Six Simple Ways To Say I Love You

Hey, can I let you in on a secret? It’s a biggie, so here goes – for the very first time, my nine-year old son is head over heels in love! My heart gets all a-flutter when I see him wave goodbye to his sweetheart at the school gates. They’re in the same class, hold hands on outings, and exchange letters and presents on the weekend. Boy, this is getting serious!

Valentine’s Day is fast approaching and Miles is planning on sending a gift to his new lady. Both of them like art, so I’ve suggested making something for the special day. Despite his enthusiasm and desire to impress, he’ll be keeping things fairly simple. After all, less is always more. We’ve had a good think, looked around for some craft inspiration and have finally narrowed it down to a handful of easy, hopefully effective DIYs. Perhaps, your kids could have a go at making one of them too?

I’ll let you know how it goes, and you do the same!

DIY Valentine’s Shells
via Creative in Chicago

As we live near the sea and really enjoy the beach during the winter, we have plenty of shells laying around the house. There’s just something poetic about naturally found objects, and I love this idea of transforming a simple collection of white shells into a Valentine’s gift using just a Sharpie and doodles and doodles of love!

DIY Valentine’s Stones
via Alisa Burke

Similarly, if you’d rather craft with materials you already have on hand, how about a bit of pebble art? I’m pretty sure my little artist would have a field day decorating stones from our garden or the beach. These gifts can be as simple or as ornate as you like. Use paints, markers or a collage of both to show how much you care.

DIY Stitched Valentine’s Treat Bag
via You Are My Fave

Believe it or not, Miles loves sewing! When I saw these beautifully stitched Valentine’s treat bags, I knew they’d be perfect for him. We’d keep design deliberately simple and could perhaps slip in a few hand-decorated shells or pebbles instead of candy for a fun, unexpected change!

DIY Valentine’s Pencils
via Kaley Ann

Speaking of non-candy gifts, these pencils would be perfect for my son’s sweetheart. They’re always giving each other drawings, so I’m sure she’d be super pleased to have her own Valentine’s Day set decorated with lovely labels. Why not add some hearts to the Mason jars for extra creative flair?

DIY Painted Hearts Valentine
via Melanie Blodgett on Julep

One of the easiest, and perhaps nicest presents to make for a special girl or boyfriend is a painting. No matter how old you are, when you’re in love you always put your heart and soul into making something to express your true feelings. I’ll leave it up to my son Miles to create his own work of art, but I adore the simplicity and color palette of this DIY heart painting.

Vive l’amour !

Pictured at top: Pompom Flower Bouquet, available at Stephlovesben on Etsy

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DIY Toys For All the Kids

I don’t know about your home, but my entire family is getting kind of tired of this whole winter business. Just the other day my daughter was complaining about how much she wanted to get out into nature and smell fresh green leaves! It was sweet, but also a little trying – because what can we possibly do about it?

We can make some new toys, that’s what! By now, some of the Christmas toys have lost their new sheen and, sadly, are sitting neglected. So we might as well give them a break and make something unique that the kids can play with on their own. Check out these fun projects to soak up some after-school crafting time.

Helicopter Toys
see tutorial at Mamma Book

I am over the moon for these little helicopters! Can you believe you can make these at home? It might take a minute to gather up the supplies, but oh the results!  They’re worth it.

Stacking House Blocks
see tutorial at Mer Mag

You can never ever go wrong with one of Merrilee’s tutorials. These adorable blocks are the perfect example of that. The minimal color palette is so lovely!

DIY Dolls
see tutorial at Babble Dabble Do

I’m going to show this one to my daughter ASAP. It’s such a simple way to make soft dolls. Plus, it’s actually approachable for younger kids who may not be ready for sewing!

Wee Mouse Tin House PDF Pattern
see pattern at mmmcrafts

I’ve loved this little DIY for years now – it’s still on my bucket list! Get your PDF patterns and instructions from the link above, then gather up materials to make your own little travel mouse. So dang sweet.

