10 Daiso Craft Materials

The US and the UK has their Dollar Stores, while Asia has its $2 version with its Daiso Stores.

Most Singaporeans love all things Japanese, from food (I am Japanese food fan myself!) to their culture. So naturally, products that are branded in Japan (although many are made in China) will be largely popular with Singaporeans.

I think the Japanese are ingenious with their ideas for craft, so to find a store where craft materials are found easily and cheaply is a thrill for any crafter.

Here’s sharing 10 of my Daiso buys for craft:

1. Felt Craft Daiso 8

I have used the felt from Daiso for some of my felt craft projects. As Daiso felt is made of polyester, it is washable and good for making of felt ornaments. But not recommended for the making of toys, softies and craft projects, that one intents to keep or requires more handling.

Daisy felt is best used for children’s craft, hair ties or clips. hanging mobiles, ornaments, brooches or small felt mascots.

Here are some Felt Craft tutorials, where Daiso Felt can be used;

Felt Projects(L to R) Craft Tutorials can be found in link; Felt Air Balloon Mobile, Felt Birds and Leaves Hanging Ornaments

2. Origami Paper

Craft Daiso 3

I use Daiso Origami paper for making Kirigami and occasionally Origami creations like these;

Craft Daiso 21

Kirigami and Origami can be used for gift wrapping and many other decorative purposes (Washi tape, wooden pegs and Kraft Paper Bag pictured below are all from Daiso).

Craft Daiso 20(L to R) Craft Tutorials can be found in link; Bear Kirigami and Ribbon Origami, Rabbit Kirigami Gift Card and Washi-fied Gift bag and Wooden peg

4. Cutting Mat and Precision Knife

Craft Daiso 27

They are a must-have when making Kirigami or cutting paper.

4. Construction Paper Craft Daiso 2

I have just discovered these coloured papers in Daiso a couple of months ago. I found the texture of the paper and range of colours available adequate for paper-flowers making. These papers are also sold in A4 size in a single colour in a pack.

Craft Daiso 11

Daiso coloured paper are good for card creations like these;

Craft Daiso 29Top to Bottom Craft Tutorials at link; Nothing Like a Mother’s Love Card, Papa Bear Father’s Card

5. Colour boards in Styrofoam or Cork Material Craft Daiso 5

I get them in white to mount the boy’s and my paintings to create a faux canvas base, and skip the picture frames, so that they can be easily pasted on the walls with blu-tack or mounting strips.

No one should put original ‘art’ in frames, unless they are reproduction prints bought from IKEA 😛

Cork can also be used in many DIY Homeware or Decor ideas. Just add your own designs with markers or paint.

6. Wooden Blocks in various sizes or Wooden Sticks and Sandpaper Craft Daiso 7

The wooden blocks are available in small square, rectangular shapes etc. These blocks that can be drawn, painted on, or pasted together to form a letter holder like this, with glued-on Hama Beads;

Screen Shot 2015 10 03 at 12 42 27 pm

While Sandpaper is a must have to prep the wood before it is ready to be painted on.

7. Pill Cases Craft Daiso 15

Extremely useful to segregrate Hama Beads into specific shades.

What is Hama Beads Crafting? Read more about it in this post. While the tweezer in pictured below is also from Daiso.

Craft Daiso 17

8. Shrinky Plastic and Tracing Paper Craft Daiso 4

There are at least 3 different types of Shrinky Plastic that are sold in Daiso. Pictured below are the clear and the opaque ones. There are the Neon ones available in some of the Daiso stores.

I have tried the opaque ones that come with a keyring in the pack and found them to be good enough for making keychains and fridge magnets.

Craft Daiso 6

9. Magnetic Tape

Craft Daiso 23

Useful for making your own magnets from Shrinky Plastic, or magnetic wooden pegs.

10. Wooden Pegs

Craft Daiso 26

Apart from its basic use for hanging laundry on a drying rack, wooden pegs have numerous uses in craft. Just stick on washi tape :)

I have been using the small wooden pegs for winding my embroidery thread (like a thread spool), while the small scissors and sewing pins pictured below are also from Daiso.

Craft Daiso 16

I spend more time in the craft aisle in Daiso than all the other aisles combined, as I am always looking for the next item that I can use to craft something new.

However…

There are a few things that I have bought from the craft aisle that I would not buy again, namely, play dough, soft clay, embroidery floss (thread), paint and brushes. Since it is $2, can expect that these things are not of very good quality.

The play dough and soft clay is really hard to manage without making a huge mess. Even after lining the table / floor with newspapers, the stray bits of dough or clay tends to stick on the floors and tables. Only recommended for moms who have no issues spending some extra time to clean up after their child after play.

While DMC is always my choice for embroidery floss, even when sewing on Daiso Felt. The quality of thread does make a difference to the one who is sewing and to the final product.

As for the Daiso paint and brushes, they are apt for children doing exploratory art, but not when the child or adult is starting to get more serious about taking up painting as a hobby. The paint pigments tend to be inconsistent and brushes often split at the ends after the first few washes.

For better quality art and craft supplies, and if you are willing to spend more than $2 per item, try Artfriend and Spotlight.

