trek through on their way to ‘discovering’ the buried treasure.

Nan posted about some lovely woollen pieces that she’s been working on over  at Nannybird Crafts, including a dish~cloth dress, and a cute “tie one on shawl”.

Makes me wish I could crochet or knit or something. ~See? I’m not even sure which is which.

Over at Crazy Stamp Girl, Jen has come up with a cool 10 rubber stamping ideas for children. We don’t actually have any stamps, but it’s definitely on my wish list to get a small collection of cute ones.

Chris posted a list of great butterfly crafts at Kid Crafts Magazine, that her 5 year old daughter enjoyed. I thought that the butterfly flier was especially creative.

I also found a new blog, Simply a Mom. Hope has written a great post on putting together a rainy day box.

This box and Lusi’s treasure hunt would have been perfect for our last school holidays, as it rained 13 days out of 16.

We were extremely waterlogged, and Wren & Mr Bump both had severe cases of cabin fever.

Luckily, these holidays have been very different.

We’ve had a night away in Newcastle to see Disney on Ice, ferry trips, an archaelogical dig (more on that next week), sleepovers and Grandma’s and visits to lots of different parks.

Plus they both seem to have gone through an “emotional” growth spurt and are treating each other much more nicely nowadays.

Which makes all the difference, doesn’t it?

Kraft for Kidz Blog Carnival 2

Welcome to the July Kraft for Kidz blog carnival. This month, we have some wonderful craft how~to’s.

First up is Susan at The Lil Mom That Could, bringing us Turtle Craft.
“The kids had a blast making these little turtles, super easy with an extra suggestion for older kids.”

Melanie from Our Crafts -N- Things makes a Picture Frame.
“I made this really cute picture frame with my daughter for a father’s day present. But, it can actually be used as an adorable gift for anything.”

Yi Hui Chang at The Simple Wealth shares how to face paint your kid with make up.

Ooey, Gooey, Messy, Summer Art Camp comes from Shez at Homeschooled Kids.
“It was incredibly good for my soul to do an activity with my children and their friends that was full of sheer, unbridled fun. No one was expected to learn a thing, this was just about feeling the paint and clay between your fingers, smooshing it all about and creating with all the exuberance we could muster. This is what summer should be all about.”

Terry from Gogo Glue Gun Fun sent in a video how~to on how to make a Silly Rattlesnake. This item is fun for kids from 3 to whatever.

Thank you to everyone who got involved this month, particularly Melanie, who is a second~time participant.

And hi to everyone who’s dropped me a note in the last week. I’ve been a bit under the weather, but I promise I’ll get back to you all as soon as I get on top of this latest bug.
There’s always something, isn’t there?

Thanks also to those who have sent me ‘get well soon’ notes. You know who you are, especially Carrie.

Hand Made Books ~ My Obsession Renewed

Pottering around on the internet should be illegal.

I have wasted so much time today, just blog~hopping and surfing randomly that I’m hours late in publishing today’s post.

On the other hand, I found some lovely bookbinding resources that I’m able to share with you now.

Since I first began making my own books in May, I’ve been almost obsessed with learning more about the craft.
I’ve even embroidered a couple.

I have this fantasy in which I am sent a wonderful how~to bookbinding volume to review.
With full colour photos and detailed instructions.

The most fun find for me today was Eco Box Board Books at My Handbound Books. Rhonda has taken some cardboard cereal boxes and the like and used them as fun covers for some of her handmade books.

I can seriously see myself having a go at making some of these books. They look so fun and the kids would love them. Plus, I could easily size one to fit into my striped fabric journal cover that I adore.

Rhonda has several other how~to’s on her blog, including Ethiopian Chainstitch binding, Chopstick Notebooks and a Secret Fold Notebook. Definitely fuel for my growing bookbinding obsession.

I also loved erinzam, the blog of Erin Zamrzla, an artist, bookbinder & designer, who has made some cute Matchbook Books.

By the way, I dusted the lamp base in the picture just for you.

Puff Paint Recipe

I’ve had this recipe for a few years and haven’t actually tried it until now because Wren & Mr Bump have such sensitive skin.

Then it suddenly occurred to me that they don’t have to lather their hands with it.
We actually have some paintbushes in the house!

What a great idea: Painting with paintbrushes. D’oh.

Okay, so I’m not exactly painting with a full palette at the moment…

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