40th fun and frollics

This time last week i was still in my Pj's 'recovering' from my first proper night out in about 2 years. My first night out drinking proper booze since my blue one and i's breastfeed journey finally came to and end last month. This journey meant i lot to me, i may post about it one day xx

The night out in question was in honour of my lovely friend Ann turning the big 40. We had planned it for months and it involved 12 lovely ladies all dressed in their finest 80's inspired outfits (Ann is still in love with Adam Ant and the 80's and its music would be her specialist subject on mastermind), a localish nightspot/restaurant , a minibus, a cake, poppers and much alcohol.

Me being me, i didn't buy her a card and gift. Of course not, i made them. One button card, one i <3 Adam Ant tshirt, which she wore on the night and one kindle case in a fabric of her choosing. Also pictured as you can see is one hastily iced cake (thank you tescos value range), the yummy 3 course dinner we had and a pic of yours truly in my Vintage 80's finery. We had an absolute blast and despite getting home at 2.30am!!! i didn't feel too bad.

This Friday night was very different and involved, a cuppa, QI & The Last Leg and me starting a crochet blanket destined for a charity project i will tell you all about later.

We woke to snow/rain this morning like most of the country, so staying inside is the order of the day with my new project to keep me company. Enjoy your weekend xx

Mothers day

I know Mothering Sunday has been and gone, but i thought i would tell you about the fabby paper flowers that pink one and i made for Nana & Grannie.

It's a tried and tested method, cutting circles out of tissue paper, folding and giving the end a twist. push into the end of a straw and tape in place. Then open your petals, ta da pretty flowers.

We made a couple of bunches and tied them with a ribbon. Then the really fun part, visiting the grandparents for tea and cuddles.

I also received lots of home-made gifts for mothers day, my blue one (with a little help from my friend) made the lovely card on the right and all my other bits pink one brought home from school. It did make me chuckle at the fact my MUM plaque has some of my donated wool on it.

I'm a very lucky mummy xx

A bit of craft swapping

As well as a craft whore i am a crafty bum. Way back in the day when i was expecting my blue one i was a regular on Babycentre and stumbled across a group called the crafty bums full of like minded creative ladies. Three of these lovely ladies have gone on to create The Craft Bums site where you can buy or sell lots of fabulous home made bits. Off the back of this, they also run a facebook sewing group, knitting & crochet group and a general crafting group. I, of course, am a member of all three.



Now these lovely ladies like to set us a challenge now and again, last year the sewing group had a Made by Rae Buttercup bag challenge. The buttercup bag is a very popular pattern as is can be made from just a couple of fat quarters of fabric and Rae lets us use the pattern free for personal use. This was my contribution, i dubbed it the 'Pretty Woman' bag.

Next we did a Halloween Challenge and this little chap was what i came up with for that, i love him and use him almost daily.

Then it was decide that we could make something and swap it with another crafter and so the crochet pot holder and the mug rug swaps came about. Its quite nerve racking making something for someone you may not know but that's all part of the fun.

Pot holder swap

< I made this one

and received this one >

Mug Rug swap

< I made this one
and received this one >

..and now i want to make more pot holders and mug rugs for my friends and family. (btw my mum actually has my received mug rug, she has a thing for owls, so i gave it to her for mothers day)

and one for the girls

Of course we get invited to girls parties too, and what do many 5 year old girls like??

Well if mine is anything to go by it's bags, shoes, hair accessories (much like her mum) and a girl has to have somewhere to keep all these hair bits.

This is my second attempt at a Hello Kitty style hair clip keeper, i like this one much better than the first one i made, i hope the little girl does too. 

The first one i stuffed and blanket stitched around the edge, i may show you a pic sometime.

And what craftsperson doesn't have a button tin?? i have 3!!. A lovely lady on my Nov10 Mummy craft group has been making some gorgeous cards with buttons and has inspired me to have a go too.

Toys for the boys

Two more parties for two more boys that have turned 5. So two more presents.

Firstly i had a go at a car cosi, it was a bit of a rush, i was sewing up to the wire with it (we were only a little late ;) ). I bought three little cars from the supermarket and built it round them to fit. Pretty good in the end though

Then secondly i thought i would do a twist on the usual crayon roll and went with the tote bag with pencil pocket idea. I'm loving how it came out, it's big enough for popping a mag or colouring book in too.

Wishing i had got some more of the car fabric, as my stash is getting low.

My go to gift

Now my pink one has started school in the reception year, there seem to be a never ending pile of party invitations. She's loves the chance to don her party frocks and spend an hour or so stuck inside a soft-play structure, what other 4 or 5 yr old doesn't?. The 2 yr old is pretty keen too and if i'm honest i don't tend to sit by the sidelines either.

Now all these parties require a gift of some sort and my current 'go to gift' is a pencil crayon roll. This weeks birthday boy loves a bit of spiderman and i was fortunate to procure a bit of up-cycled fabric to do the job. Pretty well if i do say so.

Purdy wellies

I bought a pair of wellies in the sale for a bargain price of £3 with the intention of turning them into ankle boots. I have trouble buying boots, being only 5ft and a fag paper as my dear old dad would say, my calves start lower down than the curves on most boots. I had a pair that i had already done this too but they weren't pretty and only kept for gardening purposes. 

Then it snowed and i needed to wear them, so a quick slit down the back later - wearable wellies. But not pretty yet. 

One pair of prym pilers, some eyelets and some nice wide ribbon later. Ta da!