Pom Pom Fairy Acorns

If you come across some acorns like these in your trees, look closely, you may find a fairy nearby!

If not, you could also try to make your own because they are pretty cute.

Here is how;

Start off with a pom pom, we made our own pom poms which are really easy to make,

and look even better than the store bought ones.

You can buy pom pom makers, or cut one like I did here. You can even just use 2 fingers, and 

wrap the yarn around them.

1 .So, I like to start with one strand of yarn in the middle of the 2 sides, that can later be used to tie off the middle of the pom pom. I have just found this to be easier.

2. Lay the other piece on top of the yarn.

3. Start wrapping yarn around the middle. Just make sure that loose strand in the middle, stays loose.

 The more yarn, the bigger and denser the pom pom. 

4. When you are done wrapping it, turn it upside down and see if those ends are sticking out.

5. Just pull them together and get ready to tie a knot. You can't pull it as tight

as it needs to be at this point, but you can get all your yarn gathered.

6. Tie that knot.

7. Now turn it rightside up, and cut along the round edge, straight through the yarn.

8. Now the cardboard is loose, so just pull the pieces off. 

9. And now you can really pull the knot as tight as it needs to be. I make a double knot.

10. So grab those strings you just used to tie the knots, and shake the pom pom out. You should have an unruly, messy pom pom now.

11. Take your scissors, and clean it up to a more uniform ball. (or leave it messier if you like!) Just a little at a time, it can shrink to a tiny pom pom fast!

So, now that you have the pom poms, go get some acorn tops!

The tutorial pom pom, was make with a wool roving yarn. These pom poms above were

 made with cotton yarn. 2 very different looks.

1. Get your supplies. Pom poms, acorn tops, and glue.

2. So simple, using craft glue, fill the acorn top and then attach it to the pom pom.

3. If you want your acorn to hang, then just fold over your ribbon of choice, 

and slip it in between the pom pom and acorn top, when you glue it.

Now  let them dry, and think of all the cute places to hang them.

Windows, 

ornaments, 

attached to a gift, 

in a tiny fairy home,

 in a tree or plant,

off of a lamp, 

I mean, c'mon it's endless!

Old-Fashioned Desk Set

I just finished a whole bunch of Sherlock Holmes books and am thinking about making a little corner of Holme's sitting room that would comprise of Doctor Watson's desk and chair and book case. I am having a lot of fun figuring out what to include in this little scenario. I got started with the project today by making a desk set for Doctor Watson's desktop. I loosely interpreted my desk set from the awesome book Making Dollhouse Miniatures with Polymer Clay by Sue Heaser. Sue's desk set is way more professional-looking and also uses metallic silver powder to give it a great finish. I used silver Sculpey III that I had and what materials I could find in our house. I still think the results are pretty cute!

Step 1- Roll out some thin Sculpey and cut out your tray. I cut a rectangle of paper 1 3/8 inch x 3/4 inch and used it as a guide to cut my silver Sculpey rectangle.

Step 2 -  I rolled out some very thin tubes of clay and added it on as an edge.

Step 3 - Find two glass beads to be your inkwells. They should be around 3/16 inch diameter and a cylinder shape. Stick them into the tray hard to make an indentation where they will stand. Use a toothpick or sewing needle to make a mark where a pen would rest.

Step 4- Not pictured very well but roll out small silver clay balls and cut them in half. Use two of them as lids on top of your beads and one half in the middle as the pen stand,

 

Step 5- Make a feather. If you can find a tiny one that would be the best solution. I did not have a small feather so I cut a feather-shaped template from paper and glued a toothpick sliver onto it then covered both sides with pieces of white feather. When it was dry I trimmed it.

 

Step 6 - Roll up 4 tiny balls into feet.

Step 7- follow your directions and bake in the oven. Feet will not be attached yet and feather will not be included. Glass jars will be stuck into their spots.

Step 8 - After it all cool glue the balls onto the bottom.

Step 9 - Add your feather and you are all done! Note that my trim did not stay on the tray very well. I probably should have done a better job scoring it and attaching it.

Easy Pipecleaner Mushrooms

                                       

I have had fairy tales on the brain lately, and these easy, little pipe cleaner mushrooms seem to add the perfect cute and magical touch to a storybook setting.

I learned how to make these simple little mushrooms from

 this Japanese craft book. (ISBN978-4-277-43144-6)

Start with the base, cut between 1 1/2" to longer, just depending on what you want

the length to be. Make a super tiny little loop on top, to hold the top on of mushroom in place.

The top, was just red or brown pipe cleaner, twisted around. Starting at the top, then wrapping around,

larger as you go. You can wrap this around your pinkie finger to help with the shape, or kids hands are great for this too! The sizes can vary, just so it looks cute on top of the white base.

You've got the top and bottom, so ad a little dab of craft glue to hold them in place.

Then, using craft glue again, the tiniest amount, add some tiny white seed beads to the top.

And there you go!

So many things you do with these now.  Add them to a fairytale environment, use in a wreath, add

to little girl headbands or barrettes, or I think they could be gathered into a cool brooch.

They are also pretty cute just to sit around.

They make me pretty happy.