Love Defined

(cross posted with The Blanket Stitch)

Hello! For today's post I have been busy making a wonderful heart decoration that was picked up from a craft shop, and I have been umming and ahhing over what to do with it ever since. Its actually taking me a fair while to get it made, due to not really knowing what I wanted. 

 

 When I made my 'Imagine' canvas a few weeks ago I loved the colour of the paint so much that I ended up painting the heart while I was at it, however, from there I didn't know what I wanted to do, so it had been left untouched, until now.

I was also making something for Fathers Day, and when I finished that I decided to keep going and finally finished the heart! 

 

 I started with a smaller heart I had painted that I knew I wanted to attached to the main heart. Using a Paris stamp and Victorian Velvet Distress Ink, I created this look on the smaller heart.

On the larger heart I stamped, again using Victorian Velvet Distress Ink, a sheet music background.

  

Using some pink wire, I added this to heart, and wound it round the stick.

    

For the centre of the piece, I used some cream paper, stamped quite haphazardly with Old Paper Distress Ink and edged with Vintage Photo to give it an old look. I then rolled the top and the bottom to make it look like an old scroll. Then, using a Tim Holtz stamp I stamped the centre of the scroll, using black archival ink.

 

Underneath the scroll I have placed a tag shaped piece of card, with a floral pattern.

  

To the right hand side of the scroll I have added a small silk/fabric flower.

  

This was really simple to make in the end, and I left it with this as I feared if I added anymore it would become to fussy. 

  

The final outcome... ...What do you think? 
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When I started this project I was going to be making a corsage to wear in my hair for my good friends wedding. As it turns out she then made me bridesmaid so I won't be wearing it for this event, but I am sure I will be wearing it in the future!

I wanted something elegant, fancy, wedding-esque and to match the gorgeous dress (which by the way, Carol made for me).

I picked three different materials, a soft silky (but not actual silk) cream material, the polka dot material that the dress is made from, and some cream lace.

The making of the corsage was easy, for each of the materials I cut out 3 squares. I then folded each square into quarters and cut it as if I was making a flower shape.

I then layered them over each other, at different angles, so as when gathered it would show off all the materials.

I gathered it underneath and then stitched it to make sure it was tight,

Next I attached a kirby grip to it so it would fit easily in my hair.

Lastly, I added some little accessories, some clear, cute buttons, pearls and diamante sparkle.

I loved the end result so much, I decided to make a smaller version and wear it as a corsage on the cream jacket that would go with the dress.

I did everything the same, except added a badge pin instead of a kirby grip.

What do you think? Do you like the corsage?

Let me know in the comments!


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When I saw an idea for a product in a magazine (I think it was 'Sew' but I can't be certain...) I decided to give it a go and see how I did with my own variation.

As usual I plowed in head first, not really thinking too much about how I would do it, and sort of had to develop it further as I went along, and despite taking the best part of the afternoon I couldn't really fault the way it turned out!

I started by cutting out some squares in felt to the desired size. I decided my wallhanging would contain three squares, all centred around a pink theme, yet all different in colour, yet corresponding with each other.

For each square I cut out two squares, the one that I would sew on to and one to use as backing to hide all the horrible stitching that you would be able to see.

I decided 'Home Sweet Home' was a good slogan for all a wall hanging and quickly decided that I would have the image of a house, a heart and flower, to represent nice things about the home.

So I got to work...

I started by sewing a border on each one, so I knew what area I could work within, and I then got to work cutting out the house, heart and flower to fit.

I stitched each one to their square, using blanket stitch, and also using threads which correspond to the colour theme of the piece.

I then set to work sewing "Home Sweet Home" in freehand.


Next I attached the ribbons to the help it 'hang' and threaded in some buttons to make it look pretty.


Last of all, I attached the backs, to hide all the ugly stitching, and sewed them to the front, using blanket stitch.


Although the whole thing from start to finish was very easy, it was time consuming, but I overall I am very pleased with the end result!
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Not my usual form of craft I must say, but when my friend mentioned about buying a cupcake class from Groupon I couldn't say no - who could! An afternoon of sugary goodness and cupcakes to bring home! Lush!

I took the class with my friend at Sweet and Floral Sugarcraft School in Enfield.

First things first, we separated our fondant into different shaped balls, following a chart, for the things we were going to make.

Next we learn how to colour our fondant, not using the usual shop bought liquid colours (this makes the icing too watery and difficult to work with) but gel colours. We were taught how to add the colour and work it through. We then got on with colouring each of our balls of icing.

The first thing we started doing was the bow cupcake. When I looked at this I thought 'eeeek' how am I ever going to be able to do it, but I think you'll agree it worked out pretty well! We were talked through everything step by step and although I felt too heavy handed, it worked out ok! And I thought the colours looked cute together too!

Next it was on to making roses, this is what I was scared about! Knowing that when it comes to delicate work I often feel very heavy handed I was concerned if I would be able to be delicate enough to do well. Well, I don't know what happened, because how the hell did I produce two amazing looking roses. It must have been a total fluke!

And last but not least, we made doves, using little cutters.

Then we piped the buttercream onto two of the cakes, two different ways, and competed our cakes.

I honestly thought I would struggle more than I did, and was pleasantly surprised with the results!

Below is how my friends cupcakes turned out too!

It was a brilliant day and you totally need to check out Sweet and Floral Sugarcraft School for more information on different classes!
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