Lee’s Paper Mache Recipe

Alright, folks, gather 'round! I’m finally spilling my secret paper maché recipe.

You will need:
- Shredded office paper (Or you can use cardboard, junk mail, egg cartons, they're all fair game!)
- Large container to hold shredded paper covered in water
- Stick blender
- Water
- Multi purpose compound
- Glue
- Reusable veggie bag / small holed mesh bag
- Large bowl (for mixing the recipe)
- Disposable gloves
- Zip lock bag

Step by Step:

1. Soak your shredded office paper overnight for that extra juiciness

2. Blend it into pulp using an electric blender

3. Pour the pulp into the mesh bag and squeeze out the excess H2O

4. Place pulp into large bowl and break apart into small popcorn sized pieces (Don’t let this pulp dry out before step 5)

5. Now for the messy part: mix 4 cups of pulp with 1 cup of glue and 1 cup of multi-purpose compound in a large bowl (don't forget those gloves!)

6. Let the creativity flow! Store leftovers in a zip lock bag for your next masterpiece.

   Remember, it's an art, not a science! If you're rockin' the cardboard, just throw in extra compound and glue. Get craftin' and hit me up for any crafting conundrums! Cheers, Lee

Below are just a few of my latest creations made using the above paper maché recipe

An ode to architectural details

Behold my newest paper mache collection! Inspired by my recent Melbourne escapade, where every corner boasted architectural marvels: from intricate front gates to ornate bridges and dazzling lead light windows.

Make your own - felt bunting

This has got to be our most fun DIY to date - bring the carnival inside by making your own felt bunting to jazz up the inside of your locker!

Follow our step-by-step instructions below to make this cute + colourful decoration - have fun picking colours to match your locker or go the full rainbow!

What you need

• Download the bunting template

• Felt

• Marker pens/felt tips

• Material scissors

• Ruler

• Pins

• Sewing machine

• Large eye needle needle

• Twine or thread 80cm

Step by Step

1. Print out your downloaded template on A4 paper + cut out all of the elements.

2.Trace around the template on the felt using a marker or felt tip pen in a similar colour to your chosen piece of felt. Tip - put the flat side of the template on the edge of the felt for a nice straight line.

3. Cut around the bunting shapes using your scissors.

4. Fold down the straight edge by 1cm and secure with a pin.

5. Sew the folded edge down as close as practical to the edge. Make sure you have enough of a 'loop' at the top to be able to thread your twine through at the end!(You can totally stitch it by hand if you don't have a sewing machine!)

6. After you have sewn up 7 bunting tabs, use your large eye needle to thread the string through the pocket at the top of your tabs.

7. Then thread the string though the little lip under the front of the shelf and tie together at the back. Tuck in the string so you can't see it + pop the shelf back in the locker. How cute does that look!!?

Creative Easter 🐰 food with our toys! Yes, you have read that correctly!

We love working with Make Me Iconic and below is the 18th shoot we have styled and shot for them.

To celebrate special occasions such as Easter, we always love thinking outside the box and creating fun new family traditions. These beautiful Easter cakes and hot cross bun creations are such a unique Easter surprise, or a fun holiday activity to prepare with your loved ones! Topped of course with some classic Make Me Iconic goodies from our online faves, you really can't go wrong this Easter!

Happy Decorating!

How easy is it to decorate a Easter cake using our wooden candy toys on top! All you need to do is raid the toy cupboard and find our iconic candy jar toy. Give the wooden pieces you want to use a quick wipe with soap & water (but make sure you don't completely emerge then in soapy water!). Just a quick wipe with a damp cloth that has been soaked in hot soapy water will do. You could add a little disinfection spray to the cloth because after all the wooden toys will sit on top of the cake. Decorate and arrange the pieces how you like. Remember to remove them before cutting and eating the cake. These wooden toy pieces are not for eating! Use edible flowers to decorate the side of the cake or any other edible sprinkles you might have in the cupboard.

Craft: Valentine's Day ❤️ sweet felt craft cookie →

With Valentine's Day just around the corner why not make something unique with the kids for that someone special. Below you find the the easy to make instructions.

Goodies you need:

- 1 x A4 felt in brown 

- 1 x A4 felt in red

- Sewing Needle

- White cotton thread 

- Scissors

- Make Me Iconic Love Heart Cookie template

- Dark coloured texter

Step 1 - Download and cut out paper template

Step 2 - Trace around the front and back of the cookie onto brown felt using a dark texter.

Step 3 - Then trace around the back of the template onto red felt.

Step 4 - Cut out the felt and place the cookies pieces together (brown, red and then brown)

Step 5 - Using a needle and thread, sew around the outer edge of the love heart cookie with blanket stitch. To finish, sew around the love heart using running stitch.

