It’s competition time over at Lucy’s Happy Place! Illustrator, crafter and designer Lucy Farfort is giving away a hefty haul of lovely stuff.

You can win the Whale and Me art print, shown partially above, a handy Robot Love canvas tote, a zippy Russian Dolls pouch and a Mini Monsters pad for all your doodles and notes.

You have until May 13th, so to check out all the goodies and enter the competition click here.

Even if you don’t win, there’s still something to smile about as the lovely Lucy has provided a tutorial for the Russian Dolls pouch. Have a go at making your own here!

Yes, it’s still cold outside!

In the absence of being able to magic up some sunshine, Pica Pica might be able to help you keep your home a little bit warmer though, with our really simple draught excluder snake make.

What you will need
35cm x 80cm piece of fabric
Scrap of red felt
Several items of old clothing or polyester filling
Sewing needle
Black sewing thread
Black fabric paint or marker
Sewing machine
Scissors

Step 1
Lay out your piece of fabric on a flat surface. Measure 35cm x 80 cm and cut to size using sharp fabric scissors.

Step 2
Fold fabric piece in half, length wise, right sides together. Draw two semi-circle shapes at both end for the head and tail of the body. Pin down the edges, leaving a 1.5 cm seam allowance.

Step 3
Use a running stitch on a sewing machine to sew around one end edge and the long side seam. Leave the other end open. Tie off any loose ends.

Step 4
Turn the piece inside out, so the right side of the fabric is showing.

Step 5
Roll up items of unwanted clothes (I used odd socks) and stuff them into the body of the snake. Alternatively you could use polyester filling, which would give a less bumpy finish, but this would be more expensive and would count against your recycling brownie points!

Step 6
When the snake is fully stuffed, turn the end edges in on themselves and face together. Use pins to secure into place. Use a needle and thread to slip stitch this edge, closing the opening.

Step 7
Cut out a small forked snake tongue shape from a scrap of red felt. Sew onto place where the tongue should be.

Step 8
Cut out two small oval shapes for eyes from the red felt. Use a tiny amount of black fabric pen to create the eye slits. Sew onto place where the eyes should be.

Step 9
Slither your snake into place near a drafty door and enjoy the extra warmth!

This Make has been modified from a DIY column Natalie originally wrote for Last Hours zine.

Here at Pica Pica we’re feeling inspired by the Chinese New Year celebrations! Here’s my attempt at a fish made from ang-pow envelopes…

You can try making your own here
Or if you’re feeling really ambitious why not try your hand at origmai master Sipho Mabona’s tiger!

Image Courtesy of Sipho Mabona

I made this knitted heart for someone special several years ago. It was the first time I’d tried the intrasia method; it’s a bit scrappy in places, but we’re still together, so presumably I won his heart with mine, (or something cheesy like that)!

If you want to make a knitted heart card you’ll need:
1 x pale pink yarn (I used Rowan Cotton Glace)
1 x red yarn (I used Rowan Cotton Glace)
2¾ mm knitting needles
A4 sheet of white card
Red paper
4 x small safety pins

Instructions:
To make the knitted heart, cast on 26 stitches and knit in stockinette stitch, following the chart below. Cast off after 37 rows and tidy away any loose ends.

To make the card, fold the white card in half and cut a red strip, just bigger than than the size of your knitted heart patch. Glue the red strip down the middle of the front of the card. Using the safety pins in each corner, attach the knitted heart to the card. Fold an A4 sheet of red paper and glue to the inside of the card.

That’s it and now you’re ready to declare your undying love to someone!