Harder than it looks

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The finished card

Just clear some bits from my desk I thought but it turned into a long session to produce just one card…

The card base was cut to fit a donated envelope. The green backing paper scrap was just about big enough for the die cut frame and square.

The green stems are heat embossed, the ribbon bow donated but needed the (donated) jewels to cover a mark. The buttons (from my jar) needed some thread tying through them then a die cut vellum flower to back them.

So nothing purchased and yes the desk was cleared…

Sea glass greetings

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How to use the sea glass I collect on my daily beach walks with the dog…

Just a few little shards of sea smoothed glass have become greetings cards when combined with watercolour backgrounds, fine liner detail, heat embossed greeting and mounted on card blanks.

My obvious lack of drawing finesse is minimised by keeping these cards clean and simple, using watercolour card and leaving lots of white space.

Olio recipe rescues

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I love the challenge of rescuing food on olio and creating delicious dishes with abandoned ingredients.

There is often surplus bread so we regularly have bread and butter pudding with lemon curd (Mary berry recipe) or simple marmalade made from olio rescue lemons and oranges.

Currently a batch of carrot soup is being frozen using olio supplies and bags of chopped veg are waiting their turn for ‘souping’ later.

Grapes can be a challenge to use up but frozen they make great ice cubes and pickled grapes are a new addition to our salads.

Thank you olio for making us use and save unloved food.

Jewellery on display

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I like displaying my jewellery rather than hiding it in a box and forgetting it. It makes me vary what I wear and decorates the bedroom too.

This is simply an unloved canvas frame covered with paper (washi tape around the sides can’t be seen in this photo).

Cup hooks from the hardware shop simply screwed in place and the job is done.

Scrap cushion

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This was going to be an appliqué beach scene so started with strips of background.

I then lost patience with the number of unfinished projects hanging around and embroidered some large scale ditzy flowers instead, added some slow stitch and fabric paint detail and turned it into a small pillow instead.

Boho bracelets

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Easy to make and use tiny scraps these are fun

I use 9 1/2 inches of cotton clothes line/ macrame cord and tack it into a bracelet shape. Slimmer hands might only need 9 inches.

I then wind 1/2 inch wide strips tightly around and slow stitch them in place using 6 threads of embroidery thread which also strengthens the join of the base cord.

Sometimes the thread is contrasting the fabric, other time I keep it plain. I have also used invisible thread.

I then wind more embroidery thread over the strips as a decoration and further strengthener.

For a final touch some bracelets have beads or charms added. I have used up lots of stray items this way. Just needed to. Remember to keep the embellishments outside the bracelets so they don’t rub your wrist.

Each takes about 30 minutes to make. I now have a stack to coordinate with different outfits.

Napkin rings for spring tables

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These sweet little napkin rings were quick makes from felt scraps.

The strap is about 7cm long and the central round is about 3 cm diameter.

I fixed mine with Velcro dots but they can be stitched closed or have button holes.

Some had simple die cut shapes stitched on with invisible thread. Some had sequins and some more complicated stitching with embroidery thread. to harmonise them as a set, I straight stitched a circle around each design in a contrast colour.

Some had felt circles backing the thread work so they don’t unravel too quickly but they are delicate and definitely won’t survive red wine spills or washing.

Unique table mats

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I love finding practical uses for my crafting so turn appliqué, fabric painted and/or free motion stitcheries into lightly quilted mats for bedside or occasional tables .

This one used lots of ribbon scraps stitched down to look like ferns and the crab and puffin were simply drawn with fabric paint at the end.

I quilt in random swirls as I like the texture it creates.

To finish I made my own binding to replicate a picture frame effect.

Rainbow buttons

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For a quick upgrade of a plain white shirt I raided my button tin and replaced the buttons with a rainbow of buttons. I used the same vibrant thread to make the contrasts look deliberate.

I even included one of the glittery buttons I made with UV resin so a proper use it up project!