Love to stay home

Simple Macrame Wall Hanging

June 24, 2022 2 Comments

This simple macrame wall hanging is easy to make. If you are looking for that pop of color and style for any room in your home, these mini wall hangings are perfect. They can be grouped together with other wall art to make a cute gallery wall too!

The color of the tassel can be changed to your color of choice or you can leave out the tassel for a neutral look.

Tassels are great and so easy to make, you do not need any special skills to make them!
You can check out my tassel earrings here, to see how to make a simple tassel. Use the same tutorial with longer macrame cords.

If you are new to macrame and would like to learn, I highly recommend Soulful Notions YouTube channel, she has great videos for a beginner and lots of beautiful easy macrame projects.

I also have also a list of other resources for macrame in another post of mine, where I have written about 10 Fun Hobbies to Do at Home.

WHAT SUPPLIES DO YOU NEED FOR THIS SIMPLE MACRAME WALL HANGING?

Macrame cotton cord ( The cord I used is a Natural color 4mm cord from Ganxxet.com)

Scissors (My scissors and brush are from MissKnottieMacrame.com)

Brush

Measuring tape

Dowel rod (I used one that is 6 inches but I recommend using one that is 8 inches)

These are my Amazon picks for this project:

(Disclaimer: These are affiliate links, which means if you buy any of these recommended products, I will receive a small commission from Amazon at no extra cost to you. Please know that I only recommend products that I know to be of great quality and have great reviews. Thank you so much for your support!)

I am trying my very best to keep my blog ad-free, so it does help if you can use my link when you are shopping on Amazon. Thanks for helping me out, I am truly grateful!!

HOW DO YOU MAKE THIS SIMPLE MACRAME WALL HANGING?

For this project, you need to know how to tie larks head knots, square knots, and diagonal clove hitch knots.

Cut your cords. 8 cords, 36 inches each, and one cord 18 inches long.
Attach the 8 cords to the dowel rod using larks head knots.
Next, using 4 cord’s at a time, tie a row of square knots. You get 4 square knots.
Then leaving out 2 cords on either side, tie square knots using the remaining cords. You get 3 square knots.
Do the same 2 more times, until you tie one square knot in the middle.
The square knots form a v shape.
After that, tie diagonal clove hitch knots on both sides for 2 rows.
Brush out the cords and trim for an even fringe.
If you are adding a tassel, you just put the tassel in through the center where the diagonal clove hitch knots meet. And tie it at the back.
Add a cord 12 inches long as the hanging cord. Attach it on both sides of the dowel rod using a simple knot.

That’s it! Your mini-masterpiece is ready!

If you like to watch a video to see how it is made, this is the one I followed from the Made by Hand YouTube channel. The only things I did differently were to add 8 cords instead of 10 and the addition of a tassel.

I will be adding these to my shop soon and will update this post when I do, so you can see them in my shop.

NOTES:

This wall hanging can be made on a tree branch, a piece of driftwood, on a dowel, or even on an old picture frame! You can check out my post about Recycled Macrame Frames.

Dowel rods are usually long and may have to be cut down to size. I used a saw to cut the dowel rod to size and then sanded the edges using sanding paper. I might use a longer dowel rod next time as the cords just about fit.

You can even make this into a garland by repeating this pattern on a long cord. This will make a very pretty garland too!

Thank you for visiting my blog and reading about this Macrame Wall Hanging. Hope you feel inspired to make one for yourself! If you happen to make one, please share it with me on Instagram or Facebook @lovetostayhomeblog, I would love to see your lovely creations!

Do follow me on Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram @lovetostayhomeblog, so you can see when I have a new post on my blog.

If you like macrame, please check out my other easy Macrame projects:

DIY Decorative Macrame Jars/Vases

Macrame Flower Bead Keychain

Simple Macrame Feathers

Simple Macrame Statement Earrings

Macrame Feather Earrings

Macrame Tassel Earrings

Easy Macrame Coasters

Macrame Bookmarks

Macrame Keychains

Have a wonderful and creative day everyone!!

Photo by Hello I’m Nik on Unsplash

Recipes

Air Fryer Crispy Onion Fritters

June 15, 2022 No Comments

Air Fryer Crispy Onion Fritters are super easy to make and are the perfect snack for any time of day.

The fact that these are air-fried makes this a healthier and yummy treat without worrying about the extra oil.

If you do not have an air fryer and love fried foods, I suggest getting one. This gadget is definitely a game-changer! I love the air fryer and hardly deep fry anything anymore.

What are the ingredients for Air Fryer Crispy Onion Fritters?

