Picnic

Origami Boxes

In Martha Stewart Living this month, she had these adorable little origami boxes filled with almonds as tabletop decor for her Thanksgiving meal.  Since we are hosting Thanksgiving at our house this year, I'm in search of some fun decorating ideas.

Origami is one of those things... you need a lot of patience while making your first piece but after that it's a piece of cake and you can whip up a huge batch in just a matter of minutes.  The instructions can be found here.

Handmade Textile Quilt

Doug and I have recently decided to add just one more to our brood.  I'm a bit surprised since I was convinced I didn't want any more but now that Bijou is into her second year of preschool, I sort of miss having a baby around.  Plus, a few close friends are pregnant right now and a few more have confessed that they will be trying soon so now seems to be as good a time as any.  Before I chicken out and change my mind, I've decided to tell my Mom and all my friends and now you so there is no backing down.  I also went as far as to make a baby quilt.  From the looks of it, it may seem like I'm shooting for another girl but I think I'd prefer a boy this time to help balance out our family.

 

To make:

1. Cut 2- 45" x 60" rectangles of linen.
2. Cut 1- 45" x 60" rectangle of wool batting.
3. I chose to make my own textile by cutting rubber stamps, stamping them in red fabric ink and stamping them onto the linen.  Other printing techniques can be used or you can skip this step all together.
4. Let the ink dry and then iron the ink with a hot iron.
5. Lay the printed piece of linen face up on a smooth surface.  Lay the plain linen on top, face down.  Lay the batting on top.
6. Pin the layers together.
7. Sew a running stitch around 3 sides of the quilt leaving one of the shorter sides open.
8. Turn right-side out.
9. Sew a blanket stitch along the open side to close up the blanket.
10. On the back of the quilt, mark every 4" across and 6" down with a water soluble fabric pen.
11. Thread yarn through an embroidery needle and make a stitch at each mark.  Tie off the yarn into a double knot and cut yarn to 1/2".  This step is a good one to do when you are watching Oprah.
12. Iron quilt.

 

 

More detailed instructions and the stamp pattern can be found here.

Flower Lollies

These little lollipop flowers are a cute and easy thing to make as a party favor or place card setting.

 

 

To make:

1. Cut a simple leaf shape from a green piece of felt.
2. Cut a simple flower shape out of a bright colored piece of felt.
3. Using the same flower shape, cut a second flower from another shade of felt.
4. In just one of the flowers, make a cut with scissors from the edge of the flower to the center of the flower.
5. Overlap the pedals about 1" and secure with glue.
6. Make a circle punch hole in the center of both flowers and at the edge of the leaf.
7. Thread the lollipop stick through the flower with the overlapping pedal first, then the flat flower, then the leaf.

Cupcake Wrappers

 

 

 

I've seen these little cupcake wrappers before on Etsy and thought they were so cute.  I saw them again when I was killing a little time at Sur La Table.  I normally would not spend $12.95 for 10 cupcake wrappers but when I saw that I would be able to trace the pattern onto my own stash of scrap-booking paper and easily make more, I was able to justify the price.  I'm pretty sure this is legal as long as you aren't turning around and selling them for a profit. Right?  Just in case I'm wrong, I used my zig-zag scissors for the detail around the rim instead of the fancy scalloped design like the ones I bought at Sur La Table.  Now I have a plentiful supply of these cupcake wrappers perfect for parties. Perhaps, I'll bake some pumpkin muffins for "Wednesday Dinner," which I am hosting this week, and decorate them with those lovely yellow ovals.  "Wednesday Dinner" details to follow later on Picnic...

Babushka-Style Scarf

I admit, I had to bribe Bijou with a star sticker on her chart to pose for these photos.  She also demanded that I allow her to get behind the tripod and snap 2 photos of me as a barter for these modeling shots. Man, she is tough.

She certainly doesn't look tough in these sweet little babushka head scarves, does she?  The pattern and instructions can be found here.

 

p.s.  I'm totally ordering the book this project came from, Carefree Clothes For Girls, after Katie blogged about making clothes for her girls from this book.  In my opinion, her girls are the best dressed kids out there on the Internet.  Here is a small sampling of their wardrobe...

 

  

  

All photos via Katie Did.  Isn't she talented?!

Halloween Shadow Puppets

Remember that shadow puppet theater I made last summer?  It proved to be a good source of entertainment for both the kids and adults and so I thought some new puppets were in order.  With Halloween lurking around the corner, I had a good source of inspiration for this new batch.  Not to mention, free templates online!  I'm horrible at drawing so I have to use others work.  

 

The bat.

 

The owl template can be found here.  As you can see, I modified my version slightly.

The witch on her broomstick template can be found here.

Jack-o-lantern template can be found here.

Paper Boat Garlands

I have another party kit idea in the works focused around a sailor theme, complete with newspaper sailor hats, red and white striped "Happy Birthday" banner and these adorable little origami boat garlands.

 

I have both the vertical and horizontal boat garlands for sale in my shop, a la carte. 

Paper Trees

 The Small Object blog is one of my favorite places to check for free downloads.  When I ran across these stacking fabric Christmas trees, I knew they would be perfect decor for our cabin mantel at the holidays.  Surprisingly, my fabric pile is running low and I was unsatisfied with the color combos I was coming up with so I decided to make them from paper instead.  It ended up being a much easier craft to make with paper.  Perhaps, they will only last for a season or two but it was a quick 30 minute project.

Pattern and instructions can be found here.

 

I was flattered when Bijou saw the trees sitting on my craft table and asked if she could have them in her bedroom.  Of course, she could!

Embroidered Tea Towels

Cafe cups, hand-embroidered on large cotton tea towels.

 

 

Vases or pizza paddles, your choice.

 

 

A place setting.

 

Bon Appetit.

All of the above, are available for purchase in my Etsy shop.

You can also make some yourself by sketching a simple design in pencil onto your tea towel, purchasing embroidery needles and thread, and hand stitching the design using a running stitch.  I made mine while watching "Models of the Runway."  I know, it is so bad that I am now involving myself with spinoff shows.  Well, it really makes for some guilt-free viewing if you craft while watching these ridiculous shows.

Pinwheel Garland

I'm a bit pinwheel obsessed right now.  They are so cute and fun to make!

These little garlands I have been making would be great party decor or a fun way to spruce up your child's bedroom.  I have a few for sale in my Etsy shop if you aren't feeling up for the challenge of making your own.

If you use heavy scrap-booking paper like I did, check the pattern on both sides of the sheet to make sure you like it since both sides will be visible.  You can find out how to make the pinwheels here.