Random crafts

Short update on the couple of quick crafts I've been doing here and there since the start of this year.

Noteboards I updated at the start of this year with newer photos, random scraps of things and quotes I ripped off magazines. Bought the cork boards at Daiso a couple of years ago, along with rolls of fabric tape to trim the frames of the boards. Glancing at photos of loved ones whenever I sit at the desk makes me happy and reminds me of how blessed I am to have these people in my life.

Pen designs that I also updated, out of boredom. They looked like this from a couple of years back. Ikea prints are love. Fancy pens make me happy too.

And this is a photo sent to me by my friend some time back, whose daughter I made the crochet beanie for. How adorable is she?? So glad it fits well (': Babies are such cute little angels, when they don't cry that is.

Inspiration

Not that I celebrate Easter, but these are such cool ideas to decorate eggs:

stamped eggs | napkin decoupage eggs | silk-dyed eggs

I remember back in primary school when we had to do an art and craft project using eggs. Mummy and I dressed up two eggs smartly in clothes made of felt and cardboard. Mr. Egg had a top hat and suit, and Mrs. Egg had a ladylike dress with a peter pan collar and buttons down the front. And they had marker-drawn faces. The teacher took them and displayed them in a glass case in school along with other creative eggs and I never got them back. 

And this is a whole list of things to do with washi tape. 

Source: hellosandwich

Washi tape a car. Wow. Now I know what to do with my future vintage car.

Valentine's Day

happy valentine's day! it's been quite a while. i've been crafting, just not blogging about it 'cause i've been so lazy. so i shall simply fast forward to what i've done for v'day this year~ 

So I haven't done anything for V'day since my girls' school days, when V'day was very much hyped. And I figured this year would be the last year when I'd have the leisure to make something for V'day, what with uni graduation and all. 

Simple handmade cards! With my favourite lace doilies that decorate anything so well. I used them previously for my 21st birthday party invitations. The heart-shaped ones were bought in the US by a dear friend who knows me very well (: So I made a card for the boyfriend and notecards for the girls.

And I baked a tray of brownie. I really wanted to try to make these brownies they are soo cute, but my supermarket failed me; it didn't sell black/white/red icing (whyy?!) (T__T) and it was too late to head to a baking shop to get icing, sigh. 

So in the end I had to resort to making cookie cutter (literally) brownie bites. I used this recipe, but took the advice from other bakers who commented and used butter instead of vegetable oil and cut sugar to 3/4 cup. It was pretty easy to make and it tastes yummy, so I foresee myself making more, just as a snack or something.

Small brownie packages for friends in school, wrapped in baking paper and tied with scraps of ribbon (:

Bake: cookies&cream cupcakes

So, for a heartfelt thank-you gift I decided to bake some cupcakes (o^-^o)

 

Dry ingredients mixed

All ingredients mixed

The first batch that came out burnt...I stupidly thought 350 degrees meant degrees celsius. Vaguely wondered why my (small) oven's limit was only 250 degree c, and proceeded to bake the cupcakes even longer, to make up for the lower temperature... (-_-") I think from that you can surmise just how infrequently I bake.

Second attempt, before they went into the oven

Cupcakes with frosting - the second batch came out fine, so I proceeded to frost them. This was when the icing tip was still working

After two batches the icing tip decided to rebel and I ended up with weird-looking icing (see cupcake on left)

In the end I gave up and just lathered on the icing and smoothed it over with the back of a spoon and planted oreos on top

The baking itself didn't take that long, but the washing up took foreverrr.

Still, it was fun. Provided some late-night stress relief from all the studying and assignment deadlines. I have a mind to make whoppers brownies next. And a whole long to-bake list that is constantly growing...

Recipe: bakerella

Crochet: beanie & beret #2

Another baby beanie I made for the same baby girl - this one's for 3-6 months

I love crochet flowers.

All these crochet hat patterns can be found online (links below). And I'm really envious of all these talented people who are not only good at crafting, they're also good at coming up with patterns and being so generous and big-hearted enough to share them for free. They sell them as well, but I'm a poor student, so I'm really grateful for these free craft ideas ( ; __ ; )

Another beret for another friend - this time cream-coloured, as requested by her

I always have a hard time choosing craft materials because I just feel like buying the entire store every time I step in. So the other day when I went on an impromptu trip to town to buy wool it took quite a while, 'cause I couldn't decide what colours I wanted.

Said pretty friend wearing the beret!

Patterns: baby beanie | beret