Crafts by Tanhupallo

Kiti Kokkonen 2018: Tanhupallon askartelukirja

I adore this book!

Ms. Kiti Kokkonen is a comedienne, who created a character for the tv-show "Putous" this year.  The Character's name is Tanhupallo (Squaredance-ball) and she is five or six years old.  I love this character, she is so funny and clever taking like a grown up and not making any sense. Ms. Kokkonen is about 150 cm (5 ft) and next to the Putous host, who is 190 cm (6 ft 3 inch) the contrast is remarkable.

This book is about the crafts that Tanhupallo makes. It has also stories about Tanhupallo's parents, grandparents and the neighbor girl.

The crafts are categorized in three sections: super super easy, pretty easy and might get frustrated. All are easy to make with kids and with materials you have at home.

Might get frustrated section starts here.

I love crafts, but I don't think I am very good at. Now I have made peace with this and I settle in making Christmas cards and nothing else, because my crafts look like they were made by a five-year old.

Puppet theater with paper figures. Lovely!

In Finland the high class craft show is called Strömsö. We even have a saying that something did not go as in Strömsö (ei mennyt niin kuin Strömsössä). Meaning that the result is far from perfect.  At Strömsö everything looks easy, but when I do it, it is not. Now Tanhupallo's book I can imagine that I actually could make my crafts look like hers.

I added a clip from Putous this spring, where Tanhupallo is taking a vacation and is suggesting all kinds of destinations and activities to the host. But when the host suggests that they should go to New York, Tanhupallo makes a face indicating that the host has lost his mind. This imagination game isn't for grownups! I wish I could make the same face, when people make absurd suggestions at work or just act stupid.

The most beautiful Christmas

Ilona Pietiläinen 2016: Kaunein joulu


This isn't exactly a children's book, but there are many instructions for crafts and baking, which you can make with kids.  Such as make frozen soap bubbles, ice lanterns and different kind of decorations from branches and pine cones.

This is really an inspirational and feel good book. It reminds me of the Scandinavian interior books, but with a Finnish touch. The Scandinavians can be a little too minimalistic and urban. This book truely brings Christmas to you house.

You can read more (or just look at the pictures. It is OK to do just that.) at the authors blog Valkoinen Puutalokoti.

I'm pretty sure, my icy flowers
would not look like this.

How peaceful!

Christmas sweet roll wreath made with sugar and butter

Christmas decorations outside. A bit different from
the colored lights you see in the city

Christmas at Dollhouse Väinölä

Maria Malmström 2015: Nukkekoti Väinölän joulu

Dollhouse Väinölä is getting ready for Christmas. They make the traditional Christmas treats out of polymer and they look delicious!

Maria Malmström also makes Christmas decorations, my favourite is a miniature cross of Thomas, Tuomaan risti.  She also makes elves, Christmas tree, straw stars and even a engel bell.

For gifts there are instructions how to make a Star of Africa, a tradiotional Finnish board game, rocking horse, sled, doll,  Reino slipprs.

Tuomaan risti (Cross of Thomas)

The photos in this book are full of details and the instrucktions are simple enough for even me to follow. If only I had the patience.

This is the book to read, if you are looking for the Christmas spirit, even if you are not into crafts. Sometimes I forget that I was reading about a doll house and when it hit me, I was facinated how detailed everything was even though they were teeny tiny.

Dollbouse Christmas presents.

24 steps to Christmas

Kaisa & Aleksi Kuokka 2013: 24 askelta jouluun

This  book is not a Children's book, but it is a good book to get into the Christmas spirit. It may be too much for trying to do all the book has instructions for, but you can start with some this year and then some more next year.

The book combines the traditional elements of Christmas, like Himmeli a traditional Christmas decoration with some more modern cuisine such as Spanish appertizers.

I have tried making a Himmeli but the straws split very easily, in this book they make it look really easy.


The book is illustrated with lovely pictures of the different foods and crafts.

Traditional straw decoration

The book also gives advise how wrapp gifts. I am not very good at that and this book didn't help me at all. I usually go to Pentik to see how the girls there wrap anything in a beautiful way.