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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Make it: Double Sided Make-up Bag

I was watching a YouTube video from the beautiful Ingrid (Miss Glamorazzi) a few months ago and she featured a really handy double sided travel make-up bag by Anya Hindmarch, I loved it until I saw the £150 price tag, Eeek! Since then I have been on a mission to find the perfect make up bags to DIY my own version ready for my Holidays in July. Last week I found this make up bag set from Marks and Spencer and for the bargain price of £6 each. I thought I would take you through how I turned this bargain beauty essential into a summer holiday must have.

You will need: Two make-up bags that are the same size (these are the smallest from the M&S set) a needle, strong thread, ribbon, binding and a brad or button (optional)

Start by turning one of your bags inside out, then place it inside the second one, this helps to keep them in place whilst you sew them into place. Take your strong thread and a needle and stitch all the way around, as close to the bottom edge of the bags. Once you reach where you started make sure you fasten off your stitching with a secure knot.

You can now turn your bag right side out again and add your embellishments. Cut a small piece of gold binding to make a small plaque for the front of your bag.

Take the brad or button and push it through the plaque, pop a little glue on the back and push both into the bag, opening it out to keep the plaque in place.

Finally, tie some ribbon through the zip pulls to make it easier to open both the bags and your done. All that is left to do now is to fill it with all your holiday essentials.

I love how this bag turned out, so much so that I am using it on my dressing table to keep all my current favourites in already. It is great that I can keep my skin care separate to my make up and it is really easy to find what I need as it opens all the way up, no need for rummaging to the bottom to find my best black eyeliner.

Have a great weekend
Sammy xxx

As always we would love to see if you have a go at this. As with all our DIY's if you do, take a quick pic and share it with us on Twitter or Instagram don't forget the hashtag #livelovemake

Love it. Hot Chocolate

There is something so special about the first time I reach past the tea bags in favour of something a little sweeter for my evening hot beverage. The effort I go to with a hot chocolate is an autumn tradition, I like mine with hot milk (almond milk) so it takes more preparation than just boiling the kettle, I kind of like the extra time it takes, making it feel special. As winter has kicked in and lasts until about April I thought I would branch out and try some new flavours that will keep me going until the spring.

 I am a big fan of salty/sweet flavours, so when I spotted this Marks and Spencer's Salted Caramel sauce it was straight in my shopping basket. Aside from dolloping it all over my ice cream in the summer I thought it would make a great addition to a basic hot chocolate - I normally use Cadbury's drinking chocolate. It tasted amazing, especially with my favourite giant pretzels. 

 My other go-to choice is Options sachets, they have some great flavour choices, my favourite is the Caribbean coconut, but for a change I tried the chocolate mint (H's fav) and jazzed it up with a peppermint candy cane, whipped cream and some sugar snowflakes (I had to eat this with a spoon). So perfect for Christmas!

The best things about Options are that they are low in calories (excluding the whipped cream of course), They come in handy sachets so if you aren't keen on a flavour you haven't wasted a whole jar and they are often on 5 for £1 in supermarkets, so you can experiment to your hearts content. I am looking forward to trying jazzy ginger next. 

Another new addition to the cupboard was another M&S find Hasslacher's Hot Drinking Chocolate which is a solid cocoa block which you melt in a pan before adding milk and water. It was pricey but you do get lots of cups per pack, way more than a jar of powdered chocolate.

I really liked the flavour of this one, it is definitely for those who like their chocolate on the rich, slightly bitter side, I sweetened mine with some brown sugar to my taste and a sprinkle of coco powder. 

One of the Options flavours I knew I could invest in a jar of was White Chocolate, my Steve loves white chocolate so I knew this one would be a hit... (this is the only cup of it I had and it's now run out and I have been ordered to buy more).  I enjoyed (my one cup) with mini marshmallows and a side order of Mr Kipling's Frosted Fancies, a match made in heaven!

This last one is technically not hot 'chocolate' per se, it is hot 'peanut butter' trust me if you like peanut butter you will adore this drink. It is a warm, creamy delight.

Peanut Hottie is my new favourite drink, I want to buy shares in this stuff, breathe in the smell every hour of the day, I would bathe in it if I could.  I enjoyed mine with a Reese's Peanut butter cup, which you'd think would be over kill... not in my book!

What is your favourite winter warming drink of choice? Let me know in the comments below.

Sammy xxx

Breakthrough Breast Cancer AW13 Fashion, Accessories and Homewears collections

Next Tuesday, the 1st of October marks the beginning of Breast Cancer Awareness month here in the UK so its a great time to show your support for the great work that this and other Breast Cancer charities do to help us have a Future Free from Breast Cancer, a World Free from Breast Cancer.  

You may remember our recent post about our trip to the Breakthrough Breast Cancer HQ and the Great Pink Bake Off? Well, the other reason we were invited up to BtBC HQ was to view their Autumn/Winter Fashion and home accessories lines. Breakthrough are always working hard to get the best brands on board to donate a percentage of the retail price of these products to their charity and this season was no exception. From brands they had worked with before like Ghd and Debenhams to newer homeware lines from Sainsbury's and Laura Ashley, to accessories from Stella and Dot, it was a sea of pink glamour. 

We were treated to lunch of wraps and yummy sandwiches from Tossed, the healthy sandwich company.

After a healthy snack we got to view the vintage/shabby chic homewares from Sainsbury's and Laura Ashley which were some of our favourites, I loved these trio of white baskets from Sainsbury's...

and the floral bird wall paper by Laura Ashley.

These pretty mugs would be perfect for those late night cosy hot chocolates. 

A new addition to the group is the U.S. based Galmglow who have produced a special edition mud mask, which smelled lovely, can't wait to get my hands on some of that and have a pamper day. Long time partners Avon have produced a Viva Pink nail colour and the Avon crusade pink pin.

