TUTORIAL - Swallowtail Paper Bunting

Make this super-cute swallowtail bunting in a snip using materials you've probably already got laying around (win!). Perfect for weddings, parties or just to jazz up your home. Read on for the full tutorial, all images can be enlarged with a click - Enjoy!

Materials:

•     Patterned card stock (I used 12x12" but any size will do!)
•     Scrap card (for your template)
•     Pencil
•     Ruler
•     Scissors 
•     Hole-punch
•     Transparent reinforcement rings (for strengthening hole-punched documents)
•     Twine, Ribbon or String

TUTORIAL - Felt Roses

These are so easy. SO EASY. Totally cute little felt roses that make everything look pretty. I've made brooches, garlands, wall decorations with them. You can stick them to your shoes or update a clutch bag with them for a big event. Anything! I'm going to show you how to whip them up quick time so you can get on with making all kinds of great things with them!

You will need:

• Felt Scraps (I used woolfelt)
• Matching Thread 
• Needle 
• Scissors

Step 1 - Cut your petals.

I managed to get one nicely sized rose out of a piece of felt measuring approximately 10 X 20cm. From this piece, you'll need a 15cm strip for the rosebud (cut into a similar wiggly shape to the one in the photo) and a selection of organic shaped petals ranging from small to large.

Step 2 - Make your bud.

Once you've cut all your shapes out, it's time to sew them, starting with your bud! Begin rolling your rosebud with the skinny end in the centre, adding stitches as you go to keep it from unrolling.

Once you've rolled it all the way, secure with a knot. Your rosebud should look something like this, cute huh?

Step 3 - Get those petals on!

Next up we're adding some petals! You want to sew a continuous line of stitches all the way around until you get to the last petal so your rose will be extra-secure! You want each petal to overlap slightly so the trick is to add a new petal part-way through sewing the previous one. Start with your shorter petals in the centre, getting larger as you work towards the outside. I've snapped more photos here for reference.

Once you've sewn all your petals, secure your thread and your rose should look something like this!

If you like the look of it like this, leave as is or if you want it a little fuller, pull the petals out backwards towards the stitching starting from the outside working your way around until your petals don't stay put anymore! If you want it to be extra secure, you could add some glue on your stitches but it's not necessary.

There you have it, cute little roses to add to whatever creation you like. I like to use woolfelt for these because of it's thickness but acrylic craft felt could work just as well - if using the thinner acrylic felt you'll want more material for thicker roses! You can pick up woolfelt from The Eternal Maker in as little as 10cm X 90cm strips right off of the bolt so you can choose a fantastic selection of colours without breaking the bank - WIN!

 If you want to make a garland or wreath, just measure 6ft or so of wire, wrap with floral tape and glue your roses along the wire using left-over felt scraps as a backing to secure it in place. The leaves were created using scraps of leather glued to a short length of floral tape covered wire (with a leaf at either end) and simply wrapped the wire once or twice around the garland where I wanted. Hey-presto, you now have one super beautiful felty-rosey garland! To turn it into a wreath, just coil it up to a size you're happy with and tie with twine and you're done!

Enjoy ♥

This tutorial was originally written by myself for the Button Company and can also be found here on their blog.

TUTORIAL - Paper Mushrooms

These. Are. Awesome. Big and little paper mushrooms perfect for table decorations at weddings, parties or for your mantle. So VERY easy to make too - read on to find out how!

TUTORIAL - How to Bleach Ombre Denim Shorts

I hear Ombre things are in these days? I'm not usually a trend follower unless it's something I completely love, but these are definitely one of those things so it's a win-win situation right? You get a cool tutorial and I get some cute shorts! Read on to find out how to create your own.

TUTORIAL - The PERFECT distressed denim cut-offs from old jeans!

I've been looking for the 'perfect' pair of denim shorts in what feels like forever and since I still haven't quite found them yet, I thought it best to make some and show you guys how to make your own too!
In this tutorial I'll talk you through the basic process of turning that worn-out old pair of jeans into some super cool wear-with-anything denim cut-offs, showing you how to measure up and cut properly without that awkward 'oops I cut too short now my butt-cheeks are hanging out' mistake and finally distressing, to give you the perfect summer wardrobe must-have.

Read on to see the full tutorial and If distressing just doesn't cut it, check out part 2 for bleach ombre here!

TUTORIAL - Old Vest to Tiered Maxi Dress

I come across problem after problem when looking for the perfect maxi dress. Infact, I came across SO many problems in the shops this year I decided it would probably be for the best if I just made my own. After browsing online for a tutorial of some sort to help me out a little I couldn't find what I was looking for so I decided to shoot a step-by-step for anyone else wanting to take this on and I hope this helps others looking for the same or a similar kind of thing!

In this tutorial I'm going to show you how to make a super simple tiered maxi dress with minimal effort and potentially zero spend-out! If you use my tutorial I would LOVE to see your results and will be happy to post links to your blog if you're flaunting it!

TUTORIAL - Freezer Paper Stencils

I know I know I know - there's approximately one hundred billion freezer paper stencil tutorials out there in the blogosphere. But what better way to celebrate this entirely made up fact than to create my own? (you can never have enough tutorials. Fact)

In this tutorial I'm going to show you how to create a simple stencil using freezer paper and then transfer it to fabric. Now, first of all - I couldn't find freezer paper ANYWHERE in the UK so ended up buying mine from amazon for a reasonable price. UK folk, greaseproof paper is NOT the same thing - unfortunately. If you manage to find any please let me know!

This is a great project to do with kids, just keep small fingers away from sharp and hot things! Adults do the hot and choppy bits, small people do the messy bits. Perfect. 

TUTORIAL - Bunting Note Cards.

My first full day back home after my wonderful break in Dorset, sat in my studio surrounded by boxes, bags and drawers of all my 'stuff'. Aah precious 'stuff' how I missed you! Day four's project for 30 days of creativity was a simple set of bunting note cards. 

They weren't exactly rocket-science to make, but as I'm feeling generous today I thought I'd write you a tutorial so you can make your own.

Origami Butterfly Garland.

Day two of 30 days of creativity was slightly more thought out than day one. For a start, I sort of knew what I wanted to do, all I needed was a sheet of wrapping paper and some string. Sounds simple, right? Do you think a single shop in Wareham sold string? Twine? Cotton? Shop keepers were looking at me as though I was asking for magic beans and by the time I'd rushed around all the shops being told I wouldn't find any string there, it was too late to buy wrapping paper as all the shops had shut. So I went back to the house minus my two vital (and only) components necessary for my project.

Raking around in the house looking for inspiration again, I managed to find a little brochure with pretty images throughout it's pages and found a needle and thread in a drawer. Excellent! I poured myself a glass of wine, sat out in the garden admiring the beautiful view with the sun setting to the wonderful sound of birdsong and Daughter.

 

I cut out nine squares from the pages of the brochure and started folding little origami butterflies. I've never really tried origami before, but I wanted to try something new and I'm so glad I did!

After all nine butterflies had been folded I hand stitched through their middles one by one creating a little garland to hang in the house/garden etc. I was really pleased with how this project turned out given the failures earlier that day trying to gather my materials!

♥ Origami

TUTORIAL - Vintage Style Decoupaged Mannequin

I picked up this female torso at a car boot sale a few years ago and she's been hanging around in my wardrobe ever since just waiting for the perfect project to come along. I don't know why, but last week I suddenly had an overwhelming desire to try out decoupage and what better project to try it out on than this?

Like it? Read on to find out how to make your own!