Seasonal Mobiles Tutorial

 
I don't have a little table to use at school to create seasonal displays, so I decided to make seasonal mobiles instead. These were lots of fun to make as I enjoy going through my stash of pom poms, flowers, ribbons feathers and beads. A little while ago I had had a go at making ribbon flowers and felt flowers, because I wanted to learn how to do them. But then I had ribbon and felt flowers floating around my craft room for months and I didn't know what to do with them or where to put them.  Well these mobiles solve all those problems!

 I used these bamboo embroidery hoops to create the mobiles, and wrapped ribbon around them.

 Chiffon ribbon. This ribbon is transparent, but when you overlap the ribbon and keep the wraps tight and secure, you don't notice it.

Begin by wrapping the ribbon around the hoop. Overlapping the ribbon as you wrap it keeps it secure.

I wrapped a little bit of thread around the ribbon when I had finished wrapping it, to secure it.

Begin wrapping leaves and flowers around it. I had some wire koru which I wrapped around the spring mobile.

These were fake flowers that I had pulled apart to create a variety of crafts and flower fairies, and I was left with fabric flowers with a hole in the middle. I solved this problem by running a piece of thread through the hole; threaded a bead that was larger than the size of the hole onto the thread;

and ran the thread back through the hole again, pulling the bead into the centre of the flower.

Continue adding flowers and embellishments. I used pinks, purples and yellows to create the themed spring mobile.

For the summer mobile, I wrapped a fake vine around the hoop once I had wrapped it in ribbon.

Add fake summer flowers and leaves to your mobile. 

For this autumn mobile, I began wrapping copper coloured ribbon around the hoop.

I used felt leaves, orange and red feathers, needle felted toadstools, and ribbon roses in gold and orange.

To hang the feathers, I wrapped the end of them in thread and tied it to the mobile.

I added an autumn coloured fairy to the centre of the mobile.

For this winter themed mobile, I threaded white pom poms onto white thread and hung them from the embroidery hoop.

I used other embellishments including beads; sparkly blue yarn; a pipecleaner snowflake dipped in PVA and sprinkled with glitter; a white felt decoration; white feathers; a polystyrene ball dipped in glitter.

Cradles and beds from toilet rolls

 I have been trying to think of how many ways I can use toilet rolls. So far I have made lanterns, dolls house furniture, a Christmas decoration, and a mobile. Today I have been playing around with toilet rolls and came up with these charming little beds and cradles for baby fairies (or any other little toys you may have).

 

 

The beds were made by cutting a toilet roll in half, and shaping the top of it as desired. Cut 1/2cm-1cm (approx) wide strips around the bottom, and fold inwards. This is because it is difficult to fold straight lines on a cylinder, so the strips need to be narrow enough to be able to fold easily in a cylinder shape.
Cut 2 circles of card slightly smaller than the toilet roll - glue one circle on the inside of the flaps, and glue one circle on the bottom of the toilet roll.  Press firmly into place until dry. I put something heavy inside it, to weigh it down while it dried.
Cover the bed with pretty paper. You may like to line the inside with felt, to make snug little bed.


The cradle was much easier and quicker to make than the beds. Simply cut a cradle shape out of the toilet roll, using its natural curve to shape it.
Cover it with pretty paper.
You might like to thread a ribbon through the top of it to hang it up.

Click on the link to see all my other craft posts

Toilet Roll Lanterns Tutorial

 

When it is dark and this lantern is lit up, it is difficult to recognise it in its former life as a toilet roll!

 

 Transform your toilet rolls into charming lanterns in a matter of minutes.

All you will need is a drawing pin or thumb tack, toilet rolls, and LED tealights.

Using the thumb tack to pierce holes over your toilet roll. You might like to do a particular pattern or design, or just random holes.

Put the LED light inside.

Turn the lights off.

If you want to make your lanterns look a little more special, you could cover the toilet rolls with pretty paper first. Let the glue dry thoroughly before poking holes in it.

Alternatively you could cover it in glitter.

I have been trying to think of ways to use toilet rolls, in an effort to be a little more sustainable and reduce wastage.  So far I have made dolls house furniture and cradles and beds.