(The exact measurements are in the recipe card.)

Red onions

Chickpea flour ( besan found at the Indian store)

Rice flour

Salt

Chilli powder

Oil

Chaat Masala powder ( optional)

Jalapeños or Green chilies (optional)

Cilantro (optional)

(Disclaimer: These are affiliate links, which means if you buy any of these recommended products, I will receive a small commission from Amazon at no extra cost to you. Please know that I only recommend products that I know to be of great quality and have great reviews. Thank you so much for your support!)

I am trying my very best to keep my blog ad-free, so it does help if you can use my link when you are shopping on Amazon. Thanks for helping me out, I am truly grateful!!

How do you make these Air Fryer Onion Fritters?

Slice your onion in half and then in slices. Or cut the onion into rings.

Put them in a bowl. Drizzle 1 tablespoon of oil.

In a separate bowl, add the chickpea flour, rice flour, and spices. Mix with a whisk.

Mix this well with the onions using your hands or a fork.

Add a little water at a time and mix it till the mixture coats the onions. (use less than 1/4th cup of water)

Preheat the air fryer to 350 degrees.

Put some onion mixture in little patties on the air fryer tray. I could put 4 at a time. Spray with a little oil.

Air fry them for about 8 minutes, flip in between, then turn the heat up to 400 and air fry for about 2 minutes.

Take the fritters out and enjoy your crispy yummy fritters with ketchup or sriracha.

Print

Air Fryer Crispy Onion Fritters

Crispy Onion Fritters made healthier in an Air Fryer! Simple and easy to make.

Course Appetizer, Snack

Cuisine Indian

Prep Time 6

Cook Time 10

Total Time 16

Servings 2

Author Nandini

Ingredients

1 Big Red Onion
Jalapenos or Green Chilies (optional)
Cilantro, a few leaves (optional)
⅓ cup Chickpea Flour (Besan)
2 tbsp Rice Flour
½ tsp Kashmiri Chili powder
¼ tsp Turmeric powder
¼ tsp Chaat masala powder (optional)
¾ tsp Salt (or to taste)
1 - 2 tbsps Oil

Instructions

Slice the onions. Put them in a bowl. If you are using jalapenos, green chilies, or cilantro, add them to the onions now.
In a separate bowl, add the chickpea and rice flour, turmeric, salt, and chili powder. Add the chaat masala powder. Mix everything with a whisk.
Drizzle or spray oil onto the onions. Mix.
Add the dry powder and mix it with the onions.
Add a little water at a time and mix with your hands or a fork. The mixture should coat the onions.
Preheat air fryer to 350°.
Make patties with the onion mixture and add them to the air fryer. I made 4 at a time.
Fry them for around 8 minutes turning once in between. For the last 2 minutes, turn the heat up to 400°.
Take them out and enjoy your healthier Onion Fritters with some Ketchup or Sriracha.

Notes:

If you like these spicy, you can add green chilies chopped up.

Chaat masala, cilantro, and chilies( or jalapeños for a less spicy version) are optional but recommended.

If you do not have an air fryer, you could bake these in an oven.

Eat these immediately or they will lose their crispiness. Doubtful that you would have any left😁 but if you do, they can be reheated in the air fryer for a few minutes.

If you try this recipe, please take a second to rate it. Thank you so much. Leave me a comment if you can. Share a picture on Facebook or Instagram @lovetostayhomeblog, I would love to see it!

Lovetostayhome is on Pinterest, Instagram and Facebook, please give me a follow if you can, then you will know whenever I have a new post up on my blog.

Check out my other easy snack recipes:

Air Fryer Tortilla Samosas

Air Fryer Okra Fries

Air-Fryer Cauliflower Manchurian

Crispy Zucchini Fritters

Air Fryer Salmon Fish Fry

Air-Fryer Potato Wedges

Fried Masala Mushrooms – Deep-fried Vs Air-Fried!

Thank you so much for reading.

Happy Cooking! And have a great day!

Photo by Ashwini Chaudhary(Monty) on Unsplash

Macrame

Recycled Macrame Frames

June 9, 2022 4 Comments

Recycled Macrame Frames are a great way to repurpose some old canvas frames. I had so many of these canvases that my kids had painted when they were younger.

Instead of throwing them out, I decided to take the canvas off, underneath is a perfectly good wooden frame that can be recycled.

Macrame is just such an awesome hobby that anyone can learn. I just started macrame about 10 months ago and just love it. You do not need any special tools, only your hands! With some cotton cord or rope, you can create beautiful macrame decor or accessories.

