The 365 Day Challenge

My goal is to create something every day using something from my craft cupboard. I am a self-confessed fabric addict and just love to fossick through thrift shops and find treasures.

So here goes. Live, love, recycle and get crafting.



Saturday, March 31, 2012

Day 12 - A jar of buttons.

When you were little did you love going through an old jar of buttons? Since I've been trying to do my daily craft activity my 2 year old son Aidan has enjoyed playing with a big jar of reclaimed buttons, most of which were part of my Gram's craft cupboard. She passed away last year at the wonderful age of 90 so they have a lot of sentimental value too. One of the wonderful things about this is that my Gram used to sew for us all the time when I was little and I actually remember some of these buttons being on the outfits she made me. Discovering things like this is part of the beauty of my 365 day challenge.

My five year old daughter also enjoys looking at the buttons and spent the afternoon yesterday finding what she called the 'interesting ones'. This inspired today's project. It's a collaboration. It's a top with a bit of a lace collar and lots of buttons sewn on. It's all hand sewing so anyone can do it. The top we just got from Juliet's wardrobe.

Craft cupboard materials.


- assorted buttons
- lace doily/collar

The result is quite striking and makes a plain (and cheap - I think this top was about $3 at best and less) top look a lot more interesting.



Happy camper...

Friday, March 30, 2012

Day 11 - What to do with an old skirt and some fabric scraps?

Today's project is a zip up purse - made from an old skirt and some fabric scraps.

Craft cupboard materials


Old skirt
Fabric scraps
Embroidery thread
Zip
Buttons
Little Birds: 26 Handmade Projects to Sew, Stitch, Quilt & Love - book

Put them all together with a purse pattern I got from the  'Little Birds: 26 Handmade Projects to Sew, Stitch, Quilt & Love' craft book and you end up with a pretty cute zip up purse to use for bits and pieces. Good for carrying around a few craft items if you are going somewhere. It's about the size of a makeup bag. This book has absolutely gorgeous little projects by the way.





Yay! School holidays for 2 weeks now. Will probably be doing a few kids craft things over the next couple of weeks. Would love a little sleep in tomorrow. Here's hoping. Have a good weekend everyone.

Thursday, March 29, 2012

Day 10 - The year of the tiger?

Well it's the first game of the season for my footy team so it seemed just and right that today's craft cupboard accomplishment be tiger based. This was super easy as there were already a pair of half finished tiger pants in the cupboard. How cute are they when finished?

As ever, we are optimistic of a great season :) Here is Mr Cute wearing them. Go the tiges!!!!


Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Day 9 - Japanese twirling drum


Had a fantastic day today but now we are very tired from our road trip to see The Wiggles!

Inspired by the concert we went to this morning, Aidan and I decided to make something with a musical theme.
Flicking through the 'I can make music' book by Michael Purton, Aidan decided he wanted to make the Japanese twirling drum. The book was published in 1996 and we picked it up at Vinnies so I'm not sure if you can still get it but here's how to make it.

Craft cupboard materials


- round cheese box
- glue
- coloured paper
- string
- beads
- pencil
- tape

You just take the cheese box and put a hole in both halves to insert the pencil. Then you tape the two halves together and tape the pencil to ensure it stays in the holes. Next, you cut out 2 different coloured paper circles to glue to the sides. Underneath the paper you can glue the string to one side with a bit hanging on each side. Tie a couple of beads to each end of the string. Roll the pencil between your fingers. Sounds pretty good! You can listen to the video below.




Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Day 8 - Terry Toucan Dangly Thingy

Today a made something tiny. I am calling him Terry Toucan. He hangs from baby Dylan's chair and he can look at him and grab hold of him. I cut this cute bird from an old curtain (previously used to make about 3 pairs of little boys shorts). I then cut the same shape from a scrap of chenille to give a different texture to the back. Inside I put some stuffing but also some cellophane so it makes a bit of a scrunchy sound that babies love so much. It's bright for Dylan to look at and feels and sounds interesting too.

Craft Cupboard materials

- old curtain fabric
- chenille scrap
- velcro
- something scrunchy - I used cellophane




Monday, March 26, 2012

Day 7 - Super Aidan!

Well it's a week into my challenge and I already feel lots of change in my life. I have been feeling more creative on a daily basis and finding inspiration in lots of things around me. I have started jotting down lots of ideas for future projects. Also I have been finding myself smiling more often and feeling less stressed. That is probably the best aspect of the challenge. Lots of fun for me and the kids too.

