SLH Crafts Review

Those who follow me on Facebook will already know that my young crafty daughter is now blogging and has her own brand new website. However those who don't have Facebook won't know about this so I thought I would do a post about her new blog! She would love some new followers - http://www.slhcrafts.com/

She is only 11 and loves doing anything crafty! I started homeschooling my girls since July last year which means she gets to have more time at home to do all the different types of crafts that she loves.  I used to showcase some of her work here on my blog, but now that she has her own blog I will have to find some different crafts to publish!

Here are a few of her latest blog posts: Charcoal drawings: http://www.slhcrafts.com/2014/01/charcoal-eye-drawing.html

Her latest hairstyles she loves doing: http://www.slhcrafts.com/2014/01/hair-designs-of-week.html

Crochet Hook Roll Tutorial: http://www.slhcrafts.com/2014/01/crochet-hook-roll-tutorial.html

Crocheted Jar Cozy and Matching Coaster: http://www.slhcrafts.com/2014/01/crochet-jar-cozy-and-coaster.html

Below is a collage of some photos of my daughter being crafty! She loves crochet, drawing, sewing, henna and many other crafty things!

So as this is a review, I will end this post with that I think this is a brilliant website written by a brilliant young girl (I have to say that as she is my daughter!) but honestly she looooves crafts and I think we will be seeing some more lovely work from her in the near future, insha'Allah.

Giveaway Winner

Today I am announcing the winner of my latest giveaway. I chose the traditional way of entering everyone's names - in a bag! My 6 year old is the one who chose the winning name.

I will arrange postage of this prize as soon as I have contacted the winner, who is: Nicola Lowrie from the UK. I hope she enjoys her prize insha'Allah.

Easy Hot Chocolate Drink - Great Ideas

Easy Hot Chocolate Drink - Using an empty Chocolate Spread Jar! Whenever I have an empty chocolate spread jar at home, I add some milk from the fridge and pop the jar into the microwave for a few minutes. I take the jar out and stir the milk and melted chocolate together to make a delicious instant hot chocolate!

The bonus is that the Jar is also easy to clean out ready for the recycling bin too! It's been a while since I shared some good idea posts on my blog, I might have to think of a few others for this year too.

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Family Command Centre Tutorial

I recently changed my Family Command Centre, I originally had many different charts spread around the wall and it looked a little messy. I decided to make things look a bit neater and easier to understand so that the whole family can use this command centre.

Here is how I made mine:

Requirements:

• Wipeboard (Magnetic optional)
• Coloured tape
• Sticky Labels (Design and print own labels)
• Optional pinboard/wipeboard (as in photo)

Step 1: Make a paper plan of how you want to lay out your planner. Use the exact measurements of your board and draw to scale.

Step 2: Once you have decided on the layout then use the coloured tape to divide the different sections.
I chose to have the following sections: Family Notes, Weekly Menu, Shopping List, To Do List, Appointments, Future Events.

Step 3: Design the Labels on the computer and print off on sticky paper. Then place onto the board in the correct places.

Step 4: Hang up your board somewhere accessible for the whole family. (Mine is in the Kitchen).

Step 5: Start using - make sure to use the wipeboard pens!
Step 6: I have also added a pinboard and an extra wipeboard incase they are needed! (Optional)

Below is the original command centre that I had before designing this one. I think you will agree the new one looks much better!

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Date Paste Recipe

This is a recipe for homemade date paste which I have used for Algerian/Arab Recipes. This paste is great to use for Maamoul cookies and Makrout. I decided to make my own paste as it is impossible to buy this locally.

Ingredients:

• 300g Dates
• Melted Butter/Margarine (tablespoon)
• Orange Blossom Water (2 tablespoons or more)
• Cinnamon (1/2 teaspoon)

Step 1: Remove the stones from the dates and place into a steamer. (I used a couscous pan)
Step 2: Once the dates have been steamed (able to be mashed) remove and place into a bowl.
Step 3: Add melted butter, cinnamon, and orange blossom water to the dates and mix.(use a mixer or by hand with a fork)
Step 4: You may need to add extra Orange Blossom Water or plain water to make the date paste more softer.

Allow to cool down and either use straight away for your cookies or store in a fridge to use at a later date, it should be able to keep for at least a week in an airtight container. When I have removed it from the fridge I have had to add a little more orange blossom water to make it softer again, or I guess you could try to heat it up a little!

