How To: Make your own book at home

As Milla grows and discovers the world I've grown to love home made books! She has a love of reading and seeing her own face on a page in front of her so they are the perfect tool for establishing routines and expectations that our family has.

You could make a book for anything! Bedtime routines (like in this tutorial), new family members, school time, visiting doctors, or fun ones to tell your own clever stories to kids of any age, gifts for friends or co-workers about themselves. The possibilities are endless!

This tutorial is using a free website called picmonkey.com - it's a really basic website for beginner designers or photo editors. Look it up now and get creating! (i've tried to be as simple as possible, so feel free to email me if you have any burning specific questions on sophieslimATmoo2DOTcoDOTnz)

ONE
Open up picmonkey.com and hover over "design", this will bring down a new menu, click "custom"

In custom you can insert your own size you would like your individual book pages to be. I suggest doing an a5 size. These measurements are "1748 x 2480 pixels". If you'd like a different size page, have a google to find out the pixels (size) it'll be.

TWO
Now that you've got your blank canvas to work with you can play around with all the different features. Pic Monkey works by dragging and dropping, so when you click on a feature, it will most likely appear on your blank canvas for you to move around and resize.

The most fun tools are the Tt and the butterfly down the left hand size. These are your "text" and "overlay" functions.

If you want to insert photos or pictures, click on the butterfly and "add my own" overlay button. This is where you can select photos from your own computer to add in, or select any of picmonkey's pre-made overlays. This is how I got the big green circle that comes in the next picture. You can change colours using the overlay box that pops up when you're moving things around. If you're going to add text on top I suggest you fade your overlay a little bit. Just drag the "fade" option across until you find something you like.

You'll find the text options work in the same way, they're stored under Tt and there's some really fun fonts to choose from! You can also resize, change colours and positions from an editing box that pops up as well.

JUST FOR FUN
This whole process can be as simple or complicated as you like, but most of all its trial and error while you're familiarising yourself with the functions.

If you're feeling adventurous, try clicking on the "eraser" part of the overlay editing box to erase out unwanted backgrounds in your photos, or right click your overlay to find some more options like "bring to the front" to get images on top of each other in the correct order.

THREE
Once you're happy with your first page click on "save" up the top, give it a name and save it to your computer! Wa-La! Your first page in your self published book!

FOUR
Now that you've finished designing each of your pages, print them off, trim them to size and tape or staple together in the correct order! You could even laminate them if you were being extra fancy.

I know that whoever you give this book to they will love it (and they might just think you're a genius!)

Let me know if you give this a try! Leave a comment, or email me with any specific questions you have.

Happy creating!
Love, Sophie

Intro: Homestitchness and a Giveaway!

I really wanted to introduce you to my new love, Homestitchness and to tell you about her giveaway (at the end of the post)! I have fallen head over heels for these designs!

(classic kiwi bach)

I was in contact with Jenny at the beginning of this year when she told me about her plans to start her business selling her cross stitch designs. I've dabbled in cross-stitch in the past so have a love and appreciation for the art, but I know there are some pretty daggy designs out there.

Jenny's designs blew me away when I finally laid my eyes on them!! As a kiwi living away from home (she's now based in the USA) she has completely channelled her love of Aotearoa and embroidery floss to create these iconic, collectable cross stitch designs.

They are perfectly reminiscent of the Kiwi summer, homes and landscape and would look great in my home. I love the series of little cottages - they are the perfect mix of colonial and Maori. Much like our own whanau, actually.

The fabulous thing is she sells them in her Etsy store and they are sent to you on high quality cardstock and are shipped world wide for free. I haven't seen them in person yet but I imagine the pattern alone could be framed and displayed like a piece of art.

(Pohutukawa House) (Possibly my fav!! Whats yours?)

The exciting thing is to celebrate, Jenny is giving away 2 opportunities to win a pattern of your choice! The first winner will get a full kit with pattern, floss and linen, the second will get a pattern of their choice.

All you need to do is visit the Homestitchness blog and enter!!! 

If you've never cross stitched before this is the perfect opportunity to start, or pick up some skills learnt a long time ago. The patterns come with detailed instructions on how to create the piece, and you'll be able to hang it with pride in your Kiwi Home.

(Kowhai Cottage)

Thanks Jenny!

Colourful Jars

Jar covers were my first inspiration to learn to crochet almost 3 years ago. 

One year later I finally learnt and made a crochet jar cover, and this week I've made three! 

It's all part of my home lovin' and nesting. I'm just trying to make this place more us, more me, and more happy.  

Speaking of homes, our little flat we rent has just gone up for sale. Would somebody please buy it and keep us on as tennants / not raise our rent again? That would be fabulous, thank you. Otherwise I might just go into early labour. Trying not to think about it. 

And here's a bonus shot of my Sophie Slim workstation. We're lucky enough to have a spare room (for the next few months anyway). This room is a collaboration of: The Sisterhood HQ, craft supplies, Mr Moos business, spare bed, spare TV, washing and drying and folding room, and anything else that needs a quick home!

READ MORE:
More creations on Sophie Slim
Linking in with Show n Tell 

Affordable Crafts

If you need to shield your eyes from its beauty thats okay. I needed to when I first saw it.

Mixed stripe blanket found here

Isn't she DIVINE?! I've been crochet-crushing all weekend. Suddenly blushing when I see her, getting all hot and bothered at the thought of her eclectic snugglyness. Oh me oh my.

She (and her wollen beauty) lead me to ask this question on Twitter:

I'd love to know!

Personally, I'm driven by price. I dont really do second hand (i'm not a thrift store junkie!) but I can't afford the good stuff, so often settle for acrylic yarn etc.

I loved what Talia had to say in reply to my asking if spinning her own wool saved her money::

What are your crafting standards? Do you only use second hand supplies? Do you only use brand new best quality available? Leave a comment and let me know how you make your hobbies affordable for you!