Monday 31 December 2018

Best Nine 2018

I didn't provide many options for my #bestnine2018, but I love a recap and reminder of some of my DIYs and it's always interesting to see which reached the most people or gained the most feedback on Instagram. (My grid last year can be found here.)

So here are my nine 2018 DIYs - I can't wait to see what my 2019 grid will be!


Here are the tutorials if you fancy a go (top right to bottom left):

1: Floating Frame Stand / 2: Bunny Sleep Mask / 3: Constellation Notebook / 4: Wire & Cork Holders / 5: Woven Pom Pom & Tassel Cushion / 6: Wire Bunny Ears Ring / 7: Geometric Mirror / 8: Acrylic Crystal Trinket Box / 9: Animal Baubles
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Monday 17 December 2018

Christmas Round Up 2018

It's the final countdown! I'm waiting for my last presents to be delivered, I have the made-for-TV Christmas movies on in the background constantly and I seem to spend more time at work eating party food than in meetings. 

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Sunday 16 December 2018

DIY Christmas | Festive Plant Gift

Here are some really simple and easy additions you can make to a store bought bunch or pot of flowers to make it a little more festive - perfect for display in your home or as a gift.

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Saturday 15 December 2018

DIY Christmas | Wire Word Decorations

10 more sleeps to go!
A while ago now, I had the opportunity to try our some wire word jewellery and I loved it.  I really wanted to try the craft again and these pretty decorations were the perfect excuse.

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Sunday 9 December 2018

DIY Christmas | Reindeer Favour Gift Bags


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Saturday 8 December 2018

DIY Christmas | Wire Star Decorations


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Monday 3 December 2018

DIY Christmas | Animal Baubles

Last year, I finished the Christmas DIYing with some silly, so this year, I'm adding to them and making them part of your Christmas decorating.

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Saturday 1 December 2018

DIY Christmas | Large Hoop Wreath

I've said it before and I'll say it again.  For me, when it comes to Christmas decorations, they are never big enough.  I'm starting the Christmas DIYs with this huge wreath that is easily recreated and is made from a hula hoop. 

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Sunday 15 April 2018

DIY Stationery | Star Sign Constellation Notebook

It's World Stationery Day on the 15th April and I have a DIY - and a collaboration with Old English Company - to make sure you celebrate right!

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Sunday 25 March 2018

DIY Home Decor | Woven Pom Pom Tassel Cushion

Get your home up-styled with an on-trend DIY woven, tassel and pom pom cushion!

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Sunday 18 March 2018

DIY Jewellery | Wire Bunny Ears Ring

Style-up your Easter with this simple wire ring.

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Sunday 11 March 2018

DIY Home Decor | Acrylic Crystal Trinket Boxes

DIY Home Decor Make Your Own Acrylic Ferrero Rocher Crystal Trinket Storage Box
If you tried the excuse-to-buy Ferrero Rocher gift DIY a few weeks ago [post here], here's how you can re-purpose and style up their boxes, or here is a DIY with the perfect excuse to buy Ferrero Rocher - meaning you are winning either way.

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Sunday 4 March 2018

DIY Home Decor | Wooden Floating Frame Stand

DIY Home Decor Poundland Upcycle Wooden Floating Frame Stand Dymo Embossed Label Rihanna Quote Art
Motivation to work...or not? I've got you covered.

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Sunday 25 February 2018

DIY Home Decor | Geometric Mirror

DIY Home Decor Large Gold Lead Trim Geometric Mirror
Last year, I used a mirror as the base for some simple quote art [you can see that DIY here].
I live in a narrow house, so adding mirrors really helps add the feeling of space.  I've really struggled to find a mirror for my fireplace that is what I'm after in size, design and cost - so I'm up-styling a staple IKEA mirror [STAVE] to achieve the look I want.

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Sunday 18 February 2018

DIY Home Decor | Wire & Cork Holder

DIY Home Decor Ikea Hack Cake Wire and Cork Coaster Office Desk Storage Holder
Todays DIY is a quick make that was a concept test but became the final DIY straight away [it doesn't happen often], but this really was simple and made within 15 minutes.

