Makes for Birthdays

Recently a lot of my makes have been for presents.

Most are for Christmas and swaps (So no peeking yet I'm afraid!), but it won't be long before I can show you some will it?!

But here are a few little ones I've made for Birthday presents, for some of my favourite girls...

... For my sister-in-law, Bec.

British Bunting, Needle felted Lavender Union Jacks and a Russian Doll Birthday card.

Toffee Apple Cake for Bec.

... For my sweet friend, Jodie.

Fingerless Mitts.

... And for my Big Sister, Tina.

(I hope she doesn't read this yet!)

A cosy scarf.

I've not tried making a scarf before, so this was a first attempt.

The pattern was from here, Cute and Easy Crochet.

Any anyone else tried making this scarf?

my finished scarf does not look like the one pictured in the book!

Have I made a boo boo?

I hope you've all been having a super week.

Be back soon.

Love Katie

xxx

Tutorial : Christmas Tree from milk bottle tops

O.k Ladies, here goes ...

My first tutorial.

This Christmas Tree decoration is really easy to make. My Nan made one of these for me a few Christmas's back and I really wanted to share this with you.

I hope you like it!

First things first.

You will need:

Green and red felt (or fabric)

26 plastic milk bottle tops

A scrap of card

A pencil and compass

Scissors

Soft toy stuffing

A needle and strong thread

Hot glue gun

and

Buttons and twine for decoration.

Draw a circle measuring approx. 9 cm across, on your scrap of card.

Cut this out, it will be your template.

Using your template, cut 21 discs of green felt

and

5 discs of red felt.

Tie a knot in a length of thread. Using a running stitch, stitch around the edge of one disc.

Keep the needle attached, you will need this to sew in the ends.

Take the first bottle top and fill the middle generously with soft toy stuffing.

Place the filled bottle top upside down in the middle of your disc.

Pull the thread end tightly, to close up the disc around the bottle top.

Sew a few stitches over the opening to make it tight and secure.

Repeat this process with the remaining discs and bottle tops until you have 26 completed "puffs".

You should have 21 green and 5 red.

On a piece of green felt, lay out your puffs using the picture above as your guide.

The discs now need to be glued in place, using your hot glue gun.

Place your glue on the base of one disc and press it firmly into position. Take the next disc and do the same, but as you go, place a little blob of glue on the side of the disc already glued in place, to stick the puffs together as well as to the felt. This will help your finished decoration to be a little more ridged, otherwise it will be all floppy when you pick it up!

Once all the puffs are in place and the glue has cooled.

Cut around the Tree. This is usually easier to do from the back.

(Take care not to cut into your puffs!)

By now you should have your completed tree base.

Now It's time to decorate.

I've used buttons for baubles, secured in place with hot glue.

If you have one, thread a star button onto a length of twine.

This will be your hanger.

Knot the twine securely at the end.

Again, with your hot glue, secure the twine to the top, back of your tree.

Take a scrap of green felt and glue over the twine end.

Now your tree is complete and ready to hang.

I also wrapped a long length of twine around the red base of the tree and tied a bow in the front to finish.

(see first picture)

Advent Idea

This tree uses 26 puffs, but I did think it would make a nice advent calendar. Stitch a pretty design on one disc of green felt and embroider the others with numbers 1 - 25. Make up the puffs and secure together to make your tree. Use a decorative brooch or pin to count down the days.

I hope someone finds this useful. Start saving your milk tops!

Have a lovely week.

Love Katie

xxx

Jar of Love swap goodies.

Hello Ladies.

Just a quick one today. Lots of pictures I'm aware and not a lot of words.

I should have posted this before now so sorry about the delay.

Anyway ...

Because of the odd number of entrants to the swap I had two partners.

Marina at Evelyn-May and Beki @ Ramblings of an Everyday Mummy

Here is what I sent Marina ....

I tried to make both jars equal, so each had 26 items inside. I had read that Marina liked toadstools so had made her these little toadstool earrings and bag charm. There was a few Cath Kidston goodies in there: a keyring, soap, buttons. I made a tiny heart hanger with birdie embroidery and crocheted a pot cover to decorate the jar.

This is Beki's jar ...

Again a little more Cath Kidston. I made some button earrings and a ring too. The little cupcake charm I made out of Fimo. I notice she liked Hello Kitty so when I saw these magnets I thought they would be perfect. Again I crocheted her a pot cover for the jar.

This is what I received from Marina.

A pretty jar, wonderfully wrapped and finished with a pretty bow.

There was cupcake cases, fabric, perfume, hankies, teddy, socks, necklace, cookie cutter, lace, glitter, beads and chocolate inside (the choccy didn't live long enough to make it in the photo) !!!

Thank you Marina!!!

I am yet to receive a parcel from Beki, but if I do. I will be sure to share it with you.

Have a great weekend.

Love Katie

xxx

Im alittle "hooked" ...

... As I mentioned in my last post I've been trying to teach myself to crochet. After buying the lovely book "Cute and easy crochet" I was inspired to try some of the simpler projects.

I gave the jam jar covers a go (excuse the colour combo, It's enough to put you off your dinner but I'm still in use it or lose it mode)

Any way I thought it came out OK, considering I'd only held a crochet hook for the first time a few days previous.

It was my Mum's birthday on sunday and I made this "dishcloth" for her. Again the colour combo has much to be desired, but I must say it's kind of growing on me...

Last night I started the bunting out of the Cute and easy book. So far I've finished 6 flags, but will do a few more then that will live out it's days in my living room... pictures to follow

as I mentioned it was Mum's birthday on Sunday. I made these felty earrings for her and carrot cake too.

The cake turned out lovely, I strayed from the recipe abit, as I didn't have all the required ingredients but I thing it was better for it. Filled with a sweet vanilla butter cream... I couldn't resist a 2nd slice!

Perhaps I'll bake one for my own birthday next month! hehe

Thanks for reading and I hope everyone has had a lovely weekend.

I hope to do another giveaway once my followers reach 20, just need one more!

Katie xxx

Bargains and Buttons!

Aswell as my addiction to crafts, I have an unhealthy obsession with bargains! I am at my happiest rummaging in the charity and second hand shops.
Yesterday I fed my bargain hunger and picked up some fabulous things. It baffles me that people give this stuff away!

 I now have two beautiful beaded bags, a glorious spotty cardigan, 4 pretty floral plates, a floral scarf, a huge piece of polka dot fabric and a fabric pencil to add to my hoard... all for a snip at £18.50

 What better way to spend a lovely Sunday morning then with your pinny tied, doing some baking?
I filled the house with the glorious smell of ginger and spice, baking these sweet Gingerbread Buttons.
The little mousey pin cushion is for a dear friend for Christmas (you know who you are and must look suprised when you open it!!)

Last but not least for today, I have a photo of the wooden Goblet my father made as a wedding present. The Goblet and two rings around its stem were carved from a single piece of wood. A little scroll was included explaining that toasting each other from the Goblet on your wedding day will bring good luck. Thanks Dad, we love it xxx