These frames can be used as tabletop decor or to style any shelves in need of some dressing up!

What do you need for these Recycled Macrame Frames?

Canvas frames or any old picture frames (You can find great options for cheap at any thrift store)

Macrame cotton cord or rope (My cord is from Ganxxet)

Scissors (The scissors and brush that I have are from Miss Knottie Macrame)

Brush

(Disclaimer: These are affiliate links, which means if you buy any of these recommended products, I will receive a small commission from Amazon at no extra cost to you. Please know that I only recommend products that I know to be of great quality. Thank you so much for your support!)

I am trying my very best to keep my blog ad-free, so it does help if you can use my link when you are shopping on Amazon. Thanks for helping me out, I am truly grateful!!

How do you make these Recycled Macrame Frames?

The possibilities are endless with the designs you can create!

You can use as little as 2 knots and make a beautiful frame or you can use a combination of a few knots.

You can also attach macrame feathers. To see how to make feathers, I have a whole post about it. You can take a look at it here.

The Basic instructions are:

Attach your cord to the frame with larks head knots. Or use one cord to attach your cords.

Use even numbers of cords.

The length of cord you need would be about 4 lengths of your frame.

In case you are just making a design halfway, you can use 3 lengths of cord.

Frame 1:

For this frame, I used 1 cord, 14 inches long to go around the top of the frame.

I secured the cord to the back with a hot glue gun and some tape.

Next, cut 12 cords 26 inches each.

Attach these 12 cords to the top cord with larks head knots.

I made a very simple design with this one.

With the first 4 cords tie a square knot. Do the same across with the rest of the cords. Total 6 square knots.

For the next row, leave out the first 2 cords and tie a square knot with the next 4 cords. The square knot is tied leaving 2 finger space or around 1.5inches gap. Do the same with the rest of the cords leaving out the last 2. Total 5 square knots.

For the next row, it is a repeat of the first row, so 6 square knots in total. Leave a gap of 1.5 inches from the previous row.

I left the remaining cords to hang down And trimmed the cords to the length of the frame.

TIP: When you need to leave a space between rows of knots, to make the knots at the same level, use a ruler or a long piece of cardboard placed in between the cords. This will give you an even row of knots.

Frame 2:

This Macrame Feather Frame is easy and the quickest one to make.

Cut two cords double the length of your frame plus 5 inches.

Tie these with a larks head knot to the frame.

Cut 40 cords of 5 inches each.

Use these to make the feathers. If you would like to see a photo tutorial please see my Simple Macrame Feathers Post.

You can make a small feather or a big feather, it is your choice.

Brush out the cords and cut them in a feather shape.

That’s it, your simple and easy macrame feather frame is ready to be displayed!

Optional: You can spray the feathers with some fabric stiffener, then brush them out and it makes it easier to shape them well.

Frame 3:

This frame has a few more knots than the previous 2. Apart from the larks head knot and square knot, I used diagonal clove hitch knots and regular knots at the end of the cords.

Attach 8 cords of around 40 inches each, with larks head knots around the top of the frame.

Make one row of square knots. (total 4 square knots)

Leave about 1 inch and make another row of square knots. (total 4 square knots)

Next, using 2 cords at a time, tie 4 diagonal clove hitch knots. Do this for the whole row.

After that, make 4 square knots using 4 cords at a time. (total 4 square knots)

Leaving around 1 inch, make the last row of square knots.

Optional: Make regular knots at the ends of the cord and cut the excess off. Or, cut the cords to an even length and then make knots if you would like them at the same level.

Now you can display your recycled macrame frame.

NOTES:

If you are using an old canvas frame, you will need to remove the canvas. This can easily be done by just pulling off the canvas.
You can also paint the frame any color you want to match your color scheme.
These frames can be used as wall art or just standing up on a shelf.
You can go a step further by adding some faux flowers, crochet flowers, or just some simple elements to dress up the sides of your frames.

Hope you enjoyed reading about this simple way of adding some decor to your home by recycling old frames. If you happen to try this, please share a picture with me on Facebook or Instagram @lovetostayhomeblog, I would be really happy to see your creations!

If you like macrame, please check out my other simple and easy macrame projects:

Macrame Bookmarks

DIY Decorative Macrame Jars/Vases

Macrame Flower Bead Keychain

Simple Macrame Statement Earrings

Simple Macrame Feathers

Macrame Feather Earrings

Macrame Tassel Earrings

Easy Macrame Coasters

Macrame Keychains

Macrame Spiral Wristlets

Thank you for your support of my little blog! Just by reading and being here, you motivate me to share more ideas and content.

