Beach Time Tip (no sand in these sandwiches)

Having spent a week by the coast you can guess where we were each day…Yep, down at the beach either strolling back from the pier or making up games in the sand. We built sail boats, we made fabric flags, we played hide and seek with playmobil characters (and couldn’t seek one little figure out in all that sand, sad moment quickly rectified by assuring my littlie that it will make another child’s day when they dig it up).

One trick I have learnt, passed on to me by my maman, is an easy way of getting sand off your body parts. Yes, you can shower (but not on the beach when you’re ready to devour your sandwiches). Yes, you could give yourself a brisk exfoliation (but my 3 year old loudly objects to that approach). So that leaves you with dusting powder aka talc (without the nasties).

Dust your sandy limbs and rub. The sand comes off without so much as a yelp. Sand free to enjoy your picnic or to get back into the car without having to endure small sand dunes at your feet. Can I hear a Yay! and Woop!

naomi x

Oreo Cookie Lollipop (could have looked cute if it weren’t for the huge FAIL)

 

My maman gave me this idea and it sounded delicious. I have never understood the big deal about Oreos. That is clearly because I had never eaten one. I ate so many at my maman’s that I had to find myself a dealer seller of these delights as they are not as readily available as I’m guessing they are in the States. Finally I tracked down a shop that sold minature ones. As I had eaten all the big variety I was just left with these to make my lollipops. So. Let me start by saying – don’t by the small variety because a) you will still be left with an insatiable desire for more and b) and perhaps most importantly they are too small for this task and make it fail. Big time.

 

 

In short. The biscuits didn’t hold together. The chocolate got everywhere. The centre melted. It was so slippy I couldn’t even take a darn photo of it held up.

I may try these again. may. but not in a hurry.

If you want to see how its really done head over to Easy Baked.

 

I’m off to BritMums today! My first blog conference. Eeeek. Exciting!

naomi x

 

SYTYC Week 1 – Paint Tutorial. Shell Jewellery

For the paint challenge over at So You Think You’re Crafty I wanted to create a fun paint project that people could also make for themselves at home so I decided to transform pebbles and shells into wearable jewellery.

I am in love with corals, mint and navy for this summer’s wardrobe. You may have your own favourite colour combinations. Decide on your colour scheme and rummage through your nail polish collection to find ones that match:

Mid morning, coffee mug in hand, wander down your garden path and collect small pebbles or get those shoes off and go shell collecting at the beach. Stand back and admire your wares before cleaning to rid them of any soil and sand.

Craft shops sell ring fittings and badge fasteners. I went to two small craft shops in a little town and both stocked a couple of types so I’m hoping it will be easy for you to find them too.

Set about painting your pebbles and shells with your nail polish. Some may need a second coat. I painted the jewellery fittings so that they blended in. The great thing about nail polish is that the brushes are the perfect size for such small items and it leaves a beautiful enamel gloss finish. Plus at the end you can also paint your nails to match!

Once dry superglue the pebbles and shells to your fittings. I used a standard all-purpose superglue which if left untouched for an hour or so bonded them perfectly (don’t be impatient like me and try them on after 5 minutes and then nearly glue your fingers together as you grab the falling shell!). To finish you can coat your shell or pebble in a clear polish to avoid any chipping.

Finally, accessorise your favourite outfit with your fun, unique piece of jewellery:

The world is your oyster *cringe* (sorry. Couldn’t resist!)

 

Don’t forget to head over to SYTYC and vote for this week’s challenge ‘Upcycle’.

 

naomi x

“Sewing Flags”

 

We’ve recently had some time away. A chance to refresh, replenish and rejoice in the summer sun – finally. It was so good and so needed. We headed down to the coast and spent the days blissfully devouring ice cream, feeding goats at the petting “zoo” and having lazy, lazy mornings. Of course we also spent time in the sand and dipped our toes in the typically freezing British sea.

 

Once my minou knew we were headed to the beach she stated that we needed “sewing flags”. It turns out that sewing refers to a) the act of sewing and b) fabric. She wanted us to make little fabric flags for all our sandcastles. So on one of those glorious sunny mornings we raided my maman’s fabric stash and the Minou chose her favourite material. She then sat at the sewing machine with me and made her little ‘sewing flags’.

 

If you are headed to sandy beaches where castles, forts and boats will be lovingly sculpted then follow along to make some little flags. If you are not the sewing type but would love some of your very own drop me a line on my Facebook page (Fifty Two Create) as I’ll be making some for sale.

 

 

 

 

Happy beach and summer days…

naomi x

 

Bring Nature Indoors with a Little Tree Wall Art

After a friend’s birthday party my Minou brought home a little tiny wooden bird house. It was so cute. As soon as I saw it I felt it needed a little tree to hang on.

 

I poured over many images of trees and wall stickers and then set about designing my own.

 

 

To join in you’ll need:

– Paint for the tree trunk

– Pencil for drafting your design

– Thin paintbrush

– Coloured card stock (I used scrapbooking ‘paper’)

– Blutack (I did buy border paste but in the end decided that: 1- the blutack causes the leaves to lift slightly off the wall giving it a ‘blowing in the breeze look’ and 2, it meant I wouldn’t have to scrap off the numerous leaves when her room gets a re-design or change around later).

– A quiet house. You don’t want little fingers smudging your handiwork before its dry!

 

Draw your tree design onto the wall in pencil. When you are happy with it paint over with a fine paintbrush. Whilst it dries cut out your leaves. Place your leaves sporadically around the branches. Stand back and admire.

naomi x