The Modern Mixtape

Recently it was my boyfriend's birthday - his 21st.
For this, his parents decided to get him an iPod (the awesome 160GB one).

To compliment this I decided to make him an ultimate music collection, 250 different artists, approx. 3500 songs. I thought an external hard drive would be a pretty good storage unit. It has 500GB of memory and is a pretty useful thing to have in general (as a backup of all your photos, music, work etc.)

Here's how the finish product looked:

Happy birthday!

xxx

How To Make Your Mug Rather Snug

For my girlies I made very special Christmas presents...
The Cuppa in a Jumper...(with a Gingerbread man)

What you need to make this:
Some paper
Outside Material
Inside Material (for the jacket lining)
Wadding
A button
A Mug

And this is how..
Firstly, use paper to make a template like this: (make sure the mug handle can fit in the hole & that there is about 4cm extra length after wrapping around the mug)

Then pin & cut this shape out in the Inside Material (the tartan in my pictures), the wadding & the opposite way round with the Outside Material (the white material). Important: Make sure you don't cut the handle hole out of the Inside & Outside Material, just cut an X.

Next, place the wadding on top of the Outside Material & pin into place. Then pin the excess material from the Inside Material that is around the handle whole over the wadding.

Separately, pin the excess material of the Outside material to itself.

Then place the Outside material onto the Inside Material & Wadding, sew around handle hole.

Next fold & pin in all the edges of the materials.

Check it fits nicely around the mug. Make alterations accordingly.

Sew together.

Fold over edges & pin.

Sew on the edges a pretty quilted pattern (i.e. stripes)

Pin around mug & sew on a button.

As an option, you can use Porcelain Pens (as previously blogged about) to add lips & a beauty spot/some individual personality to the mug...

You can also add a Gingerbread man if you like... (recipe has also been previously blogged about).

But most importantly, use a variety of fabrics & styles to make each cosy mug as unique & quirky as your soon to be very happy friends...

xxx

Paint Your Own Porcelain Presents with Pens!

For my cousins' Christmas presents I made some fun and unique porcelain sets!
It's quick & easy to do, all you need is some porcelain & these pens.
They are great because you draw straight onto the porcelain and the paint sets without baking. Plus, you get about 30 seconds before the paint drys where you can easily wipe off any mistakes.

The first set I made was a Breakfast Set (Plate, Bowl & Mug):
For this I drew snowflakes inside all the pieces & a fun cartoon alpine scene on the outside.

The second set was a Tea Set (Tea Pot, Sugar Pot & Milk Jug).

For this I drew green & silver stripes. I also drew a quilted pattern on the tea pot to make it look like it had a Teapot Cosy on. 

They appear to have liked them, and I certainly loved making them!

Have a go :)

xxx

My £1 Photo Frame

I absolutely love poundland! 

I bought this photo frame for £1..

Added a little fabric...

..then made a pretty flower out of the vintage postcards & a button...

..now all I have to do is add a photo! Unfortunately I won't be able to show you the photo because this is a present & I don't want them to know it's for them.. :D (It could be you!!!) 

xxx

Reindeer Decorations

Okay, it's not quite December... but I have lots of Christmas present plans, so it's time to get making!


Here is my little Reindeer Christmas Tree decoration: 

The pattern for the little fellow is as follows:

Your'll need to cut out 2 A pieces (one in reverse) (make sure you cut a whole in each piece where the antlers go), 1 B piece and 4 C pieces (2 in reverse). Like this:

Sew the top halves of the A pieces together (in other words, sew from the tail to the chin).. annoyingly I didn't a photo of this. Make sure you always sew on the inside of the fabric.

Next sew Piece B on (make sure you leave the bum bit unsewn), it should look like this:

Then pull the fabric so it is no longer inside out. 

(Sorry, but I didn't take anymore photos of the making, I hope my description is good enough)

Separately, sew a Piece C back to back with a reversed Piece C. Make sure not to sew the end of these together because your'll need pull the fabric so it is no longer inside out. Do this twice (as there are two antlers). 


Sew the antlers onto the head: You should have cut a whole in each Piece A where the antlers go, push the antlers through the hole & sew on.


Stuff the reindeer with teddy stuffing & sew up the bum. 
Sew on a button (preferably red!)


(Sorry for the lack of photos, but hey look... I've put them on a non-christmas tree)

 I hope you like them (they may be your Christmas present!)


xxx