Making Hair Accessories

I just love using my glue gun to make things, but sometimes struggle to think of new things and when I saw I could buy plain crocodile clips I thought I would try and make some pretty hair clips for the girls. Being frugal where I can, I always save all my fabric scraps and this was the perfect project as they are really quick and easy to make, especially when I have my trusty glue gun. I am hoping to start making some dresses so when I do I will be able to make matching hair accessories. The flower is made pretty much the same as my paper flowers only glued onto a circle of felt.

The finishing touch

I have been wanting to try this for ages but I never was quite sure of the best way to make ruffles until I found a gathering foot for my sewing machine. This has made it easier instead of trying the various other methods I have come across. So after a little practice on some scrap fabric I grabbed one of the kids plain skirts and Jazzed it up a bit with some fabric that I absolutely adore . It makes me so happy that I have achieved several things here. Firstly I have gained another new skill, I can make ruffles. Secondly I have made something look far more pretty than it was originally and lastly I think I have extended its wearing life due to having added the extra length. I now plan to do this to any other plain skirts or dresses that are starting to look a little short on the girls as they seem to grow so quickly.

Vertbaudet Blogging Mums Competition

Vertbaudet the online clothing store are running a Mothers day competition for mummy bloggers to have the chance to win £200 worth of vouchers. £50 Vertbaudet voucher to choose your child an outfit, £50 high street voucher for your own outfit and a £100 restaurant voucher.

So to enter, all you have to do is visit Vertbaudet and choose your child and outfit, write a post about it and then head over to Baby Budgeting to log your entry.

The items I chose to put together, the long sleeved top as its still a bit chilly in the air, followed by a little knitted waistcoat and a little bubble skirt with the blue striped tights and some snug and warm boots. I love all of these items and any of them could be matched up with other items for a completely new outfit.

Paper Flowers

I have seen lots of ideas on Pinterest with recycling phone books, magazines and old bits of paper and when a holiday brochure came through the door that I knew we weren't going to use, I thought it would be real shame for it to go straight in the bin as the pages were quite brightly coloured.

I sat and had a think about the flowers I had been making from fabric and so I used almost the same method to make these lovely paper flowers. I want to make more as I think they really brighten the room up, I know its not spring yet but its not too far away. These are really easy to make using a glue gun, a few straws and a button for the middle and of course your scrap paper, you could use anything, even an old newspaper. You really don't need to splash out on expensive papers to make these and its better than seeing it go in the bin.

To make them I cut a page from the brochure, folded it in half length ways and then cut into it all the way along leaving roughly half a cm between cuts then I rolled the strip around a straw securing it with the glue gun, if you don't have one then I am sure a bit of tape would do the trick too. Then I spread the petals out and glued a button in the middle to keep it all in position. That really is it, so easy that they could be a lovely gift from your child on mothers day.

Silent Sunday

Dover Castle

Today we decided on a day trip to Dover Castle. Its part of the English Heritage group and we decided to get membership while we were there. It meant we got free entry and now that I am driving we will be having more family days out as we don't have to rely on my husband to drive all the time so it makes sense to save ourselves a few quid, it means more pennies to get us to these places.

 

We started by walking right to the top where the main part of the castle is, we saw various displays of military history to medieval kitchens and furniture. We explored all the stair cases and walked up and down what seemed like hundreds of steps to see all the little rooms and different parts of the keep. Then we climbed up to see some beautiful views of the coast line and surrounding countryside.

 

After lunch we visited the secret war time tunnels which are deep inside the white cliffs of Dover. We learnt about operation Dynamo and although there was a wealth of information, I have to admit that I spent the whole time thinking about my Dad who served in the WW2. The tunnels stretch for over 4 miles but don't worry, we didn't walk through the whole thing but we saw the very rooms where Dynamo, the massive Dunkirk rescue mission was organised and operated. 

 

We followed this tour by another shorter one which took us through the underground hospital, constructed as a medical dressing station for injured troops, it has an operating theatre and we walked through several other rooms including the sleeping quarters and wash rooms. I heard the tour guide say that having slept there, he awoke at 2 in the morning to be faced by a soldier in full uniform. I can imagine that it must be really haunted there.

 

We finished off by looking out to sea and just about seeing France in the distance and then we headed back to the car, tempted to stop at the outlet centre for some shopping on the way back but not as tempted as I was to get home for a cuppa.  

 

We had a lovely day out and G was excited to visit a castle, he loves all that kind of stuff at the moment, soldiers, pirates etc. It really is a fab day out with lots to explore, we were there for a good 5 hours and there is still more for us to explore next time we visit, this is not a review but I feel that we enjoyed it so much I want to recommend it as it really is worth a visit.

 

I am linking this post up with country Kids over at Coombe Mill and Lets have an adventure over at Wine gums and Watermelons

I Made a Patchwork Blanket

Now I have got used to my new sewing machine which is just amazeballs compared to the one I was using. I have learned a lot more about what I am doing with it, what settings I should be using etc. My sewing has improved massively and I have been able to complete Charlie's patchwork blanket which I started weeks ago but didn't want to put the back on because the old machine would not have been able to handle the thick material. Its now finished and I have to say he is very pleased with his new blanket. I still have a few things to improve on but I know I will get there, the feeling of completing a project is quite a big thing for me as I am not usually good at finishing things well I would be but I get easily distracted as a mum of 4 but this is something I feel passionate about and I love the sense that I have made something that can be utilised and also kept as a keepsake for years to come. I have had some lovely comments on this blanket so watch this space there will be many more to come :)