Summer Outdoor Fun... Continued!

Okay, so I never said there would be a continuation of my previous blog post but it has been so amazing out at the front of our wee cottage since we knocked down the old vestibule/porch. We kept putting it off for so long thinking about what to replace it with when BAM... It hit us! (Well, hubby really though he claims it was my idea.) WHY REPLACE IT AT ALL?

Mind = blown. 

Moving on! We have basically now got a vintage-styled cottage garden at the front and are still reaping the benefits of having spent so much time on the back garden... Literally the best of both worlds! :) happy! 

Soooo, it hit me earlier that the back is the result of hard work and money, with a few exceptions on both counts. The front, however, is recycled, upcycled, thrifted, handmade JOY! And it's the most peaceful place ever to sit, too.

This blogpost will focus more in the individual decorative elements we made rather than the whole effect. We're still working on that! :) 

Here are some bottles I had collected. I love the Buddha ones as they were green (brand: lucky beer) but I really wanted them matt or shiny so the detail stood out. Cue a trip to halfords and the purchase of purple and oyster champagne spray paint. (We already had the silver.)

Next up was an old footstool I had in the spare room and we hadn't used for a while. It's got the perfect cushion cover to stencil or paint onto as it's a really thick and usefully neutral material. I used bright red fabric paint (just had a tiny jar, didn't need much!) and pritt-sticked the matryoshka stencils I bought in hobbycraft. The pritt stick is ok on fabric but you'll need to go slow and dab the paint while holding it a bit taut, rather than crazy brushing. 

Excuse the finger on the middle photo! :) 

Also, but massively not lastly, hubby made a table in a morning. Seriously, literally from 9.30 am until it was finished at 1! He had spare wood in the garage (insert own double entendre here...) and set about it. Needless to say his new table saw played a part in the construction. Happy hubby! :)

Summer Outdoor Fun!

Happy hot days, people! It's finally bursting out summer all over the place here in Scotland. Yay and also phew! Myself and my mr have been very busy in the garden clearing stuff away. He even found time to knock down our old, crumbling porch and it has just opened up the front so much. We almost need sunglasses to look at the white cottage walls! As usual, he does the practical stuff and I make it prettier! Ha Ha!

I've been painting old dining chairs and have nearly finished. I also use some - guess what? - chalkboard paint on some metal garden pots. Fun! 

And my summer feeeet! 

Vintage-esque Photo Fun!

I love the app 'old photo pro'. There, I said it. I don't work for them or anything but it's just a cool app for when you want a straightforward vintage filter with no messing. I've vintaged up quite a few photos with it but wanted to share these two...

It's the top corner of our small bookcase in the living room. There's a cute key print square plate I got on eBay and a gorgeous Ashleigh and Burwood fragrance lamp we got as a wedding gift. Behind is the birthday card I got hubby and an empty frame I have yet to fill. Card from an independent art shop in Edinburgh - Edinburgh Art Shop, funnily enough! 

The photo below is my craft book shelf. I devour craft instructions and ideas and inspirations so always assumed I had loads of craft books but I actually don't! When we rejigged the living room and I put in this bookcase, I thought they would fill it but no! Has given me the excuse to buy more, though! Now... To find a place for all my magazines! 

Roll up!

My lovely sister was over at the weekend. I love my Saturdays with my big sis! We made tapas and other snacks for lunch - chorizo in red wine, red pepper Spanish omelette, lemon houmous and breads, since you ask. Sis brought homemade sunflower bread and it was YUM! :)

She also helped me to sort out my craft brain (see previous post re too much inspiration and not enough focus) so I am thanking her by custom-making a make-up brush roll for her holidays. Sis picked the materials from my stash -Cath Kidston cowboy print and some red and white polkadot - and I started working on it the next day. 

It's a pattern I tweaked from an old edition of 'Craft Seller' magazine and basically you need to cut two pieces of fabric measuring 21 x 30 cm and one piece of 16 x 30 cm (for the inside brush pocket).

It's actually almost done with just the final slipstitches needed to close it. I'll post more when it's done but here's a sneak preview of the button I made from the cowboy fabric and one of those self-cover buttons. 

Can I get a big YEEEEEEEHA!!!! xx

Lotsa Craftin!

Argh!  Do you ever get those times when you simply can't decide what to make?  I need to craft.  Scratch that.  I NEEEEED to craft!  It's an outlet for my soul and a great way to unwind - not to mention a fabulous way to ensure original gifts and homewards.

Do you ever get those times, though, when there's not a birthday coming up so no immediate cards or gifts to make?  Or not a massive need for any new home decorations?  I'm kind of at that stuck point just now!

Don't get me wrong - inspiration is everywhere.  I mean, look at my three latest magazines to get an idea of the cuteness I could be making...

I need to just stop looking at so many ideas and decide what to do next! Oh, and I'm also collating all my old jewellery-making stock so that's having a retro effect! Too many craft supplies!! :)

Pinned Down!

Happy Friiiiday, everyone! Yes, it deserves all those extra letters in there. It's Friday share time so I thought I'd show a pincushion I have been working on myself from scratch.

I made a template for my wee doll and cut out two pieces of fabric. Before I sewed them wrong sides together, I added in features like a bonnet and waistband as the photos show.

It was a fun project as it really got my brain going and it was genuinely something I needed!

She just needs her wee head hand-stitches once I decide if I want to add a loop for hanging. What do you think?

Tea for Two!

You might remember my recent post about my lovely mum and dad's 40th anniversary and my idea for a personalised tea cosy for them. Well... It's done! I took some photos before I packaged it up.

I had some issues with the binding on the bottom and had to do it twice. I'm not 100% happy with the final version but hopefully they will love it. I can be very hard on myself sometimes! :)

Jammy Joy!

Happy weekend once again!  Last weekend I was a busy bee and did some baking.  I'd been wanting to try home-made jammy dodgers for a while and got a recipe in the new Morrison's magazine. 

And here they are... Or were... They've been gobbled now!