If you have not already, please follow me on Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook to know when I have a new post out.

Have a wonderful day my lovely friends!

Photo by Mert Talay on Unsplash

Recipes

Green Chicken Curry

May 19, 2022 No Comments

Simple Green chicken curry is one of those no-fuss recipes where you grind a whole lot of ingredients and make the curry. No chopping required! Most recipes have a red curry or gravy, so this is something different.

Even if you are busy, you can certainly make this green chicken curry in a hurry!! I am always looking for and trying recipes that are quick and easy. This is not my recipe, but I wanted to share it as it turned out really good.

This recipe is by Chef Varun Inamdar from the YouTube channel Get Curried. You can find the recipe video here. I love this particular chef’s recipes, they are always simple and delicious.

It has been a while since I shared a recipe on my blog. From now onwards, I have decided to only share recipes that turn out so delicious that I cannot help but share them with everyone! So, you know this is a great recipe!

I adjusted the original recipe to suit my family’s taste. This is how I made it for my family.

What are the ingredients required for this Green Chicken Curry?

Chicken thighs

Turmeric powder

Oil

To grind:

Green chilies

Ginger

Garlic

Mint leaves

Cilantro

Yogurt

Onion

Curry leaves

Lime juice

Garam masala powder

Salt to taste

The exact measurements that I used will be in the recipe card below.

These are my Amazon Kitchen Picks for this recipe:

STAINLESS STEEL PAN WITH LID

(Disclaimer: These are affiliate links, which means if you buy any of these recommended products, I will receive a small commission from Amazon at no extra cost to you. Please know that I only recommend products that I know to be of great quality. Thank you so much for your support!)

How do you make this Green Masala Chicken??

Make the masala paste first, in a grinder jar add all the ingredients for the masala. Grind it well into a smooth paste. Keep this paste aside

Heat some oil in a pan. Add the chicken along with turmeric powder and salt. Fry it for about 5 minutes, stirring it so it does not stick to the pan.

Add the green masala paste to the chicken, and mix well for a few minutes. Cover and cook till chicken is fully cooked about 15 minutes.

Add garam masala and salt to taste.

When it’s done garnish with mint leaves and thinly sliced ginger.

That’s it! Your delicious green chicken curry is ready!

Serve with peas rice, plain rice, naan, roti, or paratha.

Print

Green Chicken Curry

An easy and delicious green chicken curry that gets its green color from mint leaves, cilantro, and green chilies.

Course Main Course, Side Dish

Cuisine Indian

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 25

Total Time 30

Ingredients

4 Chicken thighs, cut in half 8 pieces in total
1/2 tsp Turmeric powder
1/2 tsp Salt

Green masala ingredients

1 onion
20 Mint leaves
1/2 Bunch of Cilantro
4 Garlic cloves
1 inch Ginger
2 Green chilies
1 Sprig of Curry leaves
1 tsp Lime juice
2 tbsps Yogurt

To garnish

A few mint leaves
Few slivers of ginger
½ tsp Garam masala

Instructions

Add all the ingredients for the green masala paste to the grinder/mixer and make it into a paste. Set this aside.
Heat oil in a wide pan. When hot, add the chicken pieces, turmeric, and salt. Keep stirring and let the chicken cook for about 5 minutes.
Add the green masala paste prepared earlier. Mix it well. Add a little water (about ¼ cup) to the mixer jar and add that masala water to the chicken.
Cover and cook for about 15 minutes. The chicken should be cooked well.
Lastly, add salt to taste and garam masala.
Garnish with chopped mint leaves and thin slivers of ginger
Enjoy this green masala chicken with rice, quinoa, naan, roti or paratha!

Notes:

You can adjust the spice by adding more or less green chilies. In the original recipe, Chef Inamdar adds 6-8 green chilies, but I just added 2 as my family prefers less spice. I also left out the green chilies in the garnish.

If you like it spicy, do follow the original recipe.

Use chicken thighs for the best taste. But you can use chicken breasts or chicken legs too.

Other options that you can use are eggs or mutton( goat meat).

Substitute paneer, tofu, or vegetables for a vegetarian version.

For the masala paste, I added a small-sized onion and 4 big cloves of garlic. If you get small garlic cloves, you will have to add more.

You can add potatoes too. I always love adding potatoes to any curry as they absorb the flavors and taste good.

