DIY | Sparkle Thots

Cranberry Rose

By Ruth On August 28, 2012 · Add Comment · In admin, children, DIY, diytutorials, food, get crafty, home, random, SG, sneaks, sparkle thots

Was surfing the net the other day and discovered gorgeous foods to bake. So armed with an incredulous sense of wanting to involve the kids, we got to work on making some Cranberry Rose cookies. It sounded like a good idea but I think I’d either stick to baking without the kids, baking easier items or just doing away with the roses.

We started with a full cup of roses which had to have their petals picked and sepals removed. The kids got in on the action and whilst the child labour sounds awesome, in theory it wasn’t. Because the kids couldn’t sit still. They eventually toppled the bowl of freshly plucked petals (irony seeing these are dried flowers) and we had quite the mess to clear up.

Ultimately, we got them done. They were yummy but they sure didn’t last very long! Pretty awesome stuff.

** Yes, I’m on yet another ‘all things roses’ craze again. Never died. Just took a hiatus.

Decorating On A Budget

By Ruth On August 10, 2012 · Add Comment · In admin, crafts, design, DIY, diytutorials, get crafty, home, random, SG, sneaks, sparkle thots

Spent a lazy afternoon washifying more stuff… An easy to do DIY project that is simple and can be done by kids (if you so choose). If you are like me, you’d likely have these items on hand. A couple (or more) rolls of washi tape, empty packaging (mine’s of macarons and if you are like me, they don’t last long enough to stain the boxes!) and a blob of blutack.

A quick run-through if you can’t already tell…!

Easy peasy. Choose a firm enough box. If you’d like more structure and ‘coherence’, grab some blank canvas frames. Select your washi tapes (or use all!), and tape any way you’d like. And because washi tapes are so forgiving, you can simply lift and reposition if you aren’t completely satisfied.

For this, I just covered the box cover. I flipped the bottom around to be a nice contrast. Position however you like and blutack it on. Or on a hook. Whichever your preference. I might get down to washifying the rest of the boxes. We’d see!

** Paper flowers are from another DIY tutorial earlier this year.

Washi Cake Decor

By Ruth On August 5, 2012 · Add Comment · In admin, crafts, design, DIY, diytutorials, get crafty, random, SG, sneaks

If you have been a long time reader of the blog, you’d know that our love affair with all things washi began sometime in 2009. The infatuation with the masking tape has not died, but probably got crazier. If you have purchased anything from us (thank you very much!), you’d most likely have had your packages sealed with washi tapes.

We love how easy it is to dress up packages with the tape, and how forgiving it is. It usually lifts cleanly without leaving any mark, and allows you to reposition it without a hassle. A blessing as most sticky tapes are well, sticky. But, we have also gone beyond just packaging. It would be such sacrilege to pigeonhole the versatile tape for just one idea.

Our latest outing :- mini flags and bunting for cake decor. Easy peasy.

Washi flags :- toothpicks + assorted MT tapes + scissors ~ snip a length of washi, place toothpick in the middle, snip the ends to desired finish. Done.

Washi Bunting :- twine / string / thread + assorted MT tapes + satay sticks / skewers + scissors ~ repeat. eyeball the positioning to ensure somewhat equal spacing between the tabs. Ensure that there is enough string at the end to tie to the sticks. Tada.

Always helps to have a stockpile of washi in the craft box.