My daughters "dismembered" teddy bear

My daughter joined a lunch time art club with a difference. To take apart various soft toys and create something new, think Frankenstein! The kids loved it, especially the boys. There is even a waiting list for the next group. If you want to read more check this out http://http//www.stuff.co.nz/oddstuff/2888133/No-picnic-for-dismembered-teddy-bears

Don't you just love the lips! Its great as they're even teaching knitting at lunch time too. I'm hoping that they teach them to crochet, so my daughter can then teach me. Its great to see these crafts coming back!

On a side note, coming from the UK and living in New Zealand, whenever they say bear, it sounds like beer, why are they making beer at school?

Featured Etsy Shop - BeneathTheRowanTree

When i saw this name on the etsy forums i just had to have a look at the shop http://www.beneaththerowantree.etsy.com/ and found that the shop certainly lives up to the gorgeous name. You will find some truly gorgeous items, including needlefelted owls, hedgehogs, gnomes, beavers, bears, cupcakes..... Gorgeous silk streamers in a variety of beautiful colours plus more. I recommend you check this shop out. Here is a little taster of what is available

Free Tutorial - Mini Scrapbook

This scrapbook/card is made out of one piece of 12 x 12 paper (pref double sided). It can be used as a unique and fun card or as a mini scrapbook. I've used it as a card for my SIL's baby with lots of fun baby pictures and saying on the tags and decorated on the front. I also used it as a mini scrapbook for my grandmother, with photos and memories on the tags and decorated on the front and back. I can't take credit for the idea, i think it was on one of the shopping channels craft hour.

First fold the paper in half, then make into a concertina with 4 sections

Fold back the 2 end section and hold in place with a fun brad

For the 2 middle sections, with scissors or a square punch, cut out a small rectangle shape, leaving space at the sides. These 4 sections will become pockets for the tags

Open out the paper and put a thin line of glue or double sided tape (sorry, mine turned out messy!) down the side of each section leaving space for the tags to slide in. Carefull place both halves together

Make up 4 tags, punch a hole in the top and tie on a fun ribbon. You can then decorate as much or as little you like. You can decorate both sides of the tags and both sides of the mini scrapbook. Is less more? Nuh!

Felt Butterfly Cake

I've been sitting with my daughter all day as she's been sick in the night and through the day. As my son had his appendix out when he was 5, thats one of the things i worry about when anyone is vomitting and has bad stomach pain, we may be down to the doctors tomorrow. I decided to have a go at designing something i've been meaning to have a go at for a while, a felt butterfly cake. I remember making these with my mum when i was young, i think they're also called fairy cakes. My daughter loves to make them too, my son just loves to eat them!

Heres a picture of my creation, it hasn't turned out too bad, the felt paper casing was a bit of a challenge!

Swap-Bot Etsy Treasury

I've managed to snag another treasury and featured some items made by fellow swap-botters. There are some gorgeous items included. Here is the link if you want to check it out, http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=81354 i think the more clicks the more chance of being on the etsy front page? I'm sure i'll be making more as its really addictive! Mmmm i think i need to work a bit more on my cropping skills on paint. Its taken me a few days to find out how to get a picture of a treasury onto my blog!

The swap-botters featured are, Me (lisajhoney), Invisible, MissThundercat, Courtney, Rengawk, Momwithahook, Trinket, Freespirit66, Craftaddict02, ArtsyAthina, KatinaNavane and TangleCrafts

Pegs For Towels

My new bathroom is nearly finished and i only want matching towels that go with the colour scheme to be used, the only problem is whose towel is whose??

So i made some funky pegs, (i need to make 2 more). Each member of the family has their own peg and when they've used a towel they pop the peg on. This will save on me having to wash the towels every day!

Cream and Raspberry Jam Doughnut

After a bit of experimenting i managed to come up with a cream and jam doughnut. I feel though that i need to do a bit more tweaking with the cream. The sugar sparkles don't look too bad.

This is one of my favourite doughnuts, although i have to have mine with real cream rather than mock cream. Its not one i have too often though!

My next tutorial will be for a mini scrapbook made out of one piece of 12 x 12 paper. The photos are on my memory stick, as we've got a new computer, but my daughter has it at school at the moment with her homework on being marked! Hopefully i'll get it back this week