Delicious Children's Prints

I have made a decision that this year is the year that I am going to do all the things that I have been "meaning" to do for the past 4 years.  First on the list is re-painting the WHOLE house which I think will tick of most of the months, so actually all I am doing this year is painting.  (Not that I have a house SO huge that it will take me 365 days to paint, I just have three kids that will put a stop to painting more the 2 hours a week).

So two kids rooms down, both painted, one completed decoration, which to be fair was not a huge job.  One trip to Ikea, a couple of prints, picture frames, pot plant holders and a plant bought and that room was done.  Same for the babies room, painting done, just prints to put up and plants to buy.

Which leads me to my title - Delicious Children's Prints.  I have found the loveliest online store which I am destined to spend way to much money at.  Here are my first purchases....

Customized world map - you just supply your child's name, e.g. William's World

And this gorgeous little print on wood veneer.

If you are re-decorating your kids room be sure to check out Mini Mecca.

Jen

White and Natural.

Don't you hate it when you find something on Piniterest and the re-pinning button doesn't work and then you can't find it when you go back to re-pin it!

It just happened.

I found the loveliest white bottles with natural string wrapped around it which I will make.  I hope the five second glance I had at it it enough to go on!

In the meantime here are some gorgeous natural and white things.



Is there anything nicer then jumping under a white cover into clean white sheets.  With three kids a soft comfy bed with nobody else in it is my fantasy now.  10 years ago it was sure to have..... hmmm .... Johnny Depp in it.

I think watches are becoming a thing of the past but I still love this one.  So simple and chic.



Love this idea of a bark place mat.

Last but not least this is a nice Xmas idea...




If you had the time this would be quite easy.  Just take a foam cone and slowly glue the string around it.

If you find those bottles - email me.

Jen and Row
www.shimi.com.au

Chalkboard Paint

So the first thing that you will find out about me is that I hate waste.

We had lots of fun with the kids making the chalkboard necklaces, however then I was left with 3/4 of a can of chalkboard paint which I have a compulsive to use.

So I came up with a few ideas that you may want to try.

Chalkboard Jar for gifts.

Great for a Xmas Present  -  just spray paint an old clean jam jar (make sure you put masking tape around the screw top!)

Chalkboard T-Cups

I have had these t-cups for years.  I don't know why I have kept them, they are very vanilla and boring, however now I have found a use for them.

My kids are always fighting over cups (of all things!!) and wanting to be like mum and dad and drink their hot chocolates out of "real" cups, so we solved the problem.

Put masking tape around the top of the cup to create a nice clean line, and we don't want chalkboard paint around the top of the cup where we drink out of. 

Spray paint

Then add names with chalk when dry - or let the kids decorate them whenever the feel the need....

(by the way, don't put these in the dishwasher - I did, the result wasn't good).

Any other ideas?  We would love to hear them.

Jen and Row
www.shimi.com.au

Chalkboard Necklaces

Here they are.....

Now I made a kid-friendly option as I thought they would be a great idea for pressies.  My little girl loves to give presents to her friends at Xmas time and I always insist we go handmade, and this one was brilliant.  Cheap, quick and quirky.  I think I spent $6 all up, and we made 20 of these bad boys.

Ingredients:

A sheet of foam
String for the necklace
Blackboard spray paint
Hole punch

Trace your shapes (I used biscuit cutters) and then cut out.

Hole punch

Spray paint...

Thread onto your necklace string.

Done.

However if you don't want to go for the kid version....

http://www.henryhappened.com/diy-chalkboard-necklace-guest-gal-cat.html

Happy creating

Jen and Row

www.shimi.com.au

The Handmade Challange

Ok, so I was a bit over zealous.  Now I have gone through ALL of the tutorials I have realised some I won't make .... because, well I don't like them.   However most of the I will make, but as always with me, there will be a twist.  I hope your creations will have a twist to it as well because that is what art is all about.  Anyone can replicate, it is putting your own stamp on things that makes it your own that makes the difference.

So, send in your "Chalkboard Necklaces" so we can publish the!

In the meantime, I came across this little creative gem:

Modge Podge Popsicle Bracelets




From Craft Affection
Happy Shopping
Jen and Rowwww.shimi.com.au

Work Wear - The forgotten

I used to work in an office and whilst I wasn't too keen on my job I loved dressing "corporate" and looking good.  I can't compete with the "funky bunch" but I can wear  a suit well.  Many of my friends can walk into an op shop or a super expensive boutique and look amazing but I tend to look like someone wearing an old dress I bought from an op shop or someone who has spent way to much money on an outfit simply because of the brand name.

Actually I had a friend that used to work in a very funky shop in The Valley in Brisbane.  She would kindly tell me when the sales were on and I would venture in there.  I never bought much but it was an eye opener to see the other customers.  There was always a few women in there who obviously had lots of money and used to buy and through EVERYTHING on simply because of the brand.

Anyway... I miss the days when I used to dress up daily to go to work.  Now I work in shorts and t-shirts and whilst I am very comfortable and wouldn't change it for the world I wouldn't mind if I could dress up once and a while.

Here are a few very cute outfits.



Love a cardi




From Asos



Love wide leg pants



Orange is become my new fav colour

Girls got to have a great bag for work though :



Dandelion Duffle

Happy Shopping

Jen and Row
www.shimi.com.au

Who's In?

So I have lost my craft mojo.  It has been missing in action for about the last 10 months.  Time to get it back.

I came across this:



So I am setting myself a challenge.  To complete all 101 Simple Handmade Gifts within the next year.

Who's In???

Join me every few days in complete this tutorials.  They all look pretty simple, hence the title "101 Simple Handmade Gifts" and for those of you with kids who are already shaking in the boots with the thought of what to do on the Xmas holidays - here is your answer.

The first is  Chalkboard Necklaces.  Very cute and a great little present for my daughters school friends.






So if you are joining in lets get this baby done by the weekend (5th November) - email me your photos of the finished product (info@shimi.com.au) and we will display your works of art on Beautiful Creations.

Yah, how exciting.

Jen and Row
www.shimi.com.au