Tutorial for my 'Make Your Own' Hairclip Kits

So I've just started putting together little 'make your own' hairclip kits.

These are really cute little packs where you can make a couple of hairclips using different ribbons and embellishments. BUT the kits don't come with instructions (mainly because they wouldn't have looked quite as cute in their packaging with a great big piece of white paper!). So here's instructions on how to make the hairclips that are in the kits. Obviously the ribbon and embellishments might not match your exact kit but you should get the basic idea!


The Tutorial
A note about glue : I much prefer to use a hot glue gun (despite constantly burning my fingers) but you could use really, really strong craft glue or possibly even the super strong double sided tape. It's up to you and what you have available. If you're using hot glue and children are doing the project or helping, please be VERY careful. If you do get the hot glue on yourself dip your finger into a bowl of iced water or run it under the cold water tap. Don't try and pull the glue off straight away or your skin will go with it!

1. Place glue along the length of the ribbon (just one at a time though!)

2. Working quickly, place your clip right side up, to the left side of the ribbon so that it covers about 1.5cm of the end of the ribbon.
3. Tip the clip up onto its end and press and fold the ribbon over the two 'squeeze' edges.
4. The fold it over and lay the ribbon on the top of the clip. (sorry, the last two steps were really hard to photograph given I needed two hands to do it and then one hand to hold the camera, kinda didn't work)
5. Open the clip and fold the remaining bit of ribbon under the top prong of the clip.

6. Press down hard to secure the glue.
7. Open and close the clip a few times to make sure glue hasn't stuck it together.
8. Apply glue to your embellishment (this could be a button, butterfly, pearl etc) and place it on the top of the covered clip. Press firmly to ensure it's stuck.
9. Allow to dry for a few hours.


So this is just the absolute basics and hopefully the start of some fun for you. If you want a more challenging hairclip kit (with really detailed instructions and full colour pictures), try my Ultimate DIY Hairclip Kit available here. Good luck!

Is my craft killing the planet?

As a mother I'm familiar with guilt. I live with it every day. So it's probably no surprise that I feel guilty about my crafting ways. Not just because I get distracted with it and ignore my children (slight exaggeration obviously!) and let my house go to rack and ruin (no exaggeration) but I wonder what impact I'm having on the planet with what I make.

Yes, I'm making 'handmade' stuff - but the supplies have to be made somewhere don't they? How much water, electricity, pollution etc contributes to a metre of fabric? A piece of scrapbooking paper? A plastic diamante? Aaaaarrrggghhhhh!

For some months now I have been trying to rack my brain to come up with some crafty goodness that appeases my guilt. Finally I came up with something. What about a gift card that could be reused? Not recycled, but reused. I'm quite sure these already exist but this is my take on it.

(ok, for some reason every time I try and upload the picture to show you the inserts, internet explorer stops working. Annoying. There's a picture on my Facebook page though).
The first series I've made use minimal, yet what I believe to be striking, fabric offcuts. Most are embellished with a fabric covered button. Then they are finished with a simple ribbon ('cos that's my style - limited frou frou in my life!) and inside, there are 2 additional pieces of paper (yep, recycled office paper) where people can write their message. Then, after the sentiment wears off, or someone is simply frantically looking for a gift card in a hurry, that person simply pulls out that piece of paper and writes on the next, which can then be given to the next person. This can be repeated over and over again. Does that make sense??

I figure unless it's the birth of a baby, 1st birthday, wedding or some special and significant birthdate most people don't keep cards - so why not reuse them instead of just chucking them out??

I know, I know. I should be making recycled paper, using upcylced fabric and vintage buttons but the reality is, I already have all this stuff sitting on my craft table/dining table (they're one and the same). So I'm trying to use everything I have before I turn my hand to paper making etc etc. Mainly to declutter but also because taking up a new craft would likely result in a divorce.

