Fröbelsterne Made In Berlin

Last weekend I visited Kristin in Berlin. We spent Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning crafting Fröbelsterne. I actually don't know whether there's a real English translation for Fröbelstern. I couldn't find one so. Well, yes, we definitely had a great time and wanted to share some of the results with you!

I hope you guys had a great weekend as well!

Yours
Uta

Easy Fall-inspired Gift Wrap

I just quickly wanted to share with you some easy-peasy Fall-inspired gift wrap I came up with a couple of days ago. It consists of simple brown paper warp with a pressed leaf glued to it.

I hope you are enjoying your weekend so far!
Yesterday was quite a busy day for me. After lots of housework in the AM, I headed downtown for a 3,5h Pilates workshop around noon. I barely had time to shower and to change when back home around 5PM. Up next was a colleagues 50th birthday party. We all stayed late. Extremely tired I returned back home around 1:30 AM, flew through the bathroom and hopped into my bed as fast as I could. I'm still a bit tired so today's going to be a rather relaxed day.

Have a great Sunday, everyone!


Yours
Uta

Self-Made Pencil Case

This project is definitely pinterest - I just can't find the pin anymore ;)

Well, anyways. I made a pencil case!

I used cotton fabric from IKEA and a 20cm plastic zipper. Very easy to sew, even for someone like me who's not that experianced when it comes to sewing :)

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Yours

Uta

Halloween Decor: Mini Crochet Pumpkin

Hey All!

The last project is online! I know you already missed some crocheting in this Halloween crafting project series so here we go!
This one is quick and easy to hook. You can vary the size of your pumpkin very easily by choosing a different kind of yarn or by adjusting the hook size.

You need

• Orange yarn (e.g. Wollbutt Acrylic Yarn, 3mm hook recommended)
• Green yarn (e.g. Wollbutt Acrylic Yarn, 3mm hook recommended)
• Crochet hook (e.g. 3mm)
• Scissors
• Needles

Instructions

Basics: Begin every row with 1 CH and close every row with 1 ST. Z means you have to hook two SC into one stitch, A means, you  have to hook one SC into two stitches.

R1: 6 SC [6]
R2: 6x Z [12]
R3: 6x (Z, 1 SC) [18]
R4: Z, 3x SC, Z, 4x SC, Z, 3x SC, Z, 4x SC [22]
R5: Z, 4x SC, Z, 5x SC, Z, 4x SC, Z, 5x SC [26]
R6: 26x SC [26]
R7: 26x SC [26]
R8: 26x SC [26]
R9: 2x SC, A, 5x SC, A, 4x SC, A, 5x SC, A, 2x SC [22]
R10: 4x SC, A, 3x SC, A, 4x SC, A, 3x SC, A [18]
R11: 6x (A, 1 SC)  [12]
R12: 6x A [6]

You should start stuffing the little pumpkin around Row 10.
After you finished Row 12, cut the yarn leaving a thread of about minimum 30 cm. Now get a needle and close the pumpkin.

Where you just closed the pumpkin is the bottom. Use the same needle and stitch through the pumpkin right in the middle from the bottom to the top. Repeat 5 times and make sure to pull the thread real tight. Sew in the thread.

Afterwards, knot two strings of green yarn to the top of the pumpkin, braid them for about 1 cm, make a knot and cut the yarn.

Done!

Happy Hookin'!

Yours
Uta

Halloween Decor: Ouija Board

Hey Everyone!

Just a quick word on ouija boards before I begin with the actual crafting instructions...

Well, ouija boards do have a certain reputation. They are said to be dangerous for those using them. From my point of view - and this is really just my very own opinion - they fall into the same category as tarot cards and other tools used for divination. You need to handle them with care and a good portion of common sense is also recommended.

Alright, time to get crafty!

You need

• Cardboard in a color of your choice (maybe something dark like brown or black)
• An ouija board printable from the internet
• A stencil for the planchette (feel free to use mine)
• Siccors
• Glue
• Pencil
• Ruler

Step 1:
Print and cut out an ouija board picture and glue it on a piece of cardboard that is slightly bigger than the ouija board picture. I added about 1 cm on all sides for example.

