Handmade Christmas Gifts

Every year I have a number of people who I always give a small handmade gift to so I have been busy getting some made ready for giving very soon.

This year I decided to make travel mugs.  I bought some clear ones in my local craft store and then went about inserting fabric into each one to make them look lovely before screwing them altogether ready for drinking out of. 

This is what the finished product looks like.

 (this is what they look like from top view)

These were easy no sew presents.  They came with a template which I traced onto stiff interfacing and fabric, applied some stop fray to all the edges and then inserted into place.  I used Moda Bake Shop's tutorial on how to make them (link here) which was easy to follow.  

Hopefully the recipients of them will be happy.

Some simple crafting...

We are in full swing getting ready to head back to school tomorrow in this house.  The uniforms etc are ready, the books are covered so today I worked on making Emma a couple of hair accessories for school.


Super easy to make. For the first ones I used some button blanks with the shank on the back.  Covered them with fabric to match her uniform (royal blue and yellow) and then threaded a thin blue hair tie through the loop on the back. 

Then I measured and cut some FOE (head band elastic) I had to fit Emma's head and sewed the ends together before cutting a couple of felt flowers in school colours and hand sewing them on with a button centre.   Easy, quick and inexpensive for school.  

I also did some other crafting this week.  I went to the local op shop the other day and found this little square frame for $3.  I grabbed it because I had recently bought an little square owl picture from here and it looked like it could possibly fit in there.  The picture is only 12cm x 12cm.  Impossible to buy a frame for.

Anyway I took it home, gave it a few coats of paint and some glitter spray and then a sand back.  Then I mounted my little picture inside and this is what it looks like now. Totally cute and the best thing - completely unique.  

I have another little picture from the same shop of a little vintage caravan, I wonder if I will be lucky enough to find another frame?

Rain rain go away...and some craft

I would like to know when is it going to stop raining?  Is anyone else sick of it?  It is now beyond a joke and time to move on I say. 

Nathan has gone to Zoo keeper for a day today at Australia Zoo, I hope he has a fabulous time, I will share when he returns.


I took him to the zoo and then felt the need to go to Spotlight today.  I actually really did have to go to get a part for the clock in the caravan.  Anyway I discovered a learn to crochet booklet there and a gorgeous little knitted creatures book.  So I had to get them along with some wool and crochet hooks and new sized knitting needles.  Can't wait to have a go at them.  The book is aimed at children so I think I will be able to actually knit what is in there (I think if I can't I should give up knitting!). This is the book:

I also thought I should organise some crafty things for the kids to do while camping so I bought some googly eyes etc.  I have organised that they can make pet rocks, make some pom pom animals and I bought some bubbles.  That goes with the basic board games, cards etc.  Have you got any good ideas to take camping for keeping kids amused?  I would love to hear any that you have.

Yes, you heard correctly tomorrow we are going camping, our first ever trip.  We'll see how we go.  Another reason I would love it to stop raining just for a little while.  I will be back when we return with our camping stories.

Have a great end of the week everyone.