Do try this recipe, you will not be disappointed. Please leave a comment below if you try it out., I would love to hear from you! Or you can share a picture on Facebook or Instagram @lovetostayhomeblog

Check out my other easy Chicken recipes:

Easy Butter Chicken

Spicy Indian Chicken Fry

Ghee Rice & Kadai Chicken

Easy Indian Chicken Stew

Chicken Shawarma Pita Wraps

Instant Pot Spanish Chicken Pulao

Chicken Salad Sandwiches

Instant Pot Chicken Pulao

Quick Chicken and Egg Noodles

Thank you for reading! Hope to see you back here soon!

Lovetostayhome is on Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram, Please follow me to know when I post something new.

Have a wonderful day!

Photo by Hello I’m Nik on Unsplash

Crochet

Easy Crochet Bows

May 14, 2022 No Comments

These Crochet Bows are so easy to make and look so pretty! To make these you only use the double crochet stitch, so it is a beginner-friendly project.

You can use these bows on clips, hair bands, and hair ties to make cute hair accessories. Apart from that, they can also be used when wrapping presents.

Make them in different sizes and colors. They can be made in less than 15 minutes!! These crochet bows make great gifts too! Just make them in a set of 2 or 3.

There are a lot of patterns available, but I choose the easiest 2 in my opinion, as I always love quick and easy patterns!

WHAT DO YOU NEED TO MAKE THESE CROCHET BOWS?

(Disclaimer: These are affiliate links, which means if you buy any of these recommended products, I will receive a small commission from Amazon at no extra cost to you. Please know that I only recommend products that I know to be of great quality. Thank you so much for your support!)

HOW DO YOU MAKE THESE CROCHET BOWS?

For the big bows, I followed this tutorial by Kim Layton at Everything Etsy.com, You can find the pattern here.

Crochet a rectangle using double crochets. Then fold and stitch it up. Next, you wrap yarn around the center making it in the shape of a bow.

So easy!

I made some with cotton yarn from Hobby Lobby and also tried some small bows with velvet yarn.

For the smaller bows, I followed this simple pattern by Daisy Cottage Designs.

Thank you to these makers for sharing these free patterns with us!!

If you do not know how to crochet, I have some beginner posts, do check them out if you would like to learn:

Learn How to Crochet

Learn the Basic Crochet Stitches

As I have said many times before, crochet is a wonderful hobby to have and easy to learn. The things you can make are beautiful, useful, and decorative. Most importantly crochet, like any other hobby is a stress buster.

If crochet is not for you, I have a post about 10 Hobbies that you can check out. You might find your next favorite hobby!

10 Fun Hobbies to do at Home

Hope you liked this post, if you do try out some bows, do share a picture with me on Facebook or Instagram @lovetostayhomeblog, I would love to see your creations! Please tag the pattern writers too!

Thank you for reading! I am grateful for your presence here.

Here are some other easy crochet projects you might like:

Sunflower Crochet Coasters

10 Free and Easy Crochet Flower Patterns

Crochet Car Coasters

Crochet Bath Scrubbers

Organizing with Crochet Baskets!

10 Easy Crochet Earrings (All Free Patterns!)

Crochet Keychains & Wristlets

Do follow me on Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram @lovetostayhomeblog to know when I have a new post.

Please visit my blog again soon.

Thank you, and have a wonderful day!

Photo by Clay Banks on Unsplash

Crochet

Sunflower Crochet Coasters

April 24, 2022 No Comments

These Crochet Sunflower Coasters will certainly brighten up any space in your home for Spring and Summer! The Sunflower is such a beautiful vibrant flower, so why not have these sunflowers in your home, they will never fade away! 😁

Coasters are so versatile. Apart from the most common use for your cups/mugs, these coasters can also be used for other things like candles, small plant pots, jewelry trays, little trinkets, etc.

They just liven up any space that they are in.

This is a simple crochet pattern. Easy enough for beginners too! If you would like to learn crochet, do check out my two beginner posts:

Learn How to Crochet

Learn the Basic Crochet Stitches

What are the supplies needed for these Crochet Sunflower Coasters?

Brown yarn (The yarn I used is from HobbyLobby I love this cotton, Brown)

Yellow yarn (This one is from Hobby Lobby too, its name is Curry)

Crochet hook size 4.25mm or 4.5mm

Scissors

Yarn needle

(Disclaimer: These are affiliate links, which means if you buy any of these recommended products, I will receive a small commission from Amazon at no extra cost to you. Please know that I only recommend products that I know to be of great quality. Thank you so much for your support!)

How do you make these Crochet Sunflower Coasters?

The pattern I followed is from a video tutorial on YouTube. It is from the channel Butterfly Craft DIY. You can find it here.

