Crisp Green

With the days are getting colder and nights getting darker. With such a rainy summer I need some green

Pear - www.retro-mama.blogspot.co.uk

Mini Christmas Tree - http://homeklondike.com/2011/11/01/beautiful-christmas-table-some-crafts-for-it/7-

beautiful-christmas-table-some-crafts-for-it-go-green/

Button Bag -  http://indulgy.com/post/XNNPOg9YE1/cute-little-gift-pouch-green-crafts-embroidery

Flower Brooch -  http://www.craftjuice.com/story.php?title=flower-brooch-by-buttercup-boutique-folksy

xxxx

The Best Finds Are When You are Not Expecting It

To day while I was dropping of bags of my children's old toys at my local charity shop.

 I scanned around the room while I was waiting to give the volunteers my donations when I noticed this stunning vintage cake stand.

Then to my astonishment it was only priced £1.50. Bargain so I had to have it and now it takes pride of place in my kitchen next to all my other vintage cake stands and tea cups.

xx

T-Shirts Too Dog Toys

If own a dog you will now how pricey dog toys can be and if you don't well they cost a lot and don't last that long due to all the chewing they get.

You can therefore imagine my excitement when I came across a tutorial on how to make your own dog toy at   lanaredstudio.com 

So I thought I would give it ago

1 - Take some old T-Shirts or Old clothes that are stretchy (here I took some old t-shirts that my children had grown out off)
2 - Cut up your old clothe into strands approx 2cm by 60cm (depending on the length of fabric you are cutting up)
3 - Bring all the tops of your strands of fabric together and tie them into a big knot.
You can either place something heavy on to the knot to stop it moving or you can just place it between your knees like I did and hold it tight with your knees.
Separate your strands into three sections and start plaiting a three strand plait. (Pull on the fabric hard while you do this and make sure your plait is very tight.
When you get near the end tie all the strands together into another big knot.
4 - Trim the ends of the fabric and you are then ready to watch your dog enjoy his new toy

These toys are easy to wash and when they get chewed up pass your toy onto the rag man and make another one from some more old cloths

 I gave the toy I made to my parents dogs and they had such a fun time playing with their new rag toy.

xx

Old Cupboard To New Child's Play Kitchen

As you know I love recycling and making something new from something that is no longer needed. So you can imagine my delight when I came across this .... 

http://media-cache3.pinterest.com/upload/237776055296514262_vaQqJ5sV_f.jpg

Oh yes this is what you call upcycling to the perfection!
Just love it and if only I lived in a bigger house I would want this kitchen for my children.
xx

Sweet Orange Please!

Four inspiring arts and crafts with one thing in common ORANGE

Barra Seed Bracelet - www.natmassedproduced.com

Butterfly made from recycled fabric - www.abigailbrown.bigcartel.com

Orange Candle - www.stylelist.com

Orange Hens Purse - www.courtandspark.co.uk

BUT the best tasting is ....

http://www.bearrabbitbear.com/2012/05/prize-winning-seriously-orange.html

Playing With Old Shirts

During the summer holidays I did a lot of backing with the children. We are now cupcake queens, but during this time I found that not only don't my children own a apron but I also don't have a apron.

This revaluation got my creative juices running and after a lot of sketches and playing around I thought may be I could use a old shirt!

So during one of my visits to a charity shop I spotted this man's shirt for the bargain price of 50p. Which began my adventure at creating shirt apron.

After lots of experimenting with different designs and process this is the end result.     

The original shirt I bought for 50p and first design.

Second shirt I bought for £1 and second design.

Out of the two designs I prefer the second one and now I am the proud owner of a shirt apron.

xx

Experimenting With Different Textures

On my desk this week is a great book called Creative Embellishing By Teresa Searle. 

I loved this book as soon as I picked it! To be honest the front cover sold me striate away with it's bright colours and interesting textures. 

Teresa Searle has introduced to me to embellisher machines and although I do not have one yet, I have added it to my Christmas wish list. (Which seams to be getting longer by the day)

Basically its a sewing machine with lots of needles that you never need to thread. The needles are like barbed  wire, so each time they puncture a collection on fabrics and mixes the fibres up, similar to what happens when you felt. Creating a whole new piece of fabric all bound together like magic.

You can use different types of fabric to create all sorts of different effects from lace, cotton, silk, synthetic and wool. Your choice is endless!

This book is jam packet with different projects from making fabric from fibres, knitting yarns, scarf's, corsages, cushions, greeting cards, bowls and patchwork.

Each project has easy to follow instructions and large bright photos, enabling you to create stunning one off pieces.

I am looking forward to trying out some of the projects and I am interested to hear from anyone who has either used a embellisher machine or created any of projects from this book. 

You can post your creations on my Facebook page at www.facebook.com/emusupcycledgifts 

xxx

Summer Break 2012

I am back to work after our summer break and what a summer break we had. I don't know about you but the weather was not that great but we did manage to have some weeks of lovely sunshine.

Now the children have gone back to school and the house is very quit after being filled with the sound of children's laughter for six weeks.

Time to get my creative juices running and create some of my sketches I did over the summer into full scale creations.

We hope you had a great summer too and welcome back I 

xxx