Free Printable - lovebird illustration

As it is the month of love I thought I would share this little illustration with you today. The original drawing is intended for my best girl and her hubby who celebrate their first wedding anniversary (which is paper) on the 12th of Feb. However, I am quietly confident some of you lovelies out there in blog land may like my whimsical lovebird and have made it in to a free printable for you to use at will.
All you need to do is download it here and then print it as A6 (it's best printed as a small image) on a printer friendly sheet of white card stock, cut out around the blue dotted line and frame. Easy!

click here for download

typically.pretty.wish list 03/13

One or two items from Etsy for you to covet today, I hope you like them as much as I do.

1. Illustration by Libby Burns Design
2. Illustration by Spread the Love
3. Wall hanging by ELWoodworks
4. Gloves by Bloomed Flower
5. Clutch by Cindy Mars 7
6. Leg warmers by Three Bird Nest

typically.pretty.wish list - 02/13

After browsing etsy and folksy yesterday I thought I would share these little delights with you, some things to pretty your home.

1. journal from felt feelings
2. apron from mellor wares
3. polaroid coasters from pixel grin photography 
4. print from handz
5. cushion from little birdy cushion 

Make... An Order Board

Hello friends, sorry about the quality of photo's in this post but I only had my phone camera and poor lighting available to record my make today.
I am very excited that I am writing this on my brand new MacBook Pro, but this wondrous machine has highlighted how much I need improve my photography skills!

For my first make of 2013 I am bringing together functionality with the fun and frivolous. I was given these stag pegs (below) for Christmas and I am going these on a design memo board that I have in my workspace, but they have also inspired me to make another board for my order list (I do like my space to be organised).

So, what is needed to make a clothes peg memo board? Well clothes pegs are a good start!

6 wooden pegs

selection of washi tape

vintage buttons

piece of wood

white emulsion paint

ink stamps

staze-on ink

hot glue gun

nails/hooks and string for hanging

The first thing you need to do is give the wooden board a wash of the paint and put it to one side to dry.

Whilst this drying you can decorate the pegs, do this by sticking your tape to the flat edge of one side of the pegs and trimming to a neat flush finish. You can then use the hot glue gun to stick on your buttons,  layering smaller ones on to larger ones to give some nice detail.

Once your paint is dry you can ink stamp whatever you want written across the top of the board, I chose the word orders with some added detail of a button image I have on a stamp. Staze-On ink really is the strongest you can buy, so be confident of your design as it's not coming off once you have stamped it!

Finally hot glue gun your pegs along the bottom edge of your board, tap your pins or hooks for hanging on to the back, attach your string and voila, you are done.

Have fun xx

Faith, Trust & Pixie Dust!

So the last night I decorated my little tree, and I think you'll find it to be one of the kitschest trees you ever did see! Whilst out shopping for presents for little ones I ventured into the Disney store and came out with a Tinkerbell doll (nothing unusual there you say?)... it was for myself! Couldn't help it, I remembered I needed a tree fairy and what better one to have sitting there on the top my tree than Tink, the naughtiest fairy there ever was. I think she goes perfectly with my toadstools, typewriter key snowflake and vintage decs.

How is your tree shaping up? What's your favourite decoration?

One Stop Dec Shop!

Feeling totally festive today so I have put together a selection of decorations that you may want to go out and grab. There is something you'll want I'm sure from this collection of vintage kitsch, homespun and Nordic style ornaments.

1. quotesandnotes on Etsy
2. mellybee on folksy
3. inkmeup on folksy
4. tentvintage on Etsy
5. luncheonettevintage on Etsy
6. Bread and Jam on folksy
7. Anthropologie
8&9. Paperchase

Go forth and decorate people, and let me know your favourite xx

After the Birthdays and Bunting Came the Crafting

OK so I have been really lapse at posting anything recently, life has been just too exciting so I've had no time to turn on the old laptop. What with Olympic torches, Jubilee celebrations and a birthday or two I have been up to my ears in bunting, flags and cake. However, here I am with a cup of tea by my side contemplating what to do with all of those greetings cards that my friends and family have lovingly sent me. They are so pretty and the notes written inside don't deserve to be discarded lightly, a few even have drawings and greetings by the little people I know practising their handwriting.
Right, what to do with them? All too often they end up in a shoebox and forgotten about, so I was looking for some ideas on line and found a blog or two with some great ideas.

simplemom.net

Turn them into a book, simply punch holes and bind them together. It doesn't have to be just cards, you could keep bits that remind you of a particular person, like letters and ticket stubs. Add little notes and dates if you want and use it as a kind of picture diary for the year.

The Pink Sewing Machine

Grab a tag shaped punch from your local craft store and make beautiful gift tags from old greetings cards.

Atypical Type A

Frame it! Add your fave or sentimental cards to your gallery wall. Make them pieces of art, even the greetings on the inside can look beautiful framed in the right way.

Let me know if you have any ideas yourself.

Have fun x

Funky Placemats

Over the last week I have spent a fair amount of time with my lovely friend Hayley, she has been very supportive in getting my work out there to the public. I am very excited to say that a beautiful gallery in Salisbury has taken a selection and it looked great amongst all the other arts and crafts. If you are in the area check out the Gallery at Fisherton Mill.
Anyway, I digress, whilst spending time with Hayley she has mentioned several times that she needs some place mats for her new dining room, see where we're going yet? I started looking on line for some fun and funky ideas to make your own, and here is what I have found. As always, use these to be inspired and come up with something unique for you (get your craft hat on and get making, I have!)...

House of Ficek

Fossil

Free printable from The Pretty Blog

Pocketful of Dreams

Sian Berry for EggMag

Creme de la Craft

La Maison Jolie

Sweet Tidings

Have fun xx

Snapshot Candle Holders

This weekend I took a trip to the coast and snapped these pics of what to me sums up the Great British seaside (that and a sandy picnic & 99 ice cream!!). I was going to print them off and put them on a shelf, but then I remembered seeing some cute ideas for votive candle holders when I was putting together my post about how I heart paper lanterns. So here are a few cute ideas of how to show off your pics without resorting to a standard frame. They would make lovely gifts too, so economical if you recycle old jars and glasses.

Inspired Ideas 

Oh, there are one or two other ideas for lighting your mantle which I couldn't resist including too.

fellow fellow

fellow fellow

Hers and His

Have fun xx

Fun Project - DIY Lanterns

Whilst wandering through the town yesterday I kept spotting paper lanterns that I desperately wanted to buy. However, for them to make a real impact I think you need to have lots of different ones all hung together (expensive, right?). So this got me thinking that it might be a nice little project to have a go at, here is a small selection of the best that I have found online. I really could've gone on and on, there are so many pretty ones to inspire you. Take a look at these to start you off, I am going to be making some for sure, especially with all the summer festivities that are coming up!

Cocktail Umbrella Lantern

Paper Bag Lantern

Pendent Garland

Doily Lamp

Covered Jar Lantern

Coloured Paper Discs

Pretty Colours

String Lantern

Paper PomPom

Cupcake Case Lantern

Have Fun xx