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Sweet Heart !

A friend and I did this on a rainy day with the children – a bit of planning is required as you’ll have  to get what you need beforehand.

There are 2 versions I’ve given you – the complicated and the easy!

What you need:

Size – you can do any size you want, but try to match the sweets to the size of the heart – so the smaller the heart the smaller the sweets needed. Also the larger the mdf – the heavier it will be, so bear this in mind when you choose your hanging method.

Sweets: if the sweets are wrapped then they last longer – but I have done a smaller version of this with love hearts and if you cover it with clear varnish its fine. We got ours from a market stall that was selling them cheap!

mdf – available from any timber yard or DIY stores like Homebase

pvc glue – available from stationers, diy shops or craft shops.

Clear varnish – optional. Available from DIY shops, only necessary if your sweets have no wrapping on them.

Easy version = drawn on heart.

Step 1: Large square of mdf, sand edges and paint it what ever colour you like. Let it dry and then draw a heart on it.

Step2: at this stage it is worth thinking about how you want to hang it when it is finished – so now either fix picture hanging hooks and wire on the back, or drill a hole through it for an easy hang option.

Step 3: Paint inside the heart outline with pvc glue and throw the sweets on! Fill in any gaps and leave to dry. The colour sweets make a great contrast against the rest of the mdf.

Complicated version = cut out mdf heart.

This is for those who have serious DIY  skills  -this large mdf heart is a bit more of a challenge – but  if you have someone who is a dab hand with a jigsaw ask them to cut out a large heart for you – then the rest is easy.

Step 1: Large square of mdf – draw a heart on it and cut it out with a jigsaw and sand the edges.

Step2: at this stage it is worth thinking about how you want to hang it when it is finished – so now either fix picture hanging hooks and wire on the back, or drill a hole through it for an easy hang option.

Step 2: Paint the mdf any colour you like, let it dry

Step 3: cover the whole area with pvc glue and throw the sweets on! Fill in any gaps and leave to dry.

If you really want a work of art you can take it to a framers.

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Friendship bracelets:

This is courtesy of my daughter and her friend Lara:

Choose 3 bright coloured embroidery threads.

Cut the thread about 20cm long.

Tie all 3 together at the top.

Plait them together and tie at the bottom.

Hey presto -  1 friendship bracelet to give to your friend!

Bunting

Bunting is very 'of the moment', but rather than pay for it, it is easy to make from old scraps of material, I think the more varied the better.

Here's how:

Make a paper or thin card template to the shape of a triangle bunting flag.

Use the template to cut  the material, so all the 'flags' will be the same size. I use pinking shears for this (the scissors with a zig-zag edge) so theres no need to sew & hem the material.

Get a length of ribbon and sew your flags on (or if you're looking for a short cut -  staple them on!)

You can personalise your bunting by adding letters to the flags to make names or initials.

Letters are easy to use if cut out from felt - no fraying.