Food deying flowers – Tutorial 2

Last Sunday I went for a bike ride with my twin boys, which means that they went on their bikes and I ran behind them but well. I spotted these little fluffy things and thought what can I do with those? So we picked some and took them home.

 

So they look pretty in a vase but let’s add some colour with food dye abit of an old trick but heaps of fun right!? I got 2 tall tumblers with 1/4cup of cold water and a teaspoon of blue and a teaspoon of red in the other glass.

Then we started dipping about a 1/3 in red, 1/3 in blue and after that mixing blue and red together to make purple but unfortunately turned out to be a browny color for the last 1/3. After dipping they are completely soaked and you sort of roll them between your thumb and finger to get all the excess off. See here the 3 colors when wet.

After this I made them into a little bouquet, as you can see the colors go quite pale after they dry.

Just thought that I would let everyone know that Craft Tutorials has moved to crafttutorials.net

Inspirational Easter links 4

Easter is almost here, are you ready? I have been trying quite hard to find some inspirational links and fresh tutorials for Easter but so far I have only come up with these, most of them can also be found via Crafster’s new Easter board here

Thread eggs at BH & G Magazine

Via Maize Hutton I found some very cute Bunny Bob Pins you can find the pattern on the page in pdf-format.

Doohickies, Whatchamacallits, and Thingamagigs brings a tutorial on some very cute chickies.

Natural Dyeing of Easter Eggs via What’s Cooking America

Easter Egg Art maybe gets you inspired… if not have a look for a laugh!

And 2 great tutorial on Skip to my Lou for Chalkboard Easter Eggs and Egg Shaped Sidewalk Chalk

A ver cute Amigurumi bunny pattern via Jilly flowers.

A pattern for Easter egg cozies via Crafster.

More owls

So they do come in swarms…..

I am very curious to see if anybody else has made some, please leave a link in the comments so I can have a look 🙂

Just thought that I would let everyone know that Craft Tutorials has moved to crafttutorials.net

Tutorial Try Out 4 – Owl by Moonstitches

After I found this tutowlrial on the 26th of March I could hardly wait to start on these very cute owls. I found a template for the pattern here it’s on the top of the page which I found very handy and together with Moonstiches excellent photo’s there was not a lot to write about. The only problem I had was that my sewing machine has mysteriously broken down after 2, 5 year olds had been touching it. “I did not do anything Mum.. really..” Unable to wait I handstitched my little owl together, I think making it on the machine would give a nicer finish though so I will definately try again once I have figured out which part of my machine has been touched….

Anyway enough talk, here is my first owl.

Just thought that I would let everyone know that Craft Tutorials has moved to crafttutorials.net

Book review 2

While browsing through the “returned-today” area of our local library I found this book. It’s called “complete feltmaking – easy techniques and 25 great great projects” by Gillian Harris, ISBN 1-84340-369-2.

The inside flap reads; “Complete feltmaking covers all aspects of feltmaking, including making flat felt, creating 3-D shapes, felting klitted work, needle felting and slightly more advanced techniques such as cobweb felting. From a cheerful polka-dot bag and plush slippers to a whimsical mobile and heart-warming tea cosy, this spirited primer offers a vibrant range of projects for beginner and advanced felters. Once the crafter has become comfortable with basic techniques, she/he can graduate to more complex felting projects in the advanced chapter. Each technique is crafeully explained in detail with step-by-step instructions and accompanied by several innovative projects to keep you constantly inspired. This book includes everything you need to bring felt to your wardrobe and home.”

If you are interested you might also want to check out her website here .

And I don’t have anything to add to that, enjoy the pictures.

Just thought that I would let everyone know that Craft Tutorials has moved to crafttutorials.net

Learn to knit 1

Since we are going towards winter in this part of the world I have set myself a new goal; learning how to knit. My question to you, dear reader, since I don’t have my mum living around the corner, which book, tutorial, website can you recommend?

Please leave a comment so I can have a look and also please tell me why this is the best way, I mean did you learn it this way or maybe you have even written this tutorial yourself? I can do a little crocheting so hopefully the step from 1 to 2 needles is not too much to juggle.

Here are some links to amazingly inspiring knitting blogs and most of them have some great free patterns too!

Brooklyntweed

So much yarn, so little time!