Ghd have been working with Breakthrough for a few years now and every year they donate money from their sales of their limited edition Pink styling wands to the charity. This years metallic magenta pink paired with a paddle brush may mean that I am purchasing a new pair! There is also £20 off if you use the code 'GHD20' £10 still goes to BtBC.

Another long time partner of Breakthrough is Debenhams who have chosen some of their top designers to design pieces for this years collection, including Preen, Ben De Lisi and Betty Jackson. I also had my eye on this cosy coral jumper by Warehouse.

I am in love with this Rose Gold Stella and Dot rose gold cuff! They are currently one of my favourite brands for accessories, I am saving for one of their purses at the moment, this cuff may have to be added to the shopping basket at the same time...

Stella and Dot have also designed a scarf, earrings, a necklace and a bracelet for this collection, they are all so pretty.

I loved the cute sketchy perfume bottle and bow design on the M&S lingerie line, it is a shame that the bra does't go up to my size, but I found the satin wrap dressing gown in the same fabric does, so that is on my wish list.

H was loving the Ben Di Lisi sequin dress from Debenhams.

There are also pieces from Adidas, Pandora, and My-wardrobe.com . If you want to check out the full collection head over to the Lookbook you can also find out more about the Great Pink Bake Off.

All the companies we saw do such an amazing job at producing a stunning line of products that donate at least 10% of the price to this brilliant charity. It is really nice to see a charity always looking forward with such a modern approach to fundraising.  For instance if you are a fan of the game Candy Crush Saga, during the month of October there is a special candy to purchase that all the money from that goes to Breakthrough Breast cancer, so make sure you have look out for that one in October. 

Thanks again to the team at Breakthrough Breast Cancer for having us to visit. We had such a lovely, informative morning, it is always such a pleasure.

Sammy and H

xxx

Favourite Friday: Sweet Treats

1. Fox's Viennese melts  /  2. Choccy Woccy Doo Dah Mixed Giant Jazzies  /  3. Salted Popcorn  /  

4. Peanut M&M's  /  5. Lemon Drizzle cake  /  6. Reese's Peanut butter cups  /  7. Marks and Spencer's Chocolate Coated Pretzels  /  8. Bounty Ice cream

It is ridiculously hot here in the UK this week, and we have just come back from Greece! I can barely think of eating anything that's not straight out of the freezer, but having just started a post holiday diet all I can think about is all the things that I shouldn't be eating. I thought if I shared them here I might be able to stop thinking about them quite so constantly!

I'm off to tuck into another bowl of salad and a bottle of water.

Have a lovely weekend and have an Ice cream for me wont you <3

Sammy xxx

#FashionTargetsBreastCancer

1.my-wardrobe.com Tabitha Webb Sundance dress

2.Debenhams Principles by Ben de Lisi t-shirt

3.Laura Ashley stripe shirt dress

4.River Island green bracelet

5.Warehouse Feather Print Top

6.Marks & Spencer multi tie dye beach towel

7.Marks & Spencer bracelet

8.Marks & Spencer tie dye scarf

You may have noticed our newest addition to the blog, the Fashion Targets Breast Cancer banner, If you click on it it will take you through to Breakthrough Breast cancers 'Wear your Support' page where you can find out about all about their latest campaign. 

I have always loved this charities selection of fashion fundraising products, they have their finger firmly on the fashion pulse, and always seem to pull off on trend pieces that aren't too in your face 'charity'.

This year they have done another stellar job with the help of some of our favourite high street stores of creating a collection of super wearable pieces. 

These are my favourites that I will be adding to my summer wardrobe, whilst feeling very smug  that 30% of the cost is going to help this Fantastic charity.

I love the summery tie dye towel, great for our holiday, and that Warehouse feather top is gorgeous! My top pick though has to be the Laura Ashley stripe dress, beautiful!

Check out the whole collection on their website, there are all the usual ways to follow all the news from Fashion Targets Breast cancer, don't forget to #WearYourSupport

Website: http://fashiontargetsbreastcancer.org.uk/

Facebook: facebook.com/FashionTargetsBreastCancer

Twitter: @FashionTargetsUK 

Instagram: @fashiontargetsbreastcancer

''2013 is the year Fashion Targets Breast Cancer focuses on unity. Together we are stronger and this year’s campaign will see us unite mothers and daughters with leading high street and online retailers to encourage you to Wear Your Support.

This year’s campaign is fronted by two of the world’s most famous mother and daughter duos, Sharon and Kelly Osbourne and Pearl and Daisy Lowe, conveying strength, support and unity against breast cancer.

The range is full of exclusive pieces that can be teamed up for any occasion throughout the Great British seasons: day or night, home or away, rain or shine. Whatever your age, whatever your style, whatever your budget, there is something for you to wear with pride and get involved.

Fashion Targets Breast Cancer is the UK’s leading charity fashion campaign. Now in its seventeenth year, the campaign raises vital money for Breakthrough Breast Cancer. Each year 50,000 women in the UK are diagnosed with breast cancer. We need you to Wear Your Support for these women and unite to stop women dying from this disease.''

Have a great weekend.

Sammy xxx

H's Style Wishlist

1.Dress by Joy  /  2.Suede flats by Marks and Spencer's  /  3.Satchel by Oasis  /  4.Steampunk owl by MatthewLoweArt via Etsy.com  /  5.Vest by New Look

As Sammy showed you her Wish List on Tuesday, its now my turn.  I am a Spring and Autumn kind of girl and so this is my favourite time of year to get some new items in my wardrobe!

As you can see there is a very colourful theme running through my choices and as a previous 'black only' girl I am going all out with colour! Not all at once though!

Lots to keep me going through the changeable weather we no doubt will be having this Spring.

Love it

H