Cute Doll Softie

This little doll and dog combo are so adorable and are super easy to make - you even get given the image for free!

Click here for the how-to.

Fred Astaire Video

I stumbled across this video the other day and I really like it so I thought I'd share. Someone has edited video footage so it looks like Fred Astaire is dancing to 'Smooth Criminal' by MJ.

I used to do tap dancing myself and did quite a few grades. It's a lot of fun and I encourage anyone to give it a go!

Cardboard Furnishings

Want to add some home comforts to a bare, unloved room but don't have any money to spend on it? Then here's your answer...cardboard decor! I love the look of it for any room personally but that may not be practical :-)

Find more pics here.

Kid's Recipes

The following links have many recipes for paints, play dough, inks and much more, and are especially useful if you need to entertain kids:

Bath Paints

Watercolours

Finger Paint, Face Paint and Watercolours

Fun Recipes Incl. Finger Paint

Lots of Different Paints and Inks

Play Dough and Bubble Painting

Homemade Poster Paints

Make Your Own Watercolours

Plastic Bottle Vase

I really love this project because it's a quick and free (ish) way of making a vase, plus it's disposable so you don't have to have the vase hanging around your home when you don't need it anymore.

But the best thing is that nearly everyone will have the materials already in their house :-)

Here's the tute.

Doodle Frames

As a bit of a doodler myself, these photos frames really appeal to me - you have 80 paper frame layers to design yourself, so you could draw a different frame every week for about a year and a half! It's a great idea for an easy personalised gift too. Available to buy here.

Paper Bead Necklace

This is a really gorgeous necklace from Art Mind, and you can make it yourself using this how-to.

Frosted Doily Mirror

This tute shows you a really easy way to make a plain round mirror into a very pretty, feminine mirror.

Captain's Mirrors

I love these porthole style mirrors, so sweet! Go to Design*Sponge for the tutorial.

Heart Necklace

This necklace is such a cute and clever idea - you turn a vintage doily into a 2-part heart, then you keep one half and you give the other half to your best friend, awww!

Marshmallow Village

This is such a sweet little whimsical village of marshmallow and icing houses - I love the detail - and you can see the how-to here.

Sewing Paper

iHanna has a little how-to on sewing stripey paper - perfect for scrapbooking and postcards - and if you prefer, you could use fabric strips instead.

Hemma Light Chandelier

This is a very funky chandelier with dangly lights, and you can find the how-to here.

Blood Slides

If anyone watches 'Dexter' (one of my favourite ever shows), the serial killer Dexter keeps blood slides with samples of all his victims' blood as 'trophies' (nice), and this project shows you how to make the edible version! Cool for Halloween parties.

Making Jewellery Findings

Some very handy tutorials for jewellery makers:

Fancy necklace clasp

Earring hooks

"S" clasp

Faux Wood Bangle

This bracelet is a simple little make, and you can be as creative as you like with the embroidery. Click here for the tute.

Decal Mugs

This project uses inkjet water decals to decorate mugs - and the technique reminds me of those transfer tattoos you used to put on your arms when you were kids!

Upcycled Sweater Boots

What a great looking (and very cosy) pair of boots...and they're made from just a pair of old flat shoes, a sweater and lots of hot glue!

Here's the tutorial.

Shop Revamp

Just a quick note to say that I've revamped my jewellery shop layout to make it a bit brighter and cleaner, so I really hope you like it!

Chocolate Spoons

Awww this is a cute idea for the cold Winter months - decorated chocolate spoons for stirring your hot chocolate...yum!

DIY Chandelier

This chandelier is super modern and stylish, yet it's something you can make all by yourself! It may be more of a challenge than most of the projects, but ultimately would be more rewarding!

Find the instructions here.

Sweet Nothings

It's a triple helping of blog posts today because I need to fit in all of the Valentine's Day crafts before tomorrow - and more keep popping up every minute! (not that I mind of course :-))

If you click here you will find a free template to make your very own mini megaphone (a miniphone?) to whisper sweet nothings in your loved one's ear!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day and I hope you're having a nice day (even if you're single like moi!)

If you need some romantic food made to impress, or if you just want to see 114 exceptionally beautiful Valentine's Day recipes, head over to Woman's Day. I literally want to try all of them!

Heart Breaker

Easy-peasy Valentine's Day gift (perfect for kids especially), and all you have to do is fill paper hearts with sweets and to open just 'break' the heart!

Click here for the tute.

Braided Headband

This braided headband is made from only one ingredient: bulky yarn (wow!) and I think it looks absolutely lovely. See how it's done here.

Valentine Lightbulb

This is such a sweet crafty gift for Valentine's Day, and you can find out how it's done here.

Origami Numbers

I really love the look of this number art . . . so striking, and it's only paper origami. As a certain meercat may say, it's simples!

Mini Valentine's Parcel

This is so adorable! In addition to Leafcutter's mini letters, they've brought out a tiny handmade parcel which contains a mini handmade button - perfect for Valentine's Day. . . Awwww!

