Note to self: Modge Podge Leaves

Hey the other week I decided I wanted to try and make a beautiful bowl out of the autumnal leaves in their array of fabulous colours after finding this Modge Podge Leaf tutorial over at Gingerbread Snowflakes blog. Well it didn't quite go to plan. But I learnt something I never would have learnt if I hadn't made the mistake... ONLY MODGE PODGE ONE SIDE OF THE LEAF AT A TIME! It just gets stuck to the surface and when you remove it takes the nice shiny glue coating off and many of the leaves will break. Obviously I should have read the instructions before carrying on with my attempt. And the bowl well I used clingfilm to stop it sticking to the glass bowl but instead it just meant I was unable to remove the clingfilm from the leaf bowl. Bad times. Now it just looks like this....

Shiny, cracked, weird? That's how I'd describe it now it's complete well sort of. I will try again next autumn since for now the leaves have lost their reds, purples, greens, yellows and are more of a brown. Never mind I know for next time and hopefully no-one else will make the same silly mistakes I made.

Recycled Ring Pull Bracelet Tutorial

The other day I made this recycled bracelet using ring pulls (pop tabs as they are known in the US). I had some by a particular brand that were blue and silver so decided to make a bracelet that were reversible. Here's how I did it.
First you need enough ring pulls to fit around your wrist I used 8, and since it was reversible I needed to double that. So I used 16 ring pulls in total.

Things you need:
16 Ring Pulls
17 Split Rings
Needle nose pliers
 1 Lobster clasp

1. To start with layout your materials (forgot to take a picture of this).

2. Take two ring pulls, one of either colour if using multiple colours. Lay one on top of the other so that the top side is facing out on both. Grab a split ring.  

3. Take the split ring and split carefully. Insert through the largest hole of both ring pulls and close.

4. Repeat step 2 and 3, but don't close the split ring.
5. Take you second set of rings pulls and put the open split ring through the closed split ring. Make sure your coloured ring pulls are facing the same direction.
6. Take your rings pulls and add a split ring to the side of the rings pulls without a split ring. Now repeat steps 3-5 until you have something that looks like a chain like this.

7. Repeat the process until you have a chain of ring pulls and split rings that when laid flat looks like this. Now you simply add your lobster clasp and last split ring to either end. Voila, all done.

I hope you understood that, it's my first real tutorial with pictures and descriptions so fingers crossed it made some sense. If you have any comments on how I could improve tutorials in the future please feel free to share them.

I'd like to try and post one tutorial a week, so I need to get busy and actually get my bottom into gear. On that note I had better get dressed...
*high five*

Oh dear... but look butterflies.

Oh dear, I've been bad. I've not blogged for a wee while. Tut tut. But in my defence I've been adventuring.

I've had some lovely days out with Seb on his days off. We went to London this week, very nice. Seb had a course at the Royal Geographical Society with work and being the Geography Geek that I am, I just had to follow him. Although I was a little gutted that he got to visit the RGS before I did, he's the Historian, I'm the Geographer. Perhaps I will try to commandeer the Royal Historical Society. I'll dress like a pirate and steal the many archaeological finds and historical journals and sell them on the blackmarket.... or not.

Whilst in London we went to a butterfly house which is currently located outside the Natural History Museum. Wow, it was fascinating. We came across a type of butterfly with transparent wings, really beautiful, stain glass like but with out the colour panels. AMAZING! We also had the opportunity to see GIANT moth, it was gorgeous a yellow colour with a very large silk cacoon. They only live for around 5 days and they don't have organs to eat, so they survive on the energy they built up as caterpillars. Quite amazing really.

Despite being a little freaked out to begin with, what with hundreds of butterflies flying around. I soon fell in love with the beauties. I took a few sneaky photos but due to the humidity in the tent my phone packed in. Boo. Here are a few of my favourites.



If you happen to be in the area, I definitely recommend a visit to the butterfly house, you won't be disappointed and kids will LOVE it.

Embroidery Hoop Wall Decoration

I really love the idea of decorating walls using embroidery hoops and fabric. When I came across this idea by The Purl Bee I instantly fell in love with idea and knew I had to give it a try.
I posted my first attempt at embroidery hoop wall decoration not so long ago, if you scroll down I'm sure you'll find it. I can't wait until I move into a new place so I can get crafting on creating more embroidery hoop beauty to cover the walls with. For now I'll leave you with my how-to over at Cut Out and Keep.

*high five*

One-day-she'll-be-my-sister-in-law Wedding Hair Dilemma

With my one-day-she'll-be-my-sister-in-law's wedding on Saturday she's still not sure on how to do her hair. She's doing her own hair and is looking for a romantic, vintage style.

I had my hair in a vintage kind of style today where you wrap your hair around a headband bit by bit until you have this beautiful roll. The original idea came from Maria from the LipstickDiaries in her tutorial for creating curls without heat, but I thought that if I left some space at the front and used a pretty lace headband which I made some weeks ago I'd could wear my hair like this during the day.

