Holidays are coming...

In the past I've made Christmas cards by hand - drawing designs for friends, family and love ones. Although lovely these are very time consuming and this year was about making on mass...well 30 and required a speedier option - cue the scissors!

To make:

- recycled Christmas cards

- glue

- scissors

- star sequins

- double sided tape

- plain cards (pack of 20 for £1 bargin!)

- pen

- double sided foam (optional)

1. Cut out varied tree shapes from the recycled cards - the more the merrier. I did this free hand as I think it adds to the charm but you could use a stencil if you prefer. 

2. Arrange 4 trees on the card and glue down. 

3. Add a sequin to one tree using the double sided tape. Glue would work also but tape is my preference for sequins. 

4. Write your message onto scrap bits of recycled card and attach to card using double sided foam. Creating a 3D effect. 

Voila! The cards are then ready for you to add your own personal message and send - to be received and displayed pride of place on all your friends mantels and window ledges! And all of this for the bargin price of £1! 

Enjoy! 

Also this week making their 2013 comback, we have melted snowman biscuits. Click here for how to make.

Butterflies and Rainbows

As a child I was obsessed with butterflies and rainbows. My mum has told me how I went through a phase as a child where any drawing or painting would always have a rainbow in the background and/or a butterfly flying past. It didn't stop there - face painting was a trend too!

Me & Dad - butterfly face painting

Times probably haven't changed much from then to be honest. There is something magical about a rainbow, how it is formed and appears for that split moment in time. And as for butterflies what's not to love! Such a delicate and pretty insect. Their whole formation fascinates me. I remember at school collecting caterpillars in jam jars and watching them as they grow - living the story of the hungry caterpillar!

I set about making my own magical butterfly, mines not as intricate and beautiful as the real things but I love it all the same!

Bye bye winter...hello Summer Wreath!

Snow snow go away! I'm a fan of snow, don't get me wrong but not in March...I want to be outside drinking cocktails on sun loungers not sat inside with my hood up and a hot water bottle. Come on Summer it's nearly April!!

Channeling the summer and in line with an event at work I set about making a Summer Wreath - a bold take on the Chirstmas classic.

Summer Wreath Tutorial - @GlitteredPink

Here's how to make your own...

1. You will need - polystyrene plates, scissors, cocktail umbrellas and a Stanley knife.

How to make a Summer Wreath

2. Draw a circle template in the middle of your top plate

3. Secure the plates together by using a couple of umbrellas

Summer Wreath tutorial

4. Using the knife cut out the middle circle, repeat through the layers - leaving a hollow centre. Don't worry if it's not completely smooth and even as this won't be seen

5. Now you are ready to fill the ring with umbrellas. Layering on top of each other

Summer Wreath - Step by Step guide

6. Once you have done the top you need to pay attention to the bottom. My wreath was 8 plates deep, meaning that the cocktail sticks poke out the bottom. To allow this to hang right you need to trim.

  

7. Using scissors trim the sticks so they are at the same level of the plate (watch your eyes as the pieces fly everywhere!)

8. Finally - hang - step back and appreciate!

Summer Wreath - made from cocktail umbrellas - Made by @GlitteredPink

 Ta da!!!

Tweet Tweet...Hello Spring!

Snow in March...who knew! This week has seen the coldest day in March since 1986. Snow I love you and it's fun to make snowmen but I was hoping to put the winter faux fur away and welcome spring which is hopefully around the corner! 

Felt bird made by @GlitteredPink

This spring we have new blue felt birds. Perfect alone or as a pair. 

Felt Blue Birds - made by @GlitteredPink

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I dream of...

...Trees!! Random I know so let me explain!

I went to a lovely cafe this weekend called the Leaping Hare in Suffolk. If you ever have chance to go I would highly recommend it. The Eggs Benedict with bacon is scummy and the carrot cake is Devine!

Leaping Hare - Bottle Trees

After a lovely lunch I went for a mooch in the shop and came across this fabulous wooden tree which I thought would be perfect for all my little craft items! Intrigued I asked the shop assistant where I could buy one. She politely informed me that the RRP was £500 a lot more than - a. I can I afford and b. I was expecting.

However not deterred and thanks to the power of the Internet that evening I set about a search and good old Google didn't take long in finding me one for $210 from Raw Space in Australia. A fraction of the price I had been quoted but still a little steep and not to mention on the other side of the world.

So the plan is find someone to make me my very own unique wooded tree...fingers crossed...how hard can that be. In the mean time I have my dreams!

To all the mothers in the world

Happy Mothers Day!

Mother's Day is a special time of year to celebrate how much your mum loves and cares for you and to show her your appreciation for all her kindness.

I have my mum to thank for my art, sewing and craft skill. She taught me at a young age the art of making something unique and personalised.

My mum appreciates anything handmade, especially cards. Knowing this I set about making her a card and its always a pleasure.

