Pewter Trinket Dish

Solid Pewter Trinket Dish

Ideal gift if you are looking for something that will bring inspiration to someone everyday. This delightful pewter trinket dish is inscribed the phrase "live life to the fullest, love with all your heart and laugh often" a gentle reminder for someone as they pick up their keys or coins, from this trinket dish each morning.

Cross Stitch Picture

A few weeks ago I uploaded a photo of a cross stitch piece of work my friend had started for a new baby. (see post 31.01.2013)

Below is a photo of the completed work. I particularly like the fact that Maureen has included the babies siblings names in the picture, on the balloon and flag...a nice touch.

Cross Stitch Picture for New Baby

'Nostalgic' Storage Tin

How many families would have kept their important papers, ration books old photos in a tin box like this?

The one pictured was my grandparents...still with the ration book, insurance papers, etc inside it. 

The tin itself  was from Harry Vincent Ltd in Hunnington, Birmingham. The Blue Bird Toffees that were once manufactured there, left in October 1998 to become part of Needlers in Hull. The factory was still standing in 2008, eighty years after it was built......not sure if it still remains?

Kraft Gift Boxes

Introducing some new gift boxes but this time they are packaged in Kraft recycled boxes. They are all individually hand stamped with a little motif...and the boxes are made from 100% recycled fibres...nice!

Vintage Style Decorative Heart

Now according to the paper I am using I am doing Decopatch...... see last post for explanation!! I chose a heart with a magnet on the reverse

What you need
Mache Heart available from lots of craft stores - the one I am using cost 99p
Decopatch paper - you can use tissue paper or napkins, but it may not be as durable
Decopatch glossy glue
A small flat brush
Ribbon, paper and small heart to decorate

Blank Heart

Draw round heart and cut out.
Brush glue on to heart

  

Place cut out paper over the
heart shape and brush evenly
removing any air bubbles

Glue ribbon round the
edge and finish with a bow

Decopatch or Decoupage?

I was/am still termed as total beginner to the above and the fact is I didn't know what the difference was between them.
According to EzineArticles: Decoupage is a technique of decorating bland furniture surfaces by gluing designs that were cut out from papers and topped with a coat of varnish. Furniture decorated in this manner look from a distance like lacquered but can be seen to be decoupaged on close inspection. On the other hand, Decopatch, which is widely considered as the offshoot of decoupage is a scissorless and easier alternative. It can be used in children's projects for kids as young as four years old but can also be used by more mature artists in more advanced and more sophisticated applications. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5195265

Birthday Card for Allan

A birthday card I made last night for my son Allan.

It is made with recycled card a recycled luggage label and some stickers.

I also stamped the label with Happy Birthday and with a Star and put some string through the hole in the luggage label.

Cross Stitch

Cross Stitch

I always admire people who have the patience for embroidery or in this case cross stitch as I am reliably informed....and my friend Maureen is no exception. She started this a week ago and you can really see it take shape. I saw the pattern that she is using and I think it will be lovely when she has finished it...so watch this space!

Empty Jars

Empty Jar                                            New Pen Holder

       Not really a big coffee drinker so will probably need to wait a while before I have a matching set!!

Dress a Girl Around The World

Came across this blog, which I thought was a great idea. It involves making simple pillowcase dresses that are then delivered to girls living in poverty in countries such as Uganda and India. See the link below for more details

Sew Scrumptious

Baby Cards

Just finished making some new baby cards for the website. They are made from recycled paper and the little cellophane bags that I use to pop them in are also recycled. I was really pleased to track these down as it keeps all the cards and the packaging as eco friendly as possible.

Sending the same Christmas Card for over 40 years

A brother and sister have been exchanging the same Christmas card back and forwards for over 40 years....it has been extended with an additional 14 pages of messages...now that's want I call recycling!!

You can read their story via this link:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hereford-worcester-20644057

Recycle you old Christmas Cards

However.... if you don't want to follow suit, make sure you recycle your old Christmas cards. The Woodland Trust is a great place to start with lots of information about the benefits and what recycling your cards can achieve and where to take your old cards.

http://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/en/support-us/company-supporters/corporate-partners/pages/christmas-cards.aspx

Good for Kit Kat

I am committed to selling Fairtrade chocolates at Pinkaboo Gifts so it a double whammy for me as a committed Kit Kat lover, that my favourite fingered bar will start to carry the Fairtrade Mark from January 2013.

This means, that more farmer co-operatives will be Fairtrade certified and will receive a price that covers the costs of sustainable production and investment in their communities and business developments, including improving healthcare and schools.

Orange & Clove Balls

 Christmas Ideas

Orange & Clove balls make natural air fresheners giving a beautiful citrus and spice smell that warms the room and look really festive when grouped together and placed in a decorative bowl or you can use them as decorations for your Christmas tree.

To make balls, you will need:
Oranges – choose thin skinned oranges if possible
Toothpick or pin to ease the cloves into the orange
Whole cloves
Ribbon to decorate  (optional)

Directions
Simply stick a clove directly into an orange. Use a toothpick or pin to make the first punctures so that the cloves are easier to insert.
For a more intense scent you can roll the finished ball in spices.

Mix together

2 tablespoons cinnamon powder
1 tablespoon ground allspice
1 tablespoon ground nutmeg

Roll the ball evenly over the spice, you can either display in a bowl or set aside for a couple of weeks in a cool place to dry out if you plan on use them in wardrobes or cupboards etc.

Top Tip
Place a rubber band around the middle the orange, this will give you a guide for your first circle of cloves.