five chalkboard paint projects; with just one small can

It's no secret that I love chalkboard paint. 

I've used it for loads of projects, and my can has nearly run out. But when I got it out last week I realised that it really was a tiny can, like the smallest you can get. Yet it's lasted me a LOT of projects. Here's what I was able to do with just one can (click on the image to get the how to):



I've made two of these, and they make great teacher gifts too!



This one took two coats of paint, but I did it right at the beginning of the year, and it still looks as good as new. Plus we still use it as an extra kid table when we have people over for dinner.



This chalkboard frame is still a favourite with the kids.

This wood sucked up a LOT of paint, took more than two coats to get good coverage. (it was cheap wood!) Saw it a few weeks ago at my brother's house and it's holding up well. (they were using it as a game's score board)

I've done lots of these chalk lids for different gifts and supplies. 

That's a lot of chalkboard, and I still have some left. Enough for maybe a few coasters. And some labels...

Not bad for a tiny tin!

child designed plasters

These plasters are a great way to get your kids involved in some of the personalised gifts this year. 

Simple, but would make getting hurt way more fun! ;)

Start with some plain, boring plasters. Ignore the washi tape, I decided I liked this idea better!

Get your budding artist to draw some pictures on them. Izzy did flowers on most, but on the bigger ones she did pictures of her friend, who was the recipient, and her playing together. 

Then I greabbed one of my unused tuppaware tubs (one of a few the same size from Ikea which I don't use that often.) and put a square of vinyl and some letters.

She was thrilled to have her own craft project to do. 

If you like doodling too you could make some as stocking stuffers. This made a great extra gift for Izzy's friend's birthday. 

What would you draw?

fabric place mats

While making risotto the other night I whipped up these place mats.

They're easy enough that even if you've never sewn before you could do these.

Grab a place mat for size and measure around. 

Cut two rectangles half an inch bigger for each place mat.

Then sew right sides together, leaving a few inches gap to turn. Iron then top stitch close to the edge.

I'd been struggling to find ones I liked in my price range, and the off of fabric was a couple of pounds in Ikea. I've got some spare that I'm using for coasters too. 

They work really well for less posh meals too. Peanut butter sandwiches are more than welcome too. 

And if they get dirty? They just pop in the wash, mine have already been in a few times and are holding up great!

Would also make a great gift if you could part with yours :)


I’m sharing this at the Dare to DIY party hosted by Decor and the Dog, Maybe Matilda, Newly Woodwards, and Two Twenty One!

rosette hair slides tutorial

Rosette flowers aren't anything new in blog-ville, but while making some this morning with leftover tee scraps I found a quicker way of making and attaching the flowers,so I thought I'd share. 

Start with a couple of scraps of tee fabric, two slides and a hot glue gun. 

Tie a knot in one end. Trim the short end if you need to. 

Twist and wind the fabric around the knot, securing with a dab of hot glue ever so often.

Keep going until there's just a small amount left.

Slide on your hair grip.

Position it so that when the spare strip of fabric is folded over the back that the grip is central.

Secure with hot glue and trim the excess fabric.

And you're done. Then make a few.

Or even a lot more, if your kids just so happen to be at school, and you're procrastinating a long list of things you really should be doing.

I just slid mine onto a piece of card and stamped it up. Don't worry that the name's wrong, I was just trying something out!

I'm still undecided as to who to give these to, either as little extras for family, or for teachers. 

In fact, I may have enough for both...


I’m sharing this at the Dare to DIY party hosted by Decor and the Dog, Maybe Matilda, Newly Woodwards, and Two Twenty One!

dinosaur joggers

I'd been looking for ages for some comfy joggers for Ethan, the kind he could go to nursery in, and get as dirty as he wanted. But the proud mum in me also wanted them to look kind of cool too...

So I bought a two pack of cheap ones and made them cool. Plus they're now Ethan's favourite bottoms to wear!

First I drew around a dinosaur shape onto dark fabric with chalk. It's the inner part of the freezer paper stencil I used for this tee. I keep all my inner images  in a jar for such an occasion! 

Then I pinned it onto the joggers so it looked like the dino was climbing up his leg. 

And sewed around the outside on my machine. Just take your time and go back and go over if you're not sure if it's not caught on any areas.

My brother reckons they look like hollister joggers, but with dinosaurs, which obviously makes them cooler ;) In fact, my 27 year old brother has requested a pair for Christmas too! 

And one more gratuitous shot to show how much my boy loves the park.

Baby kitten toy

Just in case you missed the owl post on Johnny in a dress, here it is! 

Hey JIAD readers! I'm Rhiannon from My Handcrafted Home, and I am thrilled to be able to share a project on here while Natalie is spending precious time with baby Hollis. 

I actually have an auntie who is having a baby girl this month too! So I though a girly little toy would be the perfect thing to share, and at the same time get a gift made.

I made one of these taggie toys as my first ever sewing project after getting my machine a year and a half ago, so you CAN do this. Even if you don't have a machine this could easily be a hand sewn project. Seriously, the hardest part is probably cutting the squares straight! 

Start with six squares of fabric, (this is also an awesome scrap buster, as you can see!) you can make this for any gender too, I made a lion one for my son with yellows and greys and he loves it as much as my daughter loves her owl one.

Now think high school and set your squares out like a net you'd make for a dice in maths. (just me?) The middle plain one is the face or front.

Choose a plain fabric for the face and embroider on a simple animal face, I chose a cat for this one. Then decide which features to add with ribbon scraps. I chose whiskers and ears on my cat. Pin them facing inwards.

Don't worry about my ribbons here, I was going to do another owl, but changed my mind when it was nearly all done! But it does show how to pin them inwards. I actually chose three for each side of whiskers and two for ears onto the face square, but change it for whatever animal you want.

Then start sewing!

Sew into a box leaving a two inch gap at the back bottom square for turning. Don't worry if it looks messy now! You can see where the ribbons are facing inwards too here.

Turn, stuff and either whip stitch closed if you're good at that, or just use your machine like me. (left of the tail here) My whip stitch never ends up being very secure, so for a baby's toy machine stitch is safer.

Then admire your work. 

I do love these simple toys as they have a lot of longevity. My four year old daughter requested her own last Christmas and still loves it. 

Plus it's also a cute accessory to a kids room as they grow out of playing with it.

To make it an even better gift you could do a birth stats printable too!

And if you'd like a how to I wrote one just recently here!

Thanks Natalie for letting me share! If you're in the mood for more cute and easy projects stop by my blog, anytime!

Here's a few ideas you might like from there:

  

       Dinosaur messenger bag                   Book nook from scraps  

I'd love you to stop by and say hi! :)