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Make a Frame Tray

November 24, 2015 by Nanny Leave a Comment

Today I am going to show you another easy project using a photo frame – Make a frame tray!

When we had a disaster in our kitchen last year,which resulted in a ‘new’ kitchen, I felt I needed some colour accents in the white kitchen.

I had the tea cup herb garden

So I decided to take the red of the cup to make this tray!

What you need:

A photo frame – I used an A4 – choose a frame with a profile that suits your need. I chose this one because the high gloss finish fitted perfectly with the kitchen finish.

A roll of contact or some of your favourite fabric

Silastic sealer

What you do:

Remove the backing board from the frame and carefully remove the stand from the board.

2. Cover the board with the contact or if you use fabric, staple or glue it to the board. Replace it in the frame and secure.

3. Now I wanted to be able to clean the tray without worrying about water getting under the glass, so I asked PJ to seal it for me with Silastic Sealer. So you simply squirt it around the edge

4. Wipe it clean with a dry cloth

5. You could add handles if you wanted to – I chose not to.

6. Enjoy your new tray! This is mine in the kitchen.

There are so many lovely frames available today and you can often pick them up on sale so why not give it a try. You can make them whatever size you like and they can serve a purpose in any area such as on the dressing table or even in the bathroom and you can make them whatever colour/design you like to suit your decor. They make a great gift too!

Until next time

Nanny xx

Make a Hair Clip Holder

November 17, 2015 by Nanny 2 Comments

Today I thought I would take a look at a gift idea using a photo frame and show you how I make a Hair Clip Holder.

What you need:

A photo frame – I use a 11” x 8″
A piece of fabric of your choice about 13″ x 10″
A piece of wadding 11″ x 8″ (or the size of your frame) – I used a polyester one to give a puffy look.
Ribbon – I use 2 strips about 13″ long
Staple gun

Let’s Craft!

1. Undo the frame and remove the glass – discard safely.

2. Take the backing board and cover with the wadding.

3. Stretch the fabric over and staple to the back of the board.

4. Stretch the ribbons across and staple at the back.

5. Replace into frame and embellish as desired.

This can now sit on a dressing table or hang on the wall!

If you hang it, you can add some small cup hooks along the bottom to hang bracelets or headbands as well!

My grand daughters loved these (so did their Mums – no more searching!) I hope you like them too. Please share a comment or photo if you could – I love to hear from you!

Until next time
Nanny xx

Microwave Potato Bag

October 14, 2013 by Nanny 12 Comments

Remember the Microwave Bowl Holder that I made some time back? Well, the 100% cotton wadding I used was called ‘Warm Tater’ and on the paper wrap was a Free Pattern for a Potato Bag. I checked my Pins and sure enough, I had pinned a potato bag (so obviously thought it a great idea!!)

I purchased my ‘Warm Tater’ from our local Quilt Shop, Splash Into Craft, and of course I talked with the owner, Sue, about what I was doing with it, and together we checked the free pattern. When I went shopping on Sunday, Sue had a surprise for me – she had managed to find this fabric, especially for me!!

I was so excited I just had to get it done so I could share it with you!

What you need:

Firstly, you need to measure your microwave. The bag must be a full inch away from all the sides so that it can rotate freely. I will make mine 9″ square.

So, take your measurement, double it and add 2″ ( mine will be 9″x 2 + 2″ = 20″)

Cut a piece of ‘Warm Tater’ the same size.

Cut a cotton fabric for the lining, the same size

I am not following the sewing instructions given because it won’t give the finish I want.

Let’s sew!

1. Layer the lining fabric, right side up , main fabric , right side down, and then the ‘Warm Tater’.

2. Sew across the two narrow ends and turn to the right side.

3. Topstitch each of the seams 1/4″ from the edge and then another row 1/8″ away.

4. Quilt as desired – I just did straight lines.

5. Fold the strip lengthwise, right sides together to form your square (mine is 9″) – you will have some left over…

6. Lift the top away and fold the bottom piece inwards so that it too is 9″.

7. Lay the top piece back down and sew the seams starting and finishing with some reverse stitches to secure.

8. Finish and trim the seams and turn to the right side.

How cute is that!!

Here it is after being washed and dried – all ready to cook some potatoes for tea! Yum!

Thank you Sue and Splash into Craft – I love it!!

Now I happen to know, that if Sue has some requests, she will be happy to kit this up for you!!

Contact Sue and tell her: you want to make a Potato Bag; your microwave measurements; and tell her Nanny sent you!

Until next time

Nanny xx

Wotza Wednesday – Ribbon Storage

October 8, 2013 by Nanny 6 Comments

This week I have a question from Amy –

“Nanny what’s a good way to store my ribbons? I am so sick of them being jumbled in a mess!”

Well Amy, thank you for the question and I have to tell you, I have tried a number of things over the years from rolling them around strips of cardboard, rolling them around my fingers and putting a rubber band around them etc etc but when I took over the ‘dining’ room and converted it into my space, I wanted something simple, that stayed tidy and was easy to get at.

I guess the things you need to think about are:

How many ribbons are we talking about?

What space do you have?

How are they stored now?

What do you want of your storage? Decoration? Accessibility? Neatness? etc etc

I searched Pinterest for ideas:

Glass or plastic containers – they looked pretty but where would I put them and what if I want the bottom ribbon? Wouldn’t work for me…

Here

Hang them on a Pants Hanger – where would I hang the hanger? I don’t have a cupboard or a door. What if I wanted the middle one? Wouldn’t work for me ….

Here

Put them in a Basket – I had a basket but where would I put it? Wouldn’t work for me …

Here

Using house gutter – now that is interesting ….

Here

I had wall space ….. I had PJ and his skills …… he knew how to get to Bunnings…….

