Saturday, December 31, 2011

Happy New Year and a fairytale collection

This is just a little post to thank you all of you for staying with me during this past year. You made me realize how much I love blogging, decorations, and most of all to create.
All of you made me smile and always had nice words, giving me strength to continue even during the "after work apathy" :-) where I was too tired to switch on the computer or sit down at my sewing machine.
One thing is sure, cultivating hobbies is the best thing anyone could do especially when your family is already fantastic. It's the best remedy for going insane with all the bad news we hear. And this blog is a place where I want to store all nice things just because I love being here.
A special thanks goes to my hubby too that has been so supportive as well as my son that he's been so patient.

Enough now with soppy thoughts asI've decided to start the New year with a bit of magic and fairytale in my creations. Here's a little preview:
Alice In Wonderland




And now that Christmas is over, I can show you my sister present that took me 5 hours to make...I might be slow with beads but it was really hard to make. I'll be so happy if someone that uses this techniques could give me some tips :-) as I think the result is fantastic!

Necklace for my sister

 HAPPY NEW YEAR!

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Friday, December 30, 2011

Finnish star tutorial

This is a great tutorial that can be done in paper as shown on Craft Ideas but I'd also give it a go with fabric and felt. (Yes, I'm still in love with fabric and buttons!)
Enjoy!
 1. Have your stick glue and paper clips ready...
Finnish Star 2
2. Place 3 strips of paper vertically on the table before you. Weave the first horizontal strip over the right strip, under the middle strip and over the left strip. Make sure this strip is in the exact center.
Also, leave about a 3 millimeter gap between the strips. It is important for the appearance that the strip distance is accurate.
Glue this strip in place.
Finnish Star 3
3. Now weave a strip under the first center strip, also leaving a 3 millmeter gap to the strip above it (the center horizonal one). This time, weave the strip under the right vertical strip, then over the middle vertical strip and then under the left vertical strip. Glue it in place.
Finnish Star 4
4. Now for the last strip... place it over the center strip and weave it just like you did the one in step 3. Glue the strip in place.
Let the glue dry a little before continuing.
Finnish Star 5
5. Turn the paper so that it looks like an “x” in front of you. Turn the top right (vertical) strip to the back so that the backside of it is facing you. At the same time, turn the top left (horizontal) strip also towards the vertical strip and glue its front side to the (visible) backside of the vertical strip. See the picture for guidance.
Finnish Star 6
6. You may want or need to use paper clips to hold the strips together while the glue is drying.
Turn the “x” clockwise so that the next two strips are on top and repeat using the same procedure as in step 5. Repeat two more times.
Finnish Star 7
7. Now your star should be looking like this.
Finnish Star 8
8. It is time for the backside. This particular star uses 2 different papers which helps in this tutorial to differentiate between the front side and the back side. You can of course use one color for your star.
Finnish Star 9
9. With the remaining 6 strips repeat steps 1-7 again. You will then have 2 halves that are ready to be put together.
Finnish Star 10
10. Place the 2 halves over each other with the rounded (curved) sides to the inside and each of the loops are positioned over a strip from the other half. Paper clip these in place for the moment to hold the star together.
Finnish Star 11
11. Adjust your paper strips if necessary so that the opposite curves are taut and a little buckling.

Finnish Star 12
12. Make sure that the point of the curve is also centered over the strip.
Finnish Star 13
13. One by one, glue the strips in place and hold together with paper clips.
Finnish Star 14
14. Once the glue is dry, you can remove the paper clips and cut away the excess strip pieces underneath the curved point. Use the curved point as a cutting guide.
Finnish Star 15
15. This is how the finished star looks.

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