Wednesday 31 March 2010

T-Shirt Crafts

Source: Sayra Adams.
I'm getting a bit addicted to writing roundup pages recently, and if you click here you can see a MONSTER list of t-shirt tutorials, from recycling them into scarves, embellishing them with ruffles or refashioning them into bags.
And as always, if you enjoy it, please leave a Guestbook comment or give it a star rating...thanks!

Tuesday 30 March 2010

Finishing off Cross Stitch

Click here for instructions on hiding the stitches at the back of your cross stitch, whilst adding a nice padded effect.
The Alice in Wonderland cross stitch is pretty awesome as well :-)

Egg Shell Frame

I love the crackled look of this egg shell finish, and you can see how it's done here.

Monday 29 March 2010

Comic Book Chairs

I have a bit of an obsession with comic book art and pop art, and so these chairs are just FABULOUS - and to see the whole range, click here.

Woven Cork Tray

I've never seen rolls of cork available to buy before, but I'll have to look out for it now because it looks so cool when it's woven!
See how to cover a tray with woven cork here.

Sunday 28 March 2010

Magnetic Bookmarks

These little bookmarks are embroidered so have the possibly to be personalised for sweet and useful gifts.

Textured Wall Art

Go here to see how to make some textured wall art panels, which you can change to suit the room you want to put it in.

Saturday 27 March 2010

How to Cook Meat

I've just finished writing a lens on how to cook meat: including cooking methods, lots of yummy recipes and the different cuts you can buy. I've written about beef, lamb, pork, chicken and turkey and I hope you find it useful.
I felt I had to write this because the baking world makes perfect sense to me but tell me to cook a piece of meat and it has me stumped!
If you could possibly leave a message on the guestbook of the lens, or give it a star rating, I'd very much appreciate it...thanks :-)

Lamb Pillows

I love these sweet little lamb cushions, which are so straightforward to make. Go here for the tute.

Friday 26 March 2010

For Love Or Funny

I just want to point out a particularly fab blog post on For Love Or Funny, which is a blog that always has fresh and ingenious new posts. Go here to have a look.

Pink House Applique

This tutorial walks you through creating the above felt house applique - which I think would look so lovely at your front door, and you could perhaps embroider 'Home Sweet Home' at the top too :-)

Thursday 25 March 2010

Air Freshener

I love the rustic look of this handmade air freshener, and you can see how to make it here.

Zippered Cushions

A cushion cover should be one of the first projects you undertake as a sewer, and this tutorial shows how easy it can be to cover a cushion - and to add a zip too.

Wednesday 24 March 2010

Hipster Gripster

This simple yet extremely useful project is for quilted hand grips which are fastened around bag handles. You can add them to your own bag creations, or you can carry a couple with you on your supermarket shop to save your hands from the plastic digging in.
Go here for the fab tute.

Leaf Mobile

This cute leaf mobile is basically free to make because (apart from the string), it is made from all-natural materials. Find the tutorial here.

Tuesday 23 March 2010

Hair Straightener Cozy

I always have to find somewhere heat-resistant to balance my straighteners when they're still hot - and here is the perfect solution; a heat-resistant cozy!

Choccy Puddings

These yummy looking individual puddings have a soft centre, and would certainly appeal to chocoholics like moi :-)

Monday 22 March 2010

Crochet Cuties

This site gives you free instructions for crocheting adorable animals including a Robin, an elephant and an owl.

Canvas Camping Chair

This padded chair is definitely a project I'm going to make because every time I go for a walk, there's nowhere to sit comfortably or cleanly - but this chair is the answer!

Sunday 21 March 2010

Tree Trivet

This trivet is designed to look like a section of a tree trunk, and it is simply made with felt strips! Makes fab coasters too.
The tutorial is here.

Quilted Pendant

I think this unique technique for making quilted jewellery pendants is really creative and fun, and you can see how to do it yourself here.

Saturday 20 March 2010

A Useful Skill. . . .

Take Better Photos

The following links give advice and tips on taking better photos of small products.

