Callaloo Soup

Easy Customised Mugs for Valentine's Day | Real Life Crafting

I've been pinning ideas for customising mugs for a while, but have yet to try out the Sharpie and porcelain pen baking tutorials. There are some things I just can't seem to find the time for.

As I was brainstorming ideas one day, I started wondering if rub-ons would work on china and porcelain. And I'm happy to report that they do.

This is an easy and fast DIY, plus it's cheap, if like me you have a huge stash of rub-ons from hoarding them back when they were the hot item in scrapbooking.

You'll need your mug, some Valentine or love themed rub-ons and a rub-on applicator. I have a fancy one because I was also a confirmed tool junkie back in the day. But a popsicle stick works just as well.

First cut out your design and use your fingers to carefully position and smooth it on the mug

Next using your applicator carefully rub all over the design, making sure to hit all the areas of the design. I don't have a photographer's assistant, so no photo of the rubbing action, sorry!

Ta da!

Now make some more and use them to serve hot chocolate, tea or coffee to your loved ones come Friday morning.

The designs will be temporary, but if you're mercurial like me that's a good thing! You can use different designs for all your special, and everyday occasions.

Simple. Easy. Done.

If you're looking for another quick idea for Valentine's Day, head on over to Make & Takes to see my crochet heart card tutorial. There's a free printable too!

Starting this month, I'll be a regular contributor to Make & Takes (eeps!), and I'll be sharing two tutorials a month. I'll be sure to link you up whenever they go live.

 

Jonesing on DIY Advent Calendars

 

 

When I was growing up Advent Calendars weren't really a part of our Christmas traditions. I think I can only remember one year when we had one of the grocery store type ones with chocolate behind little flaps. I'm thinking maybe my aunt in Canada sent it down? But once I got more into the crafting world and started seeing them everywhere I totally loved the idea. Now with Kieran it makes even more sense to have one. I enjoy the building anticipation for him, especially since we don't go heavy with the Santa Claus stuff.

I'm still trying to figure out what to do for ours this year. I have the actual calendar, which we used last year, but I'm still not sure what to put in the pockets.(Last year it was dinosaurs.)

While searching for ideas I came across several simple and modern DIY advent calendars that I love, so I'm sharing them with you today while I keep brainstorming.

 Clockwise from top left here they are:

Tree Advent Calendar from Persia Lou: Numbered pockets each containing a handmade ornament, to hang on the painted tree above. Alexis explains how she made the wooden calendar, and also how she altered some surprising trinkets to make them into ornaments.

Toilet Paper Tube Advent Calendar from Morning Creativity: I really love this one because it is made using mostly recyclables! Toiler paper tubes, cardboard, and brown paper. Erland also shares a list of gift ideas (for him & her!) to stash in each tube.

Modern Branch Advent Calendar from Sugar Lander: This project is a bit more involved, but I so love the result! Each ornament has a tag with a different activity leading up to the big day.

Upcycled Advent Calendar from Northstory: Another one using toilet paper tubes (start collecting now!) Alex made pillow style boxes from the tubes with candy (left over from Halloween!) in each. So so clever.

Ridiculously Easy DIY Advent Calendar from The Creek Line House: Courtenay used some scrap MDF and paper bags as the main elements of her DIY Advent Calendar. This is so simple and works so well!

Muslin Bag Advent Calendar at the marion house book: I am really into all things natural for the Holidays this year, so I really love this muslin bag version. Emma used a mix of ornaments and found objects to hang from each bag. Love it.

Geometric Advent Calendar by Madame Citron: It doesn't get more modern than this one! The tutorial from comes with free templates so you can make your own. The blog is in French, so make sure to use Google translate. The main supplies for this one is paper!

Matchbox Advent Calendar from Morning Creativity: Another great and simple idea from Erland. Each box contains a treat. He even made the number stamps himself!

Wow. My head is whirling with ideas. I think I am leaning towards different ornaments to hang on a small tree. it will have to be done this weekend, so check back next week so see what I end up doing.

What's your Advent Calendar this year?

 

 

12 Days of Christmas Cheer | Day 6: Making Clay Ornaments

Over the weekend Kieran and I worked on some clay ornaments together. We used the classic salt dough recipe which you can find all over the internet. We also did this last year, and I have to say his technique is much improved.

Kieran's clay ornament from 2011

Meanwhile I worked on some slightly more sophisticated ornaments.

I pressed a rubber stamp into my rolled out clay before cutting my shapes out. I also made a set of ornaments using homemade porcelain. My porcelain clay ended up being a combination of this idea and this idea.

The next day, I mixed up some glittery sealer by mixing PVA glue, water and glitter. We painted this onto the now baked and dry ornaments:

While waiting for them to dry once again, we went for a walk

And now they are on the tree!

Have you ever made clay ornaments? Do you have a favourite recipe for the clay?

12 Days of Christmas Cheer | Day 2: Gingerbread Houses

I have always loved the idea of gingerbread houses. Maybe it's because of reading Hansel and Gretel as a child, or maybe it's just because of all the candy! I was digging through the archives and came across an old post where Lucas and I actually made one from scratch in 2007!

I remember it being a ton of fun - and good to eat as well.

This year I plan to make some mini ones with Kieran, I think I will use this graham cracker idea that I found on Pinterest. I think it would be a great activity for Christmas Eve when both his grandmothers should be here.

Here's another cute "gingerbread" craft I think I will do with him too.

Paperbag "gingerbread" men!

Do you make gingerbread houses or any other kind of Christmas houses or village? Share your tips and tricks in the comments!

