Tuesday Treasures

Good morning! I hope you all had a Merry Christmas. It's 1pm, so it might be a little odd to start with that greeting, but as I am in my pajamas with the snuffles-- it feels appropriate. I had made this lovely post about an hour ago- but the html got very confused and wouldn't let me publish, so I went through the entire coding with a fine tooth comb--- and as there were no visible problems--- here I am again. Hopefully this one will be up to snuff!

I decided to do a kiddie themed post, as all the little boys and girls recently opened their presents and stockings for Christmas. I had a lovely Christmas, full of good food and family and friends (including my boyfriend's gigantic, lovely family). I'll post some pictures soon! For now... here is this week's Tuesday Treasures! *crosses fingers*

Kewpie Doll:

I love how old fashioned these little guys look! I'd like to make her a little dress though, she looks cold!

Find it HERE:

Cuddly Monsters:

Once I actually learn to knit with multiple needles as well as to increase (diagrams don't work with my brain) I will buy this book! Certainly much better than your Grandma's knitting patterns--- so quirky and cute!

Find it HERE:

Elfish Hat:

I would actually wear this if it came in my size! So whimsical!

Find it HERE:

Pretty Bows:

There are so many choices of ribbon! How fun! I personally love the one with skulls (you can see all the choices on her Etsy page!)

Find them HERE:

Enjoy and Happy End of Holidays!

Tuesday Treasures

This is the last Tuesday before Christmas, so a toy themed post seemed appropriate. In the old days it was easier to imagine elves actually making toys. It's pretty hard to say that an elf made some battery powered gadget in a workshop at the north pole--- which is why wooden toys will always be popular. There is something pure about a wooden toy-- it's simplistic, beautiful, natural and nostalgic. Handmade wooden toys are even better... so this week here's some beautiful handmade toys on Etsy!

Alpha-blocks:

I love the different colour wood stains. So rich and pretty.

Find it HERE:

Baby's First Toys:

What a lovely gift!

Find it HERE:

Deer Little Toys:

I have a thing with deer (as you might have noticed...) They are so delicate and sweet. These ones would look so cute in a babies or a kid's room!

Find it HERE:

Farm Yard Fun:

Unpainted shapes--- what possibilities! You could paint these as a gift for a younger child, or send them blank for an older child to decorate!

Find it HERE:

Mr. Moose

Can't get more Canadian than this! Isn't he CUTE? If I have kids-- they are definitely having this moose teether.

Find it HERE:

Merry Christmas Everyone! Hope you have a lovely time with your friends and family!

Tiny Kitchen

Pretty cute, huh? 

Last week my mum had the idea to make a toy stove/kitchen for my little 'niece'. We're having a Christmas party and we thought it would be fun for her to have something to play with while she was over. We got a Uhaul box, a few supplies from the dollar store and around the house, and created this little kitchenette! Isn't it sweet?

List of supplies:

  • Uhaul Box
  • Metal dish (we used a dog dish)
  • Small paper plates
  • Furniture carpet protectors (for the knobs)
  • Wrapping paper
  • Duct tape
  • Tin foil
  • Paper towel roll
  • Screws/nuts
  • Paper for print outs (could use child's name)
  • Soap Dish
  • Scrubber
  • String (braided)
  • Fabric Scrap

How we did it:

We put the Uhaul box so the top was standing up (not folded down) so it was taller, then scored one of the edges and reenforced the back of the stove. We then cut a hole for the 'sink' by tracing the dish. We covered the box in retro light pink paper, then cut out aluminum foil to create the 'oven' door. We duct taped around the edges to add some strength and contrast.

I then made the tap from the paper roll from the wrapping paper. I cut it, bent it, then wrapped it in duct tape until it looked like a tap. We stapled the 'faucet', then covered the area in duct tape. We used an awl to make a hole in the side, and I braided twine to act as a tea-towel holder. We screwed the carpet protectors to the back of the stove--- making turn-able knobs. We cut down the black paper plates a little, and used carpet tape to stick them down. We printed out a clock and I created a logo for the stove and stuck it on with double sided scrapbook squares. We sewed a scrap of seafoam fabric to look like a dish towel, then stuck on a soap dish.

I'm unbelievably excited about how it turned out (much unlike the ill-fated Gingerbread houses). It was extremely easy to make and only took an afternoon. I'm excited for the Christmas Party now--- I hope she loves it! 

Hope you enjoyed this DIY!

Update: She loved it so much that I took it over to her house! It was a major hit!

Tuesday Treasures

So, I stumbled across the handmade upcycled ornaments on a post earlier this month. The Matryoshka ornament was so cute, I decided to theme this week on Matryoshka Dolls (Russian Nesting Dolls). Aren't they just sweet?

Dollies:

Find them HERE:

Coin Purse:

Find it HERE:

Stamps:

Find them HERE:

Lunch:

Find it HERE:

Have a great week!!

Ginger - Fail

I laugh now looking at the ambitiousness of my last post. I am not a baker. Food and I maintain a casual relationship-- I eat it, can sort of cook it, but the finesse of baking and decorating alludes me. Give me glue, paper, a pencil or yarn and I'll make something lovely--- as long as its not edible. I have decided that just because Martha Stewart's EXPERTS create gorgeous examples- does not mean that I am qualified to do it-- case in point: the gingerbread house(s).

It was doomed to fail:

  • There were no chocolate flavoured graham crackers in two grocery stores (supposed to look tudor-y)
  • The graham crackers she did use were not square. This helps with construction (ie- leaves huge gaping holes in the sides of the house.)
  • The caramel glue recipe didn't work. I had to boil sugar, then add water (DO NOT DO THIS--- IT EXPLODES!--- duh.)
  • Graham crackers are HORRIBLE to cut. They shatter easily and crumbs get everywhere.
  • Caramel glue is INTENSELY sticky- yet manages to not hold the house together well.

All in all, after smashing half the graham crackers, getting caramel EVERYWHERE, dropping whole graham crackers into the pot, burning myself, and making three ugly houses--- I ended up with one.(I quickly abandoned the multi-layered extravagant design). One imploded, the other exploded while I iced the sole survivor. The effort to make this house coloured its success-- but a day later (now the caramel is removed from my fingernails)-- it looks kinda homey and cute.

Messiest thing ever.

Frustration. (Note gaping hole in side of house)

Finished product--- all alone. I like it's shake roof and tudor-ish styling. It kind of looks like a Black Forest Cake. <3 So not attempting this again though. I'm definitely not opposed to the kit.

Thanks for reading!