2014 - What a Blast!!!!

New nephew, new tattoo, newly weds, painted tigers, joint birthdays, MOD photography, Hellfesting, TV premiers, baby showers, screaming in the middle of the street once I found out my friends are having twins, musical bingo, new hair, not saying goodbye at leaving parties, road trips, new sisters, bridesmaid for my sister from another mister, pirate parties, Marge Simpson hair, lots of punk gigs, geeking out, celebrating 12 years of love, Lady Gagaing with my maw, meeting baby Ella and toilet roll snowmen 

2014 you have rocked my socks off and there have been too many happy times to name them all but I want to thank all my friends and family for making this year so special.

I also want to thanks all of you guys for supporting me through my new crafty adventures

At the start of last year I made a new years resolution to learn a new craft every month and for once, I managed to stick to a resolution...ok so December is a bit of a cheat but I tried new techniques I hadn't previously used so I am still counting that as a win!

Now I know some months are a little light on tutorials at the moment. I have the photos ready to go and just need to start putting pen to paper, so I promise even though it's a new year there is still some of 2014 to appear on your screens.

I ended the year on a real high when a few of us at work got together to organise a "Make your own Christmas Bauble Lunch" to raise money for a local children's charity. We raised £180 which will also be matched by my day job company (Sky) to bring the total to £360. Not only did I make some new crafty friends in the office, but I'm over the moon that we could use our skills to help buy children, who would normally go without during the festive period, some Christmas gifts.

So what's in store for 2015, I hear you ask? 

Well you may remember my boyfriend and I started a crafty alphabet challenge but unfortunately, because of all of the weddings, baby showers and other party organising, we didn't have much time left over to give this our full attention.

If you have no idea what I'm talking about then here's the haps:
Basically we put each letter of the alphabet into a cup and whimsically pulled out a letter from the cup when we were bored. We would both create something beginning with letter and I would put them up on my site for you to see

So this year we are starting afresh, 26 letters and counting - who knows, it might even get competitive....

Anything else?

Well that would be telling wouldn't it! I have a few things in the pipeline which hopefully you will see more of this year but I'm not giving anything away yet

Thanks again my little beauties. You have kept my year full of joy and I'm hoping this is the start of something amazing!

I'll be back,

Bring your photographs to life

As you may has got by now I love photographs and this tutorial by Ashley Ann made me smile so much! I love the idea of personalising a lampshade with my friends and family.

  Photo lampshade by Ashley Ann

After a bit more digging I found some more tutorials for something similar:

                        

             Photo lampshade by Somedaycrafts       Film slide lampshade by PetaPixel

          

             Scenic photo lampshade by Fototiller             Photo lampshade by Susan Wasinger

Out of all of them though, this one is the simplest so if you are looking for one that is quick and easy then this is the tutorial for you

Photo lampshade by seventeen

I'll be back xx

Upcycle with a little help from my friends

This weeks upcycling theme has had me searching high an low, all over the web for some inventive tutorials for you guys. As I was searching a massive grin came across my face every time I found a tutorial that reminded me of one of my loved ones so I'm going to share my favourites with you!

First one is for my awesome sister Kerry. She loves her cats (as do I) so as soon as I saw this tutorial, I started looking into parts so I could make one for her. Once I track some cute suitcases down, you can expect one of these in your house Ker!

Cazza - I can just see pop pop in one of these as well  :)

Cat Bed - Mother Earth Living

My brothers are mad about their record players! They have vinyls everywhere and are always ready for an open mic night, singing their blues songs and playing guitar. I thought this would be a great table for a record player and crazy simple to make as well so even they can do it!

Record Table - Kt Bing via cut out and keep

Loopy Lorna is the name of a lovely little tea room in Edinburgh but it's also the name of my fab mate from Uni. Whenever we find a a new fruit tea we like, we bring it round to the others house and when she moved out of her last flat she offered me a few teapots for my crafting cupboard, knowing that I'd find something to do with them. Well Lorna - your new house with its amazing garden and your teapots inspired me and I went searching for a bird feeder. 

Lorna has a mini wildlife park in her garden which is a means for fun stories every time we meet (especially those mental bunnies) so here is an idea for your garden which made me smile

Bird Feeder - Intimate Weddings

Last year my gladiator of a mate Tatum, cycled all the way from London to Paris! I know - how impressive is she!!!! When I lived in London we were always working on some new crafty idea for our houses and this one made me think of you hun. I'm sure your lovely fiance won't mind you borrowing one of his wheels...

Bicycle Wheel Clock - Upcycle that

When I think of my friend Lucy, two words spring to mind - Dinosaurs & Baking. Could this tutorial be any more perfect!

Dinosaur Serving Dish - Three Little Monkeys Studio

Every year for my boyfriends birthday and Christmas his eyes light up as he knows his Jack Daniels stock will be replenished and before you know it the empty bottles start piling up as we all help him drink it through the festive periods. I will definitely be making this soap dispenser for my kitchen - it's quirky and a great way to recycle those empties...guess what you are all getting for Christmas next year :)

Soap Dispenser - Curly Birds

Since I was a wee nipper, my best mate Louise has always been there for me so I was over the moon when last year I could repay the favour and be her bridesmaid.

Louise planned her wedding to a T and it all paid off as it truly was a fabulous event! Her mum was like a crafting superhero and worked tirelessly to make her little girls day memorable and one of my favourite memories was the wedding breakfast. I remember walking into the room and being wowed by the amount of effort she had gone to and how beautiful the table looked. I especially loved the tissue pom poms she made and these coffee filter ones reminded me of them

coffee filter flowers - a subtle revelry 

Fireman Neil is my geek mate. Be it music, computer games or the new Game of Thrones season - he's round on our couch in a flash to geek out and unwind after a hard days work, so when I saw this picture I thought of you...

Skyrim Picture - Insomnia Studios

An NHS trolley upcycled with vintage magazines - this could only be for my brain box bestie who has worked up and down the country to help keep improving the health care we all receive. I can just imagine Catriona and her gorgeous girls baking on top of this.

NHS Trolley - Handmade & Vintage

You know that friend who is always there ready with a glass of wine when you have had a horrible day, well mine loooooves giraffes! This is an awesome tutorial for an awesome friend and I can't wait to keep collecting those corks with you Corinne.

Cork Sculpture Giraffe - Lil Blue Boo

Last but far from least a tutorial that reminds me of my best friend in the world - my mum!

When I was little my mum was always making things for or with me and I owe my crafting skills to all the encouragement she has given me over the years. From letting me paint my own mural on our playroom wall to cutting up her own wedding dress so I could play dress up with my friends, my mum had an endless supply of ideas and activities which meant life was never a dull place. 

I remember one of my primary school friends was leaving for OZ and was having a woolly jumper party. Everyone turned up in their best jumper but I stood out from the crowd in my brand new dress - made from one of my mums jumpers. This one reminded me of you mum, love you a million times over xxxx

Jumper Dress - Make it Love it

I've had the lovely walk down memory lane as I was looking through these tutorials and I hope you have enjoyed a little insight into my life and the amazing people I have around me. Of course, I couldn't mention everyone I love, but don't worry - I'll be blogging about you one day, you can count on that!

My plan was to inspire you with the people who inspire me - so get searching on the web for tutorials that remind you of your loved ones and make them something really special this year.

I'll be back xxx