Paper lantern - Trial one

...I know, I know.... Adding "trial one" to the title doesn't feel encouraging, huh??

But, c'mon people, we are real people, and some things we just do them wrong!! That's why I even think that makes it even more interesting... hopefully it will be a mistake you will  not make!!

So, here we go...

I stole this brilliant idea from the incredible Marha Stewart. But she probably never makes mistakes...
I thought it was a great idea because of its small cost (around 10 € = 13$) and because of the spectacular results obtained (that's in the case you do it properly, of course)

Stuff you'll need:

- A paper lamp (yes, one of those "demodé" paper lamps that every single one of us has had at some point of our lives)

- Double sided tape

- Scissors

- Tissue paper disks. (Here is where the problem starts... I happen to live VERY far from a staples store, or anything like it... and even though amazon.com has everything, it was far more expensive to have them sent to Barcelona, than the tissue disks itself!!. So, I used paper multilayer napkins, orange color)

- Needless to say that you will need a little patience in case you use paper napkings as I did.

It's just about sticking each paper disk in the proper location in order to make it look as fish scales. I recommend you to start from the bottom, it makes easier. Also, find a place where you can hang the lamp, so they don't get creased.

Unfortunately, I forgot a little detail... paper absorbs water, and so happens with ambient humidity, and so, disks started to fold!!

Don't worry, I think I know what to do in trial two!!
Stay tuned!!

Personalize a work lamp with washi tape

I've loved work lamps since I saw my first, at an architect desk. Back then they were just made in red, white or black... and architects used pencils for drawing instead of computers!

Nowadays, it seems that work lamps only come in light grey... what happened to reds, whites and blacks, I wonder?

My favourite is its wide variety of movements possible in each and every single direction, I find it so multipurpose!! But still I thought they use to be a little dull. So, that's what it turned out!

And this is the previous:

It was also the best excuse to finally use the first washi tape I ever had!!

In case you don't know washi tape, it's a different types of coloring tape, invented by Japs.

Once you have it place it's very easy to pull it and remove, and even to reuse it, which it makes it wonderful from my point of view.

What do you think about the results? Any suggestions?

Just finally add that the whole thing has been very cheap:

Work lamp TERTIAL (IKEA) - 7,99 € ( 10,4$)
Washi tape (2 units pack at Servei Estació, Barcelona) - 5,75 € (7.5$)

But obviously I didn't use the whole washi tape... so the whole project is probably under 10€ (13$).

Advent calendar

Even though I'm not a Christmas freak, I have to admit that since I became a mother I started to love Christmas decoration. And, isn't it the best way to start the countdown with an Advent Calendar?

There are a thousand ways to create an Advent Calendar, and this is what I have chosen. Some stuff I have bought it, and some other I just made it up myself.

Here's what you will need:

• Silver string to make a braid cord
• Clothespins with a number attached, from 1 to 24 ( I found them at CasaShop )
• Two color envelopes ( mine are green and red )
• All types of candy to hide inside the envelopes
• Tiny plastic bags to put the candy in (this is optional, but important in case some of the candy might melt) 
• Blue-Tack, to stick the clothespins on the wall.

Procedure:

Place the candy inside the plastic bags and then the envelopes

Braid 3 silver strings. It has to be long enough to place 24 clothespins.

Stick each clothespin at the wall using Blue-Tack, wherever you like it the most.

One of our kitchen walls is chalkboard painted. I chose it so I could also write Christmas stuff on in to make it look a little nicer.

It's very easy... then, just hang the filled envelopes, and it's done!!

Finally, remember that something very special needs to be in envelope number 24, since it's the last one, and the one that kids are expecting the most...

Just letting you know that, my oldest son (my baby girl twins are just too young to understand what's going on) is in delighted with his new calendar, and can't help asking me every single day what's in envelope number 24!! (I already caught him trying to spy a few times...)

Enjoy it!