Baby Baby Baby…#1

This is nothing to do with the Royal baby.

But it does seem to be Baby season.

I have three friends who have had babies recently, and so need three presents for said babies.

The problem I am finding though, is that while I intend to make something for the new babies, I find it hard to actually focus on this, and get on and make something.
And then it starts to become a bit awkward, as time marches on, and the baby gets older and older, and I hold off sending a card, because I want to send a present too, but I need to make the present, and I need to find some time first, and time marches on….

BUT I have made baby present number one!

It is for a gorgeous little boy called Charlie.
Congratulations Clara and Ben, and big sister Ava!

And here it is:

If you know a new baby called Charlie, and you want to make one too, you can!

This is what you need:

• Old photo frame-I got mine from the charity shop for £2. Make sure it has the attachments for hanging on the wall (although you can add these yourself if needs be), and that the back comes off easily (some are taped up), and that the glass isn’t too scratched
• Paint and paintbrush-I used Little Green ‘Intelligent Eggshell’ Antique White-it goes on nicely and gives a good finish
• Fabric-I used a red bed sheet I got from a charity shop as the background, and the blue and white fabric is a man’s shirt, again from the charity shop
• Bondaweb
• Iron and ironing board
• Computer, printer, paper, pen, scissors

This is what you do:

• Disassemble your frame, and put the glass somewhere safe.
• Paint your frame. Don’t do what I did and assume that paint will come off oilcloth pretty easily and that there is no need to put newspaper down. It doesn’t, and there is a need. I did 2 or 3 coats.
• Iron your fabric
• Measure the glass, to get an idea of how big a font you want, and then pick a font-I used Monotype Corsiva
• I have a fancy pants cutting machine that can cut fabric and card, so I used this, but if you don’t, then just print out the letter, and when you are happy it is the right size, cut it out and use this as a template for your fabric
• Iron your Bondaweb the wrong side of the fabric you are using for the letter
• Trace around your template (you can draw on the Bondaweb paper with biro) remembering to reverse your letter
• Cut out the letter, remove the paper from the Bondaweb, and then iron it onto your backing fabric
• Use the glass from the front of the frame, to place over the letter and centre it, and then draw around it, with a 1cm ish allowance.
• Cut out the main backing fabric to the size of the glass (+1cm all round). I used pinking shears, but I don’t think it’s that necessary
• Clean the glass with vinegar and a cloth, and place it back in the frame, followed by your masterpiece, and then the backing card from the frame.
• Done!