Easy peasy rug floor cushion....

DIY

 

Little Miss Moo spends a lot of the time on the floor, doing puzzles and playing in general....so I thought I'd make her a nice floor cushion to sit on....

Keeping it really simple, I decided to just sew 2 floor rugs together, and stuff it with an old and ragged duvet that was heading for the bin....repurpose and reuse where you can...right?

....In keeping with my new addiction to colour,  I chose these two rag rugs I found in "Tiger" for £4 each...

 

This is such an easy DIY....

...all you'll need is two floor rugs, something to stuff into it and some 1 ml string (it is best to use something strong when sewing together....I used curtain string) and a needle....

To make the sewing together easier , I used one of those needles with a bent tip (sorry about the lack of correct terminology, but I am not really a haberdashery kind of girl....) 

...and rather than trying to go through the fabrics, I threaded the needle through the hoops at the sides of the weave in the rugs..... 

 When I had sewed three of the sides together, I put my stuffing (read: my old duvet) in, before sewing it all up....

 

 I did want  to add some pom poms to the sides, but Little Miss Moo didn't like them, so....

 

Easy, colourful and practical ......Perfect for Little Miss Moo's chill-out time....

...and it adds another pop of colours to our front room....

...why don't you have a go at making one of these....It only took me 1 hour to sew together...(with constant interruption from an impatient Miss Moo), cost me less than £10 and is sooo useful:

Think not just a floor cushion...how about a doggy bed....or to slump on in the garden on a summers day!!

Thanks for looking...

...and have a great weekend!

xxx

June 

Bringing some colour into your life....

Fun for the kids.......

 

.....pretty for mum.

 

Having taken down all the birthday decorations for little Miss Moo's 4th birthday last week, I realised not only how bare it looked (doesn't it always after a holiday or  special occasion)....but also how little colour we have in our home....I am by no means a plane Jane, but let's put it like this: I like my clothes black, and my décor in shades of white....

My front room (yes, the one at the back of the house) is all white, with accents in blues....

...I like it, but something is missing....

...colour!!

 

.....and fun!!!

So whilst looking for some inspiration for my new Wednesday post concept (more on that in a minute), I came across the art of Papel picado......

Originally a Mexican folk art, it is beautiful and colourful....just the injection my front room needed...

So I have been very busy the last couple of days, doing some Papel Picado inspired projects....

I am also fascinated by the association between Papel picado and "the day of the dead"......I might have to revisit my newly found love of Papel Picado come October-time...

I have been making Papel picado coasters and banners to inject some fun and colours into our décor.......I've even upgraded a plain white cushion with a cute Papel picado print.....

Oh...and I just looooove the word:

p-a-p-e-l  p-I-c-a-d-o....

 

 

 

These are such easy DIY's.....and perfect projects to get your kids involved with over the summer holidays....maybe just leave all the scissor-work to the older ones...

 So this brings me nicely around to my promised announcement....

 

With the schools ending for summer holidays very soon, I have been a bit anxious about how to keep little miss Moo happy and entertained at home with me...as we are not planning on going anywhere and the unpredictable British weather is sure to let us down.....

 

 

....So I've gathered a pinterest board of Kids crafts and fun,

 and Every Wednesday over the Summer holidays I will post tutorials of my top picks of fun things do with your kids this summer from my pinterest board......I am planning on picking some projects that are just fun and crazy...and some that will produce not only pretty things to keep and cherish, but also some very proud kids....

But I need your help:

 

Over the next two weeks I would love it if you had a look at my

kids crafts and fun board at pinterest....

 

.....See if there is anything that YOU would love to do with your kids, let me know and I will try to do a post of your suggestions....

 

Lets try to make this a summer to remember for Little Miss Moo and your own little monsters....

 

 The first Wednesday KIDS CLUB will be posted on the 23rd of July , so we got 3 weeks people...
...get involved!!

I cant wait to hear from you!
 

 

 Thanks for popping by..

xxx

June

 

Ps! I will of course be back on Saturday with another DIY tutorial....I am keeping it colourful.........hint hint...

 

Papel Picado print cushion DIY

Using the papel picado cutting technique , a scanner/printer and some image maker you can easily transform a plain cushion case into something more vibrant and exotic....

This is my third project inspired by the Mexican folk art of paper cutting, and it really is so easy...

...I will show you how, but it might be worth having a look at the two other paper picado inspired posts I've done first, for some information on the process and history of papel picado....

papel picado coasters

papel picado banner

OK....So first we have to cut the papel picado motif....

I found this lovely love-bird template here at happythought.com....

For this bit you will also need:

Coloured tissue paper,

scissors

masking tape/paperclip

 Make a book by folding the tissuepaper in half inside the folded template...

...secure with a strip of masking tape or use a paperclip like I have...

 Cut out your pattern...

 

 Unfold to reveal your papel picado...

The next step is to scan the papel picado and print....

 Then use a pen in a shade darker than the colour of your papel picado, and draw around the outline of your print...

.....scan again, and print out two copies...

 

 This is what my image will look like when applied to the cushion...

I had a plain cushion cover that I wanted to jazz up, but you can of course very easily sew one...

...if you do, maybe best to do the printing on one of the sides before sewing together....

....because it will bleed through the fabric and can stain the back of the cushion, I placed a plastic placemat inside to prevent this....

So you got your papel picado prints ready, your cushion with something placed inside to prevent bleeding and now all you need to do is apply the image using image maker...

