craft

I had this idea for an easy to make practical and useful key ring, one that you can just slide over your wrist to keep both hands free. A piece of personal safety advice from the police is " Always have your keys out and ready as you approach your house or your car. Fumbling through your handbag for keys after you've reached your car provides criminals an excellent opportunity to sneak up on you." Not wanting to create paranoia but this key ring solves that particular problem!

I love these slippers designed by Lisa. The inspiration came from one of her favourite movie stars - Doris Day. Designed to wear on those lazy days of summer sipping chilled ice tea. I also think they would be perfect to pop in your suitcase for holidays, when you have to walk on dubious hotel carpets! You can find the free pattern and instructions on how to make a pair here. Tissuepapers is Lisa's blog it is well worth a visit she has some stylish ideas.

I love this knitted wig!

After seeing my piece about crocheted flowers my friend sent me a photo of a bowl her sister, Elaine, had crocheted from plastic carrier bags. Very effective and perfect as a fruit bowl. I think we can spot Sainsbury's contribution to the project. I then felt compelled to crochet a flower from plastic bags, it had to be done.

A pom pom bumble bee, really easy to make. Children can make these. You don't need much skill just a little bit of application and patience to achieve a fluffy bug. Children are rarely disappointed with the results and feel they have achieved something, boys and girls. When I was at junior school I remember making pom pom creatures and selling them to other children in the playground, only pennies but I realised I had a skill that others  appreciated. 

After going to the Larks in the Parks I  was struck how simple but effective the bunting was that decorated the stalls. Something so simple says celebration, it adds a carnival feel to a party, BBQ, or birthday.  I thought I would do a tutorial for a birthday bunting. I have designed  the HAPPY BIRTHDAY letters to be downloaded and used in conjunction with Ryman's Inkjet Iron-on Transfers for light T-shirts. I have also included an alphabet in case you might like to add a child's name or just make a bunting with a name on, this would brighten up a child's room or playroom.

like a lot of people I learnt to French knit when I was young. It's a very simple skill to master and the knitting grows really quickly, but I can't think of one single item I made from it. The knitting device used is called a Nancy, as a child I had a wooden cotton reel with four small nails hammered into the top. You can buy  wooden knitting Nancys from craft shops, I have one that looks like a painted figure. I also bought a child's knitting set from Poundland and that contained, amongst other things, a plastic Nancy.

These pretty lanterns are really easy to make you just need a few items-

Clean jars with the labels removed 

Mulberry paper or tissue paper, mulberry paper is more robust

PVA glue, watered down to a ratio 1:1

Garden wire