Day to Day

Easter craft ideas

Just popping in quickly this evening to link up some of my older Easter craft tutorials for Easter, incase you're after something fun to make for next weekend.  Eek, I know - it's so close!

Make your own bunny headband - tutorial HERE.

Sweet bunny packaging - tutorial HERE.

Sew your own Easter mug rug - tutorial HERE.

Egg wagon wheels, yes! These are fun and easy to do in the microwave, so tasty. Tutorial HERE.

Bunny ears anyone?  Go HERE for the tutorial.

Something for the little people to do - Easter basket with salt dough eggs!  Tutorial HERE.

Felt bunny card - tutorial HERE.

...and in-between all that Easter craft I found this photo of my two working on their Easter crafts, way back in circa 2006.  We had some FUN times dying eggs every year when they were little.  Oh my, how I miss having that tiny cuteness around the house.  Well, they're still cute - but older and doing their own bit of fun now.

It all goes too fast!

Hip Hop Hooray for Easter - Bunny head band

Welcome to my final Hip Hop Hooray project for the week, a pretty Easter head band.  Here's what you will need:

♥ Yarn, 3 colours

♥ Crochet hook + needle + cotton (for stitching)

♥ Felt

♥ Embroidery cotton

♥ Small scrap of felt

♥ Tiny doily (optional)

♥ Tiny printable bunny template - Download Download bunny for head band

Step 1: Crochet three lengths of yarn using chain stitch - ours measured 53cm, but they may need to be adjusted, depending on the child/adult head size.

Step 2: Slip stitch the lengths of yarn together.

Step 3: Pop the three lengths of crochet chain together and cut out a small rectangle from felt.

Step 4: Hand stitch the felt together, to secure the crochet lengths.

Step 5: Print out the template and cut out a bunny from felt.  Blanket stitch around the outer edge.

Step 6: Hand stitch the bunny onto a small doily.  You can also omit the doily and just stitch the bunny directly onto the head band.

Step 7: Hand stitch the doily/rabbit onto the head band.

Wear and enjoy!  The headband can also be worn quite nicely as a necklace :)  

Don't forget to pop over and check out Tamar's sweet project for today.

Thanks so much for joining us for our third Hip Hip Hooray series. Hip Hip Hooray for winter is in the planning stages now.

If you have enjoyed our series so far you will LOVE our latest collaboration....
Imagine sitting down and sharing a cup of tea with Tamar and myself, a couple of times a month - while we chat about all manner of crafty things ... watch this space - more details on our secret project coming soon!!

Hip Hop Hooray for Easter - Bunny packaging tutorial

Today I'm sharing some bunny packaging - easy, quick, economical and cute to fill with mini Easter eggs and other treats.

Here's what you'll need:

♥ Paper bags

♥ Bunny template - I've enlarged my template from yesterday for this project -  Download Download bunny for embroidey

♥ Embroidery thread + needle + scissors

♥ Pencil + eraser

♥ Pretty tape for closing the bag with

Step 1: Print out the bunny template provided and draw lightly around the outer edge.

Step 2: Use a needle to evenly space some sewing holes around the rabbit.

Step 3: Rub out the pencil lines.

Step 4: Stitch the bunny design with embroidery thread.

Step 5: Fill the packaging with treats and use some pretty tape to close.

I hope you enjoyed my little Hip Hop Hooray project for today.  Now pop over to Tamar's blog to see her sweet idea for today.

Hip Hop Hooray for Easter - Bunny mug rug tutorial

My Hip Hop Hooray tutorial today is for a sweet bunny mug rug.  Incase you haven't already caught onto the mug rug phase that's sweeping the universe (haha), you really must!  Basically it's an extended version of a coaster, but there's room for your hot drink and some biscuits on the side.

