Cool Craftiness

So, we like to make stuff. 
But not if it's too hard.. 
Or too messy.. or too.. glittery. 
Or if it takes, like ages  to do. 
Or if you finish it and the kids are like, "What the hell is that?" 
And not if it's too cutesy,
Or ugly...
Or too pretty.
We like making stuff that is easy and fun and over quickly and is easily identifiable. And involves felt.

We were sent a pack from Riot Art and Craft to try out, and it totally fit in our parameters. Now that they boys have started Kindy, they are definitely getting better at following instructions and understanding the sequence of tasks. I might send the Awesome Teenager to Miss Julia for a brush up....

So, we made two Ricky Riot Rainbow Feltboards. We went a little off script and glued the pieces down to make a permanent picture, but you could follow the instructions if you are not a revolutionary individualist like me.  You can also watch Ricky Riot make lots of awesome projects (including the feltboard) over on thier website.

The boys loved it. They like to glue stuff and they are awesome at telling me to be careful, because scissors ARE SHARP! Yes, they are brainwashed.

This was a fun project. The bits and pieces retail for about 16 bucks and it took about half and hour. Easy Peasy Bosom Squeezy.

As you can see, the boys are loving themselves sick in this photo. They love to admire their finished work and expect EVERYONE to repeatedly reaffirm how totally awesome they are at least half hourly. Just like mummy...

What's the last crafty thing you made with your kids? Or with your husband. Or your cat.

* I was sent a Rainbow Feltboard pack to try out. All opinions are my own and I wasn't paid for them. 

Crappy Crafting

So, I am kinda, like an artist, or whatever. I'm kind of a big deal....**  

But, sometimes, I feel like a total craft mummy failure. I have knocked up a cardboard rocket in my time, I have made super hero capes, sure, but me and the boys certainly don't draw/ make/ craft every day. I read the hipster crafty mummy blogs and think, "Wow- that looks like a LOT of work. I have enough crap to clean up, let alone covering everything in GLITTER!"

SO, I embrace Crap Carfting. Easy Crafting. Not Super-Messy crafting!! (Who decided that the word 'Craft' was now a verb??? Why does everything have to be a verb now? Man, I am getting old...)

So, I think it's important to, firstly, acknowledge that it's OK to not be the most perfect mum in the world. In general. That is easy to say, but really hard to do. There are SOOOO many ways to put pressure on ourselves as mothers, so many guilt traps to push ourselves into. I am a walking manifestation of guilt about 20 hours per day. But I also know that it's not a frickin' competition. I am not being graded, or judged. Well, at least not until my kid are old enough to afford thier first psychologist.....

Anyway! Back to Crap Crafting with Tessiegirl!!!

All you need is:
Paper bags
Pens and crayons, 
Wooden spoons (or salad servers if you only have one wooden spoon and two children who don;t wanna share that wooden spoon)
Ribbon. Or tape. If you have tape.

- Draw a face on the paper bag
- Get your kids to colour the face in
- Put bag over wooden spoon
-Tie around neck with ribbon
- Let the puppetry ensue!

Are you Crappy Crafter?

** TOTALLY said with tongue in cheek.... I am actually a HUGE deal...

Rocketmen

Sometimes, I feel like a lame mummy. I feel like I am not giving the time and attention to my little monkeys. I am not as crippled by guilt as I used to be. I don't let it eat me up like I used to.
But I worry. I worry that I am not enough for them. Or that the choices I am making for them are not the right ones.
But then we I make them some crap out of nappy boxes and alfoil. And I feel like I am the bestest mummy that ever mummied.
My little boys are happy with alfoil hats and a guitar box rocket. Oh and toothpaste box and button astronaut phones....
They are happy with homemade superhero outfits.
They are happy that I am their mummy.

Stubby Cooler Craft

As I mentioned the other day, (for those of you paying attention) I love to make my own Christmas Paper. I love the organic, bespoke feel of it. And it's free. I like free stuff. 

I don't have anything against store-bought paper. Some years, I use it, and love to make all the presents match. It does make me nuts when presents wrapped in OTHER PEOPLE'S PAPER appear under my tree and ruin my aesthetic. I have been know to try and force my mum and sister to use the same paper as me, so ALL the presents match. 

They have been know to say, "Have you taken your medication today?"

SO, while the crazy lunatics where asleep the other day,

(SIDE NOTE: How do you stop 2.5yo's from CLIMBING ON TOP of their chest of drawers, which is over twice their height?!? And how do u stop 2.5yo's from eating the cat's food*? And how do u stop 2.5yo's from peeling the paint OFF THE FRICKING WALL? I know the answers to these questions, I just can't believe I have to ask them in the first place!!!!)

Anyway, while the sweet little angels were sleeping, I taped down a bunch of Ikea paper and got to it.

The green chevrons may look a little wonky here, but that's part of the cuteness of handmade stuff, isn't it?

(How cute are my toes. My husband says I have hobbit feet. Mean.)

To contrast with the green chevrons, I decided to do some red spots. And what better stamping tool to make spots is there than a Stubby Cooler? I know, I am totally awesome and unequivocally Oz. Mate.

Again, I think the messiness, and irregular nature of the spots works really well.

Add some grosgrain ribbon from the craft cupboard and some simple gift tags (created in Illustrator and printed out) and you have some pretty cute presents!! I have a few more to buy yet, so my shelf will look lovely and full! And matchy match match matching! 


(I promise I'm not a total jerk who loses it if the presents don't match.... And I totally don't care when the remote controls aren't lined up parallel on the arm of the couch... And who cares if  my Owl Collection is out of alignment and needs to be rearranged every day? NOT ME)


My fabric bunting adds the final touch to my gift shelf, don;t you think? Notice the presents are not under the tree. They are on top of a high book shelf. I think we all know why....

 X Gillian


* I don't let the boys eat cat food. On purpose. Kidding. Sort of.

Let's Go!

I have a few crafty projects on the go at the moment. I am working on some printed fabric book covers (the pretty girl above) and I have made some cute christmas bunting for our lounge room. Home made decorations are awesome!
I am looking forward to hand printing some wrapping paper! 
Maybe something like this...

source

Or this...

source

Or this one...

source

I do love me some chevrons at the moment, so that could be the winning inspiration!

Do you make your own wrapping paper and decorations?

x gillian