Apply a smooth and even thick layer of image maker to the face of your print...use a sponge for best result....

Then place the image face down in position on the pillow case...using your hands press down and  smooth away any air bubbles....

..repeat with the second papel picado print...

Then cover with paper towel and use a rolling pin to press the image into the fabric....

....roll over with an even pressure for about 1 minute....

Leave to dry for at least 4 hours.....

 

Using a scouring pad/sponge, wet the back of the paper print. and gently rub away the paper, using circular motions....

 

When you are satisfied the image is as clear as it is going to be, rinse away all the paper crumbs and hang to dry....

 ...and there you have it:

Your papel picado print cushion...

Thanks for looking...

I will be back before the end of the day with my big summer Wednesday post reveal...

xxx

June

Papel picado banner

 

These colourful papel picado banners are perfect for a party, or just adding a bit of Mexican sunshine to your home décor...

They are so easy to make...this would be a great project to do with the kids, providing they are confident using scissors...

This is my second post about my recent papel picado crush....read more about papel picado and see more ideas of how to use this Mexican folk art in your home décor here

DIY tutorial: Papel picado banner

You will need:

Crepe paper/ tissue paper

scissors

masking tape 1"

washi tape

template

It is best to use crepe paper for these banners as it is easier to handle than tissue paper.

You can freestyle the cutting of these, or make up your own templates, but I found these free to download templates here: 

 papel picado party banner template

Lets get started:

Make up little books of crepe paper folded in half inside your folded template...

5-6 sheets of crepe paper in each book is enough....too much makes it difficult to cut.

...secure with masking tape or paperclip as shown in the photo above... 

Cut out your template by folding your book along the patterns...

 When you have finished cutting out the holes and shape of the papel picado, simply unfold to reveal...

As the crepe paper will be a bit wrinkly after all that folding , I would advise that you press them in between the pages of a book over night.....

 

....before going on to the next step...

Stringing up your papel picado banner 

 

 All you will need for this is 1" masking tape....

place a strip of masking tape , glue side up, on the table....

....then carefully position your papel picado half way onto the tape...

....fold the masking tape over...

...repeat with all your pieces....

Then join them all together using small bits of masking tape...

If you want you can use some washi tape to cover the masking tape to make it a little prettier...

...and there you have it: beautiful paper cut out garland...

...Mexican style!

If you love Papel Picado as much as me, check out my papel picado coasters and Papel Picado cushion.papel picado cushion...

Have a colourful summer!!

xxx

June 

Papel picado coasters DIY

Papel picado:{perforated paper}

..... is the art of paper cutting...

...similar to Chinese papercutting but it is a traditional Mexican folk art which originates from San Salvador Huixcollotta....

...it is usually associated with the Mexican festival "the day of the dead", El Dia de los Muertos, which the Hispanic community celebrate on the 31st of October to commemorate their dead...

Traditionally Papel picado was made using a chisel and hammer to punch holes in tissue paper, but in the 1960's the art form spread to America , then Europe....and scissors became the tool mostly used...

It has since had many reincarnations all over the world...for example in Norway, where children use this technique to cut paper snowflakes to decorate windows with at Christmas....

When I came across these lovely coasters, decorated with papel picado at www.stylemepretty.com the other day, I knew I had to make some!! They are just perfect for adding a splash of colour to your home, but also this is a great project to do with the kids...(maybe not the youngest ones...they need to be confident using scissors)....

 It really is very easy...

....Here's what I did:

You will need:

Cheap plain square tiles

Coloured tissue paper/crepe paper

scissors

masking tape

Mod podge or decoupatch glue

paint brush

sandpaper

glossy clear Varnish

...and a template...

...you can of course freestyle this, or make up your own template, but I used the free coaster papel picado templates from stylemepretty.com...find a link on their website under step 1 of the coaster DIY(....and while you are there have a look at all the other pretty papel picado ideas they have.....)

 

Start by cutting tissue paper into squares to fit your tiles...

Fold your template and your tissue squares in half (right down the middle of the pattern of your template), to make a parcel....

Don't have too many bits of tissue in one parcel, as it makes for difficult cutting...I suggest 5-6 sheets at the time....

 

...secure with a bit of masking tape....

....now you are ready to start cutting....

Keep folding the parcel over to cut out the pattern along the folds...

 

When you have finished cutting out the holes....

....unfold to reveal your lovely papel picado.....

 

Tip: Keep the cut out template for future use as a stencil....

 

Now you are ready to make your coasters....

Give your tiles a light sanding down , before painting on an even layer of decoupatch glue (or similar)....

First I glued a single square of tissue in a variation of colours on to my tiles...

....this will add to the variations you can get....

After covering this first layer of tissue with another even layer of decoupatch glue, I carefully placed the papel picado on top......

....then, using the brush I first gently tapped the tissue down, making sure not to disturb the cut out pattern ....

 Then I painted another even layer of decoupatch glue on top....

Leave to dry for at least 4 hours, preferably over night...

....then add a layer of varnish on top...

I used decoupatch sealing glossy varnish, but you car also use a clear spray varnish

Leave to dry....

I recommend for at least 24 hours

....before using your fabulous new coaters...

 I simply love the papel picado effect....

....and it is sooo easy!!

These would make great presents!

And children will love the vibrant colours and the achievement of making something beautiful and useful....all by themselves...

Thanks for looking...

Let me know what you think by leaving a comment below!!

xxx

June