1. Set on a design - cutting letters out of felt which will be fixed using double sided tape

Mum

2. Arrange the letters and apply double sided tape

3. Cut out the card. I made my card from scratch using crafting material to make the card body and background

Homemade card - rose print

4. Stick the letters to the card

5. Add a page insert with a personal message:

Mum is such

a special word

the lovelist

I've ever heard

A toast to you

Above all the rest

Mum you're so special

You are simply the best!

 

Mothers Day message

6. Voila!! A homemade card!

Mothers Day card

Mothers Day card @GlitteredPink

A is for...

I believe it's the special unique things which turn a house in to a home.

Pictures, ornaments, photos, crafty trinkets I love them all! Cluttered...I say lived in.
I love that feeling when you walk into a home and you just feel comfortable and right at home, able to kick your shoes off, put your feet up and relax!!

My sister in law to be, Amy (15 years old) has just had her room turned from a little girls room into a teen room with the exciting addition of a double bed!!

To make it that extra bit special I have made her some trinkets to hang from her head board. And guess what she loved them!

Felt Letter - made by @GlitteredPink

Handmade hearts @GlitteredPink

Handmade hearts @GlitteredPink

Felt Rose Pattern and Tutorial

Happy New Year!!

This year has got off to a bang, time is speeding by and sooo much has happened already...where did 2012 go?! 
There's lots that I would like to reflect on from 2012 as it was such an amazing year with some truly unforgettable moments but today is about looking forward, staying positive and ticking through that long list of New Year's resolutions....starting with Felt Flowers. 

Felt Flowers by @GlitteredPink

When looking online for a guide to how to make felt flowers I struggled to fine a pattern/ tutorial which was easy to follow and FREE! After a good hour on Pinterest, several websites/blogs and a couple of YouTube videos later I've done it... I hope this helps!! 

My guide to making Felt Rose Flowers - Pattern and Tutorial. Felt or paper they both work!

Felt Flowers by @GlitteredPink

Felt Snowman

A winters afternoon being creative and moments later there are some frosty felt snowmen. Super cute and easy to make, these felt friends are going to be perfect winter warmers as card gifts this year.

Frosty the Snowman made by @GlitteredPink

Jazzy Felt Gingerbread Men

Earlier this year I set about making some felt gingerbread men to give as gifts this Christmas (Don't mind me I'm a Gingerbread man) . To jazz these up a little (and partly because I have run out of red ribbon) these gingerbread men look ready to P A R T Y!!

Felt Gingerbread Men made by @GlitteredPink

Felt Reindeer - hands off he's mine!

I am a massive fan of making things from felt, and getting a head start this Christmas I was searching for new characters to make and create. Browsing the web I came across http://gnathalie2.wordpress.com/category/attempted-sewing/ the super cute blog with a fab reindeer felt template. 

Felt reindeer made by @GlitteredPink

This template was more complex than my normal 2 piece but I thought I would give it a go....I love love love this felt reindeer and I think he is too nice to part with so will be taking pride of place on my tree instead. 

Christmas Cat Cross Stitch

Another little cross stitch pattern completed...one more down in the run up to Christmas. I've done something I have always wanted to do but never been brave enough and plucked up courage this week to do this cross stitch on the tram on the way to work. Yes I got some funny, inquisitive looks but I don't care! I am embracing my skill as it is something to be proud of. I'm surprised you don't see more people doing it.

Christmas Cat Cross Stitch b @GlitteredPink

Christmassy Cat Cross Stitch

Christmas Cat Cross Stitch Pattern

My plan is to make this into a Christmas ornament which can be hung on the tree. I am going to give to my fiances mum with her Christmas card in honor of the new member of the family her new kitten Legolas. I'm not a massive fan of cats but this pic does make me go arrr...don't you agree.

Legolas

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 


In other news I have stumbled across a couple of new blogs today which I have been inspired by. Another craft item to add to the Christmas list is this Christmas pudding pinata, found on http://peasandneedles.blogspot.co.uk/ I think it will be great fun to do with friends and family this Christmas, as long as no one gets injured!

Snowman Cross Stitch

Take on snowman cross stitch kit, 1hr and 1/2 later and voila!! 

This took me about 1hr and 1/2 to do when I got home from work tonight in between having my tea and watching telly. It was the perfect break and down time to have on a Monday night before netball. I'm chuffed with the results and how quick it was to stitch. 

Snowman Cross Stitch Pattern

 

Snowman Cross Stitch

My plan is to do a couple of these between now and Christmas on my hour tram journey to and from work...I will not be embarrassed about sewing in public. It's a skill I need to be proud of and embrace with pride!

Movember!!

Happy November or should I say Movember! In aid of Testicular Cancer, men will be showing their support this month by growing tash's. For those of us who can not sport a tash you can show your support in many other ways and thanks to the high street there are lots of pieces of moustache merchandise up for grabs, New Look in particular have loads!!
Here is a little something which I made earlier this year for a friend for her birthday, she is a major fan of the tash!!
Cute and simple don't you think?!