So what are the craft materials that you have used from Daiso?

 

For more on Daiso 101, 


Next on the 101 Daiso Blog train will be Winnie of ToddlyMummy.

Winnie Toddly Mummy

At her blog,  http://toddlymummy.blogspot.com Winnie shares her thoughts on parenting, fun learning moments of home learning sessions and outdoor adventures. She reviews books and other kids’ stuff. She sometimes shares about her favourite food too, along with the occasional side orders of stuff that she finds useful as a busy mum.

 

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The Papa Bear Father’s Day Card

Do people still send cards these days?

With the advent of the internet, most prefer sending a simple greeting through social media, email or with an e-card, which is more convenient.

It’s been a challenge to think of what presents to buy for people who have everything. So with occasions like Mothers’ or Fathers’ Days and some birthdays too, I stopped spending on expensive gifts. But spend some time and effort to make something for my loved ones and close friends.

Handmade cards are definitely more personal and thoughtful, over sending an e-card or greeting over the internet. Often it can even seem like a part of a gift!

Nonetheless, cards commercially-made or handmade will still get thrown away at the end of the day, so I am rather selective who I make them for.

I personally have the preference for making interactive cards; cards that pop-up or have a 3D element, or have that special little feature to it to surprise the person who is receiving the card. Interactive cards are cute to look at and it is simpler than it looks to make.

 

Here’s sharing a tutorial to make a Father’s Day Card for that special Papa Bear in your child’s life or in your life :)

Fathers Day Papabear 17

 

What you will need :

Fathers Day Papabear 2

 

  • Papa Bear with Tie print out (Download Fathers_Day_Papabear-1) on card-stock
  • Construction Paper: 1 brown, 1 white, 1 green or yellow
  • Scissors
  • Penknife
  • Glue or glue tape
1. Cut out the pattern and tape the sides on the brown construction paper, then cut out according to the outlines of the bear’s head
Fathers Day Papabear 3comb
2. Cut out the remaining pattern for the tie, speech bubble and nose of bear in white construction paper.
3. Place the cut out of the bears head over the brown construction paper cut-out, and trace the outlines of the bear’e eyes
Fathers Day Papabear 5comb
4. Once you have score the outlines of the bear’s eyes on the brown construction paper, use a pen-knife to cut out the shape of the eyes according to the score-lines.

Fathers Day Papabear 7comb

5. Use a black fine-tip marker or gel-pen to draw the nose and mouth, and eyes for the various cut outs on white paper

6. You can use pattern paper (i.e., wrapping paper) to cut out a vibrant tie, or you can draw patterns on the tie.

Fathers Day Papabear 9

7. Paste glue or double-sided tape at areas indicated below

Fathers Day Papabear 16 Fathers Day Papabear 10

8. Place the bear’s head and cut-out of the tie with the eyes together, and paste it on yellow/green construction paper.

This yellow/green construction paper has been folded into half and these cut-outs are pasted on the front of the card.

Fathers Day Papabear 11

9. Paste the cut-out of the speech bubble next to the bear, and you can write a note to Papa in the speech bubble.

Fathers Day Papabear 12

And there you have it, a Father’s Day card for Papa Bear!

Pull the Papa Bear’s tie gently…

Fathers Day Papabear 13

and you can change his expression!

Fathers Day Papabear 14

This card is easy enough for a pre-schooler to make, but you will have to help your pre-schooler when the penknife is needed to cut out the shapes of the bear’s eyes, and with the specific areas for gluing or pasting.

We are out of town this week appreciating family time with hb, and will be celebrating Father’s Day a week in advance, and have made this for two of our Papa Bears in our lives, dh and Grandpa.

Fathers Day Papabear 15

To all Papa Bears reading this…Here’s wishing you a Happy Father’s Day in advance!

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Nothing like a Mother’s Love Handmade card

When I see pictures of mother and baby animal pairs like these,

Motherandchildsource

I am reminded that just like humans, most animal mothers nurture and love their young with fierce protectiveness.

It is this very bond and protectiveness that a mom has for her child that is the inspiration behind the pattern for this handmade card for Mothers’ Day.

Mothers Love 1

What you will need :

1. Cut out the printed pattern and paste it on coloured paper with some sticky tape. Then cut along the borders of the printed pattern.

Mothers Love 13

 

2. You will have two separate cut outs of the Elephant and Birds Mother and and Child Pair

Mothers Love 2

 

3. Cut alone the line markings on the pattern, and join the two ends of the bird pattern by inserting the line cutouts, one into the other.

Mothers love14

 

4. Cut alone the line markings on the pattern, and join the two ends of the elephant pattern by inserting the line cutouts, one into the other.

Mothers love16

This card can be used as a standalone card, or a gift tag on a present for mom.

Mothers love15

 

Here’s a quote for all mothers reading this post;

“She is the creature of life, the giver of life and the giver of abundant love, care and protection. Such are the great qualities of a mother. The bond between a mother and her child is the only real and purest bond in the world, the only true love we can ever find in our lifetime.”

– Ama H. Vanniarachchy

 

Here’s wishing all Mothers a wonderful Mothers’ Day this coming weekend!

Mothers Love 12

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