Make your own - magnetic frame

It's time to take your mustard locker to the next level with a magnetic frame you can make yourself!

Follow our instructions to turn your locker into an art gallery - hang all your favourite prints + photos with this super sweet DIY.

What you need

• Dressed all round timber, 30mm x 12mm x 2.4m - we purchased ours from Bunnings, like B&Q

• Saw

• Pencil

• Ruler

• Drill

• Hot glue gun

• 4 x Mighties Magnets (or any small but super strong magnets!) - we got ours from Officeworks

• Paint brush

• House paint in your favourite colour!

For full step by step instructions and images head to Mustard Made’s blog.
https://mustardmade.com/blogs/news/make-your-own-magnetic-frame

How cute is that! We love the minimalistic look of this frame + how it can be personalised to suit any locker.

WORKING WITH MAKE ME ICONIC - TEA TOWEL TUTORIAL →

Created by Lee - You Give Me Grace

Photos by Jo Kim Photography

WORKING WITH MUSTARD MADE - POM POM TUTORIAL

Create adorable pom pom magnets in literally a minute! This has to be the fastest way to add something special to your Mustard lockers.  You can use them to stick photos, reminders, shopping lists, weekly schedules, inspiring quotes... They'll turn your locker into a magnetic notice board in just one simple step.

Created by Lee - You Give Me Grace

Photos by Jo Kim Photography

WORKING WITH MAKE ME ICONIC - A VERY AUSSIE EASTER

MAKE YOUR NEXT GIFT EXTRA SWEET!

MORE WINTER PLAY TIPS: DIY NAPKIN CRAFT!

A couple of months ago Make Me Iconic put out a message asking for anyone crafty to apply for a collab.

Fast forward three weeks and I am super excited to not only tell you I got the job but below is the what I made to go alongside their wooden tea set to extend play time.

Gather these goodies! Sewing machine + thread (choose a fun colour), Iron, Ruler, Material scissors, Pencil, Material (in your favourite print)

A little bit of maths. Measure and mark out 2 napkins (14.5 x 19cm each) plus 2 placemats
(25 x 19cm)

Whip out the iron. Fold back one edge of the material by 1cm and iron flat.

Repeat again! Move clockwise around the material folding back each edge by 1cm and ironing flat as you go.

Sewing time. Sew the edges down

Easter Egg DIY: 100s & 1000s

Try these step-by-step directions for making these super cute 100s & 1000s easter eggs.

Thanks to You Give Me Grace for sharing her Easter DIY with us and Jo Kim Photography for imagery.

Please note these eggs are for decoration only!
This egg is not to be eaten as you have used glue to attach the sprinkles.

Things you will need:

• Hard boiled egg
• 100’s and 1000’s
• Craft glue
• 2 x Disposable plastic bowls
• Paint brush
• Disposable gloves
• Paper towel

Steps:

1. Put gloves on.
2. Place sprinkles into one of the bowls and glue into the other.
3. Use your paint brush to cover the egg in glue.
4. Roll the glue cover egg into the bowl filled with sprinkles.
5. Set aside to dry on the paper towel.
6. Your coverage will not be 100% so use the paint brush to dab glue on the few spots left and gently sprinkle the 100’s and 1000’s over it using your fingers.

View fullsize

View fullsize

Supplier credit:
Lark Store, Buddy & Bear, The Gathered Store, Crumb8, Essential Ingredient

From the post 'Easter Egg DIY: 100s & 1000s' originally posted on tinitrader.com.au

How to Make Marbled Easter Eggs

Try these step-by-step directions for making colourful marbled Easter eggs.

Thanks to You Give Me Grace for sharing her Easter DIY with us and Jo Kim Photography for imagery.

Things you will need:

• Newspaper (cover your table)
• Hard boiled egg
• Disposable plastic cup
• Water – enough to fill the cup almost to the top
• Nail polish
• Skewer or tooth pick
• Paper towel

Steps:

1. Fill cup up with water – leaving 1cm free from the top
2. Open nail polish and gently drop beads of nail polish on the surface of the water. I only used one colour but you can certainly use more.
3. Grab skewer and softly swirl the surface of the water so the nail polish makes a patterns.
4. Grab your hard boiled egg and gently submerse it half way into the water and then pull it straight out.
5. Place the egg on top of the paper towel for 5 mins to dry then repeat step 4 to cover the remaining half of the egg.

View fullsize

View fullsize

Supplier credit:
Buddy & Bear, Essential Ingredient

From the post 'How to Make Marbled Easter Eggs' originally posted on tinitrader.com.au