DIY Pimp My Walnut Boat

A few weeks ago a friend handed me a container of walnut shells to make boats for Eleanor.  I do love me a walnut boat of the traditional variety, but this time I decided to up the ante a little.  I think The Borrowers would really like these boats, don't you?

I made a small fleet of boats, which these Paper Pocket Friends were quite pleased about.  The tiny bunting was a bit tricky to make, but I just used the wee tiny bunting I had printed a while back (you could just cut tiny squares of coloured paper), and dipped some thick wire coil in glue.  Like I said, it was tricky, but with much patience, I managed to make some teeny tiny boat flags.  It was totally worth the effort as far as I'm concerned, the boats with flags are def my favourites.

I imagine this would be a fun activity at a birthday party too.  For a nautical theme perhaps, or even a fairy theme (what fairy wouldn't want one of these boats?!).  The partygoers could race them once they finished decorating them, and then they would make cute take home favours.  Which practically makes these the moat ultimate party activity ever, now that I think about it.  Also, completely free (apart from basic supplies you probably already have in your craft cupboard).  You're welcome.

Other materials I used: glitter, lace tape, fabric, scrap book paper (both used to line the boats), kraft paper, twine, ribbon, and of course - paint.

Back tomorrow with more Blog Birthday goodness.  x

Guest Post: Allana of High Maintenance Hippy

Many of you already know Allana, but for those of you who don't, she is one of the sweetest friends I've made since I began this blog.  My list of wonderful bloggy friends has stretched and grown since then, but Allana has been here from the very humble beginnings.  I asked Allana to share a post with you that reflected some of the everyday adventures she shares with her young daughter whom she teaches from home.  I love the way Allana weaves magic around the 'everyday', and I'm so stoked to have her sharing some parenting insights (and a gorgeous giveaway) here at GA.  Once you've finished reading here, do go and visit her at High Maintenance Hippy, for some home and lifestyle inspiration!

Enjoy!

The sound of music... 

When I was growing up my Nan always had an Organ set up to play on as she played herself. It was never treated as though it was off limits and there were no strict "rules" it was just there and I was able to use it whenever I visited. At some stage Nan added stickers with the notes in different colours and wrote songs out in the co-ordinated colours for me to follow. I don't remember a time when I couldn't read music so I guess that came next in early primary school. We participated in music at my Primary School and I chose to undertake formal Organ lessons also (yeah I know... I was cool!) In High School I played Flute in the Junior then Senior Concert Bands then did basically nothing until now that The Munchkin is around to share my knowledge with. It has been like riding a bike and everything is coming flooding back.

Rather than showing off about my (basic) musical abilities,  what I am getting at is that by being surrounded by the means to play music, and by being given the opportunity to play music it just became part of my understanding of life. As we offer our children the opportunity to read, run and play the gift of music appreciation can walk hand in hand also.

There are so many musical instruments available to children in all shapes and forms.  The instruments do not have to be expensive. We have probably all made shakers with rice/beans in plastic drink bottles for our children and most children would have made "music" with pots and pans with wooden spoons at some point of their childhood! We have dreams of gorgeous tribal drums and bamboo xlyophones but none of that is really necessary to get rhythm and melody happening at home. 

I must admit that growing up I always wished I knew how to play something cool like a guitar. I mean who whips out a flute at your average high school party? Now though I am happy that I even HAD a musical beginning. One day The Munchkin may choose to pursue an instrument of her choice and we will provide the tools to help her but for now it's just something fun we do during our days that makes us happy, and isn't that what childhood is about after all? 

As a little thankyou for having me over to share at Stella's inspiring corner of blog land (isn't she one amazing lady!) while she is away enjoying the sunshine at Hervey Bay, I have a little giveaway for you! My talented friend Sandra of Grace of Autumn has offering a Little Grace "Inside out and back to front" dress to one reader. 

Thanks so much for having me,

Allana xxx

If you would like to enter Allana's giveaway, just leave a comment telling us what (if anything) music means to you and we will pick a winner.  For extra entries, follow Allana's gorgeous blog (you probably do anyway), and become a fan of the Grace of Autumn facebook page.  The winner will be drawn at the end of August.  x

Things We Might Be Doing Right Now

I know this might make you hate me, unless you are somewhere sunny and warm and close to IKEA.  But anyway, this is the list of activities Zan and I compiled before we left.  I'm not saying we're going to manage all these things, but we will try...

