Live it: Our Handmade Fair Mollie Mash-up Adventure

What a weekend we have just had!  In a flurry of craft related goodness we went up to Warwickshire for The Handmade Fair at Ragley Hall.  This wasn't just a visit to see some of our favourite crafters though, we were up against Fran from Fall for DIY on the Mollie Makes Mash-up stage. eeeeek.  We were also in great company as the Lovely Mr X Stitch had been involved in Fridays Mash-up and Chinelo Bally & Lauren Guthrie from the Sewing Bee were part of Saturdays Mash-up.

Lets meet: The Things She Makes

Hi again, its Lets meet time and this month we are having a chat with a fellow blogger, so lets see who it is.

Hello! I'm Sophie from the blog The Things She Makes, where I share the things I make, or at least attempt to!

What was the first thing you remember making?
I was really encouraged to make things when I was younger and had a real range of materials to work with.  I remember making friendship bracelets and pressing flowers a lot and I've always been a card maker - grandparents birthdays in particular meant that I would be making something, whether painting a picture or creating a trinket gift.  I also liked to sew - I had some brilliantly bad attempts at fixing my leggings.  But the first real make I can remember is a little air dry clay flower wrap with dried lavender inside that I made for my Mum.  She still has it!

How did you find your creative side?
I think it's something I realised early on - that I wanted to and enjoyed making 'things, rather than felt I had to do.  If you were to ask my family, I'm sure they'd say I've always been creative.  I get very itchy fingers if I haven't made something in a while and I have many post-it notes and lists of ideas - it's something that I've always done.

What has been your favourite ever make? Whether that be for your business or pleasure – tell us about it.
Usually it's trying out those projects that start as an idea and completely work - often for me, its the process of making rather than the final DIY!  I have been honoured to make the Wedding stationery for a few friends, but my Brother's Wedding stationery has to be my favourite make - I loved every minute of it and seeing it all come together on one of the most important days of his life was pretty amazing.
Otherwise, anything that involves glitter and using my glue gun is always a winner for me.

What are your favourite ways to stay inspired?
The blogging community is hugely inspiring - and so supportive.  I'm also a huge YouTube watcher, Instagram stalker and Pinterest browser.  Anything, a colour, technique, pattern or medium can spark an idea or help me find the solution to something that might not have worked out first time.  If I'm stuck in a rut, looking over the lists of ideas I've previously made or left over materials can usually set me off on a project but I think it's also important to recognise when inspiration isn't there and not force it - a little break can be all that's needed to recharge.

Who are your favourite Designer/Makers right now?
Etsy and Instagram are my favourite place to find new makers. I'm a huge fan of typography at the moment (stationery in general, always!) and it's something that I can practice easily whilst my craft stash is in storage.  My current faves are Old English Company, Violet & Alfie, Elsie & Nell, Sir Albert Co. and Skandi Design.

What crafty item is top of your wishlist?
I'm late to the party, but I've wanted, ummmed and aaahhhhed about an electric cutter machine.  I really need one for all the sweet slogan jumpers, t-shirts and bags I have designed in my head!  I'm still window-shopping on that one though.

What do you like to do when you’re not working?
Making something - whether small or a large project - is usually my favourite way to relax and if I'm not doing that, I'll be researching or planning for it.  I'm a big coffee drinker, so I love a coffee shop trip and I can spend many an hour walking around HobbyCraft.  Otherwise, I'm visiting friends and family - particularly hanging out my little nephew!

Tell us a bit about what you have coming up?  any little projects you want to tell us about.
At the moment, I am in the middle of my biggest DIY yet - renovating my new home! Expect lots of house-related DIYs on the blog.  The room I'm most excited to start is the office/studio space!

Lovely to hear from Sophie about what she is getting up to and hear more about how she stays creative.  You can also find The Things She makes on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, You tube and Pinterest.  So plenty of places to stalk her!