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Sunday 11 February 2018

DIY Home Decor | Nail varnish Heart Art

If you don't have the paint colours you need - you might have the nail varnish.  Create this easy floating frame heart art in less than an hour and spread the love.
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Saturday 10 February 2018

DIY Gift | Chocolate Gift Box

Any DIY with chocolates is a winner - and even if you are making this for someone else - you'll get your share, don't worry.
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Friday 9 February 2018

DIY Gift | Fresh Flower Gift Box

Todays post is a DIY aimed to show you how you can dress up any bunch and selection of flowers from your local supermarket in to luxury gift display - and for less than £15.

| WHAT YOU NEED |
Flowers | Gift Box | Floristry Foam | Wrapping Paper | Ribbon | Scissors | Tin Foil | Glue Strips



| HOW YOU MAKE IT |

I actually really struggled to find a bunch of flowers that I liked and after a tour of all the major supermarkets (much spare time on my hands), I decided to give my last attempt to my local Co-Op.
Again, I found a very limited selection but - even better - a reduced bucket, containing two slightly sorry-looking-but-completely-fine bunches of flowers for £3.25 each.  The ultimate challenge.
To start, I decorated my gift box -a step you can completely skip if you buy yours pre-decorated.  I sprayed the areas that would be on view [the inside lid and all edges] and left to dry completely.
As this was happening, I soaked my foam in a bowl of water and prepared my flowers: firstly by separating each type of flower and foliage in to bunches to see what I had to work with:
I then 'tidied up' each stem - removing any browned or broken petals and snapped or torn leaves.  Finally, I trimmed each stem, using the height of my box as a guide, to the longest I wanted the flower to stand and then removed the leaves and any greenery.

Once the paint was dry, I lined my gift box with tin foil to protect it, before placing my soaked foam in the centre.
I like symmetry and find this the easiest way to arrange my flowers, so I started from the centre outwards with the type of flower I had the most of from my bunches.  In two colours, this also meant I could create a little interest as well as a span of the same type of flower.
Simply trim the stem to size and secure in to the foam - you can change your mind and move things around with no problem as you go to even out the spread of flowers.  Any off-shoot flowers that need to be removed can be kept aside later as 'filler', so don't worry about trimming your stems down:
I added some 'filler':
...and this then gave me a much better idea of the space I had left for the flowers I had less of:
As the number of flower type reduced, I added them to the gift box to add to the fullness, interest and colour span:
...and then finally the main feature of the bunch, the roses: all 2 of them.....
Fan out the flowers to let them fill the box and add any of your 'filler' flowers put aside earlier.  Don't be afraid to move things about if you aren't happy with any placements too:
As I was using the lid as part of the presentation, I'd concentrated my arrangement towards the front half of the box, leaving the back half a little more empty:
When the flowers are displayed, they can be fanned out and moved to fill these gaps:
As a final step, I decorated the box with wrapping paper, round the side of the box and top and side of the lid, finished with a white velvet ribbon bow.
To hold the lid in place, I used glue strips - like the ones that hold perfume and makeup samples in place in magazines - to create a semi-permanent fix and rest for the lid:
I bought my gift box before the flowers, but if you can, I recommend swapping this round to help you get the right match.  You could also fill your box out even more with some strategically placed tissue paper, folded so that the corners come out of the box edge, under the bouquet [I really wish I'd done this, in a contrasting colour ].
This is completely customisable - the colours and style, from the flowers to the gift box can be changed to reflect the person lucky enough to receive them [even if that's you].
If Gift DIYs and crafts are your bag - you can find more ideas right HERE.

| PIN IT! |

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Tuesday 2 January 2018

Best of 2017

Happy New Year! Wishing you a very happy 2018.
As has been on all social media over the last few days, I thought I'd share some of my top posts from 2017 and recap the #bestnine from Instagram [are you following? Come and say hi!] and my top 5 on the blog.
Here's to the year ahead!

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