Love Fridays....

Today I'm loving Friday because I finally received my tax assessment from the ATO and I have to pay them less than what I originally thought...yippee for that!

But now onto some crafty matters.

I've made some stencilled t-shirts for my little nephews for Christmas, but I also wanted to make some for my older nephews. My designs were just a little too naff for the older boys, but I spotted this book right here on Pip's Blog.


So I ordered it online and it arrived in the mailbox this week. I went to the Bonds outlet and picked up some $4 seconds t-shirts (just in case I completely ruined them)!


With my previous attempts at stencilling, I used acrylic paint mixed with fabric fixative.
This time I used fabric paint which was really quite a lot runnier and a bit more difficult to stencil with.

You can see where the paint bled underneath the stencil. I think I should try some spray adhesive on the stencil next time instead of just masking it down around the outside. I'm hoping that the spray adhesive will give a nice clean finish like the freezer paper stencils.

To give some extra definition, I've used a laundry marker (the one that comes with iron on clothes labels), to highlight some of the areas.

I hope the boys will like them!

I'm going to head over and check out Ed's blog for some more tips and tricks before the next attempt.

Frifty Friday

I decided to treat myself to a little op-shopping today. I was extremely restrained because I should actually be de-cluttering my life at the moment, not adding to it!

I found my all time favourite book....Womans Day Handicrafts (1973 version). I know I already have a copy of this, but if you don't already have a copy then keep your eyes peeled for a little bloggy giveaway coming very soon.

I also found another kiddies craft book and a toys to make book to add to the overgrown craft book collection.
I also found a lovely small yellow gingham tablecloth, a floral pillowcase, and a fantastic brown 70's tablecloth that still has the original label stuck to it.

I checked the letterbox when I returned home to find a lovely cheery letter in the letterbox from Jess at Button Beauty. It's just so nice to know that there are so many wonderful, caring people in the world. Thanks so much Jess for cheering up my day today, it means the world to me!

More knitting.....

Now that I'm on my way to knitting something other than scarves (after the two that I currently have on needles), I thought I'd invest in some reference books to add to my ever growing craft book nook.

Lo and behold, Sam from Whizz Me is having a craft book cull via her etsy shop so I was able to pick up these three lovely books. I haven't had a chance to sit down and read them just yet but I'm hoping to get to them this week some time.

I also want to buy the new Vickie Howell book that I saw over here on the Mixtape blog and over here on Stephs Shabby Chicken blog. I might just need a little afternoon shopping spree to the local bookshop!

More kiddies crafting

More babysitting today so here are a few more things that we have made this weekend with some of the ideas from the 101 Things to Make book that I found at the Op Shop for 50 cents.



I thought that these were lovely button bracelets but I was informed that they are actually knuckle dusters (inspired by Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles).

It's a bit hard to see in this photo, but these are cardboard headbands. The boys used the decorative hole punches to punch all around and then we made wool twisties to stick on as long pieces of hair. They looked really funny when they were wearing them...

We made some grey pom poms to turn into mice (just need to buy some googly eyes to stick on) and then I made these girly pom poms while the boys were making necklaces.

Once they finished their jewellery making today, they packed all the necklaces into an egg carton and went and knocked on some of the neighbours doors to try to sell their home made jewellery. Not one neighbour bought anything! Oh well, at least they demonstrated their entrepreneurial skills!

A Week of Pillowcases - Day 5

Sorry about the false advertising in the post title.
This was supposed to be day 5 of the week of pillowcases, but after visiting 2 op-shops today, I couldn't find even one pretty pillowcase.........

So instead, this is what I did find. Some wool......why?......I don't know......I can't knit......but it was very pretty wool and I'm going to learn how to knit at Brown Owls soon!

This lovely brown floral Jacqui E skirt in my size!

This embroidered skirt (not in my size) but with potential for an apron or a handbag or some cushion covers......An orange corduroy skirt (also not in my size) but perfect for another project. I love corduroy and this is a gorgeous colour!

A really cute embroidery book with some simple how to's and this sweet little kids craft book called '101 Things to Make'.

I'm going to keep this book for when my nephews come to visit for a bit of crafting fun.

.......and finally, here are the entries for my 100th post giveaway. They're in the sombrero, ready to draw when Mr CurlyPops gets home from work. Good luck to everyone who entered!

.....and last but not least, thanks so much to Kirsty for her lovely week of pillowcases and to Pip for hosting the week....I had lots of fun! I can't wait to make one of those peg aprons!

Craft Book Nook & More Wooden Stuff

This was the old bookcase that I bought off Ebay a few weeks ago. Mr CurlyPops finally finished it off for me today. He sanded and scraped off some of the old paint (I still wanted it to look old and worn), and then just sealed it with a couple of coats of clear varnish.

I love the old beading along the sides.....

Moving books in.......

A perfect fit......I spy some little owlets keeping watch over my book stash!

Mr CurlyPops also finished off a couple of old wooden boxes that I bought off Ebay a few months ago. I don't have the before shots for these ones but they were old, dirty, unsealed timber. I think they're usually called depression boxes as they used old bits and pieces to fashion into other items during the depression.

This one is now a CD storage box for the kitchen.....

....and this one is now storing all of my sewing items that are also currently residing in the kitchen (as there's no space left in my sewing room).

The hard rubbish collection is finally making it's way to our little street next week. My neighbour from a couple of doors down the street was throwing out this lovely old ladder. My mum rescued it and it's currently sitting in my front garden bed. We were thinking of splitting it in half and having half each. Any suggestions on what I can do with it?

Bought.....and Found

I bought this old bookcase on Ebay last week and it was delivered on Saturday. Mr CurlyPops is going to sand some of the white paint off it and then give it a coat of clear sealer.
It's going to live in a little nook in the family room and be the new home for all of my craft books.

These are the lovely old boxes that were put out for hard rubbish collection that I picked up from the naturestrip. I originally picked up 4 boxes, and while I was loading up the car, the house owner came out and said that she had some more in her shed that she hadn't put out yet.

Mr CurlyPops went back the next day and picked up another 2!

Once they're cleaned up and sealed, I think they'll make nice planter boxes.

A happy dance in my head....

I had to get out of the house today to get away from the stinky floor varnish for a while, so I decided that I would go op-shopping with the specific purpose of finding myself a brown shirt to use for my Brown Owls uniform.

I found 2 brown shirts, one long sleeve and one short sleeve. I think I'm going to use the short sleeve shirt for my uniform. I had a search through the craft sections and found some nice fabrics and some more craft books to add to the collection.

I also found some packets of elastic and a little bag full of ribbons and string.......

....but then I found the piece de resistance for todays litlle outing......

The Womans Day Book of Handicrafts from 1978! It was $1.50!



Pretty felt flowers attached to pencils....

How to make a shaggy rug.....

More cute little softies.....


I was doing a happy dance in my head at St Vinnies......I was very excited that I found this one.

Now I just have to finish my embroidery to attach to my shirt!

Womans Day Book of Handicrafts - 1973

It's a wet and windy day in Melbourne, so what a great day for some 70's handicrafts to keep you busy......

Here are some of my favourite projects from this book.

This gorgeous full length dress......

These fab retro cushions......

A pretty crochet dress......



Snuggle crochet blankie.......

70's special macrame.......

A collage of Woody Walnut the Owl.....

A felt covered book.......

This pretty pink felt waistcoat.......

Matching woolly jumpers for the entire family!.........

Matching shirts for the boys.........

Lots of cute softies.......



And last but not least, these cute charts are in the back of the book.