Tis the season for swapping!

I know I have gushed about swapping on this blog before, but really?

One part crafting, one part giving, one part secrets and one part mystery packages arriving in the mail?

What is not to love?

Ten of these are headed off to other homes near and far and, what's more?

I managed to throw together a little tutorial on making these ornaments. You could, of course, create any little scene inside that you wanted, but I find the toadstool, even trendy as it has become, pretty hard to resist. I credit Nicholas for my early and steadfast devotion to the humble toadstool.

Let's begin!

Wrap your wool roving around a wooden egg, being sure to criss cross the wool fairly evenly as you wrap it to ensure even, tight felting. I found six grams of wool was just about the perfect amount for a standard wooden egg.

Wet felt the roving by soaking it through with hot water and adding a small drop of dish soap. Begin by just squeezing the wool around the egg. It will begin to felt and create what will feel like a wool bag around the egg. Keep squeezing. As the bag gets smaller and tighter around the egg you can roll the egg either in your hands or against a piece of small bubble wrap. Keep at it and suddenly the wool will feel good and snug around the egg in all directions. {Oh wool, yet again you thrill us with your clever ways.}

Using a pair of sharp pointy scissors, cut out an oval from one side of the egg.

Add a little more soap if needed and felt the egg a bit more to tighten up where you cut into the wool. Rinse and leave to dry overnight.

In the meantime...

Needle felt some little pads of green moss.

And paint some wooden drawer knobs with red and white acrylic craft paint.

When the wool egg is dry, pop the wooden egg out, small end first. It will feel like you are pulling the wool too much, but the egg will hold its shape. Use a small bit of craft glue to glue the moss to the egg and then the toadstool to the moss. String a loop of cording through the top of the egg and tie in a loop for a hanger.

Comments

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Oh this is such a sweet idea! Thank you... and also I been remiss in wishing Astrid a happy first birthday. She is a beauty and such a spark!

Posted by: Account Deleted | 01 December 2011 at 07:22 PM

Thanks you guys! I'm thinking I'll dig this one up for Easter too... maybe a duck inside, a lamb... grass and little wired flowers... the possibilities are too many to count.

Posted by: Liv | 29 November 2011 at 10:26 PM