Pictured at top: DIY Slingshots, see the tutorial at The Merry Thought

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Make Your Own Drinking Straw Art

There are days when I want to pull out all of my beautiful raw materials and make something amazing, artistic, and wondrous. Then there are the days when we’re all running late, and yet we promised ourselves crafty time, and I have no idea what to do. Enter the humble drinking straw!

Straw projects are all the rage right now – thanks in part to the big resurgence of Himmeli mobiles. I’ve included one here if you haven’t had a chance to make one yet (like me, who bought the perfect straws over a year ago and they still sit, waiting for their dramatic debut). But there are other smaller projects that are great for using up extra straws, or getting creative with an affordable material. Take your pick!

Straw Bunting
via Mommo Design
I love the outlined effect created when you use straws for your pennant banner! This would be super fun for your kid’s next birthday party.

Himmeli Mobile
via Brittany Makes
Here’s a good tutorial of the classic Himmeli look – traditionally they are hung at Christmas time, but I think they’d be wonderful displayed all year-round!

DIY Light Fixture
via Style Me Pretty
How cool is this? I can see one in our dark hallway, the entryway, the bedroom closets, or the porch light. The shape is so modern, and the supplies are so cheap!

Paper Straw Easels
via Wants and Wishes
I keep thinking I need a quick solution to pretty up all the amazing drawings and craft projects my daughter brings home from school – what about a couple of these brightly colored easels to make things special? They’d look great on our mantel!

Pictured at top: DIY Himneli Wreath, see the tutorial at Décor Fix.

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Put Your Funniest Face Forward

I heard it was officially Blue Monday this week… you know, the most depressing day of the year. Well, I’ll admit the weather’s pretty miserable and I wouldn’t say no to a holiday in the sun, but every place I look online in the kids’ design world people are smiling. That’s right, despite gloomy global news, I’m pleased to say that lots of funny, happy faces are popping up on children’s products! And I for one am not complaining.

If you’re down in the post-holiday dumps or need perking up a bit, here are six mood-lifting playthings to make you and your little ones smile. Reasons to be Cheerful, Part One:

Petit Prince Pillow
Available at Hello Milky

As you can see, there are some really sweet textiles for kids out right now. Le Petit Prince is a favorite book in our house, so I know my three would love this mini Little Prince cushion. Parents will also appreciate the fact that it’s made from 100% linen, printed with eco-friendly, non-toxic water-based inks, and stuffed with 100% recycled PET fiber. Smiles all around!

Friendly Face Memory Game
Available at Des Enfantillages

If you’re looking for some small, portable friends to keep your kids company when traveling, for example, this cute 20-piece memory game is perfect. Handmade and handpainted with love by the inspiring Montreal brand Des Enfantillages, these ten tiny faces will help stimulate memory and observation.

Handmade Wooden Pull-Toy
Design by Tsuyoshi Miyazaki

Wooden toy fans are in for a treat when they visit Tsuyoshi Miyazaki’s website Atelier-Fu. Switch on Google Translate or a similar service and enjoy discovering this maker’s funny, endearing playthings. The set of stacking teeth caught my eye on Pinterest, leading me to this happy world of smiles, color, and wooden wonders. I love these little pull-along toys! You’ll find a list of Japanese stockists here.

Bunny and Bear Play Chairs 
Available at Oeuf 
Face stickers accessories available here

Speaking of wood, Oeuf, one of my favorite innovative kids brands, has been busy designing super new play chairs and a table for little ones. Made from bent plywood, and in the shape of a bunny and a bear (set of 2), these chairs already look fun in their natural form, but can also be decorated with Oeuf’s fabric face stickers (available at the end of January).

Guess Who’s Coming For Breakfast? Sweatshirt
Available at Bobo Choses

Last but certainly not least, if you like playful, comfortable kids clothes, Bobo Choses’ new SS15 collection is filled with fresh feel-good vibes. The “Guess Who’s Coming For Breakfast” line features monsters, funny eyed friends, and oodles of color – just what the doctor ordered to make your kiddos smile from ear to ear.

Pictured at top: Little Mr. Teddy from Ferm Living’s New SS15 Collection (Available Mid-March).

