Fabric Canvas

Do you remember the fabric canvas I blogged about a while back?

I recently made a bigger version of it, with a few twists.

I didn't have a canvas that was big enough for what I wanted, so I made one big canvas out of three small canvases. I stapled them together down the middles, and did a few on the fronts of the canvases to stop them from bowing out.

The staples I put in are down the centre.

Put some on the front of the canvases, too.

Then, I cut a piece of fabric bigger than the canvases. I added about two inches around the edges. It is best to iron your fabric first.

Then I started stapling the fabric down. Start at the middle and work your way out; pulling the fabric very tight to prevent wrinkles. Leave the corners until last.

This is how I finish off the corners. You may need to cut off some of the fabric to get it neat and tidy.

Then, admire your beautiful new artwork that took ten minutes, and was practically free because you already had everything needed to make it!

 

Check out the DIY Show Off Project Parade for more ideas!

Silk Grocery Bag Holder

Do you remember the grocery bag tutorial I did?

Recently, I made another bag holder to give to someone.

I did it the same way as the tutorial, but made it bigger, and with silk fabric.

If you've ever worked with silk, you probably just groaned and decided that I must just have immense determination and sewing skills!

Don't despair! There is a way to make working with silk a lot easier.

Line it!

To do that, I cut out the silk fabric, and then cut some cream cotton to exactly the same size. I then zig-zagged the two fabrics together, and followed the tutorial.

By zig-zagging cotton fabric to the silk, it helps the silk to go through your machine better and it won't fray as much. 

Go on, experiment with silk!

Easy Gingerbread Recipe!

Have you ever wanted to try a really simple gingerbread recipe?

Just make sure you do the right simple recipe... unlike the time when I... *ahem* was trying to impress my friends by baking for them and used the wrong recipe. My gingerbread mix shamefully ended in the bin, and I bought them some from the supermarket!

Pride goes before a fall, much?

Please say I'm not the only one!

:)

Anyway, here's the easy gingerbread recipe that does work!

12 oz plain flour

4 oz butter

2 teaspoons ground ginger

1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda

1 beaten egg

3 oz soft brown sugar

4 tablespoons golden syrup

Currants, chocolate, smarties etc. for decorating

1. Put the butter, sugar, and syrup into a saucepan and stir together on a low heat until melted.

2. Sieve the plain flour, ground ginger, and bicarbonate of soda into a mixing bowl.

3. Add the butter, sugar, and syrup mix, along with the beaten egg.

4. Mix together and knead into a ball.

5. Chill the dough in a plastic bag in the fridge for 30 minutes.

6. Roll out the dough to about 1/4 inch thickness.

7. Cut your gingerbread men out and put on a greased baking tray. Decorate them with currants, smarties, etc.

8. Bake for 10-15 minutes at 190º C (375ºF or gas mark 5) When you take them out of the oven, immediately put them onto a cooling rack.

9. Add icing when cooled if desired. 

10. Enjoy your gingerbread men!

Yum.

:)

Beachy Look Painted Jewellery Box

Have you ever seen paint effects like this and wondered how to do it?

You probably thought it required a lot of skill; I know I did!

However, it is surprisingly easy.

I met up with some of our home-schooling friends to do arts and crafts. One of the mums had bought these jewellery boxes from Yellow Moon for us to paint.

I choose to do a beach look for mine!

All I did was painted white acrylic on, and then straight away applied a light blue layer.  I had mixed a dark blue with more white to get the light blue I wanted. The colours mix and form the beachy look.

The most important thing is to keep the brush strokes the same way!

I applied the paint from side to side on the front and top, and up and down on the sides.

Follow whichever way the wood grain is going; this will give you the best results.

Then you can have a beautiful box to store jewellery, or buttons like me!

Have a great weekend!