There are many tutorials on Pinterest and YouTube for Sunflower Coasters, believe me, I tried quite a few! In the end, I liked the look of these coasters. They are easy to make and are just the right size. (They are actually bigger than regular coasters, but since sunflowers are big flowers I think they look nice bigger.)

These Crochet Sunflower Coasters are available in my Etsy shop! If you would like to check them out, do visit my shop, HappyKnotsandLoops.

If you try out these coasters, please share them with me on Instagram or Facebook. I would love to see it! Also, be sure to tag the ButterflyCraftDIY You Tube channel on Instagram.

Lovetostayhomeblog is on Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram. Do follow me on any or all of these platforms to see when I post something new. Thank you all for your support, it does mean a lot to me!

Here are some other Coasters that you might be interested in making:

Crochet Car Coasters

Independence Day Crochet Coasters

Crochet Christmas Star Coasters

Easy Macrame Coasters

5 Useful Crochet Projects

Have a wonderful and creative day friends!!

Photo by Laura Chouette on Unsplash

Crochet

Velvet Crochet Peep Bunnies

April 15, 2022 No Comments

Velvet Crochet Peep Bunnies are so cute and soft! They make a great gift to put in an Easter basket.

These bunnies are easy to make and take about an hour. It may take longer if you are a beginner, but that being said it is easy enough for a beginner too!

The velvet yarn makes it so cuddly and soft. You can make it in cotton yarn like in the pattern I followed.

I decided to go for velvet yarn as I love the softness of it. I definitely think it is more challenging to work with velvet yarn but the end result is worth it!

If you like velvet yarn projects, Check out these, Velvet beginner soft and cozy Crochet scarves!

What do you need to make these Velvet Peep Crochet Bunnies?

Velvet Yarn – I used velvet yarn from Hobby Lobby which I had in my yarn stash

Crochet hook – size 4.25mm

Scissors

Beads or safety eyes – I used black beads as that’s what I had. However, If you are making these for a young child I suggest using safety eyes.

Stuffing – I used polyfill which I had. Alternatives are cotton, felt scraps, or yarn scraps.

Yarn needle – To weave in the ends.

(Disclaimer: These are affiliate links, which means if you buy any of these recommended products, I will receive a small commission from Amazon at no extra cost to you. Please know that I only recommend products that I know to be of great quality. Thank you so much for your support!)

How do you make these Velvet Peep Crochet Easter Bunnies?

I followed this pattern by Heather Corrine.

Her pattern is very clear and I followed it exactly as she explained. She even has a video to make these, so if you like to watch and learn, she has got you covered!

I have previously followed a mini pumpkin tutorial from Heather and wrote a post about it. You can find it here if you are interested. Her patterns are simple and easy to follow.

Thank you to Heather for the free patterns!

Notes:

As mentioned earlier you can use cotton yarn. Your bunny will not be as soft and cuddly but still as cute!

For the eyes and nose, you can use beads as I did. I sewed them on with a yarn needle and thread. Alternatives are safety eyes or stitching the eyes and nose with black thread.

When stuffing the bunny, I did not stuff the ears, just the body, and face. Do not overstuff.

Hope you liked reading about these cute bunnies! If you try them out please share a picture with me on Instagram @lovetostayhomeblog. You can tag Heather as well @heathercorrine

Thank you for being here and I appreciate your support! Please come back soon to check out all my other posts.

If you are interested in easy crochet projects, here are some that you may like:

Crochet Chain Decorative Easter Eggs

10 Free and Easy Crochet Flower Patterns

Spring Flower Crochet Garland

Crochet Car Coasters

Crochet Bath Scrubbers

3 Easy Crochet Potholders

Beginner Velvet Crochet Scarf

Easy Crochet Hair Accessories

Easy Crochet Chain Earrings

5 Useful Crochet Projects

Have a wonderful and creative day!!

Image by Pooja S from Pixabay

Crochet

Crochet Chain Decorative Easter Eggs

April 12, 2022 2 Comments

Crochet Chain Decorative Easter eggs are a great DIY idea for decorating your home this Easter. I am all about making your own decor as much as possible. First, it is cheaper than buying and secondly, you feel good that you have made something with your own hands and you can be creative about it. Finally, you are reusing/recycling which is always better for the environment.

I had made a lot of crochet chains when I posted about learning crochet last year on my blog. You can see that post here. Here is another way of using crochet chains!
I had a lot of plastic Easter eggs lying around, so instead of throwing them out, repurposing them for this project seemed like a good idea. So, I wrapped them with the crochet chains to see how they look. The end result surprised me. They look really nice and textured.

