HAND PAINTED CHOPSTICKS AND HOLDER

HAND PAINTED CHOPSTICKS AND HOLDER:

Hand painted rocks are my favourite craft. They are so simple and easy. My mother probably does not appreciate the number of pebbles I have removed from the garden to paint - but it's okay, I will be putting most of them back in the garden once I have painted and waterproofed them!! 

As this pebble was a perfect chopstick holder shape, it was sadly not returned to the garden, although it was definitely put to good use! 

I first painted black outlines of branches and then once dry added flowers using gold, yellow and red acrylic. To seal the paint (making it waterproof), I used Mod Podge, which leaves a lovely gloss!! 

HANDMADE FAN DRESS (FROM PAPER SCRAPS)

FAN DRESS MADE FROM PAPER SCRAPS

Here is a simple way to use up those little pieces of scrapbook paper that you have left over after collage projects!

Simply, cut your sheets of paper into the same size rectangle/or square and then start folding back and forth (like a normal fan you would make at school)! Try to make sure that all the fan folds are similar width so that you can glue your pieces of scrap paper together neatly.

Once all the fans are glued together, make another layer of smaller fans.

Next, simply cut out a corset, and there you have it!! A very quick and simple paper dress which you could stick on a card, or put in a picture frame to hang on the wall, or hang on a garland!

FABRIC SCRAPS FLOWER BROOCH

FABRIC SCRAPS FLOWER BROOCH:

I just can't get enough of making brooches!! This is the last brooch I promise! 

I started off this brooch using 2 scrap bits of fabric: old lace and the end of an old scarf.  To begin with I cut these pieces of fabric into a long triangle.

To achieve the shape of each flower I did a simple running stitch by hand along the longest side of the rectangle and pulled it tightly. (This is a very simple way to achieve a flower shape).

I then stitched the flowers together and added some old jewellery onto the brooch- an old necklace loop, a big bead and part of a bracelet around the bead. 

BEADED RIBBON BROOCH

ANOTHER JEWELLERY SCRAP BROOCH

Using my Jewellery scraps again this week! But making an entirely different brooch, using sewing instead of wire and metal! For me, when it comes to craft, hand sewing beads is the most time consuming and patience testing, but the end result is so worth it. 

In this case, I started off with a felt shape of a ribbon and then using beads from broken/ unwanted jewellery I embellished the felt. I then sewed on this gem in the middle (from an old plastic ring!) and sewed on old bracelets so they create a nice loop under my brooch! And tadah- using scraps is completely worth it!!!

JEWELLERY SCRAP BROOCH

JEWELLERY SCRAP BROOCH

I am, like most girls, very good when it comes to shopping! So good, that I always end up with lots of stuff I do not wear or use! This weekend, I decided it was time to clear out the jewellery drawer (to put it into perspective, I was clearing out accessories as old as the ones I had purchased from Claire’s, when I was 6 years old).

I hate throwing things out so decided to throw all the bits and pieces I had into a lovely brooch, that I could wear now. The brooch consists of a jewel from a necklace, with felt glued behind to attach the pin. At the end of the jewel I attached some earrings, and some charms from bracelets, before wrapping wire around the end of the jewel to hide any glue and to make it look a bit more pretty!.... and Ta Dah, there you have it!