Step 2:
Cut out a planchette and decorate it with some mystic symbols if you like.

planchette stencil

Et voilà:

Happy Craftin'!

Yours
Uta

Halloween Decor: Paper Chains

Chains are an essential part of every Halloween decoration. Here's a quick, easy and budget-friendly version made from toilet paper rolls!

You need:

• Toilet paper rolls
• Scissors and/or a cutter
• Cutting mat 
• Ruler
• Pencil
• Tape

Instructions:

Et Voilà, a paper chain:

If you want to add some color, feel free to paint it.


Happy craftin'!

Yours
Uta

Halloween Decor: Bottled Potions

Hey Fellow Witches!

Today we are brewing potions **insert evil witch laughter right here** !

You need:

• Glass bottles (this is the point were cleaning glass jars and glass bottles and keeping them for a little while instead of throwing them away comes in handy)
• Food coloring and/or ink in different colors
• Water
• Tags (there are thousands of free printables on the web)
• Small pieces of fabric
• Rustic looking yarn
• Glue

Step 1:
Make sure your glass bottles are clean and remove any remainig labels.

Step 2:
Mix a certain amount of water with a few drops of food coloring or ink of your choice and fill it into the bottle.

Step 3: 
Close the bottle. Put a small piece of fabric over the cap and secure with yarn.

Step 4:
Add a tag. You could glue it onto the bottle, attach it with some yarn, ....

Happy Craftin'!

Yours
Uta

Halloween Decor: Bunting

A bunting is a must, therefore we're crafting one today!

You need:

• Black cardboard
• Pencil
• Silver or goldden ball pen
• Punch pliers
• Scissors
• Yarn of your choice
• A bunting stencil (feel free to use mine)

Stencil for Bunting

Step 1:
Cut out a certain number of equally sized buntings from the black cardboard.
My bunting says "Happy Samhain", which requires 12 buntings, "Happy Halloween" on the other side requires 14. So whatever you like to write on your bunting, simply count the letters.

Step 2:
Punch two holes into each bunting - one in the upper left corner, one in the upper right corner.

Step 3:
Use the ball pens to draw big sized letters onto the buntings, one per bunting.

Step 4:
Use the yarn to join the buntings.

And that's it!

Happy craftin'!

Yours
Uta

Halloween Decor: Books

Hey All,

yesterday with made some Paper Lanterns, today we are turning ordinary books into magical ones!
Again, this project falls into the category quick & easy as well as low budget friendly.

You need:

• A book of your choice
• Paper (I recommend brown wrapping paper or something similar)
• Scissors
• Ruler
• Crayons, fountain pen or whatever painting/writing equipment you prefer

Step 1:
Measure the book you are going to use or even better its paper cover in case it has one (like mine, pretty handy), transfer to a sheet of paper and cut it out.

Step 2: 
Decorate the paper you just cut out. To do so I used a fountain pen with black ink and some crayons.

Step 3:
Wrap the paper around the book and you're done!

Happy Craftin'!

Yours
Uta

Halloween Decor: Paper Lanterns

Hey Crafting Pals,

October is here, Halloween is near! So over the next 7 days I'm going to post different Halloween crafting projects. Let's start with project #1 right away: Paper Lanterns!

You need:

• One sheet of orange paper per lantern
• A computer or something similar with a properly working internet connection and a printer connected to it
• A cutter and I also recommend a cutting board or mat
• Transparent tape
• Small LED lights

Step 1:
Turn on your computer/laptop/tablet/whatever, go online, search for nice Halloween stencils and print them on the top of your orange paper sheets (one per sheet)

Step 2:
Cut or rip the paper sheets in half

Step 3:
Cut out the different shapes

Step 4:
Now tape the paper sheets back together along the shorter sides

Now all you have to do is put a little light inside.
BUT: As a daughter of full-time firefighter I highly recommend NOT to use any sort of candle here! Paper is easily inflammable and this paper lantern construction is quite unstable. My tip therefore is to invest in LED lights. I used little LED lights from IKEA, SOLVINDEN they are called. I think three of those tiny lights are $5 in the US and about 3€ in Germany. Quite affordable and definitely a good investment.

Oh, and I almost forgot - TAAADAAAAAA:

Happy Craftin'!

Yours
Uta