I found this little bunny design in a colouring-in book, removed the main features, streamlined the design a bit and then shrunk it down to size with my scanner.  Of course, you could also use your own bunny, egg or Easter related design, if you prefer :)

Here's what you'll need:

♥ Fabric - (x2) 21cm X 12cm rectangles

♥ Fabric - (binding) 6.5cm X approximately 83cm - you'll have a little bit of excess left over to trim

♥ Fabric - just a scrap for the bunny

♥ Fusible webbing - a small scrap to adhere the bunny onto the fabric

♥ Batting or felt - 21cm X 12cm

♥ Printable PDF (for bunny) -  Download Download bunny template

♥ Embroidery cotton & needle + sewing machine

Step 1: Use the material list above and cut out each piece for the mug rug.  Use the fusible webbing to adhere your bunny onto the right hand side of the mug rug fabric.  If you're unfamiliar with fusible webbing, there are some great instructions HERE.

Step 2: Blanket stitch (or machine applique) around the edge of the bunny.

Step 3: Place the remaining fabric rectangle on your work area, print facing down. Position the layer of batting next and then add the appliqued rectangle on top, print facing up.  Machine quilt if desired - I did one inch squares on mine.

Step 4:  Add the binding and you're done :)  I used the continuous binding method for mine, using THIS tutorial.

Pop the kettle on and enjoy your Easter mug rug with a hot drink and a biscuit on the side.

I hope you enjoyed my mug rug tutorial. Don't forget to pop over to Tamar's blog and check out her Hip Hop Hooray project for today, plus she has created a version of my mug rug, so you'll be able to see that too.

See you tomorrow :)

Hip Hop Hooray for Easter - Wagon wheel eggs

Thank you for joining me yesterday for my first Hip Hop Hooray project.  Today I'm sharing a very simple Easter cooking idea.  Do you remember my home made wagon wheels?  Well, recently I noticed that Milk Arrowroot biscuits (by Arnotts) are the perfect Easter shape and Bella was desperate to cook another batch of wagon wheels, so we bought some supplies and started baking.

This is a great Easter activity for little ones to help out with and because they're really quick to whip up, they can be made and enjoyed within minutes.

Here's what you'll need:

♥ A packet of Milk Arrowroot biscuits or similar egg shaped biscuits

♥ Chocolate to melt

♥ Marshmellows

♥ Raspberry jam

♥ Sprinkles for decorating

♥ A microwave

Step 1: Spread a layer of jam onto one biscuit.

Step 2: Pop a marshmellow in the centre of the jam and zap in the microwave for 15-30 seconds. You want to stop the microwave when the marshmellow starts to ooze! Place the second biscuit on top immediately.

Step 3: Melt some chocolate and spread on top.

Step 4: Decorate the chocolate with sprinkles.

Eat and enjoy!

Tomorrow I'm sharing a really cute idea, it's my most favourite tutorial for the week - so be sure to check back :)

Tamar is blogging a super yum Easter cupcake recipe today, so don't forget to pop over to her blog and take a peek.

Hip Hop Hooray for Easter - Bunny ears tutorial

Hello Easter and hello bunny ears!  Welcome to my first project for Hip Hop Hooray for Easter.  Today I'm sharing a tutorial on how to make a set of cute bunny ears, an Easter necessity, don't you think?

These ones are speedy to make & easy - you'll be able to whip them up in no time.

Here's what you'll need:

♥ Fabric scraps X3 - each 70cm in length x 5cm in width (or there abouts). *Note: 3-10 years old, I'd suggest 70cm lengths for plaiting.  You might need to add an extra 10cm or so of length for a slightly older child.

♥ Fabric scraps - for ears

♥ Printable PDF (for the bunny ears) - Download Bunny ear template

♥ Sewing machine, needle + cotton, pins

♥ Cardboard, thin

Step 1: Let's start by creating the plait for the head band.  Pop a hair band on the end of your three lengths of fabric and start plaiting.  You'll need to place the end under something heavy (to hold) while you're plaiting, or else ask somebody to hold it for you.