They are especially helpful for Etsy and Ebay selling, plus there are many how-to's for photography aids like lightboxes too:

How To Take Better Pictures
Tips and lightbox instructions.
Photo Studio How-To
Make a cheap photography set up.
Take Better Photos
Tips on lighting, background and other areas.
Make a Lightbox
How to make a lightbox.
Foldaway Lightbox
Tutorial on how to make an interlocking lightbox.
Photography Tips
A number of different links to photo advice.
DIY Photo Lighting Hacks
Things you can make and use instead of expensive equipment.
Inspirational Photographs
Examples of backgrounds and compositions of jewellery products.
DIY Light Umbrella
Using a cheap umbrella and white paint.

Friday 19 March 2010

Embroidered Dishcloths

Click here for 7 free embroidery templates - one for every day of the week - to make cute daily dishcloths.

Tabletop Pinball

Tabletop pinball would be a very fun project to do, especially for kids, and you can certainly let your imagination run wild with different cardboard obstacles. Go here for the tute.

Like 'Scrubs'?

Just a note to say that I've spent the last few days creating 'Scrubs' based designs, which are now available at my shop. I also have a 'Dexter' design, plus some 'LOST' inspired creations too...hope you like them!

Thursday 18 March 2010

Papier Mache Masterpieces

Very detailed things can be made with papier mache and I personally love it's potential because it's such an accessible craft and you can make any shape, big or small - Perfect for fancy dress, Halloween props, sculptures and art projects.

For a brilliant tutorial for a papier mache bunny, go here, and for some excellent inspiration, click here.

Wednesday 17 March 2010

Swimming Costume

The 'Alison' Burdastyle pattern for a vintage style swimming suit looks really fab, and can be adjusted to suit your style (e.g. used to make a bikini instead).
This site should help you out too :-)

Felt Monster

This how-to is an easy way to make an adorable little monster!

Tuesday 16 March 2010

Glee!

Just a quick note to say that I officially love the TV show 'Glee'!
It is a young person's show, and if you don't like musicals then you might not like this, but I really encourage you to watch it just to see if it's your kind of thing.
PS. I love Mr Schue :-)

Pants!

Click here and here for two fab tutorials on how to make your own knickers!

There is such potential for cuteness and creativity with these - whether you're adding frills, bows, lace or awesome pictures like the Stewie ones below:

Monday 15 March 2010

Button Stamp

This project shows you how to make a simple little stamp with just a thread reel and a button - and I love the idea of using it on jiffy bags.

Whimsical Mobiles

This gorgeous flying pig mobile is so cute, and there are plenty of other versions available as well (from Eleni Creative), including my other favourite; the elephants!

Sunday 14 March 2010

Alice in Wonderland Review

I've been a fan of Tim Burton for a long time due to the imaginative and dark, eccentric nature of his films, plus the fact he usually has Helena Bonham-Carter and the lovely Johnny Depp in starring roles. But most of all I love the look and style of the films - in particular the costumes. I spent a lot of the film wishing I had Alice's red dress!
A couple of his films are quite tragic, such as Edward Scissorhands which is one of my favourites, along with Mars Attacks (even though it bombed at the cinemas), Sleepy Hollow and Big Fish. Although to be honest I wasn't a huge fan of Willy Wonka (mainly because I love the original musical version SO much). I still haven't seen Sweeney Todd and Ed Wood either so these are on my 'to watch' list for sure.

Anyway, the reason for this post is that yesterday I went to see Alice in Wonderland in 3D and now I would like to tell you what I thought of it. So, for starters, you won't disappointed with the look of the film because it is amazing as usual (including the sets and costumes), and there is a great contrast between the bright sunshine, corsets and smart dresses at the beginning and the darkness, CGI effects and bold colours of 'Underland'.