Today's inspiration comes from a little boy in my house who has been running around for a couple of weeks now calling himself 'Super Aidan'.

For the superhero cape I decided to use a couple of different fabrics from my supplies for a contrast.

Craft Cupboard items


- 2 fabrics for the main cape
- Scrap of fabric for the 'A'
- Sew on velcro
- Adhesive to hold the applique in place before sewing it on

Aidan was pretty happy with the result.



Sunday, March 25, 2012

Day 6 - Ready, Set, Fire!!!

Today's challenge was one of the most fun things I have ever done with the kids. Everyone should try this if they don't mind a bit of mess. Pro Hart would have been proud.


Craft cupboard materials

- paint
- old bed sheet

I was flicking through a craft book yesterday when I came across an activity where you put water and paint with some detergent in a cup and blow bubbles and then you put paper over the top of the cup to make a bubble effect on the paper. Somehow this afternoon that idea morphed into one of my own. I got three water sprayers  (I think this would also be great with some small water pistols if they had a big enough opening to put some paint) and filled them with water, a squirt of dishwashing detergent and a couple of squirts of paint. Because the paint is watered down too, if you do happen to get it on your clothes it's easy to get out.

All I did was hang an old sheet on our side fence, one advantage of living in the bush, and then it was ready, aim, fire. The kids had so much fun spraying the sheet with paint. I think it was very therapeutic. And fun, fun, fun.



Saturday, March 24, 2012

Day 5 - 15 minute gift bag.

Day 5 starts off with an old pair of cord pants I used to wear at Uni. I loved them so much. I had already used half a leg to make something else a few years ago but kept the rest in my craft cupboard.

Juliet and I are going to a birthday party for a 6 year old girl today, so I decided to make a simple gift bag for her present.

Craft cupboard materials

- old cords
- ricrac trim

All I did here was cut the bottom of the jeans off, the sides were already sewn so I sewed the bottom up, tucked the top over to neaten it and sewed on some ricrac for handles. You don't need a sewing machine for this - you could just hand sew there is so little sewing required.

My five year old loves it and it's bright and happy.

Off to the party we go.



Friday, March 23, 2012

Day 4 - Alfalfa Sheep

Today's creative challenge is one I did with my 2 and a half year old Aidan. We decided to make alfalfa sprout sheep.

 

Craft cupboard materials

- Cotton balls
- Scraps of felt
- Googly eyes
and some alfalfa seeds from the pantry. 

Just arrange the cotton balls into a sheep shape, add the details, water and seeds. Easy and fun. Now we have to wait for the seeds to sprout - will post an update once they start growing.



Thursday, March 22, 2012

Day 3 - The happy picture bag.

My daughter Juliet drew this picture of me a couple of days ago standing among some love heart flowers. It made me so happy I wanted to make something out of it.

Craft cupboard materials:
*  An old doona (duvet to some) cover - the good thing about using these is that there is heaps of fabric. Even if you make a mistake you can start again. I might make some lounge pants with this too.
*  Printable fabric - love this stuff
*  The picture


I just scanned in her picture, printed it on the fabric and appliqued it onto the fabric. The bag is just a really simple shopping bag but I lined it with the back side of the doona fabric and put a little contract pocket on the inside.


Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Day 2 - Wonky Robot

Was feeling quite terrified and also exhilarated when I went to bed last night thinking about my 365 day challenge...Scared of running out of ideas and time but really excited about being creative and spontaneous. After completing my second challenge I feel energised.

This afternoon I decided to make this "Wonky Robot" top for my baby. He isn't perfect but I think he's cute and it was fun designing him and choosing materials.

Craft cupboard materials included scraps of fabric (including his head made from an old chenille blanket I picked up from hard garbage and have used to make about 6 pairs of kids pants), my gram's buttons and some stretchy tubing for his floppy arms and his neck.


And modelled here by the gorgeous man himself.

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

First reason not to die with a full craft cupboard - babies.


I needed to send some baby cards to my cousin who has recently has a baby girl, and my brother and siter inlaw who had a gorgeous little boy last week. This gave me my first reason not to die with a full craft cupboard. In my craft boxes I found cardboard, fabric scraps and a few other bits and peices to make 3 cards. I was able to make these sitting next to my two year old son while he did some scribbling.Thus begins my journey.