Step 2: Once the plait is complete, measure around the child's head and machine stitch the two ends closed at the appropriate spot.  You're aiming for it to hold nice and firmly around the child's head, without being too tight.

Step 3: Print out the bunny ear template and cut out X2 ears (cardboard) and X4 ears (fabric).  I chose a strong, but thin cardboard - cereal packet cardboard is perfect.

Step 4: Sandwich the cardboard between two fabric bunny ears and zig-zag stitch around the outer edge to hold together.  If you haven't sewed cardboard before, it's very easy and won't break your sewing needle - however, it's best to keep a needle *just* for sewing cardboard/paper because it becomes quite blunt after a while.

Step 5: Pin the ears onto the head band and hand stitch them into position.  You'll need a few stitches either side of the ear base to hold them nicely.

Wear and enjoy!

Don't forget to pop over to Tamar's blog to see her wonderful Hip Hop Hooray project for today.  

I'll be back tomorrow with another fun & easy Easter tutorial.  Thanks for stopping by. xoxo

Last minute Easter tags

Do you need some super cute last minute Easter tags to pop on chocolate treats?  Tamar has created this printable file for you - go HERE to download and print :-)

I adore the hello kitty one.

 

Hello Easter

After all that Easter pyjama sewing yesterday it seemed like a good time to pop up the Easter decorations.  We only have a couple, some bunting and a a few eggs, but Bella loves to help me pull them out each year and put them up on display for a week or so.

 

Then, I found the cutest craft idea a couple of days ago over on Alpha Mum making sweet salt dough vases.  Seriously they are SO gorgeous and such an awesome idea.  Go HERE to see.  We set about making a batch of salt dough and then Bella set to work on her vase:

Oh and see the super cute apron?  It was a gift from one of Bella's penfriends. 

I forgot to take a photo of the cute face that Bella fashioned onto her vase before it went in the oven, but I will tomorrow before she paints it. 

So, that was pretty much our day (with a 2 hour game of monopoly thrown in there).  I hope yours was a good one!  Thankyou all so much for the lovely comments on my last two posts too, I swear that I have the sweetest readers :-)

Day 7 of the Egg-ceptional Egg-xtravaganza

 

For the Easter post today, Fiona and I decided to do some Easter baking.  You can take a peek at Fiona's yummy cooking HERE.

 

I made these little speckled egg baskets, super easy to make with small children (so long as an adult pours in the hot copha) and so fun! 

I used a chocolate crackle recipe for the base and before popping them in the fridge I squashed the tops down and scooped out a little hole for the eggs to sit in.  When they were set we added some miniature speckled eggs for decoration.

Here is the chocolate crackle recipe:

4 cups rice bubbles

1 cup desiccated coconut

1 cup icing sugar

250g copha

3 tablespoons cocoa

Mix all the dry ingredients together, melt the copha in the microwave or in a saucepan and pour into the mixture.  Stir it all up and scoop into little patty pans.  Refrigerate until set.

 

Eat and enjoy - yum :)

Day 6 of the Egg-ceptional Egg-xtravaganza

Today's Egg-ceptional Egg-xtravaganza is a special one.  Fiona has created a gorgeous softie pattern to share with everyone! 

Meet Eggie - but, we like to call her Egg-na.

 

You can go HERE to find the pattern and make your very own Eggie for Easter.   When you pop over to have a peek at Fiona's blog you'll also get to meet Egg-wina, Egg-ward and Egg-berta.

 

The sweet ribbon around her tummy is from Ribbons Galore.

 

Here's Eggie hanging out with some other softie friends :)

 

And trying to squeeze into Bella's felted bunny bag!  This is a relatively easy pattern and once you make one Eggie they'll be no stopping you - they're very addictive!

Hope to see you all on Wednesday for Day 7 of our Easter crafting.

P.S.  Cee has the created the sweetest Daisy Jane Duck tutorial for you HERE - go and take a peek, it's super cute and fab for Easter.