I hope to share with you my Maamoul Cookies recipe soon too, insha'Allah.

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Moroccan Pouffe Pincushion Tutorial

This is a Moroccan Pouffe Pincushion I made for my blog giveaway. I have made a complete tutorial with a downloadable template so that you can make your own pincushion!

Requirements

• Felt (various colours)
• Embroidery Thread / Needle
• Stuffing

Step 1: Print off the template ( downloadable link is at the bottom of this post).
Step 2: Cut out the 4 shapes from the template sheet.
Step 3: Place the template onto your felt and cut out the required amount of pieces. (Pic1 and 2)
Step 4: Place the diamond shapes onto one of the large circle pieces and pin the pieces securely. (Pic 3)
Step 5: Using the embroidery thread stitch all the diamond pieces onto the circle. This is to be the top of the pouffe.
Step 6: Using the embroidery thread stitch all the rectangle pieces together (along the longest side). Stitch closed to make a circle. (Pic 4)

Step 7: Stitch the small circle piece to the centre of the large circle on top of the diamonds. (Pic 5)
Step 8: Stitch the rectangle pieces (now in a circle) to the top circle piece, each rectangle should be underneath the gap parts of the diamonds (Pic 8 shows this clearer)
Step 9: Place the stuffing of your choice into the pouffe. (Pic 6)
Step 10: Attach the other circle piece to the bottom with some pins. (Pic 7)
Step 11: Stitch all the way around securing the circle to the bottom of the pouffe.
Step 12: To make it more shapely you can then using the embroidery thread and by placing the needle and thread through the centre of the cushion through the small circle to the bottom you can tighten the cushion to make it have an indent. If you do this a few times it should make it secure enough and then tie a knot on the underneath part of the pouffe.

Here is the link to the free template for this project: https://www.dropbox.com/s/se1b8pi1o6nb9d2/moroccanpouffe.pdf


Don't Forget you can still enter into my giveaway for this pincushion by leaving your details on my original post. The deadline is Sunday 26th January 2014. giveaway link

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10 Minute Easy Headband Tutorial

 

 

Today my 6 year old daughter made this headband. It really is that easy and that quick! She made it from pink patterned fabric from an old summer dress - so a great upcycling project too! The only part I had to do myself  because of her young age was the ironing.

 

 

Here is my tutorial for this really easy headband.

 

Requirements:

• Rectangle piece of fabric (ours was 19in long and 4in wide)
• one Hairband
• Iron
• Sewing Machine or Needle and Thread.

(measure the head of the person to make sure you will have enough fabric as sizes vary.)

 

 

 

Step 1: Cut out the rectangle shape of fabric and find a hairband to match. (pic 1)

Step 2: Iron hems on both sides (lengthways) and then fold in half and iron flat (Pic 2,3)

Step 3: Sew along both sides of the folded fabric (lengthways) closing the open side. (pic4)

 

 

Step 4: Fold over the short edges neatly, then iron the fold. (pic 5)

Step 5: Place the hairband into the folded end and sew along the edge to secure the hairband onto the headband. (pic 6)

Step 6: Then take the other end of the headband and place the hairband into the fold (making sure the headband is not twisted!).  Then sew along the fold to secure the hairband completely. (pic 7)

Step 7: You now have you very own handmade headband - made in less than 10  minutes! - it may take a little longer for children sewing though! (pic 8)

  

 

This was the old dress that she used for the fabric:

 

 

Giveaway! To celebrate my 2000 Facebook Likes

I am celebrating reaching over 2000 Facebook Likes on my page and also for reaching over 250,000 Page visits to this blog. Thank you everyone for visiting and taking your time to communicate with me here on my blog and also on my Facebook page. So I am going to do a giveaway to celebrate these milestones.

I have personally made a handmade crafty giveaway prize .This is a unique pin cushion for all those sewing/hijab pins you have lying around!

So if you want to enter my giveaway (open to everyone) then please leave your name and contact details. You can do this in the comments section on this post or send me a personal message. Also you can leave a message on my Facebook page.

Giveaway ends on Sunday 26th January 2014. 



PS: IF you want to know where the tutorial is for the photo above, here is the link: easy-cupcake-pincushion-tutorial.html