How to Create a Floral Doily Cushion with Cricut

The exhibitors of The Handmade Fair are back with some great tutorials for you Crafty Bs. If you haven't already planned your visit, don't forget to book your tickets using the special Crafty Bs discount code.

This week we are joined by Cricut. A world leader in personal electronic cutting machines, Cricut enables people to achieve their creative best. For 50 years, Cricut has sold tools that inspire creativity, including the Cricut electronic cutting machine, Cricut Craft Room design software, and the Cricut Cuttlebug embosser and die cutter. Today, millions of people use Cricut products to create projects, and Cricut products have won dozens of industry awards, including, most recently, the Best Innovation Award 2014 from Hobbycraft. You will find them at stand E31 at The Handmade Fair but today they are sharing how to create a floral doily cushion. 

Make a Pompom Garden Seat Cushion with Multipom

The exhibitors of The Handmade Fair are back with some great tutorials for you Crafty Bs. If you haven't already planned your visit, don't forget to book your tickets using the special Crafty Bs discount code.

This week, Multipom join us with step by step instructions on how to create your own pompom garden seat cushion. They will be at stand W3 at the fair so be sure to pop by, say hi and get your free pompom! 

How To Create Your Own Air Plant Terrarium by The Indoor Botanist

The exhibitors of The Handmade Fair are back with some great tutorials for you Crafty Bs. If you haven't already planned your visit, don't forget to book your tickets using the special Crafty Bs discount code.

Today's guest will be found on stand E80 at The Handmade Fair this September. With a totally unique range of planted terrariums The Indoor Botanist will bring inspiration, peace and the joy of nature into your home or workspace. In this post, they are sharing how to create your own air plant terrarium.

Making Home Link Up #31: Making Wind Chimes With Your Mini Makers

Welcome to the #MakingHome weekly link up!

Be inspired by posts all about moving house, home decor, DIY, crafts, family activities, recipes, gardening and more. It’s all here under one roof at Mrs Crafty B’s.

Don't forget to join in and link up your own posts. The linky is open from Friday until Tuesday. Find out how to take part at the end of this post which is a tutorial by Amy of Hooked showing us how to make wind chimes with our little ones. 

Making Home Link Up #30: Needle Felting Project For The Home

Welcome to the #MakingHome weekly link up!

Be inspired by posts all about moving house, home decor, DIY, crafts, family activities, recipes, gardening and more. It’s all here under one roof at Mrs Crafty B’s.

Don't forget to join in and link up your own posts. The linky is open from Friday until Tuesday. Find out how to take part at the end of this post. 

This week I have learned a new craft. Ok I am still learning but I am totally loving needle felting. I fully intended to give this ago around the time I moved house (ahem...18 months ago) but I found that the equipment you apparently needed was fairly pricy just for giving it a go. Last year I picked up a little kit to make a seascape picture which I thought would fit nicely with a decor scheme I had in mind in the utility room. The kit contained a foam mat, a single needle and holder (with a spare needle) a piece of felt and enough fibres to create the picture. It was just £9. This week I took it out of the pack on a whim and just, went for it. It was so easy and very therapeutic.

Making Home Link Up #28: How to Crochet a Heart Shape

Welcome to the #MakingHome weekly link up!

Be inspired by posts all about moving house, home decor, DIY, crafts, family activities, recipes, gardening and more. It’s all here under one roof at Mrs Crafty B’s.

Don't forget to join in and link up your own posts. The linky is open from Friday until Tuesday. Find out how to take part at the end of this post which is a fabulous crochet tutorial from Eve over at Little Miss & Mummy.

Today I'm sharing this really quick and easy pattern for a crochet heart, prefect for using up those odd bits of yarn you have lying around.

How to Decoupage with Paper Napkins: Make a Tile Coaster and a Desk Tidy

It is no secret that I am a bit of a hoarder. It's a trait I am certain I share with crafters and creatives around the world. I see the potential in everything to become something better than it is or to be used in a project. Pretty paper napkins do not escape my attention. Not only do they make a nice addition to a table setting when entertaining but they can be used in my craft projects too. In the past I have made paper pom poms with napkins but in this post,  I am going to show you how to use them in your decoupage projects. 

Making Home Link Up #27: How to Make Coasters with Fimo Clay

Welcome to the #MakingHome weekly link up!

Be inspired by posts all about moving house, home decor, DIY, crafts, family activities, recipes, gardening and more. It’s all here under one roof at Mrs Crafty B’s.

The linky is open from Friday until Tuesday. Find out how to take part at the end of this post by Angela from Garden Tea Cakes and Me who is showing us how to make coasters with Fimo clay.

How to Make a Lampshade Using Wallpaper

A while back, I shared a post on how to make your own lampshade with a lampshade making kit. The kit and tutorial was based around using fabric. The lampshade proudly hangs in my front room and I decided that I liked the idea of having individual handmade lampshades in all rooms. Of course this means that I don't actually have any shades anywhere *doh*. 

After painting the Little B's room I took down their old lampshade that was more suited to their old nursery and ordered myself another kit. I wasn't really feeling any fabrics for the project and as we didn't have a 'theme' in mind I asked Baby B what he would like. Of course his answer was 'superheroes' and I remembered the test piece of Avengers wallpaper that I had picked up before we started decorating. I wondered whether I could make this work; and so the experiment began!

