Homemade: DIY Frankenstein Bunting Tutorial

It feels like forever since I posted anything on here and to thank you all for sticking around I thought that I'd reward you all with tutorial. Since it's Halloween in just over a week, what better tutorial than Frankenstein bunting?!

I love halloween but unfortunately in England we just don't celebrate it that much, and finding decent decorations is almost impossible. We managed to get a few bits and pieces, but before long we looked around our living room and all we found were pumpkin decorations, so a bit of Frankenstein was in order.

Items Needed:
 Felt in Green, Black and White
 Template
 Scissors
 Ribbon
 Scoring tools (I used pencils and pens, but it would be best to use tailors chalk)

I made a basic template for each section. These are very easy to create, just a rounded rectangle for the head, an oval for the eyes and whatever hair shape you desire. 

Cut out the pieces and glue them in place. You could stitch them, and if I was making them to sell I would, but for personal use it's much quicker to plug in the glue gun and go.

Than cut out some letters. For these I decided to wing it, but you could always use a template for a more accurate design. I choose 'Boo' for a more comical effect, seen as the little Frankenstein heads are supper cute, but anything would do.

Then use the ribbon to attach all the pieces together to create your butting. Last and most definitely not least hang wherever you wish. Personally I love mine across the fireplace along with my pumpkin fairy lights. 

I loved making this. It's been quite a while since I made anything to be honest so it was nice to break out the crafting boxes again.

Expect some more tutorials soon as my mind is bursting with ideas. Oh how I love Halloween. 

Hope you all have a Spooky Halloween! 

Katie 

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Homemade: Felt Bunting

I made this bunting the other night. I wanted something cute for our bedroom, but unfortunately it's found a home above our fire. Pretty much like anything else that will hang nicely on our fire place, like the MR & MRS sign we were given as a wedding gift for example.

This is sure to be a new addition to my shop, which is almost ready. Exciting news! I've made the site, which is actually a new blog for now, the layout is almost there, the name is finalised, I've just got to finish up. I need a little quality time to put solely toward the site before I can say that it's up and running, but I'd say it will be up for my birthday in August. Fingers Crossed.

Speak Soon,

Katie 

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Felt Moustaches... Obviously

For our wedding 'way' back in May we were consumed by the idea of props, from 'Just Married' signs to moustaches, but encountered problems along the way. In the end we ended up making cardboard moustaches two nights before the wedding which worked perfectly on the day...

but it wasn't until last night that the obvious idea occurred to me,

Why did I struggle with thick cardboard and messy permanent markers when I could have just used felt?

A softer, more handmade feel would have just perfect, but I guess that a bride has so much to think about just days before her wedding that practicalities are the lasts thoughts to be had. 

Which lead me to think, just because I couldn't make them for my own wedding, why can't I make them for other people's? Plus they would be just perfect for birthdays, hen do's, stag do's, or even just a great night out. So I got my little cogs turning and created a rough plan, all I need now are a few bits and pieces and my felt moustaches will be my newest of creations. 

What's more, with these designs I can also create the juicy pink lips I so much desired for my own wedding. 

Hope you're looking forward to seeing these as much as I am.

Speak Soon,

Katie 

x

Homemade: Bookmark

I've spent the last few hours stitching away to create this lovely (if I do say so myself) bookmark. For a friend's birthday. I had planned on giving her a set of books, well what could be better than books but books and a bookmark? Obviously knowing Katie, this had to be handmade. So I got my thinking cap on a this is what I came up with. 

On the back I stitched... 'I'm handmade.'

I really hope that she like's if, but if not I could happily take it off her hands. haha.

♥ ♥ ♥

I'm going to make many more of these now, and will be adding them to my shop once I set it all up. I cannot wait to set up my shop up but I want to have a collection of ideas and pre-made items before I start my venture. I'm so excited and loving every minute of the 'making' process.

Hope that you are all as excited as I am

Speak Soon, 

Katie

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Guest Posting for study leave!

