Birthday Card Experimentation

Here is a birthday card I made the other day for a friend's Mum. I have never used the sewing machine like this before and I wasn't planning on even using one when I started. I was just going to use fine liner pens. I wanted to do something different as I use fine liners a lot. I have a lot of left over fabric from other projects I have done and so I thought I would have a go. 

It does look a bit scruffy in some ways but I will just say it's meant to look that way! I used a combination of zig zag stitches and straight stitches to make the cupcake. Starting off with the green polka dot fabric and layering each level on top. I did sew everything on to some greaseproof paper so that I could tear it off at the end but this plan failed when my bad sewing lines weren't quite right and left some holes which threatened it all falling to pieces! I did a bit of a repair job and I think I saved it? Eek. It is a pretty simple design really - I originally wanted it to be more complicated than this but sometimes simple is best I think.

I hand wrote the 'Happy Birthday' making use of a sticker I had which luckily tied in with the colours. Mounted on to card and gave it a bit more life with some sticky foam pads. A good first attempt I think. I plan on doing some more like this. I just need to invest in some proper fabric scissors! 

A Blank Canvas

I have not blogged in probably a few years, mostly due to the fact that I haven't had anything to write about. However recently my love for making things has been resurrected. Here I will put updates on things I have made or just want to show! This could be anything from cooking, crafty stuff, designs or home decoration. 

With the colder nights drawing in, I am finding great comfort in finding ways of making our quite bland modern flat in to a more homely, cosy environment. This is all done on a budget due to having very little disposable income! I am getting a lot of satisfaction from this - and I hope other people will too!

This is our room at the moment - I found it quite uninspiring and so I am currently in the process of trying to make it a bit more interesting. 

After inheriting a sewing machine, I felt the need to make something with it so I went for something simple and made some bunting. There are quite a few different ways of doing making bunting which I was surprised about, so I just combined everything I read together. It's not perfect but that's what gives it character right?

I can't stand having white walls and by not having the option to paint them, I am filling the space instead. I have done some drawings and with the help of an A-Z map from The Works I quickly cobbled together some thing to fill the space (Just need to hang them up now!). I drew a stag...and an armadillo...don't ask..I don't know either.

To go with the framed pictures I also made a light shade to tie the map bits together. The A-Z map came in quite handy and for 1.99 I think I will get some good use out of it. I got the lamp shade idea from one of my crafty friends and so I won't take any credit for it. She used old book pages for hers which also looked really good.  I bought the paper light shade for £1 and cut out quite a few circles. A couple of hours later I had finished.

It also looks really cool from the inside..not that is of any use...

My next plan is to sort out the ikea-ness of the room. I wanted to cover up the white drawers with something and after some googling I have found a website where you can cover the furniture with a vinyl sticker design - www.thisismykea.com.I have seen some cool ones on there, I think you can upload your own too but I shall have to see about that one. 

The only down side is that it does cost about £30-35 pounds, and with me being so frugal I will have to think about it some more!!