A Snowflake Ornament Kit by Riverside Beads: A Review

This year I have a new ornament hanging on my Christmas tree. It was not made without difficulties (I can assure you) but this beautiful snowflake ornament was made with a kit by Riverside Beads.

Halloween 2015 With Dylon

Here at Crafty B's HQ we are big fans of dressing up. The Little Bs have a dedicated storage unit in their room with all manner of costumes and items to use in role play. With a few ideas of what the Little Bs might like I was keen to find out what Dylon had come up with for this years Halloween palette. I was not disappointed. 

Paper Bunting and Paper Garlands for Your DIY Wedding

Today I am being hosted by the lovely Gem over at Gem's Country Life Dream. 

Paper bunting or a paper garland is a simple but lovely decoration and easily made for those DIY weddings or parties.

Paper Garland

Pop on over and see how to make your own.

How to Make a Pom Pom Rain Cloud

You may remember a few months ago that I acquired a neat little gadget that gave me the ability to make up to 20 pom poms in one go. The Multipom has been hiding away for a short while with the busy summer we have had at Crafty B's HQ but the list of pom pom projects is ever growing. In this post I am going to give you a little instruction on how to make a cute little rain cloud with all those pom poms you will be making. Perfect with the coming of September. See, rain isn't all bad! 

Handmade 3D Butterfly Wall Art With Ikea

Very recently my niece became the proud owner of her very own bedroom! Adamant that she wanted it to be pink and yellow, I decided to make her something special to put on her wall. At first I thought I would make a box frame or some bunting; but then I spotted a pack of gift tags in my local IKEA store and became inspired to make this! 

How to Make Personalised Map Tile Coasters

This weekend I hopped over to The Diary Of A Jewellery Lover to share a crafty tutorial.

Head on over to see how you can make your very own personalised tile coasters just like these ones!

National Upcycling Day 24th June 2015 #UpcycleRevolution Upcycled WallArt

Today is National Upcycling Day as campaigned for by Gumtree along with a group of the UK's top upcycling and lifestyle bloggers. As you know, I am a big fan of upcyling so I thought I would contribute and point you all in the direction of the #UpcycleRevolution

Scrapstores are amazing places to find material for crafting and upcyling projects. With a bit of creativity and barely a dent in your money tin, you can create something individual to you; like this wall art!

Crafting With Hillarys: How to Make A Handmade Lampshade and Washable Fabric Coaster Covers

Made-to-measure window dressing company Hillarys, invited myself along with some other bloggers to take part in a challenge; to see what we could craft with 1m² of one of their beautiful fabrics.
With the launch of #MakingHome I jumped at the chance to get involved. I didn't just think along the lines of 'craft' but what I could make that was usable in my mission to create a beautiful home as well as easily replicable for you Crafty Bs.

Happily one of the choices of fabric, Rayna Apple, beautifully complimented our intended colour scheme for the front room (green and grey). As of yet, we have nothing decorative in the front room including (shock horror) a lamp or light shade! I have seen plenty of lampshade making kits and workshops so I thought I would give it a go. Knowing I would have lots of fabric left over

Upcycled Filing Tray with Ikea Magazine Files

Spring has finally sprung and I've got the cleaning bug; along with a desire to ensure that I really am organised! My new freelance business (Hello My PA) has a highlighted a necessity for a well organised workspace.

My desk is multifunctional with it being used not only for VA work but for crafts, blogging and a place to keep my household 'affairs' in order. I decided that the thing I needed most urgently was some filing trays; something in which to organise incoming work and mail before it is actioned and filed away.

I did find some lovely options for filing trays but the ones I fancied weren't quite in keeping with my 'thrifty living' ways at the moment. This led me to hunt around in my hoard to figure out what I already had that I could use. My search led me to a stash of FLYT Magazine Files by Ikea that I purchased a while ago.

Photo from Ikea.com

Christmas Crafting: Making Paper Pom Poms With Napkins

It's almost here! We've spent the last couple of months preparing for or thinking about the festivities and all of a sudden, it is but a week away! As the school term ends and the Christmas prep becomes a frenzy, we find ourselves in need of entertainment for the younger members of the family. Why not take a break and spend a couple of hours as a family creating some handmade decorations that are easy to make and a fun yet sophisticated addition to the Christmas decor?

These paper pom poms were made with napkins instead of commonly used tissue paper. These napkins are part of the Sainsburys Christmas range. Grab an extra packet to make a lovely centrepiece for your table or some festive bunting that fits perfectly with your colour scheme.

A Weekend of Crochet: Teddy Bears and Plant Pot Covers

What a lovely weekend! I spent some very much required quality time with Hubby and Baby B. I also managed to get a bit of crochet done in a leisurely manner.

In doing so, on Saturday night, I completed last week’s ‘project of the week!’ I used the same pattern as my last crocheted teddy and made a few notes on how to write my own pattern! In my last post about this little crocheted bear, I pictured the yarn I decided to use. Here is how he turned out.