Have yourself an Independent Christmas

We know we always bang on about this, but its for very good reason, promise.  If everyone just bought one small thing this Christmas from an independent shop it would make all the difference to making sure that we keep small businesses afloat!

Gifts For Your Best Friend

Create! Craft Kits Lightning Bolt Banner Kit  //  Mica Peet Triangle Earrings  //  Sew Crafty Craft Journal  //  Veronica Dearly Just Get on With It Mug  //  Finest Imaginary Cheese Plant Leaf Coasters  //  Bear Claw Co Copper Marble Wall Jar Vase  //  Hi Cacti Concrete Planter  //  Fox and Lilly Speckled Necklace  //  Oh Squirrel You are Bloody Brilliant Print  //  Suede and Co Glitter Stripe Purse

Sorry not sorry for getting our gifts lists in order! We have put together 5 amazing gift lists for your nearest and dearest this Christmas and we are kicking off with 'Gifts for your Best Friend' the person that has listened to you all year long and been there for the best and worst of times. Treat them to some yummy handmade goodies this year. Our gift guides this year are 100% handmade from UK companies and independent businesses, so go on, get your shop on, as if you needed any excuse! 

Sammy and H

Check out the rest of this year's guides here:
Gifts for your Little Ones
Gifts for your Pets
Gifts for your Parents
Gifts for your Lady
Gifts for your Man

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Planner Wishlist

Jar Stickers by Fred and Bell  //  Washi Stickers from Hey Little Magpie  //  MT mini washi tape from Fox and Star  //  Dreams and Schemes Pencil from Lazy Pencil co.  //  Planner Charm By Clarieabellemakes  //  Mrs Brimbles Unicorn Planner

It took me a while but I am now a total planner convert, I can't get enough of planner supplies, I even design and print my own inserts and make my own dashboards. However that doesn't stop me from dreaming about planner supplies! These goodies are all currently on my wishlist, How about you? Are you on the planner train? Do you bullet journal or covet an Erin Condren? Let me know your fave places to get supplies in the comments below.

Sammy xxx


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Makers Month: British Stationery Wishlist

You know we are suckers for stationery around here and Makers Month gives us the best excuse to search out the best of the British paper pushers to add to our most wanted list. Who are your favourites???

Happy Jackson Notebooks  /  Ohh Deer Plan of Attack note pad  /  Studio Sarah Greetings Cards  /
Oh Squirrel Pencil set  /  Pygmy Cloud Paper Tape  /  Nancy and Betty Weekly Planner   /  Blogtacular and Lollipop designs Planner  /  Undercover UK Leather Ring binders  /  Oh No Rachio Notebooks

Have a great weekend
Sammy xxx

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Book Review: Craft, Show & Sell

I always love it when a book shows up on my Amazon recommended list that looks as beautiful as this one does. I know you shouldn't judge a book by its cover but it's hard not to buy this gem for the cover alone, just look at it!!

The name of the book is pretty self explanatory but I'm gonna go ahead and tell you about it anyway. If you are planning to make stuff and sell it online, or at craft shows or you just like being nosey and seeing inside peoples craft rooms this book is for you. By far the best crafting 'advice' book for UK artists and designer/makers I have ever read, and I have read A-LOT of these kind of books.

Let me tell you why...
One. It is Beautiful! I know I have said that already but it is probably the prettiest (useful) book I have ever owned. It is full of colourful photography of gorgeous crafty goodness. It has been on my desk for weeks and I cannot stop picking it up and looking at it, like, everyday.

Two. It has stacks and stacks of really useful information in it. From storage suggestions for your craft supplies, to tips from real designers and artists who are already doing what you want to do. And when I say tips I mean real, useful, meaningful tips that will actually help with the steps you can take to make your dream job become a reality.

Three. As international as the world is now, it is so nice as a UK crafter to hear opinions from other UK crafters. The British craft industry is different from that of the rest of the world and it works in a slightly different way, so to have a book written for British crafters by British crafters, it is a refreshing perspective.

Four. There are sections for everything, not just the fun stuff.  Being your own boss is really brilliant, but it is a lot of hard work and I feel that this book (unlike many others) doesn't gloss over the sticky bits.

Five. It is all the things I love about craft in one book. It is pretty, well put together and actually useful.  It is the polar opposite of style over substance.  It is slick, well put together and it looks beautiful. (I know, I said it again!)

I would highly recommend adding this book to your wish list if you have plans to sell your crafts online or anywhere else.  If you like looking a pictures of beautiful crafts or if you like great tips on making your craft selling dreams come true. If you want to make your craft selling business the best it can be, use this as your Bible. Seriously.

Have you taken a look at this book? Do you already own it? I would love to hear what you think of it, leave a comment below or talk to us on Twitter @livelovemake

Sammy xxx


Disclaimer: ( for our lovely readers) I hate writing these because I feel that you already know, But as a little reminder. Our opinions are not for sale. We only write honest reviews. If we are sent products to review it does not guarantee a positive review or for that fact a review at all. We will always tell you if a review is sponsored, which means that the product has been loaned to us or given to us. This review is not sponsored. I bought this book of my own free will, not with the intention of reviewing it. Just wanted to share some joy. 

Make it: String Art

I have been crushing on these string art pieces for a while now, the technique uses small nails and string weaved back and forth to create an image. I particularly like these U.S. State ones with the little heart in the area of the state where you are from or where you live. 

State string art

Of course I live in the UK, so I thought I would have a go at doing my own version with a map of the United Kingdom. Whilst I was painstakingly pushing nails in to foam-board I had an idea to do a set of three using three different techniques. I ended up doing one in thread, one in fabric and one in paper. Don't they look cute! I have put them  pride of place on the bookcase on our landing. 

I love how they look al together. Three is my lucky number, so I always like things in groups like this.

I started by printing off an image of the UK map that I then traced on to tissue paper.

For the thread version I laid it over two sheets of black foam-board, and pushed the nails in through the tissue paper and board together. When I had finished pushing the nails in all the way around, I gently tore away the tissue paper to leave just the nails in place. Then I took a reel of white thread and started winding back and forth from the nails. 

  

It was super tricky to thread the cotton back and forth without nudging the nails out of place and the thread kept coming un-hooked from the nails, but I finally got it reasonably neat, and really satisfying to see it grow as I worked.

 The second one I made was far easier, I just took my copy and rubbed pencil lead over the back of it then traced down onto three pages from an old book which I had stuck together with washi tape at the back. Once I had traced the map onto the pages I cut it out with scissors and glued it down to a blank sheet of card. I found the little red heart embellishment in my stash. 

I used the same technique for the fabric version too. Except I traced a little outside the lines so that my stitching would be more accurate to the coast line.  Once I had traced it, I cut it out with my fabric scissors and sprayed the back with fabric adhesive to hold it in place whilst I stitched it to the calico I was mounting it on with embroidery thread. For the heart I cut a small piece of red fabric and stitched it in place.

I had great fun creating these and they look lovely on our landing. I ended up getting the frames on three for two at Wilkinsons, they are great for low cost frames. 

Have you ever had a go at string art? If you have or if you give it a try, send us a picture, we would love to see what you create! 

Sammy xxx

Email photos or links to Flickr/Google plus/facebook of any of your crafting projects to Liveitloveitmakeit@gmail.com

We love to see what you guys are up to! #livelovemake