Make - mood board makeover

I recently read this great 5 minute DIY post on the craft blog creme de la craft on how to pretty up your bulletin board with a glue gun, pins/tacks and some artificial flowers, so simple but incredibly beautiful. I am intending to do this as my studio walls are covered in pins that would be much improved with some spring flowers.
However, I haven't yet found any flowers to use but I did find these cute little crochet bits at my local haberdashers, The Makery Emporium in Bath, which I felt would make a nice starting point for this project.

Take a look at the post for yourself and see what you can do too.

Make - fabric covered frames

For absolutely ages now I have been thinking what to do with a whole heap of fabric scraps I have saved, they are too small to make anything substantial with but are too pretty to throw away. Then inspiration struck! A while ago I picked up some cheap wooden frames from B&Q for my market stall, I stamped them with descriptions and used them to display my silver jewellery. But I have since upgraded the frames and these older ones are going to waste.
So what better way to use up my scraps than to cover the frames and make them into a colourful patchwork frenzy to surround some photographs of my friends and family.

I used copydex to stick the fabric as it doesn't show through and it shouldn't yellow the fabric like some glues can. This is such a simple way to dress up anything that needs a little attention, why not have a go yourself. I will probably put some different pics in to hang them (these clearly don't fit!) but I had them to hand to show you the results.

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

Cosy up with a letter or two

I absolutely love using text in the work that I do, creating jewellery with little words and messages is something that really appeals to me, so it is no surprise then that I like seeing typography on other things too. I recently discovered a cute Australian store on Etsy that makes gorgeous cushions with writing and maps (another thing I love) on them. This got me wanting to find some diy projects to make my own scatter cushions... but I think I will probably need to purchase a few from my bearded pigeon too, they are just too lovely.

Ok so here are some beautiful and clever ideas from lovelies in craft land...

Design Sponge

Wit & Whistle

Days of Chalk and Chocolate

And here is my work in progress, I thought some quotes on cushions would look pretty damn good scattered on the daybed in my shed. Sorry it's not a great pic, but I think you can see where I'm going with it...

Grab a sharpie and have a go!

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