Hello my lovely readers. I just wanted to point out that I'm over on Caz's blog today filling in for her while she's off studying hard. I feel quite honoured that I'm over on her blog, and I'm quite excited about my post. 

I've been making tons of these headbands, hairclips and broaches and have been dying to show you all, but I wanted to wait until my guest post was up. I've got to create a little bit of suspense some of the time...

This is one of the reasons that I've been absent for a few days, I've been so wrapped up in felt and clue that I've not really been near a computer. So I have some major blog reading to catch up on, which I'm so excited about.

I'm hoping to start selling these someday soon as I've got so many ideas and have alway been creative so thought it was about time that I put it to use. Plus by the time I have children I would like to earn enough money to support my family as in my current employment I can't afford to have children as the maternity pay is appalling, and I definitely would like them some day. (we already have the names picked out!) Don't get me wrong I would still continue to work but it would hopefully earn enough money to keep us afloat. Plus maybe one day I could earn money doing something that I truly love. Anyway enough babbling about that. 

I have tons of different colours, styles, and designs bubbling about in my little head that just need to come out, so I'm off now to create some more! Let me know what you think and if you would be interested in buying one. 

Speak Soon,

Katie 

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If it's broke... fix it!

I picked up this dress in Primark a couple of weeks ago. Now I don't know if it's just me but these dresses are a nightmare to get hold of. Don't get me wrong, they always have plenty in stock which is great.. if you're a size 6 or 8, but unfortunately I was not bless with a high metabolism. So when I spotted this lurking at the back I jumped with joy. 

Now yes, as you can see by the picture (professionally modelled by me. haha) the strap is broken. The look on the ladies face was a picture when she realised that I wanted to buy a broken item of clothing, but come on it's only a strap. 

Today I decided that I wanted to wear it, so out came the needle and thread, and of course the camera for my lovely blog. 

And you can't let this post go by without Katie's concentration face. haha. Thank you Mike for that one. 

And there we have it, my bargain £4.50 dress. I love it. And what better way to finish this post of than with an outfit of the day.

Dress - Primark 

Cardigan - Primark years ago (originally bought for work when I workes as a waitress)

Shoes - Primark 

Leggings - Primark 

Belt - Tesco (wow something that's not from Primark)

Headband - wait and see..

Speak Soon,

Katie 

x

P.S Mike had to poke a new hole in my belt for me. Best idea really seen as I was going to try and do it with an electric drill. haha. 

Wedding: Wedding Favours

This whole wedding planning and organising is extremely tiring. We've been up since 9:30am and have been non-stop crafting. I have enjoyed it, but right now I can feel my eye lids getting heavier, and we've still got tons more to do. It's amazing once I finish a task, because the more I finish the more I can see all my ideas coming together. It is rather satisfying. 

I probably won't be posting much this weekend for obvious reasons, though I would love to, so I'll leave you with this post, and also leave you all with the 'carrot' of my wedding photos. (If you didn't get that reference - carrot on a stick + donkey... though that sounds like I refer to you all as donkeys, so on second thoughts that's probably not the best example.) 

My wedding favours - For my wedding we planned right from the word go on having a BBQ, plus I have been a ketchup lover for many, many, many years, so what better wedding favour than personalised ketchup bottles? 

Originally I scoured the internet for genuine ones, but unfortunately heinz only personalise their products in America and don't ship to the UK, so the only option was to create my own. And here we have it. 

 I used photo sticker paper, which is fantastic. It was so easy to do, though creating the perfect size proved to be a bit of a nightmare. 

The finished product. I love them so much. The large bottles are for the couples, and the small ones are for the singles. We've still got a few more to do, but a trip to Asda is needed as we ate some. haha.

Fingers crossed I'll be able to post a bit more before the big day, if not I will see you all very soon as Mrs Cahill. 

Speak Soon, 

Katie 

x

P.S I went for my hair trial yesterday, and it looked beautiful. Though she did burn my nose with the curling tongs, so I'm hoping that Rudolph will be in fashion by Saturday. haha.