Bunting Card

This is such a gorgeous and fun card for any happy occasion, and looks professional too..I love it!

Click here for instructions.

Carved Hearts

Great for wall art or keepsakes, these hearts are simply carved out of MDF. Find the how-to here.

Fancy Dress Costume Ideas V

This photo shows an amazing sight; zombie Disney characters! Such a fantastic idea for any fancy dress party.
For more fun costume ideas, click here, and for an interesting site showing fashionable outfits inspired by fictional characters, go here. My favourite is Phoebe:

Meringue Mushrooms

These meringue mushrooms are such a good idea, plus they're very realistic and - well - how can chocolate and meringue be anything but delicious?!

Kiss In Your Pocket

Such an adorable idea for Valentine's day: a flip book showing you blowing a kiss - and the book is small enough for your loved one to keep in their pocket to cheer them up...awww!

Go here for the source.

Island of Dolls

I stumbled upon this page yesterday and if you have a nervous disposition I suggest you give it a miss, because it is the creepiest island and accompanying story I have ever seen in my life!

It's basically an island in Mexico with freaky dolls hung all over it. As spooky as it is, I would love to go there, if only for the amazing photographic opportunities! Enjoy :-)

Waldorf Inspired Doll

I think this doll is absolutely adorable and if I made this I'd be so proud!

It's based on Waldorf dolls and is made using mainly old clothing.

Go here for the tute.

Salt Dough Hearts

These pretty little salt dough hearts are perfect for Valentine's day, and what's more, you can re-use them at Christmas by hanging them on the tree!

Click here for the how-to.

20-Sided Bag

This little bag looks like a lot of fun to make, and I love the geometric design. If you don't like the numbers, you could always have a different colour on each side instead, which I think would look so cool!

Find the how-to here.

Stumpwork Embroidery

This tutorial shows you how to make a cute stumpwork snail. Stumpwork is an embroidery technique where the design is raised, which would add nice texture to your work.

Lost Your Camera?

This idea is great for helping a lost camera be returned to you, and consists of permanently storing photos on your camera giving contact details in a fun way :-)

Hammered Heart Brooch

This tutorial shows you how to make a unique piece of jewellery with a hammered wire heart and an arrow pin. Great for Valentine's Day.

Shortbread Buttons

These shortbread buttons are so cute, and you can make them in different colours too! Find the recipe here.

T-Shirt Transformation

I'm into wearing tunics at the moment, and this tutorial is great for transforming an oversized t-shirt (that you can pick up very cheaply at your local charity/thrift shop), into a flattering tunic top. It's also a very good introduction to clothes making/sewing too.

Cookie Stamps

I can't tell you how much I want this cookie stamp, it's so cute! You can use the cutter to create the desired cookie shape, and then stamp whatever message you want onto it - for truly personalised food...yummy!

Operation Fancy Dress

This 'Operation' fancy dress is an amazingly fun costume design - and pretty unique too!

How To Have A Successful Business

Whilst researching for my own online shop, I came across alot of excellent tips and tricks of the trade, plus what the most important factors are for running a successful business.

Alot of the links below are specific to Etsy businesses, but there are also ones for other selling businesses too. Hope you find this helpful!

Etsy Seller Handbook

Starting an Etsy Business 1

Starting an Etsy Business 2

Starting an Etsy Business 3

Starting an Etsy Business 4

Biz Ladies Series

Selling Tips

Things to Consider Before You Start

Biz Tips For Your Etsy Shop

Getting Noticed by the Blogosphere

Tips on Jewellery Selling

Loads Of Etsy Articles

'Quit Your Day Job' Inspiration

What Buyers Don't Like To See

Etsy Business Forum

UK Etsy Chat Thread

My Etsy Book - Product Display Tool

Secrets to Selling

Make Your Packaging Memorable

Promote Your T-shirt Store

T-shirt Seller Tips

Places to Advertise/Market Your Shop

Blog to Get Featured On

Useful Articles

Improve Your Shop

Necklace Selling Tips

Become A Success

Newbie Musings

Things To Watch Out For
Tips From A Successful Seller

Packaging 101
Lots of Useful Tool and Websites
Adding Items to Google
Increase Etsy Shop Traffic
Understanding Online Advertising
Graphic Design to Give Your Shop the Edge

Etsy Success Reading List

Importance of Packaging

Best of my tips: Concentrate on getting nice and clear photos, have some unique products (find a niche), create pretty but simple and consistent packaging, have a memorable name and logo, use Metatag Analyser on each website page to check your meta tags and descriptions are search-engine friendly, use Project Wonderful if you want to advertise on other sites, approach suitable blogs to try and get your shop featured, have regularly updated information and perhaps tutorials on your website to try and drive traffic to it, and lastly (if you have good photos) submit your products on Craft Gawker.

Papercut Portrait

Paper cutting is a fantastic and super cheap craft, and this video shows you how to make an amazing paper portrait.