Art With Rudy

Rudy's been coming home from daycare with all kinds of crafts and art projects lately.  Her teachers say she really enjoys it so I thought I'd try something at home.  At daycare, they often glue tissue paper to paper and it gave me an idea.

I ordered some special tissue paper (called bleeding ink tissue) from Amazon, which creates a watercolour effect when water is applied to it.

I tore random shapes for her to play with and kept out a sponge, some water and a dollar store canvas.  I helped by wetting the canvas initially so the tissue would stick to it.  I had to heavily supervise her so the tissue didn't end up in her mouth.

This project was really just a fun way to engage with her over something that wasn't a toy or book.  It was a nice change.  We talked about the different colours and how crinkly the tissue was...

Eventually, the tissue started making it to the canvas.  Once her hands got wet, it got a little sticky and she needed more help placing the tissue.

The directions on the tissue say not to over-saturate it with water but I did anyway because it was fun for her to watch the colours run.

At some point, we sped up and the tissue made it to the canvas tiny handfuls at a time.  There was lots of squishing and eventually smashing and we decided to quit just as Rudy graduated to face touching and trying to eat the mushy tissue.

At this point, most people remove the tissue paper (it peels right off once it dries) but it looked pretty the way it was so I decided to leave it.

It was such a fun craft to try together.  We were laughing and getting messy but just as I was patting myself on the back and beginning to plan my Mother of the Year speech, Corey reminded me that the next day was picture day at Rudy's daycare.  Shit!  Unfortunately her hands and cheek were dyed blue and green and the dye wasn't coming off.  After seeking help in an online parenting group, we finally discovered that dishsoap and sugar make a mild but very effective scrub.

The project went really well overall.  Next time, I wont tip the canvas to allow it to dry away from messy baby hands because the colours bled and the lower half ended up a shade of puke green.  If you try it at home, learn from my mistake and dry it flat!

Still, we'll save it for a while.  I coated it in Mod Podge to keep it in tact and we'll display it in the family room for the time being.

DIY Stretch Headbands

Even when I'm working crazy long days, I'm a sucker for a DIY project to unwind.  We dress Rudy in a lot of hand-me-downs (Thank you, generous friends!) and she often ends up looking very gender neutral.   

While it doesn't bother us when people tell us we have such a big handsome boy (We just say "thanks!") sometimes a headband or bow makes it easy for strangers to know what to say.  We've been getting compliments on Rudy's headbands lately, which inspired this post. 

I bought some fabric in a stretch jersey knit and experimented with two styles: a simple knot (shown in teal) and (as seen in the grey and pink) a turban-style.  For the turban-style, I also sewed a line of stitching up the back so that it doesn't come undone.

The fabric makes it really stretchy over Rudy's head and the fabric was really cheap and I have lots left in case I'm ever ambitious enough to make her actual clothing.

I decided to sew these by hand, since they're so simple (or SEW simple, haha) but if I were attempting a larger project, I'd use my machine and make sure I bought a ball-point needle for the stretch jersey.

For now, I'll stick with simple headbands.  :)

Note: If you're shopping online, try fabric.com because they have a great selection.  I might try a pattern like this, this or this!

DIY Stained Glass Planter

Work has kept me so busy that I'm often coming home after Rudy's asleep and I've been working on some crafts to wind down before bed.  This one is really easy and quick (except for the drying time) and this technique would also be great to decorate the outside of teacups or coffee mugs.  In fact, for older kids, it could make a great Mother's Day or Father's Day craft.

I wanted a plant in our bathroom, which is soooo close to being ready to paint.  Those of you who read my blog know that I don't have the best luck with plants, but I figured a bathroom fern would be low-maintenance and safe from Barkley and Cheetah.

I picked up a cheap planter from Value Village (Note: None of my precious milk glass was harmed during this craft) and I bought some tissue paper, dishwasher safe Mod Podge and a sponge applicator.  

I cut the tissue into little squares and "painted" on a small area of Mod Podge before placing each square.  I then gently painted over each one like a glaze.  I decided not to totally cover my planter and I let it dry when I was satisfied that I had covered enough.  When it was fully dry, I did one last coat of Mod Podge before letting it dry overnight.

I think it will be a sweet addition to our bathroom and hopefully, I'll keep this little fern alive for a while.  After all, I take care of a human being... How hard can a fern be?

DIY Quiet Book

Remember in my last couple of weeks of pregnancy when I was on bed rest with symphysis pubis dysfunction (aka, painful separating pelvis)?  Actually, I may not have been brave enough to blog about the later days of my pregnancy yet (Spoiler alert- it was HORRENDOUS!) but that was the case in the week and a half prior to my c-section.

At the time, I occupied myself with work and the odd craft I could do from bed.  That's when I had the idea to make a quiet book (I've also heard them called story board books) for Rudy.

Quiet books are traditionally made with fabric filled with quiet activities for children.  There are ideas and tutorials all over the internet like this one, by Martha Stewart.

I wanted to make mine as simple as possible so that Rudy could enjoy it sooner.  I started with an assortment of felt, ribbon, hot glue, sharp scissors, fabric markers and stick-on velcro dots.

I decided an easy theme would be to make four pages, each representing a different season.  I cut out shapes for Rudy to (in several months) stick to the pages to arrange a scene.  Because the felt is soft, I only needed to use one side (the hard, hook side) of the velcro, which would stick to any part of the felt page.

