Cultural Teachings - Chinese Knotting Design 中國結活學活用

 Here comes with my designs, enjoy!

Cultural Teachings - Chinese Knotting Pan Chang Knot 中國結活學活用

I am going to do the Cultural Teaching at Summer Bash YQR, and this workshop is 1 hour and I need to teach the participants how to do the Chinese Knotting. 

When we do the Chinese Knotting, we always work on the working board and sewing pins.  Working board can be form board or cork board.  This time, with 1 hour teaching, I use cardboard and tape instead.

I am going to teach: Pan Chang Knot / Mystic Knot / Endless Knot.

Pan Chang Knot is one of the most recognizable and symbolizes the cycle of life, meaning a smooth,long, happy life and is widely popular during the Chinese New Year.

中國結之盤長結

My design is simple because it is for teaching purpose:

Double Connection Knot

Pan Chang Knot

Double Connection Knot

Wooden bean

Double Connection Knot x2

Wooden bean in each cord

Figure-Eight Knot with multiple loops

Here comes the steps:

Papercraft Dollhouse

 There are website that has free printable 'papercraft dollhouse template'. I used their templates and made the following dollhouses.

Bathbomb Making

There is a time, everyone is talking about bath bomb making or you can see every beauty stores has bath bomb items selling, different colors, size, some even has scent in it. A lot of choosing from, and even more, you can purchase a kit and make it yourself, you can add your personal favourites in it while you are making it.

Last Xmas, I saw there was a whole set of DIY kit on sale and everything comes with the kit. After my kids and I finished making all, I keep the instruction and molds, thinking may be we will make it in the future.

10 minutes: DIY Eye Mask

Can't having a good sleep?

Too much noise? Lights are too bright?  Whatever the reasons are, try this 'eye mask', it may help you to get a good sleep and good dream. 

Even kids can make it as well, as a present in Mother's Day, Father's Day or anytime you want to handmade a present for you friends or your family.  Grab a piece of fabric, felt, elastic band as well as needle and thread (hand-sew).  That's all you need!

Xmas Gifts - Chinese Knots Decorative Ideas 中國結活學活用

Because of Covid-19 hit, we are suggested to stay home and reduce the gatherings. No more parties, I totally understand, however, Christmas is a big festival for everyone, I still want to do the Christmas presents even only drop off at the doorstep.  So I decided to handmade different gifts for my friends instead of shopping around.

One of my ideas is 'Chinese Knots', first because I have materials, second I remembered that my mom taught me to make the bracelet using the Chinese knotting skills when I was young, third with my unique design, that means it can't buy it from any store. That's also the reason I LIKE handmade.

Why the design is unique? Is it difficult for you to make your design?  The answer is: You can have your own creative design after you learn the basic knots.  The design is about the combination of different basic knots, so everyone can have their very own design.

Chinese Knots -It's originated from China and there is a long history in using knots for decoration on clothing or decorative items hanging down from the ceiling or on a wall.

It's also a symbol of Traditional Chinese Culture.  You can using the knotting decoration to make jewelry-necklaces, bracelets and earrings, to make keychains or any creative ideas that you can think of.  Chinese knotting can be as simple as 10 years old kid can make it or as complicated as you have to take few hours to finish the knotting.

My design is: instead of making keychains or bracelets, I make a bookmark with the Chinese Knotting because my friends love reading, hoping it can be useful for them.  Now, let's have a look.

That's really cool! Right?

What can we do with the Socks? ........ Snake it is!

There are so many socks left, some even not really wear once.  Kids are growing up, they said 'The socks are too childish, I am not going to wear it.' 

What should we do with all these socks?????

The idea coming out.........Sock Snake!!!!

Table Centrepiece - Origami Storage Box

Some ideas about storing crafty materials or....

Simply arranging your stuff better or.....

Use them as table centrepiece or.....

Super simple that kids can make it and keep their treasure or or or ....

Anything you can think about to use it....




Let's see how to make it!

Lego Candy Dispenser

Nothing to do???

Feeling BORED????

Think about building "LEGO CANDY DISPENSER".

Once you start, you won't stop until you BUILD it!

After you built the first one, you will want to build the second, third..........You will certainly be proud of yourself  'YEAH!!! I built it.'

This is the first one me and my kids built together.  It took longer time than I expected to build it, however, we are all extremely exciting about it, and it turns out really works. The smarties are really slide down when we pull the lever.

Here is the video showing the steps in building it! Link here: https://youtu.be/z1vXovkfvhY

*Instructions are at the end of this post.
 

Have a closer look! We also make a money box next to it, so cool, right?

DIY Projects - How to make a No-Sew Tutu Skirt / Dress

Making Tutu Skirt or Dress is easy and inexpensive, everyone can do it only if you are willing to spend few hours on it.

After learning the basic techniques that I showed in my other posts How to make a No-sew Tutu Dress, you can customize the color, the style or add any decorations on it, specially design for the child's fairy dress up party, Halloween costume, Christmas party, Birthday party.....

Endless Creativity Perler Beads

What is the perfect name of this DIY craft?????

Said whatever other people said "Perler Beads", "Hana Beads", "Melty Beads"  .........

I just like to name it as Endless Creativity in Pixel Craft.  It really looks like Pixel, just imagine everything related to pixel, we can turn it on perler beads patterns.  Of course, we can turn the cross-stitch patterns to perler beads patterns too.