Two Left Needles

Grumperina goes to local yarn shops and Home Depot

Inspirational links 3

I have had an extremely busy weekend so unfortunately no tutorial try outs today. Here are some inspirational links to keep the crafty-juices going though.

Look at these extremely cool robots.

 Very pretty birds at While She Naps.

And Moonstitches has posted a tutorial about these incredible owls! I have been checking them out for weeks and they will definately be my next tutorial try out that said I am the worlds worst sewer so they might not look this good…

Have a look here for one of the finalists of the Softie Awards and this lovely fabric bucket.

Little Bee – Tutorial 1

Here is a tutorial for a little bee I have written myself the other day. Please find a photo below of what the end result should look like. I used some scrap yarn I picked up from the thrift store and 4mm hook. I am very curious to see what you think or maybe I forgot to mention something in the tutorial that would make it clearer. Please let me know but be kind, it’s my first one…. 🙂

Stitches explained:

Sl stitch= slip stitch, SC= Single Crochet, Ch= Chain

Body:

Chain 4 close to make ring with slip stitch

• row 1: 6sc in ring (6)
• row 2: 2 sc in every sc (12)
• row 3: 2sc in every 2nd sc (18)
• row 4: 1sc in every sc (18)
• row 5: 1sc in every sc (18)
• row 6: 1sc in every sc (18)
• row 7: 2nd + 3rd sc together (12)
• row 8: 1sc in every sc (12)
• row 9: 2 sc in every 3sc (16)
• row 10: 1 sc in every sc (16)
• row 11: 2sc in every 4th sc (20)
• row 12 1 sc in every sc (20)
• Start filling body
• row 13: 4th of 5th sc together (16)
• row 14: 3rd + 4th together (12)
• Fill body again
• row 15: 2nd + 3rd together (6)
• row 16: 3 x 2sc together
• Finish off

Wings

Chain 4 close to make ring with slip stitch

• row 1: 6 sc in ring
• row 2: 2sc in every sc (12)
• row 3: 2x *1sc, 2sc in next sc* next sc 1x slip stitch
• row 4: ch4 close ring with 1sc into 1st of chain
• turn work over, 9 sc in ring cut yarn off keep appr 20cm length.
• Attach small circle to larger circel.

Attach body and wings together, and make a smiley face and TAaaadaaa you are done!

Just thought that I would let everyone know that Craft Tutorials has moved to crafttutorials.net

National Crochet week 17-23 March

I just found out this week is National Crochet week so I’d better start hooking away and see if I can find a nice and quick tutorial. I am not a very good crocheter and with not good I actually mean  not very fast but I do enjoy it.

So here are some excellent links to tutorials.

Crochet Me te online magazine for cool, hip, fashionable crochet. Or follow this link to go straight to this tutorial for Neck-laces see picture below:

Dork Wallet tutorial by Rupert Jetson

Crochet Ball tutorial by Roxycraft

Fried Egg Cuffs by Monster Crochet

Bobble Handband by Galvanic

Baby Sweater by Julie Holetz

 Good luck!

Inspirational links 2

Another 5 links to keep you inspired this week!

Gooseflesh Amazing crocheted sea creatures by Gooseflesh.

Majeak Ann Extremely cute and beautiful illustrations by Majeak Ann.

Sony My favourite televison ad by Sony, don’t forget to listen to the music by Jose Gonzalez too.

I found TAF via Bloesem a Swedish company that make ordinary every day things extraordinary.

Peter Callesen I had been on this website before but am always amazed about the complexity of his work!

reader call out

I just realised I had almost 2000 hits since the birth of this blog I have to say I feel very honoured. So in order to keep going, expanding the tutorial list and doing more reviews on books and tutorials I wanted to ask you visitor of my blog for some help.

Dear Visitor,

Thank you for stopping by it’s lovely to have you here, please feel free to browse through the extensive list of tutorials. I may have to even change the lay-out of the page since we are getting so many good new tutorials per e-mail every day but that’s enws for a later date. In the meantime I would like to ask you for your help ,dear Visitor, can you please leave a comment if you feel you saw something you liked or maybe if you like to see a particular category extended?

Thank you so much and please do come again!

