Em's Dresser #2

 

My sister gave me this bigger outdated dresser with the other dresser I painted. It had 6 drawers, so I decided to paint each one a different colour of the rainbow. This was my inspiration. I mixed each colour with my acrylic paints. As each drawer front isn't very big, it didn't use much (expect white, as I lightened the colours a lot) I was very happy with my colour mixing skills. I white washed it all over once dry to give it some texture and cohesion. I really wanted gold handles and looked at all different options but set on spray painting the wooden ones I had, which actually came out fine, I believe.

Marble Maze

 

I made these super easy marble maze fidget toys for the kids. Bubby loves mazes and so it was very fitting. A bigger one might be good once he's older too. I sewed 2 pieces of felt together and then made the maze pattern with marble sewn inside. The pattern really could be anything (as long as it's a possible maze). I obviously kept with the size of the marble, although one part is quite tight (The felt might stretch..). I think it would be a good fidget for other ages and even a good toy for arthritic people.

Where's the Green Sheep craft

 

 This was an easy recycled toilet paper roll craft. I used this tutorial to create the sheep. Cut the shape out, then painted them and adding the faces and details once fry. We made the green one asleep :) You could make a lot of different animals this way. Dogs, horses, foxes, tigers, rabbits, reindeer, dinosaurs even giraffes.

Adventure walk tree frame

This was a great craft activity. We went for an adventure walk, each with a bucket to collect all sorts of leaves. Then made a cardbord frame with 'tree trunk/s' and used contact to make a sticky surface. We then covered the surface with different leaves we collected to create our trees. Bubby still brings it up as a suggestion to do again.

Em's Cardboard Crocodile Jigsaw

This was a quick cardboard jigsaw puzzle to make. I got inspo from here. And used a folded over piece of cardboard from a sheet set that happened to be exactly the right size and had the white on one side, which I like. Bubby helped me paint it once I had cut it out. It's great with the numbers on it and may be even better if we had put it in rainbow order.. 

Another idea

Em's mending

 Since having kids I have learnt that kids definitely grow very quickly and need new clothes often, but also, that it is lucky they grow out of their clothes so fast as they wear them out so quickly! The toes of shoes are often holey while the rest of the shoe still looks new! Or the Velcro doesn't last. I have been known to replaced the Velcro on some. I just had to buy a pair of light up digger sandals from an op shop that needed the Velco replacing!!

As well as shoes wearing out, pants, or the knees of pants, wear out so quickly! All the climbing and playing! Bubby had a whole pile of pants with holes in the knees and a whole lot more that are wearing thin. (many were second hand clothes to begin with) So I have tried patching in all sorts of ways, which has been fun! I still have more ideas I want to try so am actually looking forward to the next pair getting a hole in them! His little brother will have to wear patched clothes all the time, hopefully I have actually made them more interesting and not peasanty!

These jeans were the first I patched. They were used as his outdoor crawling pants, so understandably wore out on the knee. I used some superhero fabric I had from some old boxer shorts and patched it behind as if Superman was bursting through. Idea from here.

I tried embroidery to cover up a hole starting out on some jeans. The other knee is already wearing so I also put a matching star on that side. I just hope it doesn't just weaken where I've stitched, but if so I get to try another technique!

I then tried a darning style woven patch. I could've used a more colourful, fun thread being kids clothes but I love how this green thread worked on these pants. It was very confusing to weave the right way, so took a lot of concentration. The other knee on these pants are also wearing thin so it will only be time before I need to patch the other side. Inspo from here. A great post on visible mending.

I then tried a Japanese Sashiko style mend, something Ive always wanted to do. I had to distress it a little more so the actual hole was big enough to see more of the dark blue fabric behind.

I then tried an applique patch, which was super simple and effective! Tracing a star shape (some interesting or fun material would be cool next time- I was trying to match his PJ top that goes with these pants- yellow and grey), double sided interfacing ironed on and then zig-zag machine stitched all around the shape. Idea from here. I also like this reversed style patch.

 These jeans were wearing thin at the knees with the a hole in the left knee (always seems to be the left knee!). I cut up some old daggy PJ's with dragons on them with the same easy method as the applique star. I couldn't fit the pants over the sewing machine arm, so turned and sewed it awkwardly but it worked out. They were quite daggy jeans anyway so was just a bit of fun.

The last mend in the pile was a jumper I had gotten with a second hand bundle of clothes. It was in good condition except it had been drawn on by a kid. The drawing looked kinda like a rocket so I decided to cover the texta marks with appliqued fabric of a rocket. Some texta mark on the back was turned into a shooting star. It turned out so great!! It's a little off centre and I was contemplating putting a star on the front to centre the image but it still looks awesome!

Before with texta marks

After-front

After- back

Close-up

Em's Egg Carton Dragon

We made this egg carton dragon, which was a great activity for a 3 year old. We mixed the colours to make green, he could paint the pieces I cut out and then he could thread them onto the rope after I put a hole in them. We also used pencils to make it a puppet.

Via

Em's Construction Cake

 I've been looking forward to trying a digger/construction cake for a while! Myles' 3rd birthday was a perfect time for it as he loves all things digger/construction! Not sure if he was more excited to eat it or play with it!! I was nervous about cutting into the cake and what chocolates to use but it was very easy in the end and effective. I made two round cakes on top of each other, then roughly ripped some of the top off and placed it on the board. I then iced it all over (it didn't matter if cake crumbs got mixed in the icing as it looked like dirt anyway). I then used crushed choc ripple biscuits to cover the 'hole' with 'dirt', added broken honeycomb and Malteasers and placed the mini construction vehicles on. The only problem was the honeycomb shrunk due to moisture being in the fridge over night, so needs to be added last minute to keep it's colour and shape.