 

 

10 Things for Christmas

So the Holiday season is well upon us, and this week I am digging into the new crafts and activities I want to do this year. Here are 10 of them.

1. Cookie Cutter Ornaments

2. Festive Center Pieces

3. Cinnamon Ornaments

4. White Clay ornaments

5. Olive Branch Wreath

6. Chocolate Gingerbread loaf

7. Wall tree from branches

8. Twine Stars

9. Stove Top Christmas Scent

10. Geometric paper ornaments

What's on your Christmas to-do list?

 

 

See more lists of 10 here.

Tuesday To-Do | All That Glitters Holiday Decor

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I found some wooden numbers on clearance a while back, and grabbed some up without a real idea of what I would use them for. I was vaguely thinking maybe some decor for Kieran's room, since he is very into counting. When unpacking after the move I caught sight of the 2 and the 5 together and had one of those aha moments: 25...December 25th aha!

This is a super simple project. The longest part is waiting for everything to dry. So that you can take pretty photos to post online.

1. Remove tags and hooks/string if necessary (or keep the strings if you want to hang these).

2. Paint numbers with gold craft paint

3. Before the paint dries, quickly sprinkle all over with gold glitter

Wait impatiently for the paint to dry.

As they say here "et voila!"

You can use wooden or paper mache numbers (or letters!) for this craft, and change up the colours of paint and glitter to match your holiday decor.

I'm not sure where this will go yet, I love them so much they might stay in my office!

OK, I'm Ready. Let's Do This! | Christmas 2012

With our move {almost} entirely behind us, I am now ready to jump completely into the mad rush that is my most favourite time of year! I honestly wasn't feeling it before last week. I saw people posting their Christmas trees and prjects weeks ago and all I could think was "Nah. Not ready yet".

But last week's jump into the Advent Calendars was the push I needed! I'm ready! Let's do this!

I pulled out papers for my December Daily last night (yes, just last night) and I have a plan for that in mind.

I put up a new Christmas themed banner - if you're in a reader click over to see!

I quickly made a planning notebook to keep track of everything - that's it on top the pile above.

I am going through my general Christmas Board on Pinterest and moving likely items to a new Christmas 2012 Board.

(Heads up - Pinterest is INSANE with Christmas stuff right now. You have been warned)

And somehow in all this I really want to keep things s.i.m.p.l.e this year. I'll be sharing a lot of all these plans right here, plus I am planning a special series for later in the month.

Are you ready to join me and do this?

Christmas Past Advent Calendar or Wall Decor | December Daily

 

 

 

 

 

 

Remember my online December Daily album from a year ago? Earlier this week as I was thinking about my approach for this year, I remembered that I still want to make those photos into an album. At the same time I was also deep in my Advent Calendar tutorial, and suddenly I had a fabulous idea! I can use last year's photos to do a quick decorative Advent Calendar! And so I did.

 

I love this so much I can squeal. And I am not really the squealing type. It came together really quickly, so if you're looking for a last minute idea, you could totally pull this off today. Here's how I did it.

I used the Windows Photo Printing Wizard to print my photos off in the 3 x 5 size (9x13 cm if you're in Europe like me). That gets you four photos to a page.

I cut 24 pieces of kraft cardstock measuring 4 x 5.5 inches - I used four sheets of 12x12 paper

Once the photos were stuck to the cardstock, I added some washi tape at the top

Then I punched out 24 circles from white cardstock and added the numbers 1-24 using stickers.

I then hung the cards from Baker's twine using mini clothespins.

Squuuuuuueeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaal! I just love it!

Now we can relive Christmas Past.

Here are some ways you can use this idea:

1. You can hang the cards daily to use as a countdown and talk with your family about what happened one year ago

2. You can write an activity on the back to do each day

3. You can do this with the photos you take this year! A hanging December Daily!

Have I mentioned that this makes me so happy?

Once Christmas is over I will bind the cards together in a book. All my journaling is in my online album, so I will print it out, stick it on the back of each card and add covers.

Now I just need to still work out what I am doing for December Daily 2012!

Quick Project: Paper Garland

I made this garland with the November Little Black Dress kit, (you can see the rest of my projects here) and it is Christmas themed, but you can make these easy garlands for any season or occassion!

 
1. Punch or die cut as many circles in different sizes as you can stand to

2. Use your sewing machine to stitch them together. You can either sew them together in groups of two or three or singly. Simply let the machine run between the circles and just feed them in under the pressure foot. You can also stitch in chipboard buttons or circles

3. Hand stitch on the real buttons at random intervals

4. Add the brads in at random interval also. Use a 1/8" punch to make a hole for the brads

5. Add the velvet flowers with a strong adhesive

You can also make this using only paper circles without the embellishments. just keep punching and stitching until your garland is as long as you need! Would be nice for a birthday party or maybe Valentine's Decor?

Brown Paper Packages......also Blue

Just popping on to share some more gift wrapping ideas.

The ones above were made using the December Little Black Dress kit, as well as pieces from my gift wrap kits that I posted previously.

Some more made with the Shabby Chic kit. These are actually under the tree right now.

Pom poms and candy canes! That's what I finally came up with for Kieran's gifts. He loves playing with strings, and he went crazy when I was making popm poms for a garland so I thought he would like them on his gift too.

The simple weaved yarn is on the gift for my brother-in-law, I thought that was fairly masculine.

Lucas helped out and made the littlw white doohicky. I think it looks like wrapped candy.

Now I just need to come up with something for two little girls. I should have bought some pink wrapping paper!