FYI: This photo was taken at recently at a festival, so please excuse the lack of make-up, clean hair and beer cans (not mine may I mention, I'm a cider drinker)

The style looks something like this at the front.


And this at the back as shown by ...loveMaegan



My one-day-she'll-be-my-sister-in-law said she wanted something similar, except without the headband. We had a search around the shops and found a 'sponge thing' for creating Hollywood rolls, but it was extortionately priced for what it was. So instead of writing job applications I've been playing around creating different hair styles to see what I can come up with that is similar but without the need for a hairband. Whilst looking for inspiration online I came across the Gibson Roll. It's vintage, it's stylish and well it's just delightfully romantic.

This was my first attempt (on myself) at the Gibson Roll/Tuck not sure which one I've managed to create by definition, but I quite like it. With a bit of practice I'm sure I could make it neat and tidy for the bride, however I also like the idea of wearing it in the classroom. It's easy to do yet stylish and practical.


Anyway, back to the point I'm on the search for romantic and vintage hair styles that are similar to those above, if anybody knows of any please feel free to leave a comment and point me in the right direction for images, blogs, tutorials etc. I'm sure the bride-to-be would be most appreciative.

*high five*

Three things I love...

I've had a busy week this week with little time for crafting. Had a job application to complete (boring) and went to a festival which despite the bands we saw being amazing the festival itself was well a tad weird.

Here's the three things I love this week.
1. The Skints
Firstly this week I love a band called The Skints. Whilst the entire band are wonderfully talented I have to say that Marcia Richards is one phenomenal women when it comes to musical talent. She plays the Saxophone, Organ & Melodica as well as vocals, swapping between instruments throughout their sets. If you like reggae, ska or punk I'm sure you'll enjoy The Skints, check them out their Facebook here.



2. Homemade games
Next I love the idea of making your own games whatever your age. Great idea to keep kids entertained or for a bit of party fun. I like this one with the homemade bean bags made from the pockets of old jeans. Check out the how-to here. How cool would it be to get kids involved in painting their own snakes and ladders or building your own giant draughts set for parties. I can't wait to have kids now... although do I really need kids to create my own games?


3. DIY chalkboards
Lastly I love the idea of creating your own chalkboards, there are just so many possibilities. You just need chalkboard paint and your ready, how cool is that. These are just a few of my favourite ideas for DIY chalkboards.

London Riots

Now I know this has nothing to do with crafting but it's a topic that is of deep concern to me. How can such a developed society justify the actions that have been experienced in London and small pockets around the rest of England? These selfish acts of violence and looting have been carried out with no regard for other people and the local community. The problems these actions will bring to so many already struggling families, couples, shops, business owners and communities, like they really need this in a time when everybody is finding it difficult to get by. The cuts affect most people in some way or another, but the rest of the country hasn't taken to looting and stealing from those around them, whilst destroying the local community and putting fear into the lives of ordinary people. Some people have lost their homes, their businesses and all so a minority of youths in the country can gain new possessions and live comfortably.

I saw a news report yesterday a women was telling the reporter about how she luckily escaped from her home but had to witness her possessions that she worked so hard for go up in flames, the only belongings she now has are those she had in her handbag. She had tears rolling down her face and you could see the anxiety and fear she was feeling through her body language and expressions, worst thing is she's not the only one; yet the riots continue!

Protests and riots in Africa are just about justifiable, people want democratic rights and freedom, here it's greed that has brought so much of this violence. When there are families in East Africa with just enough food, water and shelter to barely survive, how can people be out committing violent acts and looting just to get a better TV, mobile phone or even a bunch of flowers. Seriously what is wrong with society.

Three Things I love this week.

I've decided that since I do too much web browsing I'd put my time to use and each week share 3 things that I have found online which I love and think others may take interest in. The list may include just about anything; craft ideas, tutorials, recipes... you never know what you might fall in love with.
*high five*

This weeks I love...
1. Embroidered buttons - Found these beautiful buttons posted on pinterest (of which I'm obsessed with) and simply fell head over heels with them. I need to tryhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif this, they are quite simply beautiful.
2. Quirky Cupcakes - I love some of the interesting and somewhat quirky ideas you can find online for cupcakes these days, here are just a few of my favourites:
3. Handmade Bunting Cards - I think this idea is so sweet and simple (friends yes you will be receiving these in the near future).

Home decoration

Simple idea to make use of old fabrics and bits and pieces to decorate those plain walls.

I used:
an embroidery hoop
two pieces of fabric
crochet doily
button
embroidery thread



Put it all together and what to you get...

It's been too long!

Well what a year it has been.
I've had adventures of being homeless and staying with friends, I've moved to Wales, I've qualified as a teacher, I've moved back to Kent...


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And now a new chapter is beginning and hopefully some crafting is to emerge from the depths of unemployment.

I hope to post something new each week, no promises though.



*high five*