I am, by nature, a hoarder. I keep bits of everything, much to Hubbie’s dismay. But they often come in useful, especially for making things for Niblet, such as a shop or a fire engine.

In the next fortnight it will be both Niblet’s Grandma and Nana’s birthdays.

Grandma told me about an activity Niblet enjoyed when he was out with her last weekend – making a bracelet (which got lost!!), so I thought it might be nice for Niblet to make each grandmother a necklace.

(They were made on different days, hence the different quality of photos!!)

Upside down candle holders on blu-tack were very useful for holding the ‘beads’ in place whilst they were painted (macaroni, if you hadn’t guessed). While they were drying we went off and did other stuff; the park one day and decoupage on the boxes another.

Niblet chose the colours of paint for each necklace and the coloured cord, too.

The presentation boxes were created from boxes I have kept hoarded from previous gifts or purchases and bits of pages of craft magazines that were about to be recycled. Niblet did some extra cutting and most of the sticking.

When they were dry I had my first go of ‘mod podge’, I read about it so many times on American craft blogs that when I saw some in London, a while ago, I bought some. I got the matt version for paper. I didn’t use it for the gluing, just the sealing.

It looks good and definitely makes the boxes feel like they are going to last a bit better.

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I have recently become aware of adverts appearing at the bottom of my posts. These are nothing to do with me, I don’t know why they are there or indeed how to get rid of them. I apologise.