A project for a day indoors

The boys have been ill (le gastro) on and off all week, and it finally hit me in time for the weekend! Sigh... We spent yesterday slobbed in front of the TV and computer, and I resolved that today should be different. My red, white and blue theme means that I need something different to hang in my windows - at the moment I have lovely green leafy garlands made of felt, but something needed to change...

While shopping in Toulouse the other week I saw some excellent garlands of circles, which included recycled paper, but appealing as this was, they were 12 euros each, so I left the shop suffering from the well known 'I could make that at home' syndrome.

Today seemed like the ideal day to turn the idea into reality, so I gathered together some bits and bobs...

... looked through our music collection, finding these beauties on the way...

... with the intention of finding some music I was prepared to cut up - this one will do - apologies to Reading University Choral Society 1988 and Nigel M. Burton.

I tried to get the boys enthused on this project, but they decided on craft projects of their own, mainly for Ben's birthday (28th Sept), so we can't show them here yet! It didn't matter of course, as long as everyone had something to do that didn't involve a screen...

I got a collection of circles together (plastic cups, biscuit cutters and a two euro piece) and started drawing, folding, cutting and sticking.

I had enough red polkadot card for 9 circles, and then I made 9 more out of plain red card with the leftovers of blue polkadot I could find.

In the shop I'd seen similar circles stitched onto parcel ribbon, but I felt I could afford to sew mine onto vintage (rayon - euch) ribbon. If you look closely in the picture below, you can see the two magazines from my giveaway already packed up in an envelope ready to post to the lucky winner next Thursday!Here is the result, which which I am quite pleased! Normally, putting something new onto the windows sends me running to clean them, but with the builders still here (note the red and white tape outside) I really can't be bothered until they've gone...While we're on the red, white and blue theme, here is a very lazy cushion which I made out of two bandanas - I didn't realise that this one was an advertising one until I unfolded it at home, but I quite like it!

If I'm not in the mood for advertising, I can always turn it around...Thinking of Sarah, I also picked up this red gingham cushion at the CS the other day. Spot the dog!

Let's end with a restrained red autumnal corner...

We're concentrating on getting well here, while Ben and his brother have a manly (and quite possibly wet) walk in the Pyrenees with Raja! Have a good weekend yourselves!

A crafty shopping trip to LIDL

A few months ago I stuck a 'Pas de Pub' notice on our letter box. This means 'no junk mail', in the context. The result is that we no longer have to recycle pointless amounts of leaflets, but unfortunately means that we might be missing out on the few special offers which DO interest us. Thus it was that I spent some time pouring over a LIDL leaflet in our piano teacher's house on Wednesday, and spotted CRAFT BOXES!When these offers come out they disappear very quickly, as the contents are very good for something so cheap, so I shot off to LIDL on Thursday morning, the day they came out, and snapped up two.

These ones are Spring-time and Easter craft boxes, with paper, card and a few other bits and bobs. I'm really looking forward to using the polkadots!

It also reminded me that I'd picked up this book in a Vide Greniers last year - time to get it out:

And here is somthing I made with a previous LIDL craft pack - it was a quick Valentine's Day bottle wrapping which I made for Ben a few years ago, which has become a fixed part of our decor - it's always sitting on a shelf somewhere near the wine...

I particularly liked the transparent paper they put in that pack. Now I'll just have to open up my Easter ones and check out everything inside...