Decorated notebook

Today I was looking for a notebook to draw some quick sketches in, but all my notebooks seem to be lined or squared. Why do I need squared notebooks? Anyway, I found a cheap A5 notebook from the works - 99p! However, it looked a bit plain and boring. So I decided to spruce it up a bit! The front has my name in letters cut out from magazines, and 1940's style clothes tags I printed out from The Cottage Market.

The back is decorated in a modern style, with bright colours I picked out from magazines and adverts. It went a bit wrong... I forgot to smooth out the bubbles! Despite this, I still like it, and it's a lot better than a plain cardboard cover. Do you like it?

5 things I love- Birthday cards

I seem to have a thing for birthday cards this week...

Anyway, this post is 5 of the best birthday cards I've seen around etsy. Lots are one of a kind, so if you want them, be quick!

This is great, a really funny card- maybe suitable for the fashionista in your life.

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What can I say? I love cupcakes!

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This is a great idea, and I love the colour scheme.

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I think that this is really sweet!

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This is a lovely card that would do for absolutely anyone!

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owl always love you card

Using the tutorial from bugs and fishes, I made this great card for my dad. I added a heart shaped button the the red felt heart, and it was a really easy and a great looking project.

Also, here's  a work in progess snap of my mothers day brooch. It's a bit of a rubbish photo- I couldn't hold the camera still!- and the beautiful turquiose comes out as just blue.

Busy, busy crafty weekend

All this weekend I've been super busy crafting. I need to raise money for my Baden Powell challenge, and what better way than making cards? So that means that I've spent 2 days on my living room floor, glueing like mad, and the result is 22 beautiful cards. If I do say so myself.

 Here are some of my favourites. I'm sorry about the rubbish photos, it's been so gloomy recently.

 These lizards made from handmade paper were in my local craft shops bargain basket.

 Wow, I really do love bunting! These chipboards are christmas themed, but they kind of work here.

 Yep, it's bunting galore. And yep, I really love cake.

 Pretty roses...

 More handmade paper, oh how I love that wonderful stuff.

And of course, owls. How would I live without them?

Super-easy paper bunting tutorial

This is a really easy tutorial for paper bunting!

Stuff you'll need

2 metres of ribbon

8 different patterend papers

8 different plain papers

Sewing machine

White thread

Plain card

On the plain card, cut out your triangular template.

 Stack the papers up, and draw around the triangle. (I did 2 because I used double sided paper so I wanted to get both patterns in)

 Cut them all out.

 Order the paper triangles, going patterned, plain, patterned, plain etc. Take your ribbon as well.

 With a quarter inch seam allowance, place the first triangle at the beggining of the ribbon, and sew all the way across.

 Slip the next triangle in next to it, and sew. Continue until you have sewn all of the triangles on.  

 Trim the ends to match the angle of the triangle, and cut all the threads.

Sew along the top of the ribbon, and secure with 2 or 3 backwards stitches at either end. Ta-daa!

Please do not use these tutorials or content for commercial purposes.