So with this Pixel Craft, we are never run out of ideas on patterns.  By using your imagination, create any patterns and color matching you like, or think about your favourite character or cartoons or movies character, or search the internet, also we can add more elements on it to make necklaces, keychains, fridge magnets, earrings, coasters.....

DIY - Origami Rose

Look like complicated but actually not! Even Aurora (she is five) can do it all herself.

At the very first beginning, I plan to make a whole bunch of different kinds of handmade flowers as the valentine's gift to my kids.

It turns out they love this rose very very very much, they keep making a lot and give them to their teachers. I don't ask how many they need to make but they take the rose to school everyday, so I guess nearly all teachers has one, including the school bus driver.

Truly, I am happy that they love to make the ROSE and make it as gifta too! Especially Rainbow, she keeps making it everyday after school and said she is really really really busy, this one is for...this one is for.....and this one is for........

Here comes the steps:

1st layer: 3 pieces
2nd layer: 5 pieces
3rd layer: 7 pieces, so altogether need 15 pieces for each ROSE
 

DIY - How to make Paracord Bracelet 06

Here comes the two-colored paracord bracelet that I forget to post the steps-by-steps instruction!

Very simple and easy one!

For the basic Paracord Bracelet knotting, please refer to my post DIY - How to make a Paracord Bracelet / Ankle Bracelet.

Thanks for visiting my blog!

DIY Valentine's Origami KISSSSSSSSSSSSS

Besides DIY Valentine's crafting, I also make valentine's card SECRETLY.

Of course, secretly, I am going to make something that my kids and even my husband doesn't know about it and want them to have surprise. But Surprise is not easy, especially they already know that I am a crafter and always DIY.

So.... I am doing it until they are ALL go to bed..........

Totally worth it! This pop-up KISS card also surprise me too!

(Thanks in advance for all your understanding that I try my best to take photos and do the explanations in how to do the folding.)

 

DIY Valentine's Origami Flowers

Valentine's Day is fill with LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE.....

How about Rainbow? She is already ten and I am going to show her more difficult crafts, actually that means involve more skills and more challenge in it.

Like what? (She has tons of different styles and patterns origami paper) I decide to show her origami skills in making flowers, cards.....

1) Origami Flower, by using ONE paper only.
I think the most difficult part is in photo 3 step 2. It has to twist the centre carefully to make it look like flower centre and put a dot of glue at the inside bottom to firm the position.

2) Origami Lily
By using two pieces of triangle-shaped paper (cut from square-shaped paper), we both think that is not different and Rainbow suggests to use two different colors to make it.

Origami Lily

Step by Step making origami lily

DIY Easy Valentine's Craft

Valentine's Day fill with LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE......

Rainbow and Aurora keep asking me any ideas about Valentine's gifts, of course, I highly suggest them to handmade something for their love ones, including teachers, friends, families.

At the same time, I show Aurora some easy crafts that she can all make it herself. (She always said she can do it ALL herself.)

Heart Painting by Toilet Paper Roll

Origami Heart Envelope

Origami Heart

Origami Heart with Lollipop

DIY - How to make stuffed animals

First of all, I am not an expert in sewing. I only know the basic techniques, this is what I always mention in my blog.

My daughter, Rainbow, always said she wants a dolphin stuffed animal.

Every time she sees one, she asks me to buy for her.

Every time my answer is  NO.

Neither because it is expensive nor I plan to make one for her.  She already has a lot a lot a lot...... stuffed animals.  Last year before Christmas, I donated a big bag of stuffed animals to the church, some still have the tag on it.

Even I keep saying NO, she keeps asking me again again and again.

I think she really loves dolphin, so I start planning to make one for her. Don't need to be fancy, I just want something special.

I start searching internet everything about making stuffed animals, finally I make a decision....
1) To hand-sew (instead of machine-sew), because the dolphin is not in a big size, just my two palms size.
2) To make a very basic one, don't need to include name or birth information on it. (IF for some reason she throws it away, I don't want other people know her information!)
3) How special is I use her very first dress (that mom and dad bought for her, wow... cant believe I kept it ten years) to make the dolphin.

What and How I do is very simple, search internet to find the dolphin sewing pattern I like, then print it out in A4 size.  Cut it out with the dress and hand-sew it. The dolphin eyes are pink buttons that also come from the dress. I know it is not look like an eye but I still prefer using all materials from her dress.

Handmade Dolphin Stuffed Animal with Dress 

Rainbow loves it so much, even my hand-sew is not so smooth.  I can't believe she recognizes the fabric is her dress.  She holds it tight and sleep with it every night!

Why there is a pillow here???

DIY - How to make Tutu Dress

Just made two more tutu dress ...so tired now....

going to write down the steps in next few days.....z Z z Z

DIY - How to make Christmas Candy Post

Thanks for my hubby take care of little baby Matthew whole day that I can spend all day with my two daughters, Rainbow and Aurora!!

What a lovely and fantastic day!!!

Besides playing with them and do what they want, of course, I have already had some craft idea, planning to do with them.

It is kind of big project as today is our time! See what we make!

Ho Ho Ho ....really Awesome!

Easy to make and inexpensive too!

DIY - How to make Friendship Bracelets

Just do some Christmas shopping, and bought some strings (I haven't seen this kind of strings before).


How to make Friendship Bracelets

I think it may fit for making friendship bracelets and use in Hana Ami Flower Loom. (I am working on it now, trying to find my own way to make different kind of flowers)

Here comes another two style friendship bracelets.