Kind regards, Eve

Tutorial Try Out 3 – Button Flowers by One more Moore

I found this tutorial on One More Moore last Friday and knew that this was going to be my next Tutorial Try Out. I mean these little button flowers are just too cute. 🙂 So here we go! Materials needed

• Bowl of buttons in heaps of sizes and colors
• 24 Gaugue 1/4 lb Green Wire (I only had purple and silver in 28 Gauge)
• felt in different colors and sizes
• Scissors
• Needle & Embroidery Floss /Thread
• Jewellery tool for bending wire and twisting the ends

First I started cutting of a piece of wire. I wanted the total height to be around 20cm so I cut a piece of 40cm, doubled it up and started to put the put the smallest button on working my way up to the largest one. Instead of making flowers I cut some circles a little larger than the biggest button and put them on last to fill the bouquet up a bit. After some fiddling around I definately know now that I should have bought the 24 Gauge wire so I might take this one apart later this week and replace the wire. Still another very quick and easy project and a pretty result.

Just thought that I would let everyone know that Craft Tutorials has moved to crafttutorials.net

St Patrick’s Day

Just wanted to wish you all a happy St Patrick’s Day!

Here is a tutorial on making a Crochet Shamrock Magnet to get you started!

Inspirational links 1

Through all my surfing on the internet I see so many people making great stuff.

Please find below 5 inspirational links from amazing bloggers:

Futuregirl Futuregirl’s amazing handbags and now one for herself, very pretty!

Thimble Thimble writing about the stichette tutorial by Wee Wonderfuls.

Little Birds A peek at Little Birds Handmade new finished craft room.

Bella Dia The little pink house by Bella Dia

Soule Mama Lovely bird aprons by Soule Mama

Tutorial Try Out 2 – Journal by Five and a Half

After getting a heap of tutorials submitted by e-mail last week one immediately stood out. I think it was sent to me by Mariek Uniek http://www.mariekuniek.nl ,thanks for that!

After reading through the reCOLLECTED, REcreated blog http://www.fiveandahalf.net/blog/ I was even more enthusiastic. An absolutely wonderful website; fantastic web-design, easy on the eye and Judy shares a wealth of information in her blog about owning a creative business.

Anyway let’s start making photo journals.

The tutorial stated I needed the following materials:

• 2 photographs (got that)
• sheets of paper (yep)
• strip of paper (yep)
• 2 wooden pegs (ok plastic ones will do I hope)
• 2 wooden boards or old books (yep)
• sheet of wax paper (mmm nope nut I think I’ll manage)
• brush (yep)
• white glue (craft glue or PVA bookbinding glue) (used another glue)

Here it is all ready to get started:

This tutorial try out my husband Paul was having a go to. I decided to use some photo’s I shot on one of our trips and Paul had 2 photo’s of our boys. First I trimmed all the  papers to the same size and put the photo’s on the front and back of the stack facing outside. Look like this:

Put my handy clips on like so:

Replaced them for plastic washing pegs and (you can already see the male infuence in this pic) G-clamps.

Easier to hold the whole thing together nicely when I was putting the glue on. Again PVA or craft glue was not good enough for hubby so we had to have some super strong glue this one:

After putting 2 layers off glue on with the brush I took the clamps off and loaded a pile off books on top and  it was time to drink some champagne! Crafting is fun! Mmmm

Half an hour later it was time to put the last piece of paper on the spine of my book. I though this was the hardest part to get it all nicely lined up and looking pretty (I only had 1 glass so this should not have influenced the result :-). Another 10 min under the pile off books.

 and taaaadaaaa here are our handmade photo journals!

I love it! Thanks again Five and a half for an awesome tutorial.

Whip-Up

I spend a lot of time surfing the net, no let me rephrase that I spend waaaay too much time surfing the net. Since I have only been introduced to the world of blogging for just over a year, most of time is spend lurking at other people’s blogs. There are soo many little communities on the net with people writing about their passion and I find it inspiring to read other people’s experiences. As a newbie crafter and a newbie blogger I thought I would try and get my blog out there on the world wide web so I started posting comments where I’d normally been lurking and send a note to Whip-Up that I was looking for great craft tutorials.

Whip-Up is such an exciting website I visit them at least 5 times a week and I must have read up on most of their archives by now. So when I logged in this morning and saw my note on the rightside of their homepage I almost fell of my chair. “ME!? on Whip-Up! HA!”that is just toooo cool!!

So thank you all so much for stopping by and posting comments and e-mailing me your fantastic tutorials it will take me some time to add them to the list and I will send you an e-mail when I have put yours up. And for all those crafty people out there that have never been onto the Whip Up website, get over there quickly.