So easy and quick to make, make a whole lot and put them in a nice bowl on your table for a nice centerpiece! Or use them in a vase as fillers.
You can make them in any color you want, pastel, neutral, or bright. Considering the color choices of yarn available nowadays, you can match the colors to your decor.

What do you need to make these Crochet chain Easter eggs?

Yarn

Crochet hook

Scissors

Hot glue gun or regular glue

Plastic Easter eggs

(Disclaimer: These are affiliate links, which means if you buy any of these recommended products, I will receive a small commission from Amazon at no extra cost to you. Please know that I only recommend products that I know to be of great quality. Thank you so much for your support!)

How do you make these Crochet chain Easter eggs?

Make long crochet chains using your yarn and crochet hook. I made mine around 180cms.

Once done, start wrapping your Easter eggs from one end using glue as you go. I started on the flatter side and finished on the pointy side.

When you reach the top cut the chain and just hot glue it down.

Your decorative egg is ready!

Make a whole lot and use them wherever you want!

Notes:

You can even finger-knit a long crochet chain and use that! So even if you do not have any crochet hooks, you can still make these!

Do not use too much hot glue as it will come through the chain and look messy.

Get creative and stick tiny crochet flowers or beads etc.

If you try these out or if you liked this idea, please leave me a comment below. I love hearing from you!

Do share a picture with me on Instagram @lovetostayhomeblog if you make them.

If you like easy DIYs, here are some more ideas:

DIY Paper Bunny Garland

DIY Farmhouse Bead Garland

Easiest felt flower tutorial

5 DIY Jute Home Decor Ideas

DIY Beautiful Envelopes

DIY Decorative Macrame Jars/Vases

Hand Stitched Paper Gift Tags

Thank you so much for reading and be sure to follow me on Pinterest, Facebook & Instagram to know when I have something new up on my blog.

I appreciate your support, I would also be so grateful if you could share my blog with your family and friends.

Have a wonderful day!

Photo by Laura Chouette on Unsplash

Macrame

DIY Decorative Macrame Jars/Vases

April 7, 2022 No Comments

DIY Decorative Macrame Jars/Vases are a great way of sprucing up some plain jars or vases you have sitting around your house.

They look trendy and are very easy to do. There are so many different patterns to try. You can even make up your own if you are comfortable with the different macrame knots.

Even if you are a beginner, you can make these jars using very basic square knots.

Here is a great video explaining the basic macrame knots:7 must know macrame knots by Soulful Notions

What supplies do you need for these Decorative Macrame jars?

Glass jars/mason jars/vases – Use whatever you have lying around your home, if you are in the US, you get great options at the dollar tree!

Macrame cord – I use the recycled cotton cord from Ganxxet.com

I just found that Ganxxet is available on Amazon too, so I have a link below)

Measuring Tape

Scissors (My scissors and brush are from MissKnottieMacrame)

Brush ( if you are brushing out the fringe)

I am just sharing where I get my supplies as there are so many choices out there, and after a lot of research I decided on these and I am very happy with their quality! So if it saves you time and energy on research I am happy to share!

(Disclaimer: These are affiliate links, which means if you buy any of these recommended products, I will receive a small commission from Amazon at no extra cost to you. Please know that I only recommend products that I know to be of great quality. Thank you so much for your support!)

How do you make these Decorative Macrame Jars?

First, you measure out the cords and cut them accordingly.

For this one:

Cut one cord 100cms and 21 cords of 80cms each.

Next, you put the base cord around the neck of the jar so that the ends cross each other. Add one cord folded in half with a reverse larks head knot. Tighten the base cord by pulling the 2 ends. ( Do not tighten too much as you have to add the other 20 cords to the base cord)

Add the rest of the 20 cords with reverse lasks head knots to the base cord.

Tighten the base cord and adjust the cords all around so that they are more or less evenly around the jar.

Tie square knots using 4 cords at a time, starting with the base cord and then all around.

For the next row, tie alternating square knots but switch the cords every time. (Please watch the video mentioned below)

Do the same for the next row.

For the last row, tie regular square knots all around.

Trim the cords to the length of the jar.

For the fringe, you can brush it out or leave it as is. (I left the cord as is.)

That’s it! Your beautiful jar/ vase is ready!

Here is the video tutorial I followed to make this:

Snowy Macrame – Easy DIY Jar Cover

These are very popular for boho-themed or beach-themed weddings.

They make really nice home decor pieces too.

NOTES:

I used a 4mm soft cotton cord to make these jars. The white one I brushed out and the natural one I left as is.

A 2mm or 3mm cord is recommended for a very neat look.