After cutting the back of the cake off we let him play in the crumbled down bit, which he of course loved!

Em's Cardboard Car Wash

We went through the car wash to entertain Bubby the other day, which was a hit! So we then made a cardboard car wash with a tissue box, toilet rolls, string and crepe paper. He loved it "washing" all his cars, animals and then blocks or whatever fit through.. Using a more sturdy box would've made it last longer as it is already getting squished and ripped but he still loves it.

Em's Ministry of Silly Walks Clock

I finally got to make a Ministry of Silly Walks clock! I've always thought this was a great idea and made it as a gift. I didn't get a great photo before I gave it away and will have to get them to take more pics at different times! I bought a cheap clock (although also could've picked one up from an op shop) and then printed the body and legs from a template a downloaded and edited from Google images, making sure the legs would be the right length to fit the clock. I carefully pulled apart the clock arms and stuck on the printed body to the clock face. I then cut out some sturdy black cardboard for the legs, and hot glued them to the existing clock arms (squashing them flat while drying). Once dry I reassembled the clock and it was as simple as that. His legs look great at all different times, so will have to get more pics!

Em's Glasses Cases

 

I have wanted to make these glasses cases using metal measuring tape as the closure for a while and once I had finally gathered the supplies they were super simple and effective. I got the idea from Melly Sews, who also has a video tutorial that was handy. I followed the tutorials (using the adult measurements she gave in the video) without the clasp part. I used an iron-on fusible foam as the padding (any kind of batting would work) and a thinner measuring tape (as we had one that broke, which motivated me to finally start). A wider tape would probably be better but it still works fine. I should have measured my sunglasses as I find they are a bit deep in the pouch and slightly annoying to get out of but not enough for me to resew.

I'm keeping one for my handbag, gifting one and want to make another for my glasses in my car glove-box. I've got plenty of tape and fusible foam!

Em's Tub Chair

I bought an old worn out tub chair from an op shop years and years ago. I liked the classic shape and we had an empty spot in the house. It has been covered up all these years and been on the to-do list forever! I had a whole lot of stripey fabric sitting aside for the project taking up space in my sewing room, which was part of the motivation to do it. I wanted to patchwork stripey fabrics together and tried to use more durable fabrics than just cotton, so upholstery fabrics and other tough cottons. Most of the fabrics I used were from meaningful places. For example leftover upholstery fabric from the van all those years ago,  green upholstery fabric used as curtains in our first house together, an old bag, a few repurposed old projects and my old favourite pants..

I used the existing fabric as a pattern and had a go making the cushion first. It turned out great and I really wanted to finish it so put the sewing room aside to do it all. I started by removing the existing fabric, which was attached with a million staples! I got a blister from removing them with a screwdriver and pliers! Then, using the old fabric as a pattern, patchworked what pieces I had together trying to coordinate the colours and stripes as well as use what sizes I had. I had limited pieces for some fabrics but it worked well. I then had to staple it all back together. Luckily I took pictures of me taking it apart and followed that. It was actually easier and quicker than I thought to do. I am so happy with it and glad I've finally done it!

So many staples!

I reused the cardboard from inside

A nod to the old chair- usinhg the old fabric on the bottom

Bubby approves

Em's Dresser

 I was given this old outdated dresser by my sister, and we needed one for Bubby's new room, so a revamp was needed. We still have this orange paint from when I painted the van so I used it for the handles and used other paint we already have for the rest, mixing some grey and white paint to get the right shade of grey. Simple and easy to update and freshen. My sister might want it back now!

Edit: I added some wooden planes and boats to the draws to create more interest. (we also got new carpet!)

Em's Gummy Bears

Juice gummy bears

I bought a gummy bear mould because I saw that you could make your own from wine on Pinterest. Then when researching I found out you can make them from jelly or juice too (probably almost anything). So I've been experimenting with my new mould and dropper. They are very small, however, so I would recommend getting a good sized mould.

Jelly

First I tried making them with jelly, using this recipe (85g packet of jelly, 1Tbs Gelatin, 1/3 water) and used cornflour to stop them sticking. They tasted great, however I didn't have the right amount of gelatin   when I made the green ones. They still set but where more like jelly.

Jelly gummy bears- yum! 

Juice

I then tried juice gummy bears with normal bought juice using this recipe, (1/2 cup juice, 1Tbs sugar, 2 Tbs gelatin) although I used normal sugar instead of honey. I used apple and black currant and breakfast juice. Once again it was easy and yummy. Hardest part is waiting for them to set. 

Juice gummy bears

Wine

I then tried making ones with wine. I decided to make a big batch to give as a Christmas present to my sister who loves lollies and wine. I used this recipe (1/2 cup wine, 2 Tbs Gelatine, 1/4 cup sugar). They taste great too with the flavour of the wine yet being sweet lolly. I bought the cheapest bottles of wine (Pinot Grigio, Rosé and Cab Merlot) and made batches and batches with my one small mould I had. I ended up filling a 2L container and almost used up the wines.

Tips

• Cornflour is good to stop them sticking together
• It is good to wait a bit for them to set at room temperature or put the mould on a tray before putting them in the fridge to stop them spilling.
• Store in an airtight container (preferably full to reduce condensation) in the fridge. They go softer at room temperature. They also dry out and shrink if not sealed.

I HAVE to try these coffee ones soon! Yum!

Another good recipe: wine and juice gummy bears

And just because.. how cool are these crocheted gummy bears! Next project?