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Hope you find some inspiration during your visit....

How to create a folding mini album

how to crochet a headband

Copper Earrings


How To Transfer A Photo Onto Wood

Source: http://www.homemadehomeideas.com


Transferring a photo onto wood isn’t as complicated as it first sounds, and the finished craft would look fabulous in any home. Why not make them as gifts for your loved ones, they are incredibly thoughtful and unique but won’t cost you a fortune!
You will need the following materials to get started:
  • A favorite photo
  • A smooth piece of wood
  • Modpodge
  • Gel dedium
  • A sponge
This method is really simple to follow, you could even get the kids involved. Once completed the possibilities are endless. You could display them on mantel pieces. use them as wall art, or even place settings and keepsakes…

Decoupage tutorial - box with pearls

This video shows and explains all the techniques step by step. I used decoupage glue and paper napkins, varnish and acrylics. It is easy to do even if you don't have much crafting experience. These instructions will work on a wooden box of any size and style, so get crafting! Decoupage tutorial - DIY.

DIY Fabric Peony Flower Accessories

republished from http://creaturecomfortsblog.com/

Here’s what you’ll need to make your own Fabric Peony Flowers:
  • A ventilated work space
  • Candle
  • Lighter or matches
  • Chiffon or lightweight satin (available at fabric stores) – your fabric needs to be 100% polyester in order to work properly | peonies come in colors of white, soft to bright pinks, and vibrant fuchsia
  • Fabric scissors
  • Embroidery thread in yellow
  • Sewing needle
  • Barrette, hair comb, or headband (optional) — for hair accessory
  • Blank pin back (optional) — for brooch
  • Double-sided adhesive dots (optional) —for gift topper

Step 1: Prep your fabric. Cut out 5 squares of chiffon (per 1 complete flower). Four should measure around 3.5 to 4 inches across and one should be a bit smaller. Snip around the edges to round them into rough circles. They don’t need to be perfect.

Step 2: Creating the petals. Hold one circle of chiffon close to the side of your flame moving your hand back-and-forth slowly until the edges curl up. Rotate the circle around until all edges have been curled. Be sure not to hold the fabric too close to the flame or it may burn. The fabric does get hot, so use caution as you work. It’s a good idea to keep a glass of water close by just in case you need to dunk a burning petal in it. I’ve never needed to do this, but it’s always wise to be prepared. Repeat this process with all 5 petals.
It’s a little bit difficult to describe the petal making process in words, so if you’d like you can watch my quick video tutorial here for the complete process. I have done my best to write all the steps out (and illustrate them with photos here within this post, but some things are just easier to understand in action. Even without the sound on, the video should make sense. I added notes throughout the video for those of you who need to watch with the sound off. If for some reason you need extra help on any of the steps, please be sure to let me know. I’m happy to help.

Step 3: Use your fabric scissors to snip all five of your petals in 4 sections as shown in the diagram here. Be sure that you don’t cut all the way across, or your petal will fall apart.


Step 4: Use your flame to curl up the sides along each newly cut edge. This time around it will help to hold the fabric above the flame, using two hands to hold the cut edges apart from one another as you work. If the petals stick together after curling you can pull or snip them apart. Repeat with all five petals. Set two larger petals and the smallest petal aside.

Step 5: Create the middle layer. Take the remaining two petals that you prepared in the last step, and snip them in four sections again…like seen in the diagram here. The black dashes are your new snip lines, and the grey ones show where you snipped last time. Curl the newly cut edges of your two remaining petals up with your candle and set aside.

DIY pom poms Step 5: Prepare a small yellow pom pom out of embroidery floss. For a quick how-to, you can check out my DIY Pom Pom video tutorial here…or follow these steps: A. Wrap a length of embroidery floss around pointer and middle finger tips approximately 8 times. Use a small piece of floss to tie around the entire looped area. B. Carefully pull looped floss off fingers and tighten knot to create a secured bundle. Knot once more for extra security. C. Snip through all loops and trim them to similar lengths as needed. D. Hold your pom pom with ends facing up and down (not side to side) and then use your fingers to flatten it down. Set aside.

Step 6: Assemble your flower. Begin by stacking the two large layers that have only four petals each inside of one another. Next, stack the two layers that have eight petals each on top of the bottom two layers. Finally, add the small layer with only four petals on top.

Step 7: Place your pom pom inside the center of your flower and stitch it in place. Sew through all layers several time until it is secure. And now you have a gorgeous fabric peony!
You can use your peonies for all sorts of lovely things! For example, you can use them to dress up the table at your next party…
Attach one to a hair clip (stitch it on or glue it with a dab of hot glue), or add a pin back to create a cheery brooch…
Use a couple to dress up an Easter basket:
Or you can use them my favorite way…as gift embellishments! Just adhere double-sided sticky dots to the back of your flowers and attach them to your gifts:
Please note: This project is not intended for young children. Please work in a ventilated work space. Never leave candles unattended and use caution near open flame. For safety, keep a glass of water or extinguisher close by in case of a flare up (this has never happened to me…but I want everyone to be safe).