I tried out one small jar with jute string but I was not happy with the look. But, I just wanted to share my experience using it. The jute string is rather stiff and I ended up using hot glue to keep the string down at the bottom. I think using a thinner jute string would look better.

I found this video which is helpful if all you have is jute string and you would like to try this out, Jute rope glass jar planter by Simply Sheetal

These jars can also be used with a battery-operated light as a lantern. It looks beautiful at night!

Here are a few videos of different kinds of Macrame jar designs:

Macrame School – 5 Easy Macrame Jars

Soulful Notions – Easy Macrame Mason Jar/ For Beginners

Love for DIY – Macrame Jar Cover

Handmade by Junesse Jani – Macrame Jar Wraps and Covers for Beginners

If you happen to try this, do share a picture with me on Instagram @lovetostayhomeblog

Please leave me a comment down below if you have any questions, I will reply as soon as I can.

If you are interested in Macrame, check out my other easy macrame projects:

Macrame Flower Bead Keychain

Macrame Bookmarks

Simple Macrame Statement Earrings

Macrame Feather Earrings

Simple Macrame Feathers

Macrame Tassel Earrings

Macrame Spiral Wristlets

Easy Macrame Coasters

Macrame Keychains

Thank you for visiting my blog. Follow me on Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook to know when I have a new post.

Have a wonderful and creative day!!

Photo by Nick Fewings on Unsplash

Art/Crafts & DIY

Easy Felt Birds

March 27, 2022 2 Comments

These easy felt birds are perfect for spring! You can make them in bright colors and use them in a garland or in a child’s room.

They are so easy to make and you can practice your embroidery skills with small designs on them. But that is completely optional!

I actually cut out the shape from the felt without a guide, but I recommend using a template.

If you have a Cricut, it makes your life easier by cutting out the shape for you. I’ve heard it is a really useful gadget if you are into DIYs.

Anyway, I am all about using what you have, so you do not need any fancy gadgets to make these cute little birds!

WHAT DO YOU NEED TO MAKE THESE FELT BIRDS?

Stuffing or cotton

Cardboard ( if you are making a template)

(Disclaimer: These are affiliate links, which means if you buy any of these recommended products, I will receive a small commission from Amazon at no extra cost to you. Please know that I only recommend products that I know to be of great quality. Thank you so much for your support!

HOW DO YOU MAKE THESE FELT BIRDS?

Cut out 2 bird shapes from each piece of felt. I found a free template here if you are interested. Or if you are good at drawing, you could just draw the bird shape on the felt!

The number of bird shapes will depend on how many birds you are making. If you making a garland I think you need at least 8 birds, hence you will need 16 shapes. ( 2 of each color)

On one bird shape, using embroidery thread and needle, stitch an eye. If you like you can embroider some flowers or anything you like. ( I am still working on my embroidery skills, so mine are not perfect!)

Next, start stitching the 2 bird shapes together using a blanket stitch or running stitch. If you need help with these stitches, the website The Sprucecrafts has very good tutorials. Click here to visit.

Add the beak ( a triangular piece of felt) in between the 2 bird shapes and stitch over it connecting it to the main body of the bird.

Just before you finish, Stuff the bird with some polyfill or cotton. Do not overstuff. Continue stitching and you are done!

Draw the bird shape on a piece of folded felt, so you will get 2 bird shapes when you cut it.

Cut them out. Cut out a triangle out of red felt or any other color that you want for the beak. (I only used 1 triangle)

Embroider the eye and any other design you want on one of the bird shapes.

Blanket stitch the 2 bird shapes together, adding the beak and stitching it in between the 2 bird shapes. Stuff the inside with a little cotton or stuffing and continue stitching it closed.

NOTES:

If you are making a garland, make the others and string them on a piece of jute twine ( yarn/string/ribbon are other options) using a yarn needle.

You can even hand the birds vertically for a nice wall hanging. Here is a picture I found on Pinterest.

You can use safety eyes instead of stitching the eyes if you prefer.

These little birds can even be used as a little pretend play toy for kids.

For the green bird pictured above, I did stitch all around the beak, but that is not necessary. I learned from trial and error!

If you are interested in embroidery, please take a look at my post – Small Embroidery Projects.

I love working with felt as a medium as it is so easy to create! With the beautiful colors that you get, it is easy to make anything you want using felt. I will be posting some more fun felt projects soon! Stay tuned and please visit again!

Hope you liked reading about making these felt birds. If you do try them out, please share a picture with me on Instagram @lovetostayhomeblog or leave me a comment below.