- 04:10
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These gingerbread house inspired gift tags are a cute way to add a special touch to your presents this year. They are a little time consuming but and worth the effort.
They are really easy to do and if your not very creative yourself then just follow my tag designs and you'll be really pleased with the result.
You'll need...
They are really easy to do and if your not very creative yourself then just follow my tag designs and you'll be really pleased with the result.
You'll need...
Brown kraft card
White marker pen
String or wool
A needle
Scissors
To make...
- Cut the kraft paper into small rectangles approx 6 x 8cm
- Cut the tops of the rectangles diagonally to form a pointed top.
- Take your marker pen and doodle a gingerbread house, start with the outside and work inwards. The more detail the better. Feel free to follow my tag designs as a guide.
- Let it dry and then taking the needle and string, pierce the top and thread through some string.
- Cut at desired length and attach to your pressies.
- 05:58
- 0 Comments
How to make your own Tissue Pom Pom
These tissue pom poms are perfect for decorating presents
and also look great in a table setting on top of napkins to make your Christmas
table really have the wow factor.
1. First decide what size you’d like your pom pom to be.
The pom pom will be slightly smaller than the width of the strips you cut.
2. Cut four strips the width you’d like your pom pom
(about 35-40cm long).
3. Next take an edge and fold it over approx 1-2cm.
4. Repeat the folds, back and forwards into a concertina, ending up with a thin strip of folded paper.
5. Take some string and tie around the middle of your strip, tie a double knot one side and then the other.
Cut the excess string, leaving a long piece to tie around presents or for easy hanging etc.
6. Cut the edges into a semi circle, either side of the strip. The corners should be rounded.
7. Starting with one edge, fan out one side. Start with the first layers and separate each of the four layers, bringing them toward the string in the middle. Do this carefully so not to tear the paper.
8. Repeat the other side, separate the layers bringing them outwards to form the pom pom.
9. Shape the pom pom filling the gaps and carefully twist the middle sections to hide the ribbon in the centre.
1. First decide what size you’d like your pom pom to be.
The pom pom will be slightly smaller than the width of the strips you cut.
2. Cut four strips the width you’d like your pom pom
(about 35-40cm long).
3. Next take an edge and fold it over approx 1-2cm.
4. Repeat the folds, back and forwards into a concertina, ending up with a thin strip of folded paper.
5. Take some string and tie around the middle of your strip, tie a double knot one side and then the other.
Cut the excess string, leaving a long piece to tie around presents or for easy hanging etc.
6. Cut the edges into a semi circle, either side of the strip. The corners should be rounded.
7. Starting with one edge, fan out one side. Start with the first layers and separate each of the four layers, bringing them toward the string in the middle. Do this carefully so not to tear the paper.
8. Repeat the other side, separate the layers bringing them outwards to form the pom pom.
9. Shape the pom pom filling the gaps and carefully twist the middle sections to hide the ribbon in the centre.
- 05:52
- 0 Comments
Now I have a confession... As you all know I design wallaper, but I've never actually wallpapered a wall before! Crazy I know. I decided to have a go at it myself and for my first attempt I am quite pleased with the results. Although I did have a disaster and I ran out of paper on the last strip, so I had to do some tricky horizontal joining which could have been avoided if I'd just ordered enough rolls! So my top advice would be measure your wall very carefully before you start and order a generous amount of wallpaper, as the last thing you need when your covered in wallpaper paste and the house looks like a bomb has hit it, is to run out of paper! Anyway if I can do it, anyone can. Here's my beginners guide to wallpapering.
You'll need...
Wallpaper rolls, Calculate how many you'll need here
A tape measure
A ladder, plumb line & pencil
A bucket or container
A jug of clean water & a clean sponge
A sharp Stanley or craft knife
A wallpaper brush & paste (My paper is paste the wall, and needs a certain paste so check the back to see if it covers this type of paper before you buy it.)
How to...
Firstly measure your wall from ceiling to floor in the centre of the wall where you are hanging your paper. Add about 10cm to this measurement and cut your first piece of wallpaper to this size.
Next measure and mark the centre of the wall.
Then get up your ladder and hold the plumb line 26cm to the left of the central point of the wall.
Using your pencil draw marks down the wall about 20cm apart
Take your time with this as this is your guide to make your wallpaper straight.