Flower Power Baby Sandals

source: http://www.lovelylittlelife.org/

sandal tut title

I know some of you have waited the best part of a year for this tutorial. I hope it’s worth the wait!
I have made a few little improvements to the pattern which I have now reflected in theoriginal post (I will be leaving the written pattern post up for those who don’t require the photo tutorial).
So…. Are you ready for a really photo heavy tutorial? (I am so NOT kidding!)
If you would like a pair but don’t crochet or fancy the project I do now make them to sell! Drop me a comment or an email if you are interested 
This makes one pair of sandals sized 0-6 months, approx. 11cm from toe to heel.
The pattern beginning to end makes one sandal, so work it through twice for the pair!

Materials:

2 colours aran weight cotton yarn, I use Rico Creative Cotton Aran
3.5mm hook
needle
2 small buttons
cotton thread

Terminology:

I’m using UK terminology, these are the stitches and abbreviations being used.
st(s) = stitch(es)
ch = chain
ss = slip stitch
dc = double crochet (single crochet U.S)
htr = half treble (half double U.S)
tr = treble (double crochet U.S)
RS = right side

Sole

Using first colour, make initial 14ch.
sandals-tut-1
R1: 2dc in the second chain from hook (where the needle is above),
sandal-tut-2
1dc in the next 5ch, 1htr in each of the next 5ch, 2htr in next ch, 3htr in last ch (see below)
sandals-tut-3
Working back along the other side of the chains –
sandals-tut-4
2htr in next ch (where the needle is above), 1htr in next 5ch, 1dc in each of the next 5ch, 2dc in last ch.
sandals-tut-5
Join with ss in top of first dc. (31sts)
sandals-tut-6
R2: Turn work. 3ch, 2tr in base of ss (see above),
sandals-tut-7
1tr in next st, 2tr in next st, 1tr in next 9 sts,
sandals-tut-8
*3tr in next st, 1tr in next st*; repeat between ** 3 more times (4 in total),
sandals-tut-9
1tr in next 9 sts, 2tr in next st, 1tr in last st, join with ss in top of first ch-3 (see above). (43 sts)
sandals-tut-10
R3: Turn, 3ch, 1tr in base of ss,
sandals-tut-11
1tr in next 17 sts, *2tr in next st, 1tr in next st,*; repeat between ** 2 more times, 2tr in next st,
sandals-tut-12
1tr in next 16sts, 2tr in nx st, 1tr in last st, join with ss in top of first ch-3. (49 sts)
sandals-tut-13
Fasten off.

Heel

sandals-tut-14
R4: RS facing,  from centre tr (shown above by the needle) count 9sts to the right, around the edge towards the middle (shown above by the hook).
sandals-tut-15
Join yarn, ch1 [does not count as stitch], 1dc in next 19sts. (19sts)
sandals-tut-16
R5: Turn. 3ch, 1tr in next 18sts. (19 sts)
sandals-tut-17
R6: Turn. 1ch, 1tr in next 2sts, ss in next st (looks like above),
sandals-tut-18
*1tr in next 2sts, ss in next st*; repeat between ** until the end, (this will be a ss in last st).(19 sts)
Fasten off.
sandals-tut-19
R7: With the outside of the heel facing you – join second colour yarn, 1ch (see above),
sandals-tut-20

*1dc in next 2st, ss in next st*; repeat between ** until the end, (this will be a ss in last st).(19 sts)
sandals-tut-21
Fasten Off. Darn in any tail ends.

Ankle Strap

sandals-tut-22
Using the first colour yarn chain 20, ss into 7th ch from hook(see above), ss in each ch to the end.
sandals-tut-23Fasten Off. Leave long tails for sewing.
sandals-tut-24
Sew strap to one edge of the heel, sew to opposite side on second sandal.

Flower

sandals-tut-25
R1: Using first yarn make a magic circle, 2ch, 6dc into magic circle.
sandals-tut-26
Pull circle tightly closed and leave a long tail for sewing.
sandals-tut-26
R2: Join second colour, 4ch, ss in same st, *ss in next st, 4ch, ss in same st*; repeat between ** 4 more times, ss in next st, 4ch, ss into first ch to close the round. Fasten Off.

Toe Straps

sandals-tut-28
Using first yarn colour, make 15ch. Fasten off. Repeat to make two (per sandal!).
sandals-tut-29

Using the long tail sew the flower, very securely, on to the centre of the toe straps.
To sew the straps on to the sandal count 4sts along the sole from the edge of the heel,
sandals-tut-30

sew one end of the first strap here and in the same place on the opposite side. Count a further 5sts and sew the second strap here on both sides.
sandals-tut-31

Almost there now! All we need is to sew a small button on to the other side of the heel.
(I am no longer using the crochet bobble button as I was never completely happy with it and find small plastic buttons much more practical. However I have left the bobble button instruction up on the original post if you want it.)
sandals-tut-32That’s it! You’ve completed one sandal! Now repeat it all again and you’ll have a pair! :)
Phew! That was quite a long one wasn’t it….
If you’ve made it this far I really hope I’ve covered everything and you’ve found this helpful :) If I have missed something or made an error in there somewhere please leave me a comment and I will try to help!