Created By A Smile: 2012

Thursday 9 February 2012

Something to smirk about

For Christmas the girls in the family over here gave me a book on making softies. So finding myself with time on my hands, I got down to some toy crafting again. I must admit that having a pattern to follow makes it so much easier and quicker than creating one by trial and error yourself.

Today I finished making a "Smirky". I used the fabric I had on hand, and it kind of stretched a bit funny so it looks a little different to the picture, but I still feel I have something to smirk about.
He is the first "baby safe" toy I've made that doesn't have buttons or goggly eyes and I think he is pretty cute.

If you like him, you will find his pattern by Sandra Monet (and many more patterns by other great crafty people) in this book:

Happy crafting!

Tuesday 31 January 2012

The BIG nappy bag

At last it is finished (well, it was finished last week...but now I've finally updated the blog)!

I have made my very own nappy bag. I didn't have a pattern, but rather browsed through pictures on the Internet and made my concoction.

It even has a plastic base (inside and out) for a quick wipe when needed and in case the bag has to be placed on a wet surface.

There are pockets inside and out and although it turned out to be pretty big, I'm sure I'll be able to fill it on our future outings...I'll just have to learn as I go to know what those fillings will need to be.

Any mom's out there feel free to leave your comments of advise on what essentials you need to take with on day trips?

Next up: to make a matching change mat

Monday 23 January 2012

Piglets and Chickens

It's the start of the Birthdays for 2012 and thus far they are off to a good start.

A friend just loves pigs, so for her it was a batch of little piggy vanilla cup cakes

I pipped the pink icing on. The snout and ears are made from marshmallows that have been cut in half. With the ears being pinched into a triangular shape. Silver balls for the eyes and using a tooth pick dipped in food colouring paste to get the two little nostrils.

Next up was my man's birthday (which is today actually).

If you have watched "Despicable Me", then you may be familiar with the finger puppet book called Three Little Kittens and the new one that Gru makes. If not, here are two video snippets to fill you in: Three Little Kittens and then Gru's Unicorn Book (not my videos, I just found them on U-Tube).

You can apparently buy the Three Little Kitens Book, but the reviews got me thinking about making my own version.

I modified the story line a bit...and made a story puppet book card. It has two little pink piggies and three little chickens.

Why, you ask? Well because they have a special meaning for us ;)

I just love the little chickens!

The puppets fingers were machine sewn along the edge and the bottoms were turned in and hand stitched. A pair of cotton gloves could be used I guess, just snip the required number of fingers off.

Then taking a rectangle of cardboard, I cut out two/ three circles using a medium sized cotton reel for the size (something a bit wider than the fattest finger). Then using a glue gun, glue the outer edges of the finger holes to the back of the circles. The piggies and chickens were made with little pompoms, bits of felt, a few beads and feathers and some goggley eyes. The beaks where diamond shaped felt bits, folded and stitched along the folded edge. The beads were also sewn onto the pompoms for the piggies nostrils. Everything else was glued in place.

The cardboard was then glued onto the book. Unlike the book in the movie, mine don't go through the pages, they just peer over the top.

**Please note these puppets would not be suitable for little kiddies due to the possible choking hazard of the little pieces**

Next up, I made some chocolate cupcakes (with a little twist...I put a chunk of chocolate and a dollop of caramel treat inside each one before baking)

There is an assortment of toppings: