Recycled Candle Lantern

This tutorial shows you how to create a cute, whimsical candle lantern from copper wire, a jar lid and an old light fitting (all recycled items). These would look great around your garden on summer nights!

Hanging Flower Vases

This is a beautiful effect created simply by putting flowers in teardrop glass vases, and hanging them from the ceiling - gorgeous! Go here for more details.

Photos In Miniature

I love this technique of making your photograph look like a mini model village - I took the above photo from a castle in Northumbria and tryed the technique with it. I think it turned out quite well (even though I used Photoshop Elements rather than the full Photoshop software).

To find out how, you can click here, here or here.

This works best with a busy scene, especially one which looks down upon a crowd of people.

This website lets you upload your photo, and then it transforms it for you!

Paper Bead Bracelet

I really love this ingenious and funky bracelet made from things you probably have lying around your house anyway: Just paper, beads and safety pins! Go here for the tutorial.

Mixed Media Embossed Books

This is an AWESOME tutorial - really informative and the result is gorgeous! Basically, you can emboss copper for the front cover, and then bind pages together to form a little scrapbook for lots of arty pictures, finds and ideas. Go here for the instructions.

Moustache On A Stick

Funny little project which is perfect for anyone with moustache envy . . .you too can have that Salvador Dali or handlebar moustache you've always wanted! Go to Martha for the how-to.

Tiered Skirts

Colourful tutorials can be found here and here on how to make cute tiered skirts for kids (although I'm sure you could scale it up for adults!)

Clay "Pearl" Necklace

Fab faux pearl necklace made out of just water, salt and corn starch! Go here for directions.

Leaf Printing

This very easy technique uses natural materials such as leaves to print on fabric. I think a leaf pattern would look especially lovely on a linen apron, or some dishtowels. Go here for the know-how.

Bunny Bowling

...So you can be a bunny bowler rather than a bunny boiler! Great couple of tutorials for both the rabbits and the ball can be found here.

Mosaic Plant Pot

Great tutorial on how to decorate a plant pot with pieces of china to make an original and pretty ornament. Pieces of china/pottery could also be set into resin as decoration, used to mosaic loads of different items such as house numbers and tables, or used to create jewellery.

Flashmobbing

As you will know from previous posts, I love the idea of flashmobbing (though haven't participated...yet), and the best websites to go to are Improv Everywhere (NY based), and Flashmob (which tells you whats going on in Britain).

And just for the fun of it, the following videos are some of the best pranks/events/flashmobs from around the world:

Frozen Grand Central

London Underground Dinner Party

Filipino Inmates Do Thriller

Food Court Musical

Zombie Walk London

Human Mirror

Thriller in Seattle

Welcome Back (so cute!)

Impromptu U2 Concert

Suicide Jumper

Frozen Grand Central again

Zombie Walk in Sydney

No Pants Day

Thriller in San Francisco

Mp3 Experiment

Pillow Fight Photos

Pillow Fight Info

Vintage Photographs

Click here to find out how to add a 'vintage' effect to a modern photo using Photoshop.

Ruffle Flower Necklace

I can imagine wearing this necklace with an elegant black dress to add some individuality and romance . . . Click here for the how-to.

Hungry Caterpillar Softie

This brings back memories - I used to love the Hungry Caterpillar book!

I think the caterpillar softie would be perfect as a decoration, pillow or draught exccluder . . Go here for the how-to.

Dooo Dolls

These Dooo Dolls would make a great gift for someone - because not only are they cute, but there is a different one for every star sign. My favourites are Gemini and Leo, which is a bit unfortunate because I'm Scorpio!

Cool Products

Great shop with seriously cool stuff to buy, including cow stickers (to decorate your fridge like a cow!), a cheese sponge, a money bank clock, a dishcloth tie and much more - i love it!

Sock Monkey

This little sock monkey is adorable! It appears to be wearing lipstick, so this must be a girl monkey :-) Go here for the pattern.

Mosaic Wall

This is a funky multicoloured wall decoration created using scrapbook paper squares and glue dots - it looks just like giant post-its! Great to use on one wall to brighten up a room.

Improv Everywhere

'Improv Everywhere' is a fabulous New York based group of 'flashmobbers' where volunteers create unannounced entertainment in the city.

The above photo shows what looks like a mirror image of a tube carriage, but actually they are all identical twins sitting opposite each other!

Simply go to Improv Everywhere, and click the links under 'Mission Highlights' to see other events. My favourites are 'Frozen grand central', 'Food Court Musical', and 'Romantic Comedy Cab'. They are all so feel-good!

If I lived in NY I would love to take part soooo much, because these are the kind of spontaneous and mad things which make life fun! If you search around, you might be able to find one in your own city - I know that mass pillow fights have taken place in London and Manchester, so have a look around for info :-)

Buskers! from Matt Adams on Vimeo.

The above video is from the Color Me Katie blog, and Katie (who writes the blog) is very involved with Improv Everywhere and has loads of photos of events on her blog, plus cute little things you can do yourself and leave around your city to brighten up other people's days!

This blog is really really feel-good and she just has the coolest life!

Mini Fan Bag

Cute little fan-shaped bag, perfect for swinging by your side on a summers day! Click here for the tutorial.

Faces In Places

Brilliant photo collection of 'faces' found in the most unlikely of places...look at this website and you'll be seeing faces everywhere!

Tepee Make

Gorgeous, whimsical tepee structure for kids (although I love tepees and would scale this up to be an adult tepee :-)) - Follow these instructions to make one yourself.

Personalised Love Hearts

Perfect personalised gifts for anyone and everyone with a sweet tooth in your life! There are huge gift boxes of sweets with personalised love heart wrappers, kids boxes with sweets and a yo yo at a great price, or a gorgeous 'I love you' love heart gift box - perfect as a gift for him / her.

So if you are struggling for a fab gift for Christmas or a special occasion, say it with love hearts!

Photo Dolls

This is such a clever idea for gifts to family and friends - by making personalised dolls!

Find out how, here.

Japanese Trends

Great blog for keen followers of the latest (and craziest) Japanese gadgets - from the cool lightbulb lamp shown above, to digital bubble-wrap popping, and the shouting vase, which absorbs your angry shouts!

Shadow Fun In Public

Cute project for adding a bit of humour and life to the streets - public shadows!

Go here to find out how you can do this.

Edible Cards

Edible greeting cards, perfect for Valentines day! You get 4 gift boxed cookie cards covered in white chocolate with heart sprinkles, and you'll get an edible food writer to personalise your gift...yum yum

Button Bouquets

These button bouquets by Pepper Paints are truly lovely, and are particularly super for the summer . . . plus you never have to water them! For a different button bouquet tute from Kiddley go here instead. And if you'd like the how-to for a flower bouquet using magazines and buttons - click here for instructions.

Felt Balls

Funky felt balls that can decorate loads of things, and even make unique jewellery!
There are many tutorials on how to make them, but here are the best:

Painted Threads

Deep Fried Kudzu

Instructables

Coco Knits

Martha Stewart 1

Martha Stewart 2

If you have ALOT of time (and patience), you could make a felt ball rug, and if you're a bit more advanced you could try a felt rug that mimics pebbles here, here or here!

Curiosity Shop

'Crafts, Kits and Curios for the Creatively Inclined'
The items shown above are a pinhole camera kit, an airplane postcard and a shuttlecock light (how cool?!), and there other fab crafty kits, homewares and arty bits 'n' bobs available too.
Unfortunately, they only ship to the U.S. and Canada, so I will have to search elsewhere for them :-(

Homemade Slushies

Great for hot weather - homemade slushies!

Celebrities When They Were Young

The following are interesting websites showing celebrities when they were younger - some look the same, some are very different. I chose Tom Hanks to show here because he's lovely :-) (I'm a bit of a fan!)

Go here, here, here and here for photos.

Rubbish Bin Costume

Awesome idea for trick or treating - it looks like a harmless rubbish bin, but when someone walks past you ..."BOO!" and your mission is complete! This would also work with UK dustbins - go here to find out how.

Fabric Shops

There are so many cool and unique fabrics available on the internet, and these shops are some of my favourite fabric shops:

Volksfaden

Anna Maria Horner

The Virginia Quilter

Kitty Craft

Sew Mama Sew

Repro Depot

Cias Palette

Schmancy Pants

Rainbow Fabric

Fabric Supplies

The Fabric Bar

Fabric Lane

Down Shadow Lane

Variegated

Fabrics Galore

From Japan With Love

Karaku

Lucky Kaeru Fabrics

Sonatine

Mountain of the Dragon

Sweet Flavor

Fabrics Shoppe
This And That From Japan

Fabric Closet

JandO Fabrics

Henry Road

Purl Soho

Fabric.com

Fat Quarter Shop

E-Quilter

Superbuzzy

Fabric On Demand

Spoonflower

J.Caroline Creative

Warm Biscuit

Fabric Rehab

And I think that's enough for now!

Sculpture Material

Paverpol is a textile hardener, which allows you to make wire sculptures, garden statues, dolls, puppets and anything else you can think of! Go here for details and scroll down for a tutorial.

Wasp Deterrent

Great product for those people who, like me, can't stand wasps. Perfect for any outside activities, particularly BBQs, as it keeps wasps away in the surrounding area, without any smells or chemicals. It is basically a bag to look like a nest, but the secret is in the pattern of the fabric, which keeps the 'scavenger' wasps (the only ones to leave their nest) away.
Costs about £14 and will last forever, so a good investment this summer I think.

Coffee Table Ottoman

Brilliant project for those who love to revamp furniture - using this tutorial, you can turn a coffee table into an ottoman!

Adventure Company

Fun adventure holiday company with some great ideas including treks, cruises, safaris and much more. Perfect for people who are looking for exciting and interesting holidays packed with once-in-a-lifetime experiences.

Etsy

I have written a few posts before on Etsy extras, but not about Etsy itself. This is because I thought it was a really well-known website - yet hardly anyone here in the UK has heard of it. . . shocking!

Basically, Etsy.com is a seriously addictive website (sort of like Ebay), but here you buy or sell handmade pieces. You can therefore either earn money from making your own items, or you can find one-off, unusual and fantastic quality items for yourself or to give as unique gifts.
The different categories include photography, clothes, jewellery, toys, furniture, vintage and much more.

It's better than buying generic mass-produced items in a shop I think, because each item is made with love and care, and alot of the items are one-off, so you can own something truly individual. I have gone MAD buying stuff on here recently (my bad), but it's great because there is something beautiful for every price range.

Hope you become an addict too!

Fused Plastic Bag Hoodie

To recycle plastic bags in an unsual way, why not make a hoodie out of them?! Easy to do by fusing the bags together with an iron - go here for details.

Perfect Prints

The Perfect Prints website has the most gorgeous prints (especially the 'Seascape' ones), and having seen the one above in person at an airport recently, I can tell you it looks amazing!

Bogey Ball

If you're queasy, you may want to miss this make out - but this 'booger ball' is a fun and interesting project involving rubber cement, and would make a funny and gruesome gift for a child! 

Knifes 'n' Forks Key Holders

These are so cute for key holders in the kitchen - and easy peasy too!

Baby Food Chandelier

Gorgeous gothic-style chandelier made from baby food jars! Great use of recycling - details are here.

Decoupage Furniture

Great way of updating plain old furniture by applying decoupage - and the chair above is so fabulously retro! Go here for details.

Bunny With A Tool Belt

I've just found this ever-so-cute and quirky Etsy shop, which sells little wooden painted characters - awwww!

Shirring & Smocking Tutorials

Using elastic to add shirring to your fabric projects is a great technique to add to your skill set. It looks really nice, and it can be added to allsorts, including clothes such as this dress:

Another tutorial can be found here, and for something a little different, you can learn how to do Canadian smocking here. And lastly, for a kids smocked dress, go here.

Retro Stencil T-shirts

Super designs that look very stylish and designer-esque - plus they're really cheap to make using plain t-shirts and freezer paper stencils! Go here for the how-to.