handmade; homemade; crafts

Learning to Set the Table 19

 in craft / handmade; homemade; crafts / homemade; crafts / placemat / sewing / tablesetting placemat by

Manners, I like manners.  In fact I think that the boys can get away with most things, if they say please, thank you and have table manners. We are teaching the boys to help around the house, well they have been since they could walk really and lately they have been trying to set the table, but their constant “I cant remember which side the fork goes on mummy” has been driving me crackers, especially as I am in the kitchen preparing the dinner. So I put my thinking cap on and came up with these……. My first attempt at free form sewing.  I used some fabric I already had in more »

Creative update and Nightmares in Children 13

 in anti-monster spray / Birthday / birthday crown / handmade; homemade; crafts / monster / pen roll / pencil cases / sewing / tea cosy by

Well with the laptop still not being well, I have been busy in the craft room.  MaxiMad’s best friend is 5 tomorrow, so with money still being very tight, I have made some presents for him. Firstly I made a birthday Crown.  The inspiration for this was taken from Amanda Soules Creative Family.  I now have two for the boys cut out. I have also made him a pencil roll and popped some double ended pencils in it. Finally inspired by Beki over at The rambling of an everyday mother, I have made him a monster, I even went to Argos and bought the same tea towels, although mine looks very more »

A Home Made Christmas 13

 in christmas eleves / Christmas presents / Christmas traditions / crayon roll / handmade; homemade; crafts / Kirstie's Homemade Christmas / pear butter / pen roll / sewing / tea cup candles / thrifty Christmas by

Pennies have been tight this year at TheMadHouse, so we have put our heads together and made as much as we can. Rice and Lavender hot pad with removable cover   Felt pocket tissue cover   Home made tea cup candles   Basic wrapping with brown paper, wool, string and ribbon  – I am of the opinion that good packaging detracts from the homemade feel   I tied home made gingham and mother of pearl hearts to the wrapping. We  had printed postcards of some photo’s we had taken over the year at Moo. I made pouches to hold them The minimads decorated 90p shoppings bags from Hobbycraft   I made more »

Christmas Eve Elves 9

 in Christmas / christmas eleves / Christmas presents / Christmas traditions / Father Christmas / handmade; homemade; crafts by

We have a tradition here in the mad house which has evolved from when I was small.  I always got a new pair of pajamas on Christmas Eve to go to bed in. I dont know when I stopped thinking they were from the elves and know they were from my parents, but we have carried out this tradition throughout our grown up life too. We have also been keen to do this for the MiniMads and this year decided to expand it a little and leave a bag of goodies from the eveles on their door.  We have been lucky enough to receive a couple of DVD’s as gifts for more »

Reindeer Food, Hearts and Friends 14

 in advent / Christmas / Christmas Crafts / christmas decorations / Christmas presents / Christmas traditions / craft / Free Printables / handmade; homemade; crafts / homemade; crafts / reindeer food / sewing by

I am a lucky lady you know.  I have made some wonderful friends over the internet.  I am blessed to have them and wanted to say thank you for all their support during this year. So, we make reindeer food as part of our annual christmas traditions, therefore, I made a little extra and have packaged it off to them and their little ones as a gesture of my feelings for them. Reindeer food I haven’t re-invented the wheel here, we basically use oats and glitter or coloured sugar. It is dead easy to colour sugar, pop it in a plastic bag, add food colour and shake!!  We use this as more »

Being the Birthday Girl 12

 in Birthday / Christmas presents / handmade; homemade; crafts by

I have had a wonderful day with my family celebrating my 36th birthday   Homemade cards depicting me inside our home, fireworks and colourfulness. I received a lovely bear from Muttingsfromthemoor from MadDad Fantastic Cath Kidston Tea Towels A perfect tiny white tree (I have wanted a white tree since we were married) Wonderful bird decorations for it Afternoon tea at Bettys and yes that is minimad tucking in to mince pies (his favorites) MaxiMad enjoying mummys cup of tea Walking back to the car through the museum gardens How lucky am I to be able to visit my favorite place with my favorite people on my birthday.  I wasnt expecting more »

Back to Earth with a Bang.. this year can not get any worse 18

 in handmade; homemade; crafts / house / leak / tears / upset / water everywhere by

I need to vent, I am sat in tears at the laptop.  Since we moved in to our lovely new build house just over three years ago, we have had nothing but issues with the heating and hot water culminating in 4 weeks without either heating or hot water for more than 24 consecutive hours last November. Now we haven’t had the best year as most people are aware.  I went into hospital for surgery in February and due to massive complications developed a major infection and nearly died, so spent most of March, April and May in the hospital.  This meant that MadDad had to take unpaid leave to help more »

Kirtie’s HandMade Christmas – Rant Alert 18

 in Christmas / christmas cards / craft / handmade; homemade; crafts / Kirstie's Homemade Christmas / tea cup candles / thrifty Christmas by

Now I love Kirstie with the rest of the country, but I feel a little reality check is required here. I was really looking forward to this and have waited until viewing all three episodes before letting rip.  I was hopiong to be able to watch it and get useful, practical, inexpensive, handmade ideas for Chritmas and maybe that was were I was going wrong. Yes it was beautiful, the artisans were increadably talented, but cheap it wasn’t!!  Gold leafing a pear, what a precious waste of good fruit, in addition to a frivolous, not make that mad way to spend £38 on a book of 24 carrot gold.  Dear lord more »

TheMadHouse Advent Calendar 17

 in advent / advent calender / handmade; homemade; crafts / homemade; crafts / sewing by

I have been a busy bee over the last week.  I have been making an advent calender for us, one that meets our needs and that I hope will be used for many, many years to come. I have been inspired by one I saw on Living with Kids, but of course my version is homemade and as inexpensive as possible.  I used a fleece from Ikea, little peg clips from poundland and everything else we already had in the house. I stitched 24 mini stockings, put some ribbon trim abound the top.  I then cut out 24 green felt stars which I stamped with the dates. I punched a tag out of more »

Handpainted Mugs and other porcelain. 6

 in Christmas / crafts / handmade; homemade; crafts / Homemade gifts / thrifty Christmas by

Another Thrifty Christmas Post inspired by Violet posy and by the Cowgirl in Wellies. We made these for MaxiMads teachers in July to say thank you for looking after him at Preschool. They were really simple to make, I purchased some porcelain paint from Baker Ross ages ago and it last and lasts.  we did designs based on finger prints as it is much easier for children to do them. You paint the mug or what ever you want, we used egg cups, bread trays and cups, but also plan to do plates with hand-prints on for the grandparents and godparents. White crockery can bee picked up very inexpensively from all more »