1. IKEA!!!  Fo' sho'!  I'm ridic excited about this!  I even cleverly planned to do this at the start of our trip, so that we wouldn't have spent all our moolah yet.  Yeah, sneaky alright!  Particularly because I am not that excited about going to the reptile park again, and well, maybe we will have spent all our money on duvet covers and curtains anyway, so maybe we'll go look at a bunch of scary ole snakes next time?  Honey?

2. Whale watching.  Um.  OMG!!!!  This has got to be the most exciting thing ever!  I mean, I guess I have to face the reality that the whales might not be available to be gawked at, and we may have just squandered a bunch of money on a boring old boat trip without any whales to look at, but I am dreaming big.  Hello, gigantic friends of the deep!

3. Restauranting... That's what holidays are made for, innit?  I hate cooking, so I'm psyched.

4. Historical Maryborough.  I put this further down the list, because I figure that to some this is a little less exciting and exotic than some of the other things we'll be doing, but I'm really looking forward to exploring this town.  I like old stuff.  Like vintage things.  And wine.  And in this case, buildings.  Okay, now I get why that sounds boring.

5. Hanging out at the beach y'all.  I mean, that's what you do in Hervey Bay.  Why fight it?  I'm hoping there will be some actual sun to enjoy while we're there.

6. Avoiding creatures of all varieties.  I am freaked about some of the critters that live around Queensland.  I just don't know why there have to be so many scary things there?  I'm all like, "Zan, why on earth do you want to go to the reptile park, when there are plenty of ridiculously scary and dangerous snakes living on your mum's property?!!!"  Which is why I seriously considered taking my gumboots with me (although, that's just asking for a scary and dangerous spiders to move in, isn't it?!), and/or never leaving the confines of her house.  Except to go to the beach.  And I won't be dipping my toes into those shark/stonefish/box jellyfish/saltwater croc infested waters either.  And I mean it about the crocodiles.  Last time we were there they were all, "you can't go swimming folks, there's a saltwater crocodile on the loose," and I was all like, "as if I was going to go swimming here anyway you drongo."  Plus it's the middle of winter, so swimming's probably out, amiriiight?  Puhlease.  I'll go swimming when I'm safely back home, thanks.

7. Shopping!  Yaaaya!  This has not happened in a looooong time.  I. am. peaking.

8. Going to the reptile park.  Again.  But really maybe not, because we don't want to scare the children do we?

9. Probably-a-bunch-of-activities-planned-by-our-hosts-that-I-may-or-may-not-be-that-thrilled-about.  But as long as they involve eating yummy food that has not been prepared by me, I guess I'm good.

Me, in braver times (note that I would only gingerly touch the snake, rather than have that slithery speciman around my neck).  Zan, casual-like.  Btw, that baby croc totes tried to bite me, despite having a rubber-band round it's snout.  Even the trainers were all like, "Woah there!  Might just grab that croc back off you darl."  I was all like, "Seeeee Zan!"  

I'm sure there were more actual things on that list, but anyway, that's just an idea.  I would tell you what exciting things we packed for the trip, but it's probably a little early in the day to bore you to sleep.  If I haven't already.

Actually, while that list does make it sound like quite a glittery, sunshiney holiday - I have a bit of a complicated relationship with travel, so no doubt there will be some challenges thrown in there too.

Extra added bit:  We are halfway through our holiday now, and since writing this post, we have actually ticked pretty much everything off this list - including travel speed-bumps.  I'll pop back early next week with some snapshots x

Guest Post: Dee of Dee*Construction

It brings me so much pleasure to introduce this next blogger!  You all know and love her (and if you haven't come across her gorgeous blog yet, you may in fact be living under a rock), and this blogging superstar has been so amaze-pants as to share an ace project with us all (me included!  Can't wait to try this out, might even call it an 'on holiday' project and have a go while I'm away...).  Without further ado, Miss Dee*Construction! 

