DIY Christmas Advent Calendar

Do you remember those cardboard advent calendars with a silly picture of kids getting gifts from Santa, and each day you could open the little perforated cardboard door and get a waxy tasting piece of chocolate? I love those and miss them! This year I decided to make a grown up version of the Advent calendar out of many things I already had around the house. 'God Jul' (goo yule) means Merry Christmas in Norwegian.




I fill the bags with ornaments that we already had (special ones that mean something to us), and chocolates.

See the 'How to' after the jump. And here is a super cute round-up of Advent Calendars.

Bunting Bag

There's something really fun about Bunting, and it always conjures up thoughts of a party. I made a tote bag from Ikea's Fialena fabric and some leather, and cotton canvas I had. It's reversible and has a fun pocket with the bunting fabric on the inside. 

The fabric in the background is some Marimekko fabric that I purchased in Seattle and stretched onto a canvas frame (How-to to come soon). Hubby and I love to buy fabrics from different countries that we go to, mainly because they're beautiful and we can remember our trips AND because they're really easy to pack.

all photos by me, Sonja Barrett

DIY Chalkboard Art Canvas

We have a revolving art gallery in our house and like to move different pieces around to suit the mood. So this DIY Chalkboard Canvas fits right in. I use it in the guest room and write greetings to our guests, or I'll  draw seasonal flowers or write quotes that inspire me. And best of all this project is easy peasy!

All you need is:
Art canvas in any size (I bought mine for $7AUD at a local art store)
Spray Chalkboard Paint ($13AUD at local hardware store). Get the non-toxic kind
newspaper
painting mask
well ventilated area

How-to
Lay down newspaper in a well ventilated area and put your canvas on it. Put on your painting mask, even if the paint is non-toxic it's good to keep that stuff out of your lungs. Spray an even and thin coat of chalkboard paint on the canvas, no drips! Let it dry and apply another thin even coat of chalkboard paint. Let it dry and just for fun apply another thin even coat of chalkboard paint. Leave it overnight to set and dry and you're ready with your Chalkboard canvas. Have fun!

all photos by me, Sonja Barrett

Typography and the bargain bin

I hope you had a good weekend. Our's was busy, we had friends over for dinner on Friday and then we went over to some friends for dinner on Saturday. We looked at a couple houses that we are interested in buying and we ran a lot of errands. Hubby and I had a good time going to the farmers market and buying overpriced bananas and having a couple of good laughs in the car.

When I was in America in July this year I picked up these wooden stamps from Target in their bargain bin. They are so simple and pretty and they can be used for so many lovely projects.

Mini pom pom tutorial

You know I like a good DIY and when one of my friends posted this on Pinterest the other day I had to try it! I didn't have any bakers twine (shame, I know) so I used regular yarn, and it worked a treat!

Go on over to the original mini pom pom tutorial here, along with other fun stuff to do with baker's twine. I'm working on a pom-tastic project so I'll wait to show you pics. Watch this space.