Each page had a pocket to hold the shapes.

Hint: In order to make the more intricate shapes, I googled the name of the shape and "cookie cutter" to find a good template to mimic or trace.

The cover also includes a pocket holding the letters of her name.

What do you think?  Would you make one of these?

Festive Cookie Tins

I already posted some creative Christmas crafts that I'd like to try this year.  I had some tins kicking around (yes, some of them came with cookies inside) and, although I don't think I'll be too ambitious in my holiday baking when we get home with bruiser, I am hoping to make some meringues for people who pop by.

We always seem to have a collection of spray paints around the house, so I chose a pretty copper colour.

Once dry, I decorated them with some glitter, pom-poms a snowflake punch and glue.

The kitchen will be functional (if not yet beautiful) shortly.  Gestational diabetes will disappears as soon as the baby comes (more specifically, as soon as the placenta leaves my body) and I can't wait to fill these with sweet yummy treats!

Baby Christmas Ornament

We received a little onesie from our friends for Bruiser to wear for her first Hanukkah this year and we thought we'd make a special little Christmas ornament for her as well.

I had felted wool left over from making mittens as well as iron-on crystals and I had some wire and beads kicking around from making necklaces.  I cut out the felted wool in the shape (and size) of baby mittens.  I decided to attach the wire to hang the ornament on the tree as if it were the strings that keep mittens together and I added beads for a little extra sparkle.  Finally, I added the year in crystals.

It's a simple craft but these are perfect to hang on our tree each year!

Round-Up: 6 Creative Christmas Crafts

I doubt I'll have much time for crafts in December once the baby is here, but I put together a list of some of my favourites from around the internet in case you are looking for some inspiration.

I loved this wreath made using thumbtacks, which was featured on The Sweet Escape.  Isn't it festive and unique?  I think I'll try one next year.

I already made my own version of this ornament I found on Salt Tree.  I thought this idea was really magical.

These painted tins by Cynthia Shaffer offer a brilliant solution to a problem I've always had.  I love baking for family and friends over the holidays but I find that the cheap tins I buy at the dollar store always look a bit... tacky.  Not the case with these!

I might opt for larger ornaments and I'd make sure to wash them well first but I like the idea of these little hot cocoa filled ornaments to give as small gifts or even holiday party favours!

The holiday season always makes me think of the nutcracker.  In fact, we've downloaded the entire score to listen to in the hospital with little Bruiser.  I love these ultra dainty ballerina ornaments.

These thrifted sweater stockings have already inspired me to make my own mittens.  I love the cozy look of these by the fireplace though.  Santa would say the best part is that they stretch...

What are you making or baking this holiday season?

DIY Marble Artwork

We didn't want our dark nursery to be too drab so we have added tons of handmade artwork to brighten the room.  One of my favourite tutorials was to produce a marble effect on canvas using nail polish.  I wanted to try it at home so I bought some cheap dollar store nail polish and canvas.

I drizzled the nail polish in about an inch of water and dipped the canvas in.

I honestly wasn't thrilled with my first result.  It was too bright and I was missing the marble effect.  I decided to scrap this one.

I decided to try a different colour family and to mix brands because I thought they might behave differently in the water and create more interesting patterns.

I was much happier with the finished product the second time around.  I suppose practice makes perfect.

Thrift Shop Sweater Hats & Snowflake Mittens

Guess what everyone in my family is getting for the holidays this year?  That's right- it's thrifted mittens and hats for prezzies!  As you can see, I made a bunch for family and I suspect we'll donate a few of the warmer mittens as well.

Note- I know the hats look a bit asymmetrical in the photo but I think that's just how I placed them.  They look good on... promise!

I've seen awesome stockings made from old sweaters online like these and I've always wanted to make them, but I've been afraid the sweaters would unravel.  Luckily, the internet is filled with crafty people and I learned from their trial and error so allow me to share some tips and instructions with you guys:

1.  Pick up some old sweaters at a thrift shop.  I headed to Value Village and I looked for large men's sweaters to give me the most fabric to work with.  I looked for colours I liked and sweaters that were 100% wool.  I found that merino wool and lambswool yielded thinner mittens after they were washed, whereas regular wool became thick and warm but had more of a felt texture.

2.  Wash in hot water and dry on high heat.  We used the sanitize cycle since the sweaters were coming from a thrift shop.

3.  Trace your hand as well as a hat you like... then allow some space around the perimeter for a seam.

4.  Pin your template to the sweater and cut it out.  I used the bottom (or waist) of the sweater to give some stretch at the wrists.  Don't forget to flip your template and cut through both front and back layers again for the other hand.

5.  Next, flip inside out and sew around the perimeter.  I used the tops of the larger sweaters to make hats as well.  When finished, flip back so that the outside is back on the outside.

6.  The next step is optional but I wanted to add some embellishments to some of mine.  I purchased some iron-on crystals at the local craft store and decided to arrange them to look like snowflakes.  I'm not a huge fan of ironing, so I opted for the precision of my hair straightener.

I was really happy with the finished products...

Although I think my favourite was the small hat (which matches two of the larger ones) that I made for the baby.  Are we going to be a matching hat family?  YES!!!  We're dorky like that!

I also wanted to share another tutorial I just found for the same sweater mittens.  Check out the idea this other blogger had for embellishing hers here.