Homemade: Wedding Mobile/Signs

Oh look another wedding post. Though it is to be expected with our wedding less than 2 weeks away, so bare with me, and get excited that these posts are almost over, or get increasingly more excited as 14th May gets closer. 

Another creation with the salt dough. I'm really enjoying using salt dough. So far all my creations are pretty basic, but I'm planning on making some miniature and more intricate designs soon. My most recent designs are these mobile/signs. I'm not really sure what to call them yet. Any ideas? I've still got a friendship one left to make, and maybe more if I think of any. 

Katie

x

Homemade: Budget Wedding Flower Arrangements

In my last post I wrote about all my Ikea purchases. Well I then had a play around with some ideas for our Wedding flower arrangements, and I think I’ve decided on the following, which I will have dotted around the wedding reception venue (my parents house.)

1. This first idea I had had in mind for months. Is it wrong to admit that the inspiration for this came from my own living room? I hope not.

I just love the simplicity of this arrangement, and how the stems bend so easily so that the followers can be arranged perfectly.

2. I love these also. The jars originally came with lids, which whist still in Ikea I checked that they could be removed, which they can very easily.

3. And finally these lovely glass vases were just so cute. I’m not sure which I prefer more, the flower wrapped around the outside or wrapped around the inside.

The prices for all these were fantastic. Each flower was only 39p, so in total £19.11 for the job lot. Less than £20 is just fantastic for the quality and versatility of the flower. 

The glass jars were £1.01 each, so I picked up 6, which I can use again and again and again. For what, I’m not sure yet, but I will find out soon.  These I think would look so cute as a centerpiece in a larger, more traditional venue.

The glass vases were £1.83 each.

And the mini cute vases (as I like to call them) were also only £1.83. I think these are my favourites.

In total all are flower arrangements for our budget wedding came to a grand total of £32.49 if my calculations are correct (knowing me they aren't. What a complete bargain, and I didn’t compromise on quality. I’m rather chuffed with myself. 

Speak Soon, 

Katie 

x

Wedding: Ikea buys

I mentioned in yesterdays post that we made a trip to Ikea. We’d been planning to go for weeks to pick up a few items for our wedding, and finally made the time two Saturdays before the wedding day.

The flowers that I have picked for my bouquet and the buttonholes are gerberas, or as I like to call them, gerbils, and I knew from previous purchases that IKEA sold artificial ones for less that 50p each, with bendy stems.  So a trip to Ikea was an obvious choice.

We also picked up a few jars and vases for the flowers to be arranged in, along with a few candles to scatter around to create the perfect atmosphere on the day.

In Ikea I did think, ‘what am I going to do with all these flowers once the wedding is over?’ I knew I wanted to keep a few as I already have one set in the living room and a few more scattered around the house would look great, but I had just bought over 40. The as I was taking all the tags off each individual flower (which took forever) I placed them all in one plant pot to keep organized… and I loved it.

So there we have it, all of the flowers for our wedding day and a lovely center piece for our coffee table once the wedding day is over. Dual purpose items rule.

 I love Ikea, and I'm so glad that all my ideas are finally coming together. 

Speak Soon, 

Katie

x

Homemade: Just Married Garland

I've been after a 'Just Married' garland/sign ever since I came across the one I posted here. This one was far too expensive for what it was, and I was determined to create my own. And last night I finally finished it.

It's probably well known from my previous posts that we are planning our wedding on a shoe string budget, so a lot of homemade decorations are a must. Though I should admit that even if money was no object I probably would have still have made a lot myself. I just think weddings are more personal and fun that way.

I have so many more fun little creations to add here, so expect to see more, seen as our wedding is less than three weeks away. All day today I have had sudden and unexpected waves of butterflies that shudder all the way through my body from the top of my head to the tips of my toes. It's such a strange sensation, but I guess it means I'm finally getting nervous when I think of our Big Day... there they go again. 

Speak Soon,

Katie

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