DIY Chalkboard (easy tutorial and quick too if I may add)

You probably saw that in the previous post and I wanted to show you how we did it, because it was so so easy and quick!

It all started when I went to buy some material in Perth and green chalkboard paint was on sale. Then this happened:

 

Yeah I got home and drew this for my hubby. Bunnings on that piece of paper means the shop where I thought we would get all this stuff that we needed. Turns out I was right and in we went. It also turned out that during our shopping spree we realized that it would have been cheaper to buy one than make one, eg. ikea had one for less than $20 if I remember correctly. So I had to sell my idea and reasons why to make it ourselves for my husband (and I'll do it to you too incase you're thinking like my husband).

When you make things yourself, you put special meaning in it at the same time. I believe that my daughter will value things (in this case the chalkboard) much more when she knows that her father has made it thinking of her. And I think you can't really put a prise on that sentimental value. So sometimes even if it was cheaper to buy it, make it yourself. It means much more that way.

So now that you agree with me and want to make it yourself too (even though you might get it cheaper from ikea) here's a list of things that you need (or what we used):

• chalkboard paint
• paint brush
• board (we used 900mm x 600mm x 3mm board that we cut in half so two board pieces ended up being 600mm x 450mm)
• timber for the sides (we had 3 pieces of 1800mm x 40mm x 20mm timber that we cut into the parts we needed)
• a saw and a hammer and a drill
• nails
• 2 hinges with screws (8 screws)
• sandpaper

You can use different measurements if you wish to, this is just how we did it. And I'm sorry about the darkness in the photos, we did it after Emma went to bed. But it sure was a quick project!

Here's to how to:

Cut the board in two (600mm x 450mm) pieces and paint them with the chalkboard paint of your choise. Cut also the parts for the sides (4 long ones and 4 short ones). We used 1800mm x 40mm x 20mm timber (we had 3 pieces of them) so the long parts ended up being 900mm and the short ones 370mm.

 After the paint has dried it's time to put it together. Make the two sides of the chalkboard separate first. You'll need your nails and hammer for this part. We used 2cm long nails.

Next you drill small holes where the hinges go and screw the hinges to place attaching the two sides together. You should also sand the sides and corners so it looks great and your little ones won't get any sticks on their hands

 And ta da you're DONE! FINISHED! and ready to draw.

Note: Doesn't work too well with a one year old yet because they still put everything in their mouth and don't get the drift of drawing yet. But we tried it anyway:

My little miss is ONE!

Oh my how quickly time has gone. I have had so much fun in organizing and planning Emma's party. And it was a big hit, Emma loved the attention and we had good time. Here's some of the pictures what the party looked like.

The invitations I made looked like this:

The day strated by dressing our little miss into her little miss sunshine outfit. I also made a little miss trouble shirt for her thinking that it might suit her better. I'm glad she proved me wrong by being one little ray of sun all day, enjoying every minute and not agreeing to sleep until all the guests had left.

As the guests arrived Emma's cool new chalkboard gave the direction. (I'll show you soon how this was made (by daddy)).

Every guest got to choose which little miss or mr. man character they wanted to be. As you might guess I was obviously little miss bossy and Jeremy was obviously mr. strong. We didn't have the names on the badges though because everyone had to guess later which character they were.

The guests also got to choose which little miss drink they wanted and mr. strong was in the kitchen making the drinks. These drinks were a big hit and I would recomend either Little Miss Helpful's Handful of Fruit or Little Miss Giggle's Gallon of Good Taste (just my favorite).

I made all the instructions for mr. strong of how much of each ingredient he was suppose to put in each drink, but that seemed to be pointles since he ended up swinging it. You know what I mean, putting a handful of this and a handful of that and pouring a bit of this and that (just like they do in cooking shows) and they ended up being so tasty! So try it ans swing it!

Oh and they also got a matching straw for their drink.

 

For the decorations I just made lots of streamers and pom poms. The streamer idea I got a while ago from this blog and pom poms I've seen in many different parties. I also realized that we needed some tablecloths so I just made the ones in the picture below real quick one night with sticky tape and fabric paint.

Then the best part, CUPCAKES! Emma's aunty is awesome in decorating so she came to help me, but as we made the first little miss sunshine cupcake it looked too scary to make any more so we just ended up decorating them with icing. Something happened during the night though and in the morning that little miss sunshine cupcake didn't look that scary at all so I decided that it could be Emma's cupcake.

It's totally different story how I didn't want Emma to have a cupcake yet because I think she doesn't need to eat sugary stuff yet. Well then the night before as we were decorating the cupcakes, Emma's 4 months older cousin got to the cupboard, took one of the cupcakes and as we turned around to see why they were both so quiet we found the two girls sitting and sharing that chocolate cupcake. We couldn't but laugh, they were so cute. So I gave in and gave her her little miss sunshine cupcake.

As the guests started to leave after being exhausted from all the partying they all got a little thanks and some goodies to enjoy on the way home.

  

It really was an awesome day. Thank you so much everyone who were there and everyone who remembered her on her big day. 

Busy bee

I have been so busy that I have forgotten to show you the two dresses I made for my little miss in Finland. I actually made a third one too, totally different than these and a real nice one too if I may add, but of course I forgot it there.

And the reason why I've been and still am really busy is that miss Emma is turning ONE this Saturday and I'm busy busy organizing things. Can't wait to share all that stuff I've made with you. Also there will be few posts under "made by daddy" real soon (he's been busy too).

P.S Can you guess what the theme for the party is

The green land

 

If you ask me Finland is the prettiest and most inviting during summer. I love the green. I love the heat and I love the lazy days during summer. Jumping in the water, picking berries, walking in the nature and family. That's what Finnish summer is to me. 

I thought I'd show you some last pictures from our trip and then it's back to crafty things and life in Australia.

As you can see from the few pictures, we attended a beautiful wedding, celebrated Emma on her '11 months nearly a year', swam with pappa, and saw heaps and heaps of friends (we miss you Aunty Suvi!) And though I was dreading to travel alone with our little miss, it all went pretty well and next time we'll definitely take daddy with us!

Turku - my kinda city

I'd say Turku is my third home. Here's Turku through my eyes.

Turku is European Culture Capital 2011:

Turku is little shops and restaurants:

Turku is layers:

Turku is yellow:

And also green:

Love you Turku and hope to come back next year.