Click on the link to see all my other craft posts

Sorting Trays

 Sometimes the budget just doesn't cover the things you would really like to have. I have been looking at kindergarten and nursery blogs and pages that use sorting trays - and they always look amazing! Sorting helps children to compare, classify and group objects, which is mathematics. They look for differences and similarities. Being able to verbally express their reasons why they are putting particular objects together is a communication skill. Children often come up with their own criteria for classifying objects, which in my experience are often more insightful than the ones we as adults may use. I have been dreaming about sorting trays in my classroom for a few years now, and still haven't got them... time to make my own! And actually, it wasn't too difficult to make them myself!

This sorting tray was actually a school set of crayons - the box had compartments for each colour. I simply pulled the compartments out, lined the sides and sections with scrapbooking paper, and put back into place.

This box was a gift box that had toiletries in it. It was a lovely sturdy box with a pretty pattern on the outside, and it seemed a shame to throw it away! To make the compartments, I used thick card. Begin by measuring the width and depth of the sections. Use a ruler and craft knife to cut the card.

Use masking tape to tape the cardboard sections into place. I then lined the inside of each section with scraps of leather and possum fur which a friend had given me.

I made this box from scratch, using thick card called 6008 - but mat board would do too. I measured the base of my box, and used those measurements to cut the sides of the box - adding on a few extra millimetres for the joins.  I then measured and cut the inside sections of the box - one long strip, and one short strip.

I secured the sides to the base of the box using masking tape - and lots of it! The inner sections were secured to the sides with masking tape as well.

I then covered the outside of the box with scrapbooking paper and PVA glue. Then I measured and cut scrapbooking paper to line the inner sections of the box.

I have always wanted a mirror tray, so I glued a little craft mirror in one section. I put washi tape around the edges of the mirror to avoid any sharp edges, and also used the washi tape to tidy up the inside top edges of the box.

Click on the link to see all my other craft posts
Clink on this link to see all my other teaching resources

Dolls House Furniture from Toilet Rolls

You will need:

Toilet rolls

PVA glue

Scissors

Black marker pen

This dolls-house furniture came about from trying to figure out what I could make with toilet rolls in an effort to be a little more sustainable. As with most creative ventures, it came from playing around with ideas. I began by flattening the toilet roll, using a bone folder, to create a rectangular prism. I then snipped one end, folded the ends in and glued into place, and then folded the top to make different sized furniture. 

 I used a black marker pen to draw on the details.

 To make the bookshelf, I flattened the toilet roll into a rectangular prism, then cut one face off. I folded the ends up and in, and glued in place. I bent and shaped the cut off rectangle to make shelves, and glued into place.

 

Begin by flattening the toilet roll. I used a bone folder (or paper folder) to press down hard and make a crease.  

Decide on the width of your furniture and make another crease using the bone folder/paper folder.

Your cardboard roll should now be a rectangular shape. 

 Make cuts at either end of the roll and fold the flaps inwards. The length of your cuts will depend on what you are making, and how big/small you want it.

 It should look similar to this.

Begin folding the flaps inwards, and glue in place (or you could use double sided tape if you wish - less messy and you don't have to hold it into place while it dries). I put a heavy object on top to hold it down while it dried.  

To make a dressing table, I used a scrap piece of glitter card that was the packaging for a bath toiletries gift set I received at Christmas. It's shape was perfect for the dresser.

To make a chair, cut a toilet roll in half.

 Cut flaps on one side only. 

Bend 3 of the flaps inwards to create the chair, leaving one flap up for the back of the chair.

If you wish, you could cover it with scrap fabrics. 

 Glue the flaps into place.

To make a 3 sided piece of furniture, such as a shower stall or a bookshelf, make 2 creases on your toilet roll to create a rectangular prism; then cut off one side. 

To make a bookshelf, cut flaps on both ends and fold inwards.

To make a shower stall, cut flaps on one end only, and fold inwards. Glue into place. 

You could add details such as a shower head using a marker pen.

To make a bookshelf, fold the cut-off flap forwards and backwards at desired lengths, to create shelves. Glue into place.

I am sure there is a lot more furniture that can be created from toilet rolls! I would love to see what you make too.

I have been trying to come up with ways to re-use toilet rolls in an effort to reduce wastage. So far I have made lanterns and beds and cradles.

Click on the link to see all my other craft posts.