I mark this spot with a ♥ ...

On a wet and rainy day such as today I’ve been putting my jumble sale buys to good use.  I recently bought a picture frame which has been sat looking forlorn and frankly in the way for too long now so I set to making it frame something made with love.

Wanting to mark our favourite part of the UK in some way this is
how I did it ...

The finished article has proven tricky to photograph but here it is in all it's glory.

I used the picture frame, embroidery thread and a map page.

My first attempt failed as the paper tore whilst sewing so I raided another page (from my husbands map ~ ooops), backed it with Sellotape, took a deep breath and started again.

Success this time :)

(It looks better than the photo ~ promise)

This heart marks the spot where our children have visited since being babies time and time again, year in, year out, come rain or shine and have grown up knowing this as their second home ♥

Jam jar up~cycling ...

For a while now I've wanted to see if I can make a hand wash container out of the pretty jars I've collected ...

 I know, I know, I really must get out more ... 

so last night in front of Saturday night TV I had a go!

Ta dah ... the finished product.

This is what I used ...

I decoupaged the jar lid then when dry made a hole using a drill.

I used the dispenser from the top of a handbag sized hand wash and inserted this in to the hole in the jar lid then glued in place.

Then finally, filled with hand wash.

:)

Catching dreams ...

My friends daughter and I spent an enjoyable hour attempting to make a dream catcher yesterday.  Considering we approached it in a ‘trial and error’ frame of mind I don’t think we did too badly.  We used a hoop earring to decorate with the all important thread to catch dreams, pretty earrings to add a touch of shimmer and twinkle and feathers from my daughters old handbag strap for authenticity.  Fingers crossed it catches undesired dreams and entices prettiness and sparkles in every dream dreamt.X

Tools of the trade ...



Confessions of a thrift shopaholic .....

Confessions of a thrift shopaholic .....

My long suffering husband mentioned the other evening that he's struggling to get the lawn mower out of the shed.  "Oh, why's that?"  I asked? If his eyebrows could have got any higher they would have pinged off of his face ... "well, any storage space we have is full to the brim with things you keep buying" was his reply in a * trying not to sound annoyed * voice, "what are your plans for it all"?  Hum, very good question, WHAT am I going to do with it?  The magpie in me just can't resist pretty things and the thriftiness in me just can't walk away from a bargain.  After having a realistic assessment of my lovely little lot's I have realised that not one, not two, not even three but four storage spaces within our home are crammed with my finds ~ Ooops!  I really must find an outlet for some of it before, either the house or my husband goes off bang.  The first thing to tackle though is the thought of parting with ANY of my 'oh so beautiful things' ~ big sigh.

A corner of the garage ...

One of the many shelves full ...

Vintage girlie chic ...

My daughter’s glam shoe & bag display.

 These display cabinets can be picked up very cheaply and are perfect for vintage girlie chic.

X

a little ‘thing’ has been created...

Today I asked my son what he would like to do and he said

“sew a monster please”. Oh! 

Not wanting to quash a creative urge I asked him to draw a design of how he would like his monster to look and he created something so specific I knew this was not going to be an easy task.  We found the ‘exact’ fabric and felt and drew the most specific templates known to any monster maker.  We also had to incorporate a heart and four bells, this was for the ‘character’ my son told me.  We set to making the little fella and I encouraged my son to be as hands on as possible so, other than when using the sewing machine, it has been lovingly created with his own fair hands.  I have to say I really enjoyed the process and am inspired that from some off cuts of fabric and two wobbly eyes a little ‘thing’ has been created that is unique and a product of my sons imagination.

My son has named him Jingles (due to the bells) and he currently sits at the end of his bed looking very dapper indeed.

The start of something ...

The all important heart ♥

Ta dah!

:)

What are rainy days for?

What are rainy days for?
Well, blinging up your shoes of course!!! 
Today I have added a touch of bling to my flats by way of sticky pink crystals and silk broaches.  

What can I say ~ they were begging me for a splash of prettiness ;)

Easter delights ...

Easter delights ...

I used ...

Two jars

Glue cuteness to the top

Spray with paint (3 coats)

Fill with yumminess

Happy Easter one & all x

Something more pleasing to the eye...

I'm always one for a bargain and when I saw two belts being sold for 10p each I knew it would be silly not to buy them.  Today I set about dismantling and recycling them into something more pleasing to the eye!

Dismantled.

Oh so pretty

Something for the garden ...

The bell is left over from Christmas.

Mummy's little 'helper' ♥