Your first piece will hang centrally as this tends to look better generally.
Repeat this dashed line 26cm to the right of the central point of the wall
Then mix your paste according to the packet instructions, mine was 4 pints of water to one packet.
paint on the paste roughly between the two lines on the wall (overlap the lines slightly by about 10cm)
Take your wallpaper strip and climb up the ladder carefully.
line up the paper with your pencil lines and rub the paper on from the centre to the edges.
I found rubbing with an old tea towel helped to make the paper flat and remove the air bubbles.
Once you've rubbed it all the way down, repeat these steps with the next strip. But use the paper as a guide for a straight line rather than marking the wall again.
Measure the wall, cut the piece, paint the paste on, line up the paper and rub a dub dub!
Once your finished, carefully cut the edges top and bottom
and wipe down any areas where the glue has gone onto the paper.
Take your time! With a lot of Patience and gentle rubbing all over you will get a great result.
You'll need...Wallpaper rolls, Calculate how many you'll need here
A tape measure
A ladder, plumb line & pencil
A bucket or container
A jug of clean water & a clean sponge
A sharp Stanley or craft knife
A wallpaper brush & paste (My paper is paste the wall, and needs a certain paste so check the back to see if it covers this type of paper before you buy it.)
How to...
Firstly measure your wall from ceiling to floor in the centre of the wall where you are hanging your paper. Add about 10cm to this measurement and cut your first piece of wallpaper to this size.
Next measure and mark the centre of the wall.
Then get up your ladder and hold the plumb line 26cm to the left of the central point of the wall.
Using your pencil draw marks down the wall about 20cm apart
Take your time with this as this is your guide to make your wallpaper straight.
Your first piece will hang centrally as this tends to look better generally.
Repeat this dashed line 26cm to the right of the central point of the wall
Then mix your paste according to the packet instructions, mine was 4 pints of water to one packet.
paint on the paste roughly between the two lines on the wall (overlap the lines slightly by about 10cm)
Take your wallpaper strip and climb up the ladder carefully.
line up the paper with your pencil lines and rub the paper on from the centre to the edges.
I found rubbing with an old tea towel helped to make the paper flat and remove the air bubbles.
Once you've rubbed it all the way down, repeat these steps with the next strip. But use the paper as a guide for a straight line rather than marking the wall again.
Measure the wall, cut the piece, paint the paste on, line up the paper and rub a dub dub!
Once your finished, carefully cut the edges top and bottom
and wipe down any areas where the glue has gone onto the paper.
Take your time! With a lot of Patience and gentle rubbing all over you will get a great result.
- 05:18
- 0 Comments
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You'll need...
500g ginger
biscuits, crushed
230g unsalted
butter, melted
400g full fat
soft cheese
350ml double
cream
2 limes, juice
& rind
100g icing
sugar
To make...
Mix the
biscuits with the melted butter and press into a cake tin
Chill in the refrigerator
for about an hour.
Lightly whip
the cream and then mix in the cream cheese and lime juice.
Add the lime
zest and mix in thoroughly.
Add the icing
sugar to taste
Spoon onto the
biscuit base and spread evenly over the surface.
Chill in a
refrigerator for 4 hours until firm.
- 03:44
- 0 Comments
Happy new year everyone! I've started 2014 with a little bit of DIY to brighten up my stairs. It was really easy to do and adds personality to your home. Here's how to do it yourself....
You will need:
- Tape measure
- Pencil
- Ruler
- Thick card for template
- A craft knife and board
- Vintage wallpapers
- PVA glue and brush
- Clear satin varnish
Measure one of the risers in the middle of the staircase and use the dimensions to create a card template using a craft knife and board. Check that this fits on all the steps – the first and last often vary slightly.
On the back of your wallpaper, draw around the template, then cut out the pieces. Measure and cut out any risers that vary from the template.
Make sure the stairs are free of dust, then paint one riser at a time with a thin layer of PVA glue and smooth the paper in place. Push out any air bubbles or creases towards the edge of the stairs. Pay particular attention to the edges, ensuring that they are glued in place.
Wait until the glue is totally dry, about 24 hours, then cover the surface of each riser with a light coat of clear satin varnish to protect the paper.
Here's the finished stairs
- 03:04
- 0 Comments
