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How to Make an Easter Bunny Rabbit from a Facecloth (Washcloth)

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Bunny rabbit made from a facecloth/washcloth

You will need: Facecloth, rubber band, ribbon, small amount of white wool and black embroidery thread.

This is a bit like origami with a facecloth. First fold the facecloth in half diagonally.

Tightly roll the facecloth triangle up, start with the pointy corner so that you end up with the long fold at the end of the roll.

Fold the cloth in half.

Fold in half again, this will form the head and ears. Place a rubber band tightly around the cloth about 2/3 of the way down.

Adjust and play with the cloth until you are happy it looks like a rabbit's head.

You will notice the 'face' is split down the middle, keep it together when you sew on the features. Using the black embroidery thread make a simple 'X' to represent the nose and mouth, a bit like Miffy from the children's books, and two French knots for the eyes.

For the tail, using white wool, make a quick pom pom by wrapping wool around two fingers, slipping it off and tying it tightly in the middle, cut the loops to form a ball. You can use scissors to snip the pom pom to the size and shape you want, sew it onto the back of the rabbit.

Tie a ribbon around the rabbits neck.

The body of the rabbit has a depression in it just right to put a Cadbury's creme egg. Alternatively you could put it in a basket with bath stuff.

Another use, for this bunny, came from Meridith she said "Here, they are called,"Boo boo bunnies". It sounds like a silly name, but when kids get a bump and need ice on it moms/pre-school teachers/whoever, put ice where you would put a cream egg and then put the bunny on the 'boo boo'!" I think that sounds like a lovely idea.

 Fold the facecloth in half diagonally.
Tightly roll the facecloth triangle up, start with the pointy corner so that you end up with the long fold at the end of the roll.
Fold the cloth in half.
Fold in half again, this will form the head and ears. Place a rubber band tightly around the cloth about 2/3 of the way down.
Using the black embroidery thread make a simple 'X' to represent the nose and mouth, a bit like Miffy from the children's books.
French knots for the eyes.
Making a small pom pom for the tail
Making a small pom pom for the tail
Making a small pom pom for the tail
Making a small pom pom for the tail
Sewing on a small pom pom for the tail

How to make a Woven Heart Basket for an Easter Decoration (Using Felt Cleaning Cloths)

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Woven heart basket made from felt

For this Easter decoration I took the basic Scandinavian woven heart basket pattern and instead of using traditional red and white felt I used felt cleaning cloths, in pastel shades. I decorated the baskets with flowers, made from the same felt, and placed a piece of tissue inside to nestle small eggs in.

If you click on the 'felt-heart-template.pdf', at the bottom of the post 'How to Make a Traditional Scandinavian Woven Heart Basket Decoration' you can download the template for the hearts.

Woven heart baskets made from felt

How to Make a Felt Flower Brooch

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Flowers made from felt

These bright flowers couldn't be easier to make, just a little sewing involved.

Following my diagram make a pattern.

Cut out the felt.

The petals are formed by folding the main oblong of felt in half, making six cuts as indicated, giving you seven petals. Sew a running stitch along the bottom edge, pull thread to form a circle. Sew the two ends together, at the base.

From the circle of felt make the flower's centre. Sew a running stitch around the edge, put a little bit of stuffing in the middle, pull the thread tight to form a ball, flatten it slightly. You don't need to, but I embellished the centre of the flower with beads.

The leaves I made from two colours of green, one laid on top of the other, enhanced with a simple running stitch, using embroidery thread.

Sew or glue your three elements together.

Attach a brooch pin to the back.

Pattern for the flower
How to make the petals of the flower
How to make the centre of the flower
Stuffing the centre of the flower
Sewing beads on to the centre of the flower
Making the leaves
Pink flower with three leaves
Orange flower with two leaves

How to Make a Cake Stand for Cupcakes and More! (Ideal for a Wedding)

Glass cake stand

Here's how to create your own fantastic crystal cake stand. A one tier structure would be good to display a cake. Multi tiers would be perfect for a very individual cupcake stand for a wedding, christening or birthday. You could even use it for a floral arrangement or as a tiered fruit bowl!

To start with I gathered together a variety of glass plates and bowls, in all shapes and sizes. I also had a selection of candle sticks, to use as spacers, to divide the plates. The candle sticks can be turned upside down, it's all about having a play, to achieve the look you want. When you are happy with your arrangement glue* them together, make sure you get them centred, a wonky stand could drive you mad in time!

Car boots and charity shops are a good hunting ground for glass wear.

You could also try this idea with ceramics, use all white china or mix and match floral plates.

*Araldite clear Glue, a strong and durable, fast setting two part epoxy adhesive that dries crystal clear making it ideal for areas where an invisible bond is required. Doesn't yellow over time so is ideal for use on glassware.

*UV glass glue, this gives you an optically clear bond, it cures rapidly under direct sunlight. 

A selection of glass wear
Glass cake stand, using a small candle stick
Glass cake stand, using a tall candle stick
Glass cake stand

How to Upcycle a Cotton Doily

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Doilies waiting for a new life

In charity shops you can often see a pile of doilies languishing unappreciated in with the linens, it's a shame as obviously a lot of time and effort went into hand crocheting these cotton doillies. Pondering their plight I had the idea of up-cycleing them into jug/bowl covers, to keep flies off food and drink in summer. All you do to give them a new lease of life is attach, by sewing, glass beads* around the edge. 

*glass ones have more weight than plastic ones 

 

Upcycled doily jug cover
Upcycled doily jug covers