I had read a not-too-great review beforehand so I was prepared to be disappointed but I really enjoyed the whole thing. I think it has more widespread appeal than a lot of Tim Burton films, and is suitable for families and people who weren't fans of Tim Burton previously. I think this might be why some Tim Burton fans were a bit disappointed - because they were expecting, and wanted, the dark/creepy side to shine through. I was surprised at the lack of freaky singing plants and a smug, creepy Cheshire cat, but frankly I'm glad there wasn't these things because a) the freaky things in the Disney version scare me and b) it made the film and a lot more light hearted and fun.

I think the actors/actresses in the film were brilliant - Johnny Depp was (as always) great as the insane character (!), but I think the real star of the show was Helena Bonham-Carter as the big-headed Red Queen:


She reminded me a heck of a lot of Queenie played by Miranda Richardson in 'Blackadder' (one of my favourite TV shows) - and I think this made it much more entertaining.

The story was quite simple, but I was never bored. It was also the first time I'd watched a film in 3D so that was an experience - I jumped at everything that 'flew' out of the screen! I would have liked to see more of the Caterpillar (voiced by the awesome Alan Rickman) and the Cheshire cat (voiced by the equally awesome Stephen Fry), and I didn't much like the white queen for some reason, but all-in-all I'd definitely recommend this film just don't expect it to be a particularly creepy/dark film.
Oh, and one more thing. There seem to be quite a few people who really hate the 'funderwhacking' dance the Mad Hatter does at the end, but I'm not really sure why it's such a big deal. It was just a very short bit of fun at the end - I think the mistake Tim Burton made was to build up the dance into something worth looking forward to at the end, so it was an anticlimax. But all the same, I'm sure kids appreciate it!

On a side note, if you would like to dress as the Mad Hatter for fancy dress, you can find inspiration and instructions for how to make the Hatter's hat, here.
For behind-the-scenes info and fun videos and links, have a look at my dedicated page here.

Edible Sea Glass

I love these special effect sweets that look like shards of sea glass - and the colours are perfect!
Find the recipe here.

Saturday 13 March 2010

Paper Cloth

This is an interesting technique for making cloth from layers of colourful papers - and the end result can be cut into scrapbook pages, gift tags and lots more!

Tape Measure Growth Chart

Head over to Just Something I Made for a generous free download of a wall growth chart that is made using a genuine vintage tape measure.

Friday 12 March 2010

Recycled Tote Bags

I love the style of these bags, which are made by bonding plastic supermarket bags together with an iron into a sturdier plastic - clever!
The tutorial is found here.

Thursday 11 March 2010

Funky Profile

I love the colours of this profile art which is based on the well-known 'No1 Ladies Detective Agency' book and TV series.
Click here to see how it's done.

Peach Cobbler

Cobbler is a tasty and simple dessert you can make with most different fruits - so it's great for using up leftovers. Find the recipe here.

Plantable Mother's Day Card

This technique can be used for a card on any occasion, but I thought it would be especially suited to Mother's Day. Basically, you make a paper decoration with plant seeds embedded inside, so that you can bury your card in the garden and wait for flowers to grow!
I think it's a great idea for a more fun and useful card. Go here for the tute.

Wednesday 10 March 2010

Machine Quilting 101

This tutorial has lots of photos and is very clear and easy to follow - and really does help anybody to machine quilt!
More tutorials can be found here and here.

Spray Painted Plates

I love the look of these plates - they've gone from kitsch to urban art in one spray of paint!
Go here to see how you can do this too.

Tuesday 9 March 2010

Quilted Cards

Making fabric covered and sewn note cards are a quick and easy way of making unique and luxury cards. Go here for the how-to.

Scottie Dog

These patchwork Scottie dogs are really cute, and the template is free!

Sunday 7 March 2010

My Favourite Music Videos

In the light of OK Go's 'This Too Shall Pass' (Rube Goldberg Machine version) music video - see below - I thought I should post my favourite music videos ever, of which 2 are actually by OK Go. What can I say, they make great videos!











OK Go - Here It Goes Again from OK Go on Vimeo.


Michael Jackson - Thriller (Music Video)
Uploaded by milaiya. - Watch more music videos, in HD!

Shaun the Sheep

Cute little project which shows you how to make Shaun the sheep with pom-poms - awww!