So, guilt somewhat appeased for the minute, I will now move on to my next project - Christmas hair clips made from ribbon that's "Made in China". Sigh.....maybe I'll feel better if I go and turn off all the lights.

PS If you would like to appease your own guilt by buying one or some of my reusable cards, they're available on my Facebook page now.

Blinkeritis : the story of my first ruffled nappy cover

So, I have this flaw. Okay, I have heaps of flaws but this one is a particularly annoying one that is impacting on my craftiness. I call this flaw BLINKERITIS. Nope, that doesn't mean I suffer from excessive blinking (apparently that's called blepharospasm) but it does mean that when I'm working on a project it's like I have imaginary blinkers, like racehorses wear, attached to my head. Some may call this focus (if they're a cup-half-full kinda person) while others may call it tunnel vision (the cup-half-empty folk) but for me, it really feels like blinkeritis.

The most recent case of this was when I decided I needed to learn how to make ruffled nappy covers. Some background : I used to sew lots when I was a teenager and even got lessons for my 18th birthday (how dorky was I?!) but didn't touch a sewing machine for about 12 years - until this year. So I started with a skirt, then some shorts and given the craze for ruffled nappy covers, I really wanted to give it a try.

Needless to say, it was a lengthy and time consuming exercise. Not because they're difficult (actually they were quite easy) but because I decided I HAD to make them at a time when my entire family was sick. Husband with tonsilitis, me with sinus infection, baby boy with chest infection and little girl with asthma - 3 out of 4 of us on antibiotics. It was sooooo frustrating!! And I just couldn't focus on anything but getting these darned nappy covers made. The house looked like someone had broken in and ransacked it (okay, it looks like that most days until the kids have gone to bed and I tidy up) and our meals were pretty simple (who am I kidding, they're always simple). Fortunately we all have plenty of clothes because not a lot of washing got done either.

And then there was the distinct lack of crafty action going on. No hairclips, no cards, nothing but the nappy covers!!! I finally got there in the end. Here's the product of my frustration and determination - and blinkeritis of course.

I'm pretty happy with how they turned out - one set is for my sister's baby shower next weekend, and the other two are for friends' babies. I loved making them but don't think it's something I'll pursue since every woman and her kids are making, and attempting to sell them, at the moment.

Now if only I could use my blinkeritis for good - like getting fit, losing a few kilos or even focusing on my Millamaloo venture :)

Speaking of which....night, night, I'm off to craft while hubby watches the footy (if you want to see a male version of blinkeritis you should just watch him doing that!!).

Letting go of the fear

Yesterday, after about 3 months of preparation, I finally published my Facebook page for Millamaloo. It was incredibly scary putting myself - and my creations - out into the world. When you're publishing something so personal, you just never know whether you'll get congralutations or criticism. So far it's been all positive but I'm sure there'll be times when it won't be so rosy. I'll just have to prepare myself for that and remember that what I make won't be to everyone's taste. I can only hope that some things I make will make some people happy.

I am so grateful to my wonderful friends, work colleagues and family who have supported my little venture. Without you this would still be a little fantasy. Thank you.

And so it begins....

I always swore there was NO WAY I'd ever have a blog. What a waste of time, I thought. What the heck would I write about? And who, in their right mind, would actually read what I wrote?

Well I've decided to give it a go because I so, so want to be part of the handmade community. I don't have a lot of time at the moment to actually make things (strangely enough, two kids, a husband and a part time job seem to take up a fair bit of time!) but hopefully as my kids get a bit older I might have more of a chance.

In the meantime, I'm doing an exceptional job of building up a stash of crafty materials - fabric, ribbons, buttons, paper - all with the hope that one day I'll get a bit of time to create beautiful things with them. I have so many ideas in my head that I just look forward to the day I can see them come alive. Until then I'll have to be happy to see what other talented people make!!

Hopefully in a few year's time I'll look back on this first blog post and think 'wow, I've come a long way!'.