Hello Dark Horse friends and happy blogiversary Stella!

i (along with my little family) have been hanging out in Stella's neck of the woods for the last 2 months and a few weeks ago we were able to catch up at her local cafe. she's a real gem and i'm so honoured to be a guest poster on her fabulous blog today. my kids have been wearing the same few clothes on heavy rotation for the last 8 weeks and i have gone without my craft cupboard for the same amount of time.  so i wanted to show you a way to be creative and change up your clothes while holidaying or travelling without needing too many supplies. having said that, it is TOTALLY addictive to do at home too!

you will need:

how to:
1. draw your image onto your top with chalk or similar (i used a pencil)
2. begin painting with bleach - make sure your brush isn't too loaded with bleach, you really don't need much at all.
3. if parts are pale go back and touch up.
4. allow bleach to fade to desired colour (see 'tips' below) and rinse in cold water before washing and wearing. i liked the stag a little pink so rinsed it fairly quickly after painting.

see? easy, right? it really is limited only by your imagination.
and so, so totally addictive.

tips:
>use clothing that says "do not bleach" on the care label (rebellious, i know!)
>use 'fabric safe' bleach
>to stall bleaching process (ie, if you like the colour and don't want it to fade further), rinse well in cold water.
>using newspaper between layers seems to absorbs more bleach, and prevents the bleach bleeding.
>be aware that it is difficult to fill in block colour (bleach) evenly
>for further info on bleach painting, see here: http://abeautifulmess.typepad.

com/my_weblog/2012/03/bleach-painting-on-textiles-diy.html

Thanks so much for having me here Stella, hope you're having a wonderful break with your gorgeous family!
Dee xo

Thank you Dee!  For those few of you that haven't visited her blog, drop in here and say hi (though it's probably safe to say that she's one of your daily reads already, right?) x

My Creative Space: Child's Tee Restyle

I whipped up this little restyle a while back, loosely inspired by this cute tee that I've had my eye on for a long time now...  I love seeing my girl child in cute tees.  Like this one from Kristin.  I hope to add to this collection sometime soon, by shopping Croutons... x

Easy peasy capped sleeves and a simple applique.  Nothing in it.  Tomorrow I have a special guest blogger sharing another amaze-pants way to make a plain tee a lot cooler, so totally come back and check that out!

And how she's been wearing it while we're away:

Pop back later for my third sweet giveaway, and keep an eye out tomorrow for another guest post x

Art Envelopes

This is a project for everyday use, but I also think they are perfect for sending out invites.  Garden parties, Spring themes, Fairy parties, or just a little get together with friends.  I would never try to claim ownership of this idea, and really these are so simple to make that you hardly need a tutorial not that that seems to be stopping me.  I don't have anyone to link back to, and I wouldn't even know who originated this idea, but I suspect people have been making these for decades anyway.

You will need:

1. An old book, preferably one that is already damaged.  2. An envelope to use as a template.  3. Some clear, flat plastic packaging (I always save this type of packaging for projects like this.  I promise I won't start hoarding things in a scary way :-/).  4. Watercolour paints.  5. Scissors.  6. DECAdry letters - but if you don't have these, alphabet stamps or even just an inky pen will do.  7. Glue.

1. Open out your envelope to use as a template.  2. Find a page with a large illustration and size up your template against it, making sure that the best part of the illustration will end up on the front part of the envelope.

3. Trace around your envelope.  4. Ahem.  Cut it out.  Yeah I know, these instructions are v. obvious. 5. Pre-fold your new envelope and press down the edges with your finger nails to make sure they are crisp.  6. Open the envelope back out again, and then find a spot on the front of your envelope to cut out your window.  It doesn't matter where.  Just somewhere that looks good.

7. Paint around the edge of your window.  I did a scallop design because that seems to be my fall back at the moment, as you have quite possibly already noticed.  8. Use whatever lettering device you have to leave a little message for the recipient.

9.  Once the paint has dried, turn the envelope over and glue a pre-cut square of plastic sheeting onto it. 10.  Glue the tabs together.  Done!

Easy peasy.  

Tomorrow:  More makings, and a giveaway...

The Week (Two) That Was

Here's a wrap-up of week two of birthday month...  

DIY Rustic Bookends

My Creative Space - My Tips for staying creative

Birthday Month Giveaway The Second (don't forget to enter!)

Guest Post by Jenny of Mend and Make New!

A Go-to Recipe

Eleanor's Reading Nook: A Plan

Portrait Update

Slylin' Girl

Guest Post by the amaze-pants Rosa-May

Flavour of the Week: Cakes and Costumes

See you all tomorrow for round 3 x