Handprint family art!

My brother has delegated me the job of organising a birthday gift for my sister-in-law from their two children, a three year-old and a ten week old baby!!

I thought a family hand-print painting would be a lovely idea and would be a cute keep-sake!I searched the internet for inspiration and found some great ideas!...

http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-73557025/stock-photo-hand-prints-of-whole-family-also-available-as-vector.html

http://www.millybee.com/mummy-daddy-p-110.html

http://www.giftsthatgive.com/catalog/product/quickview/id/3982/

http://www.playpennies.com/hand-print-family-portrait-54045

This is probably my favourite though...

http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?start=85&um=1&hl=en&sa=N&biw=1024&bih=571&tbm=isch&tbnid=ypFaXF0wj71DQM:&imgrefurl=http://gifts.redenvelope.com/gifts/family-handprint-frame-30002402&imgurl=http://a1128.g.akamai.net/7/1128/497/0001/image.proflowers.com/is/image/ProvideCommerce/HD_11_GEN_FR313855_BF_W1_RC&w=304&h=400&ei=HR5IUI7YMfKb1AWkyYCQAg&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=110&sig=117127852902867119137&page=5&tbnh=120&tbnw=106&ndsp=21&ved=1t:429,r:9,s:85,i:34&tx=75&ty=87

Whilst I was looking, I also came across this fantastic blog dedicated to handprint art!

http://funhandprintart.blogspot.co.uk/

Sunday drive in the Yorkshire Dales

It was a lovely sun-shiney day on Sunday so after a lovely roast dinner in a local cafe, we headed for a drive in the Yorkshire Dales!

We passed through one of my favourite villages, the village of Langcliffe with it's pretty houses and lovely church! 

Driving up out of the village is one of my favourite views...

I made a cushion for you!

Thinking of Christmas already and with a three week holiday to South Africa before then, I thought it was time to start thinking about gifts I might want to make for people for Christmas!

I know some people appreciate handmade presents more than others and my Mum is one person who loves to receive something lovingly made by hand!

As I have now mastered the art of sewing in zips (http://imadeitforyou.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/i-made-cushion-for-you.html), I decided to make a cushion as a gift for my Mum for Christmas!

I bought a lovely green/turquoise fabric from a local fabric shop which I decided I wanted to base my cushion round.  After deciding to applique the word "Mum" onto the cushion in pink fabric, the dilemma was deciding whether to applique plain or patterned letters and bright or muted tones of pink!!

These were my options....

I think I actually preferred the brighter shade of pink with the white spots for the letters:

But I finally decided my Mum would probably prefer the more muted shades of pale pink which also matched the ribbon I had perfectly!!

And this was the finished result....

I just need to decide whether to finish it off by sewing on some buttons??...

I placed some on to see how they would look but I think I am going to wait until nearer the time to make a final decision...

Gift wrapping...I made some gift bows!

My niece has recently just turned three!! Happy Birthday to you!!!

As I have mentioned in earlier posts, her favourite colour is red!!!

So...I made sure I got some red and white spotty wrapping paper to wrap her pressies...the complete 'Little Miss' collection of books and an Early Learning Centre hairdressing carry case!

I also made some matching bows from ribbon which i made in to loops and secured with a button!!!

The presents looked complete presented in a Minnie Mouse gift bag!!!

There are lots of web-sites out there with inspiration for wrapping pressies, my favourites include...

http://olderandwisor.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Kraft%20Krush

http://www.marthastewart.com/856471/20-years-living-best-christmas-wrapping-and-packaging-ideas/@center/856383/20-years-christmas-martha-stewart-living#/185594

http://oursuburbanfarm.com/2011/12/christmas-craftiness.html

I made a cushion for you!!!

My three year old niece's favourite colour is red!!!!

As long as it is red she is happy!!!!

I have made her this cushion from red and white spotty fleece!

It's the first time I have managed to insert a zip without having to ask for help so I'm quite pleased!!...thanks to http://sewmamasew.com/blog2/2011/02/add-a-zipper-to-your-pillow/ who have a great zipper tutorial!

I had also just received the fabric I had ordered from Spoonflower (www.spoonflower.com) so I could make some 'handmade by labels'

I have added one to the back of the cushion...it's not quite straight but I really couldn't be bothered to re-do it!!!

I made an Owl for you!!!

My three year-old niece loved a softie owl in a shop a few weeks ago!...it was just a touch too expensive for an everyday treat though so I promised here I would try and make her one!!!

This is my version of it...

Made from bits of cheap fleece I bought in a local general store!

I find the colours a bit garish but they are similar to the one she loved so much in the shop!!!!

She did point out though that it only had two flowers on it and not three like the one in shop and suggested I take it back to remedy it!!!!