See you next month!
H & Sammy, xxx

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Make it: Plants DIY

You must have noticed that plants are taking over the world at the moment, it started with succulents in cute pots and then over to terrariums.  I am not a green fingered person and so I am starting with some succulents and a spider plant or two, but I have been known to kill cacti before and so I am not sure how long either will last.

Gift Wrapped 3 ways

One of my very favourite things about buying gifts, especially at this time of year is getting to wrap them up. I love paper-crafts and for me wrapping presents is just an extension of my favourite hobby. You may remember last year we even held a gift wrapping workshop! Getting to play with embellishments and glitter is just the best part of the gift buying process for me. It can make even the most mundane gift voucher that little bit more exciting to open. 

Most of my family have asked either for money or vouchers this year so for a bit of fun I have taken some kraft gift boxes and decorated them up to put their vouchers and money in, to make them a little more exciting than just a card. I got a little carried away and whilst I was at it I thought I would make some extras to share with you all.  I went with three themes to help inspire you to have a go at some different wrapping ideas this Christmas. 

All That Glitters

Use mini Christmas decorations to embellish, I also love wooden decals often sold for card making and sequins sprinkled like glitter. Copper and rose gold make a luxury statement, I used copper flakes on double sided tape and copper tape. Use even the smallest scraps of expensive gift wrap to make tags or add strips to basic papers to give a splash of glitz. 

Merry and Bright
Why not make your gifts stand out from the crowd by using a neon theme. By using simple tools like paper punches, fine liner pens and washi tape you can create simple but stunning wrapping that will have your family and friends reaching for the sunglasses. Hand write little phrases onto scraps of card or stickers to create funky gift tags. These star ones were 'sale' price tags from Ryman.

Trendy Traditional
A classic colour combination with a twist, red and white paired with aqua blue freshens up the traditional colour pallet. Use playful motifs like reindeer, penguins and gingerbread men to add a touch cuteness for kiddos or adults. Doilies look lovely as a classic pairing with good old bakers twine. Use fun fabrics to wrap gifts, it doubles as part of the gift if you are giving them to a crafty friend.

Do you like wrapping gifts or are you a last minute bung it in a bag kind of person? I have a last minute stash of tissue paper and gift bags at the ready just in case too! Which theme do you like the best? Which wrapping idea's will you be using this year?

Sammy xxx

This post is not sponsored.
Supplies from Hobbycraft, Marks and Spencer, Card Department, Sew Crafty, Amazon, Papercutz, Sainsbury's, Studio Calico, Ryman, Paperchase and Fox and Star.


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Festive Gift Wrapping Fun

We had such a brilliant time at our gift wrap workshop last week at Norden Farm, wrapping, decorating and eating the Frosted Fancies that H had bought along, Yum! So we thought we would share some photos of the fun we had.

Sammy bought along - a frankly obscene amount of Christmassy goodies to play with and help give our gifts some Live it. Love it. Make it. flair. Everything from bells to sprigs of holly were on offer...

...and a good wrapping session isn't complete without washi tape...

...oh and frosted fancies.

Sammy loves these fold out trees she picked up from Hobbycraft.

Sammy thinks this cracker style wrap was her favourite.

Nothing says Christmas like gold, gold and more gold - this was H's favourite.

These foam stickers, also from Hobbycraft made a great alternative to gift tags to spell out the recipients names on their parcels.

Sammy loves this candy cane wrapping paper from Sainsbury's.

This red snowflake trim from Wilko's is a great touch to jazz up a gift.

All our ladies said they had a lovely time, and so did we. This class, as most of ours do, had a really laid back chatty feel to it. One of the girls said that it was so nice to come along and have some time to herself, and learn something new . That is what our classes are all about, so it was great to have such wonderful feedback.

I hope this has inspired you to have fun with your gift wrapping this year, I know it has given us some new ideas to try.

Sammy & H, xxx

Love it: Hobbycraft Haul

If you follow me on Instagram you will have seen my receipt from my recent trip to Hobbycraft. 

Well, a few of you asked to see what I bought so I thought I would show you. We have never done a haul post here before, so let us know in the comments if you like this kind of post and we can do more of them.