A fun addition to any home, this modern teddy bear cushion is made from 100% organic cotton and filled with feathers and down. Soft, cuddly, and full of character, this little fellow could easily double up as a plush.

 

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A Little Yarn, A Lot of Crafts

Winter whites, crisp icicles, snowy snowfalls, deep grey clouds – they’re all very lovely. Or they were in the beginning, but now that we’ve hit the deep freeze of January, I’m dying for some color. It’s definitely time to get out the crafty supplies and spruce up the place!

In fact, I was surprised to see how much yarn I’ve accumulated over the last couple of years and decided that by golly, it’s time to use some of it! Are you the same way? Do you collect pretty papers, fancy tapes, and yarn, only to get afraid to use it? It’s a sickness, I swear! Let these sweet crafty ideas inspire you to unstash your stash and use it up in lots of gloriously colorful ways! It’s time.

Pom Pom Branches
see more images at Wayaiulandia

The instructions may not be in English, but the beauty of these branches is easy to solve on your own. Just spend an afternoon with a movie, a whole bunch of yarn, and some pom pom makers. Then crack out the glue gun!

3D God’s Eyes
see tutorial at Honestly WTF

I have fond childhood memories of making these with my Grandma, and now I’m itching to make some with my own little girl. The three dimensional versions are awesome.

Ojos de Dios
see more at Jay’s Mandalas

Ok, these are actually for sale on Etsy, but I was so mesmerized by the intricate colors and patterns that I wanted to share them as inspiration for your own God’s Eyes. Jay sells kits, too, if you’d like to try making your own.

Macrame Bracelet
see tutorial at Eco Crafta

A soft bracelet like this one is perfect to wear everyday and older kids can make them as Valentine’s gifts for friends and family.

Crochet Bowl
see tutorial at Everything Etsy

January is all about organizing. So kill two birds with one stone: get colorful and creative while making a storage container for all those crafty bits and bobs.

Macrame Plant Holder
see tutorial at Vert Cerise

I just love the bright pop of color in this planter. You could change your entire plant landscape with several of these!

Pictured at top: Tassle Knob Bobbles, see tutorial at Aunt Peach

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Handmade Valentine Kaleidoscope

My first kaleidoscope was given to me by a friend from Japan many years ago. The tube was covered with Japanese rice paper and had many colorful glass crystals in it. After many years and moving several houses, I somehow lost that kaleidoscope. So I thought I’d try to make one myself and give it to my boys as a gift this Valentine’s Day.

I added a secret “I love you” message inside so my son, who is learning to read, can read it when he looks into the kaleidoscope. I used stars confetti and blue cellophane to resemble the sky so that the message “I love you” becomes “I love you to the moon and back.” You can try making this at home with your kids.

What You Need

• Paper towel roll tube
• Silver mirror card
• Stars confetti
• Blue cellophane (Note: you can use beads for filling too)
• Clear cellophane
• Black marker
• Scissors
• Sticky tape
• Double sided tape
• Colored paper (I used red and blue)

How-To

Step 1
Cut three pieces of silver mirror card roughly a little shorter than the length of the paper towel roll tube. Tape the three pieces together with sticky tape to form a triangular prism. Make sure the shiny sides face inwards. The prism must be able to fit inside the tube.

Step 2
Use a marker to trace around the the triangular prism on a piece of clear cellophane. Then write your secret message inside the triangle.

Step 3
Secure the “message” cellophane to one end of the prism using sticky tape. Slide the finished prism inside your paper towel roll tube.

Step 4
Cut a square of clear cellophane. Place it over the “message” end of the tube. Push it down so that it forms a little pouch and rests on top of the prism. Tape it to the tube using double sided tape and sticky tape.

Step 5
Fill the pouch with stars confetti and blue cellophane. Place another square of cellophane over the pouch to seal the filling and attach to the tube using sticky tape, so nothing spills out.

Step 6
Trace around the end of the tube using marker on blue colored paper. Cut out the traced circle. Cut a small circle in the center of the paper for peephole. Secure it to the tube with sticky tape.

