The Brightside - A Keepsake Birthday Craft By Nicole from @mothertide_
BIRTHDAY KEEPSAKE CRAFT
By NICOLE FROM @MOTHERTIDE_
A slow, meaningful make with @mothertide_ for the families who want to mark another year with something real. Here is a craft activity to slow the birthday chaos down. Sit together as a family, reflect on the year that was, and make something by hand that holds a little piece of who your child was right now.
MATERIALS:
Embroidery floss and needle
Paper and pencil
Watercolour paints, crayons or pencils
Fabric scissors Stuffing
A quiet moment together as a family
METHOD:
● Gather together as a family and reflect on the child’s first lap around the sun.
● Think about the places, songs, animals, colours, foods or little memories that shaped their year.
● Invite older siblings to share what they remember too
2. Paint or Draw Your Symbols:
● On paper, paint or draw the little things that feel meaningful
● For example: a first/favourite food, things they were into, something symbolic to their name, a flower that was in bloom on a family holiday or around their birthday. Whatever was meaningful to you, your child and your family.
● For us my son loved music, jasmine flowers were in bloom when he was born, his name means the sun and he loves spotting mushrooms in the garden.
3. Create your number
● Roughly draw the number of your child’s age onto paper to make the pattern. Ps, you can use Canva or print a number out for this if you’re having trouble drawing.
● Cut two matching pieces from felt, one for the front and one for the back. 4. Embroider the Details
● Use your drawings as inspiration
● With a fine tip pen or pencil roughly draw your shapes onto one side of the felt. ● You can choose to leave this blank if you like.
4. Embroider the Details
● Use your drawings as inspiration
● With a fine tip pen or pencil roughly draw your shapes onto one side of the felt.
● You can choose to leave this blank if you like.
5. Assemble the Keepsake:
● Place the front and back felt pieces together
● Seperate your embroidery thread into 3 strands. Blanket stitch the two pieces of felt together.
● Leave a small gap for stuffing. Or stop to stuff as you go, depending on your number.
6. Stuff and Finish:
● Gently add stuffing through the gap
● Continue sewing closed
● You can choose to add a safety pin if you’d like to use it as a birthday badge. Your
Birthday Keepsake is Finished Place it under your child’s pillow the night before their birthday. When they wake, they’ll find a little piece of handmade magic to begin their celebrations. Repeat each year as a way to slow down, remember and mark their childhood with meaning.
FOLLOW NICOLE
Nicole is a Mother, Textile Artist and Storyteller. She shares with her community through the @mothertide_ instagram account. She also sells Earth conscious heirlooms, igniting storytelling and belonging through play via @thewildestore_
Shop New Birthday Traditions:
The Banabae Birthday Collection for kids features a new range of keepsake tee shirts to mark milestones from ages 1-6.
Celebrate every lap around the sun with unisex tees designed for their special day and every fun day of the year to follow. Perfect for handing down from sibling to sibling and keeping the tradition alive.
