For this Easter basket I bought a 99p packet of cleaning cloths, the pastel colours are perfect for this Easter project. In The 99p Shop I found a packet of 15 pearlized eggs, they open up, you can put sweets of your choice inside. Alternatively you could put chocolate or decorated eggs in the basket . For the basic basket I found this comprehensive tutorial on Maya Made Maya has made a beautiful basket, I have just tweaked it a bit for this project. For the body of the basket cut a piece 33cm x 20cm (13" x 8") sew up the sides. Try to be as accurate and even as possible with the next step, other wise you will have a wonky basket! Sew and cut off two corners, as shown in photograph below. Turn the body right side out, fold over the edge 3cm (1 1/2"). For the handle I cut two pieces, one was 30cm x 3cm (12" x 1 1/8") and one was slightly smaller 30cm x 2cm (12" x 3/4"). Sew the two pieces together. Attach the handles to the basket. The flowers are made like windmills with a button sewn in the centre. I filled the basket with straw before I put the eggs in but tissue paper, shredded or crumpled, would be good too

This is another idea for painting terracotta pots, Laine at Lanie J. and Co.  has cleverly painted the body of the terracotta pot with black paint. A greeting, in chalk, can be written on the pot, a perfect present for a favourite teacher, maybe.

This couldn't be easier, children can do it. Take a common or garden terracotta pot (I bought mine from Wilkinson's for 29p and 49p) The paint I used was household emulsion for the kitchen/bathroom (I bought tester pots from Wilkinson's). Apply the paint, by dabbing with a sponge, this doesn't leave brush marks. Let the paint dry. I chose to decorate my pots with spots, I applied white paint with the end of a piece of doweling to give me the polka dot effect. Children might want to paint a pot for grandma, let them do it in their own style, it adds to the charm! The plants I bought from the local market, 50p each. An inexpensive but thoughtful gift for a mum or a grandma.

I have just completed Thing-a-day, it's an online creative community that comes together for a month. In the 'not-much-going-on' month of February it stretches the creative muscle ready for the year ahead. On the final day one of the contributors, Hungry Panda, posted this Book Bag. I think it's an amusing idea, Annie has put a full and comprehensive tutorial on her website Hungry Panda,a great make for a bookish friend.

After doing previous projects using the Suffolk puff (yo-yo's), and being pleased with the effect they give, I wanted to try something else. I liked a brooch I saw on The Eternal Magpie it was another twist on the Suffolk puff. This is my version of the flower.

I used a fine cotton lawn fabric, from this I cut out six circles for the petals and one in a contrasting colour for the centre.

To make a petal fold a circle in half, sew a running stitch along the curved edge, pull thread up tightly to form a petal. Continue in this way until you have six petals on your thread. join the last petal to the first petal to form the flower.

For the centre of the flower make a traditional Suffolk puff, attach it to the petals with a slip stitch.

I saw this idea for a card on Frugal Family Fun Blog, Valerie has created a lovely tutorial, showing children making the cards. I just like the clever way she has not only utilised the concertina effect but also the curve of the cupcake case, to such good effect.

These flowers are so simple to make and look as fresh as spring!

Basic Flower 

I knitted a length of i-cord 25cm (10") long, you could make it from French knitting. From this I formed a five looped petal flower then attached a button for the centre, piece of cake!

Flower Hair Band

I knitted a length of i-cord, long enough to cover the hair band. When I had slipped the tube of i-cord over the hair band I attached the knitted flower to it. For alternative designs have a look at Free Pattern to Make a Knitted Hair Band or Fascinator 

The Forget-me-not Brooch

I knitted two stems from i-cord, one slightly longer than the other, then attached these to the back of the flowers. I knotted the stems and arranged the flowers. You could either attach the blooms directly to a garment or back the flowers with felt and sew on a pin. Have a go and make a bunch!

My theme this week has been flowers made from fabric, I think I'm looking forward to spring, wishing away these cold winter days.

These flowers are so easy to make but I think look spectacular. I bought organza made from polyester, silk organza won't work, from the local market, only £2 a metre. I chose a few plain colours but also found a couple that were multi coloured, these are particularly good for depth and colour variation when constructing a flower.

For the pattern I cut out three concentric circles, I just drew round drinking glasses and a lid.

It's the melting properties of the manmade fibre that turn the flat circle of organza into a bowl shape. Over the flame of a night light, very carefully (fire hazard alert!), holding the edge of the fabric circle, turn it slowly. This is trial and error, but you soon get the feel for how fast and how far, from the flame, you need to be, to achieve the shape you desire.

When you have made your required amount of 'petals' start to stack them together. The larger petals/leaves at the base of the flower can be slightly offset to mimic real petals. Sew them all together, through the centre. Decorate the centre of the flower with beads and sequins.