Step 7
Decorate the tube. I used red colored paper to wrap around the tube and drew some extra hearts for decoration.

Happy crafting!

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The Whimsical World of Costumes

There are fancy dress costumes and there are fancy dress costumes. I think it’s fairly easy to see which category Inbal Carmi’s creations fall into. Having originally studied drama while at university in London, I love anything related to masks, costumes, and other forms of theatrical disguise. It’s no wonder then that I’m smitten with this small Israeli studio’s designs!

After working for years as a producer in an advertising agency, Inbal, wife and mother of two amazing kids (I quote), decided to embark on a new career as a costume designer. She discovered a passion for the world of folklore, romantic textiles, and nostalgic handmade clothes, all of which have shaped her style of fancy dress outfits for children.

Let’s have a closer look at some of her designs, shall we?

Charming Clown Accessories by Inbal Carmi Studio

Where does Inbal get her inspiration from? Well, she told me that once upon a time, mothers used to spend hours sewing special costumes for their children. The fancy dress had to be tailored to the child’s personality and was designed to be worn by him or her on many different occasions. An heirloom piece to be kept for years, it was made to last.

Darling Deer Costume by Inbal Carmi Studio

Owl Costume by Inbal Carmi Studio

Inbal designs for girls and boys alike. She aims to make all children feel special, and by guaranteeing impeccable sewing, using natural high-quality fabrics, and paying attention to detail she hopes that each child will feel as if their costume was made just for them — be it a gnome, a deer or a princess. I especially love the multi-colored feather detail on this little boy’s Owl Costume.

Swan Costume by Inbal Carmi Studio

Inbal deliberately chooses to create costumes based on innocent and naive fairytale-esque characters. Her designs are classic and comfortable but always have a twist to give them a contemporary feel. I love the timeless simplicity of this Swan outfit; it’s the kind of costume that should be passed down for generations to come.

Babushka Costumes by Inbal Carmi Studio

I think it’s important to point out that all of Inbal’s costumes are fair-trade and that much of the work is carried out by mentally disabled individuals participating in rehabilitation programs. If you are interested in finding out more about Inbal Carmi Studio, contact her via Facebook. At present, her fancy dress costumes are available exclusively through her Israeli online shop, but feel free to shoot her an email if there’s anything that catches your eye. She ships worldwide and will be opening an Etsy store this spring!

Pictured at top: Cat Costume by Inbal Carmi Studio

 

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Feed Your DIY Donut Cravings

Donuts, donuts, everywhere! These sugary crafts are the perfect way to ring in the New Year and somehow feel fresh, even after weeks of holiday goodies. I’ll attribute it to their bright colors – a sweet celebration of the road to Spring. Check out these tutorials for a healthy helping of non-caloric donut projects to satisfy your DIY sweet tooth. If only you could gobble them up after you’re finished creating!

Donut Printables
see tutorial at Oh Happy Day!

These easy paper printables are sprinkled with fun project ideas – from banners to gift tags to coasters and memory games!

Wood Play Donuts
see tutorial at Ikat Bag

Need some quick ideas to keep little hands busy? These DIY wooden donuts are the perfect solution and a lot less expensive to add to your play kitchens than a premade set.

Mini Donut Pinatas
see tutorial at Little Inspirations

I love piñatas! And what says fiesta more than donuts? To make things even better, this perfect pair is mini sized, making sure your kids don’t overload on the candy-filled creations.

Donut Elbow Patches
see tutorial at Studio DIY

Donut elbow patches make the perfect weekend brunch outfit! Or Tuesday afternoon outfit. Or anytime anywhere outfit. I’d love to see a set on my daughter’s leggings – protecting her little knees from all those inevitable future holes!

Paper Donut Giftbox
see tutorial at Mini Eco

This free printable will undoubtedly be the most unique gift at any party. Aren’t they sweet? (See what I did there? I think the sugar’s getting to my head.)

Pictured at top: Donut Bulletin Boards, see the tutorial at Paint the Gown Red

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