Wednesday, 10 December 2014

Woodland #DICraftSwap

Over the past year I’ve really fallen in love with crafting, and just generally being creative again. I don’t think I ever really feel out of love with it, I think life just got in the way and I didn’t really make time for it. That’s all changed lately and I am so glad to be back making things and having fun with craft. So when I found out about Hannahs #DICraftSwap I just couldn’t resist signing up!

Each month she announces a new theme for the swap and then Hannah emails you the person you are sending to, the person you are sending to is not the person you are receiving from. It’s up to you if you want to reveal yourself. Each parcel must include at least one handmade item and one bought gift with the min. value of £3. Spending and making more is entirely up to you.

October’s theme was woodland! I was pretty excited by this as thoughts of leaves, winter walks and woodland fairies started to fill my mind! I was given the lovely Louisa who blogs over at ‘Luthaisea’s Kit’ to create something for!

We are all asked a few questions on the theme and that is sent to whoever is making for you. In Louisa’s, she said her favourite woodland animal is a hedgehog so I decided to make her a hedgehog plushie door hanger. I am so happy with how the little guy turned out!



In the information I was sent about Louisa she said that when she thinks of woodland she thinks of Sunlight lancing through trees, now I love tea lights in jars and started playing with some colourful leaves I had in my craft box. Using some Mod Podge I stuck the leaves around the jar so when the tea light was lit inside the jar the light would shine through the leaves! I was pretty chuffed about my logic on this one and even happier with the result, if I am allowed to say that?!


The final thing I made was a floral crown, woodland reminded me so much of fairytales, mystical creatures and magic. So I thought it would be fun to add this to my package! I make quite a few floral crowns which tend to be filled with huge bright flowers, I wasn’t sure if that would be Louisa’s style so decided to go for a dainty white flower instead. I wish I had a better picture to show you!

Louisa is also a huge fan of Scotland and all things Scottish so I added some tartan material and a thistle necklace which I placed a woodland printed tin. I had so much fun crafting all my pieces and getting my package ready! A few days after I sent off my parcel to Louisa I then received my own in the post!

The gorgeous Jenny who blogs over at Pretty Column had me and I felt thoroughly spoilt when I opened my package! Check out my new buddies...









Jenny had crocheted this fabulous fox and to accompany Mr Fox was this adorable hedgehog. They are both placed on a shelf above my desk looking very cute! I was also sent these great mushroom candles which I have placed above my fireplace. I am not sure I will light them as I like them too much!

Finally I also received this lovely woodland themed pencil case. My bag is ridiculous, I have about 27 pens floating around the bottom of it but can never find one when I need it! So I had great fun pulling them all out and popping them into my shiny new pencil case, I actually feel organised!


Massive thank you to Jenny for such lovely treats and to Hannah for organising this! If you are interested in craft swaps then I really recommend popping over to Dainty and Ivory to sign up. The theme for the next swap is Christmas!!

Tuesday, 9 December 2014

My Little Cosy Box








‘My Little Box’ is definitely my favourite subscription box by far at the moment! I am in love with the illustrations they use and all the goodies that arrive inside it! This month’s theme is ‘My Little Cosy Box’, the same as Novembers disappointing Birchbox, but I think ‘My Little Box’ has covered this theme pretty well!

Each comes with an A5 illustrated quote, and I have framed a few of my favourites, and I think this month’s is pretty cute and spot on! Inside my box was an espresso mug with a cute illustration and the quote ‘how is your day gonna be?’ which I adore! I haven’t drunk coffee for 7 months now so will another use for this gorgeous mug!

My favourite item has to be the red and white polka dot little cushion that you can heat up in the microwave! I can’t wait to start using this! In the little beauty bag I received a mini Essie polish called ‘cute as a button’, My Little Beauty Volume & Care Mascara and an Aracancil Starliner Black Waterproof Eyeliner, all items I will definitely use!

This box never fails to surprise me and for £11 plus p&p a month, I think it’s a fab price for the quality of goods you receive!


What subscription boxes do you recommend? 

Monday, 8 December 2014

Motivational Monday #39

 
I think as we all get older we tend to become more cynical, lose our faith in humanity a little. Christmas is the perfect time to turn this on its head! Look for the good in the world and start believing in yourself and others a little more! Spread that Christmas spirit!
Happy Monday lovelies!

Sunday, 7 December 2014

My Christmas Decorations Haul!

My family are one of those who refuse to decorate for Christmas until Christmas Eve or at a push the weekend before! If I has my way the tree and all the Christmas sparkle would be straight up on the 1st December, so you can appreciate why I don’t appreciate my loved ones bah humbug ways!

So this year I am making a stance, I have started discretely putting Christmas decorations around the house! I feel like I have my own little secret operation going on, I will get my family into the Christmas spirit!

Here is what I have sneaked in so far...











What do you all think? Do you have all your decorations up already? My next mission is to somehow get a tree in!!

Saturday, 6 December 2014

Gift Ideas: The Book of Everyone

A couple of weeks ago I was asked if I’d like to review ‘The Book of Everyone’, a personalised book filled with fun facts that you can edit for the recipient. I’m not usually a huge fan of ‘personalised gifts’ as I think they can look a bit tacky, however when I heard the folks at ‘The Book of Everyone had teamed up with Age UK, a charity that’s close to my heart, this year so that with every book you buy it goes towards the “gifting” of a book for an elderly person who may not receive a gift, curiosity got the best of me! I love that buying this book will help to bring a smile to the face of someone elderly this Christmas, as I can be a pretty lonely time for some.

How does it work? You basically go to their website, enter the name and date of birth of the person you would like to create the book for and they create a fab personalised book for the recipient. It is filled with facts based around their birthday and has pages you can edit and make even more personal for that person.

I decided to create my book for my sister Hayley, I know she sometimes stops by here but I also know she’s super busy at the moment so hopefully doesn’t see this post before Santa comes! Hayley – if you are reading this, hello! Pretend you haven’t seen this! Love you! xx












Its ridiculously easy to use, the website takes you through page by page so you can see exactly what you will be receiving and its made clear all the bits you can edit yourself, from the back ground pics, the colour of the front cover to rewording bits to make them relevant to the receiver!

I was surprised at how awesome the graphics and art work. It’s really fun and modern and I’m so happy with the final product! ‘The Book of Everyone’ would make a fab gift this Christmas and only takes a few minutes to create! You can purchase it in various formats so it can be made to fit any budget from, Digital £7.50, Paperback £19.50, Hardback £29.50 and Deluxe £49.50.

I love that you can add personal touches of photos and quotes along the way, I had so much fun thinking of what I could add in!  Uniquely each person that receives the book gets an ant named in his or her honour, from The Book of Everyone’s ant farm where they are said to perform a special naming ceremony with honey and water! I am not joking!! I can’t wait for Hayley to receive this on the big day! 
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