This is what we came up with:

I looked at a book stand my Dad had made me years ago

(Showing off my lovely diary created by the very talented Karen at Sugarbird Art)

and used the same principles – wooden ends and dowel.

PJ found these ends at Bunnings!!

I worked out where to put the dowel by sitting a ribbon reel on the board end and marking it! Too easy!!

We put a plain one in the centre for extra support and

you can see that I was too excited and didn’t let the paint dry thoroughly…. before I filled it up with my ribbons!!

I popped a hair elastic around the ribbons and I have never had it so good! (I didn’t even have to tidy them up to take these photos)

I am using my wall space, I can select which ever ribbon I like without worrying about any other, use it, slip the elastic back on and back into the rack! You can see on the left, that my rack will even hold small reels.

A perfect solution for me anyway! I hope this helps Amy and thank you for asking.

Don’t forget, if you have a ‘What’s a’ question for Nanny just email it to me at Nannynotes2u@gmail.com.

Until next time

Nanny xx

Sew Along – Make a Standard Pillowcase

October 6, 2013 by Nanny 6 Comments

Now that the Quilt Along for Charity has finished I decided to contact Pillowcases for Oncology Kids to ask how we could best help them. I was delighted to receive a reply from both Brittany and Neil (Brittany’s grandfather) and the response was a positive one for the suggestion of Christmas pillowcases. Brittany also suggested that they were in need of some that were suitable for teenage boys.

I’m sure we will be able to help out! I can’t make promises about how many we can make, but Neil told me about a lady who has supported them from the start. Just before I phoned Neil, this wonderful lady had dropped off 374 pillowcases!!!! Individually, the same lady has made a total of over 800 since Brittany started!!!!

So let’s see how many we can make over the next month – let me know when you finish one so we can add it to the overall tally – and happy sewing!!

What is Pillowcases for Oncology Kids?

“Set up by 17 year old Brittany, we create and donate pillowcases to oncology kids in

hospitals around Australia.

Brittany was 6 months old when she was diagnosed with a rare GERM CELL tumour; she had treatment for 3 years, and was given a 0.01% survival rate. She is now a gorgeous 17 year old who still has a long way to go, but has decided to help put a smile on someone else’s face by creating “PILLOWCASES FOR ONCOLOGY KIDS”.

She knows how hard it is, and that sometimes you have a long road to travel. She also hopes that one day no one will have to go through what she has to.

Brittany used to have a particular pillow/pillowcase that she took to hospital all the time she was receiving treatment, hers was navy blue with tiny red cherries on it.

What started out as a small pillowcase drive to collect/create handmade pillowcases

that she could donate to Oncology Kids in Hospital, (she was able to donate approx.

120 pillowcases to Westmead just after her 15th birthday in September 2011) has now escalated to something she wishes to continue 365 days a year and donate pillowcases not only to Westmead Childrens Hospital, where she received and continues to receive her treatment, but to hospitals all around Australia and overseas.

We have delivered over 10,000 pillowcases to date.”

What sort of fabric do I use?

The pillowcases are to be made from 100% cotton.

Neil explained that when the pillowcases need washing, the 100% cotton ones can be washed at the extremely high temperatures required. They also become lovely and soft with use.

Is there a ‘theme’ for the pillowcases?

Any pillowcases are gratefully received but:

We will be concentrating mainly on Christmas themed pillowcases – let’s help make sure that all the children receive a pillowcase this Xmas!! and

I would also like to gather some pillowcases for teenage boys. Speaking with Neil earlier today, he suggested “anything macabre – skulls, coffins, real Halloween sort of stuff – that seems to be what they are ‘in to’!!”

What if I can’t sew or don’t have the time to sew – how can I help?

You can still help by donating 1m of 100% cotton fabric (1m will make 1 pillowcase) and someone else will make it up for you. I have already had offers of both fabric and sewing so thank you!! If you would like to help, please message me at Nannycraft4u or email me at nannycraft4u@gmail.com

Where do we send the pillowcases?

Please forward your washed, ironed pillowcases to:

SE Qld: PO BOx 250

Maleny Qld 4552

NSW : 22 Lacebark Grove

Worrigee NSW

SA: Teresa Lane

27 Bywaters Ave,

Willaston SA 5118,

__________________________________________________

So Let’s Sew!

We will start with the Standard pillowcase!

Note the Boo Designs pattern makes a pillowcase a bit larger than the required size so I have put the measurements suggested by Pillowcases for Oncology Kids.

1. Cut out 2 rectangles – one 50cm x 75cm and the other 50 cm x 94cm. Now is your fabric directional? Does it have a picture or writing that only has a right way up? Mine does –

so put the larger piece (the back) face down on the table making sure that the writing or picture is the right way up.

Place the smaller piece (the front) on top, making sure the writing is still the right way up.

2. Fold over 1cm on this short side of each piece and press. I just pressed it with my fingers – it doesn’t have to be exact!!

3. Fold again and sew close to the edge.

4. Now turn the back piece over,right side up, keeping pictures up the right way, putting the hem to the left. Matching the raw ends, place the front on top, up the right way and face down so they are right side to right side.

5. You are now going to fold the back OVER the front until it reaches the hem on the front.

6. Now sew around the 3 raw sides, starting and ending with some back stitches.

7. Finish the seam with an overlocker/serger or a zigzag and trim.

I told you it was easy!! You have now made a beautiful pillowcase that will delight a child spending Xmas in hospital – thank you!!

Make sure you give it a good press and please take a photograph to share with us.

If you are only able to make one pillowcase, that is wonderful, and it will be just as gratefully received as any other but, if you are able to continue helping out, that would be wonderful too!

We will look at some different ‘styles’ as we go to help use up the off-cuts.

Until next time

Nanny xx

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