In the meantime I am preparing for “Tutorial Try Out 2″it’s something totally different than the felt beads I did last week I am so very excited about this one. Anyway I will not give it away yet stop by again next Tuesday or Wednesday and all will be revealed….

Just thought that I would let everyone know that Craft Tutorials has moved to crafttutorials.net

Tutorial Try Out 1 – Felt Balls by Martha Stewart

I was very excited about my first tutorial try out this was definately one on the top of my list. So last Sunday I took of to my favourite wool shop and bought 40 grams of red soon to be felted wool at the amazing price of NZ$1.80 which probably works out to around US$1 and some detergent without any added scents or dyes. All the other bits and pieces needed for this project were in my cupboard.

According to the tutorial written by Marta Stewart I needed the following materials;

• felting wool
• pitcher of hot soapy water (4tblspoons of detergent to 6 cups of hot water)
• baking tray
• sponge
• bamboo skewers
• kitchen scale (I did not have those so just hoped for the best size wise)

So look here it all is ready to have some fun;

After geting the hot soapy water ready I was on my way to make 11 balls. I wanted 11 for a necklace that I want to make after the balls/beads have dried. I have seen this somewhere on another website but unfortunately have been unable to find it back, if anyone has seen it please let me know.

Ok back to making beads; I started out with a small wad of wool and then adding smaller lengths of wool around and around very tightly. When I thought the ball was big enough I dunked the ball in the hot soapy water let the bubbles come out and then started rolling between my hands without squeezing. The wool feels a litle mushy in the beginning but after 15-30 seconds of rolling you feel the ball begins to harden. Martha Stewart says you need to keep rolling for another 10 mins. but mine were done after 2-3 minutes. Remember to keep dunking the ball in the water the hot water causes the fibres to stick together and become felt. I then rinsed it out under cold running water (still rolling) and put it away to dry.

It took me about 1 and a half hours to do all 11 balls. After that I left to dry overnight in my studio. They already looked so good here:

On Monday morning I checked on their progress again and they were already dry and soft and lovely! Unfortunately I did not have time on Monday, tried to think of a nice way to connect them all up on Tuesday. And finally on Wednesday thought I could make it more elegant by using a lighter wire and bought some plastic coated fishing line and put the necklace together.

As you can see in this photo below I also used a loss less of the felt beads cause the 11 beads worked out to be too bulky. Anyway here is the result, I am pretty happy with it. I loved the tutorial sooo simple to do, have a go and please let me know what your experiences are!

Just thought that I would let everyone know that Craft Tutorials has moved to crafttutorials.net

Book review

Yesterday Paul and I went on the plane to Auckland for the day. We went to see some customers for our business and had the rest of the day off to cruise around the city. It was lovely being back in the “big smoke”; lots of inspiration, beautiful shops and just the general pace of life is different than the small town I live in. Don’t get me wrong I would never trade the quieter lifestyle I have now for the polution and chaos of the city but it’s nice to get out and about. After our meetings we hopped on the ferry that takes you from the North Shore into the City. It was such a nice day 24C, the sun was shining and it’s fantastic to see the skyline from the water. I always seem to forget how much I like being on the water.

After a quick lunch we popped into this lovely big (airconditioned) bookstore, I was heading straight for the arts and crafts section leaving Paul at the magazines. They had a great selection but I had to settle on this one The Home Guide to Craft by Katherine Sorrell. It has 432 pages with beautiful photo’s and clear tutorials. I love it! I love it! I love it! I love it so much I don’t even know where to start, they are so many techniques I want to try out. It has all these cool things like acrylic moulding, screen printing, paper making and glass painting in it,

Anyway here are some pretty pics to get you excited!!

 

 

 

Stripe generator

I was looking around on the internet when I found a link to this page http://www.kissyourshadow.com/stripe_maker.php 

I think it’s awesome and a great tool for knitters and crocheters who want to have a look what their stripey pattern is going to look like!

Thanks

Thanks to all the people who have already come to read my blog and to all of you who have permitted me to use your tutorials.

As you can see I have created a new banner and am currently working on my first Tutorial try out. Soo Exciting!! I cannot wait to tell you all how it all went. Please bare with me I think this project will be finished on Wednesday.

I hope you have a lovely crafty week!