Bride on a budget????

Are you, or do you know someone who is a bride on a very tight budget? 
If so, I think you're going to like this...

Those of you who know me, know that I am a wedding venue decorator and also that I love to craft. 

Weddings can be very expensive events - but I hope to show you how you don't have to spend thousands for a truly, magical wedding. 

Handmade bunting from scraps of fabric and lace -
perfect for the wedding day and to decorate your bedroom afterwards.

Over this year, I want to share with you ways that you can save by becoming a DIY bride! Each month I will choose a special subject (e.g. buttonholes, save the date cards, decorations, guest book etc) and will show you how you can make your own and save pounds. I'm giving some of my secrets away too, of ways to save on all aspects of your big day and will be adding links that you can source materials/ideas from too. 

There will also be "giveaways" and competitions that you can enter - so don't miss out on the chance to get some wedding freebies too! Simply follow our blog and comment on our posts to be entered in the prize draws. We want to know what you think and if there is a particular wedding item/subject you want us to post on then please just leave a comment. 

I will be advertising my own special offers/competitions  from my wedding website and Facebook page too :-) 

See you mid January... 

www.facebook.com/anniefloribunda
www.anniefloribunda.com

Videa Tutorial for Kasudamu Flowers

A few of you have asked me for a worksheet on how to make Kasudamu flowers - a Japanese paper folding technique -

but I have gone one better than that

and have, at last, got round to doing my first ever video tutorial!!

Lol - Be gentle with me...

So here goes - I hope you enjoy it ... I need to do a follow up one to show how to add the stem and buttons - so watch this space ...

 

 

Another easy Christmas Craft...

Cinnamon Christmas Tree

You will need:

Scraps of felt, buttons/embellishments, ribbon, cinnamon stick, scissors, glue.

Cut two triangle Tree shapes from the felt and put one to one side.

Play around with some embellishments for your tree. I used vintage buttons and ribbons – they also look great with broken jewellery and a sparkly ribbon.

If you are using ribbons – make them slightly wider than the tree so that they can tuck around the back of the tree and be stitched or glued down.

When you are happy with your design stitch or glue the items in place.

Add a thin ribbon folded in half to act as a hanger for your decoration.

Place the cinnamon stick on the plain tree shape and add some hot glue to it and to the edges of the tree. Place the decorated tree shape on top and press firmly down.

I normally give these a squirt of Christmas room spray to bring out the cinnamon smell – they make great festive air fresheners!

 

"Go"..."Create!"

Feeling quite sad that next week is my last week with Hartsholme Community Contact Centre in Lincoln...   won't see them again for a while...until the jewellery making sessions in January  :-)

Janet, Pam, Andrea and Caz have shared cups of tea and stories with me over the last couple of weeks and I will miss peering over the rim my teacup, watching their delight at creating their own unique style.

Thought I'd share with you, the fab' Christmas table decorations they made today...

They took their usual  seats, (funny how people nearly always return to the same seat week after week), and  were faced with a mountain(!) of (recycled and new), baubles, ribbons, buttons, beads, foliage, embellshments(!), indulgences(!) etc...   

"Take a plate and have a play" I told them. 

I love the way this group just "dive in" to the  materials - they seem to love them (almost) as much as I do! And time goes soooooo fast! We have a cuppa, put the world to rights and create something beautiful too!!!

Anyway, I showed them an example of one I'd made earlier,(just like Val) and said "Go! Create!" and this is what they came up with... 

Janet

 Pam

 Andrea

Caz

The following session we made these lovely boxes from wallpaper scraps and trim, buttons etc...

... I got the wallpaper from my local Interior Design Shop - they gave me an old sample book.

Looking forward to hearing how the two above were received from Pam and Janet's family and freinds.

Festive Button Wreath Tutorial

You will need:         Felt/Fabric scraps,  beads, buttons, florist wire, ribbon

Cut your scraps of felt into small pieces (about 1.5cms/  ½”) with pinking shears

Twist the end of the wire into a small hoop to stop the beads etc falling off,  and  thread the wire through felt pieces, buttons and beads, leaving about  5cms/ 2½” of bare wire.

 Put the bare wire through the hoop, twist to fasten and  hook over

Add   a pretty bow and hang!

Hand made wins hands down!

I love anything Parisian and thought I'd share with you all these gorgeous Paris finds from Folksy. All handrcrafted, unique and fabulous!
This really pretty necklace is made by Whimsical Wren - A Vintage postcard print of the Eiffel tower is captured in a picture frame pendant, and adorned with a model Eiffel Tower, a tag which reads "Je t'aime", and two glass flowers - Buy it at http://www.folksy.com/shops/whimsicalwrenjewellery

or how about this charming print - which really catches the charm of a Parisian street cafe...
Buy this and many other lovely prints from Artquirk at http://www.folksy.com/shops/artquirk

Or this cute kitten bracelet - made by Fluffstuffs

Buy it at http://www.folksy.com/shops/Fluffsstuffs


The great thing about all of these lovely items is that they are hand made/crafted and not mass produced. Next time you need to buy a present for someone or a treat for yourself, visit Folksy.com and support hand made

Tea, Cake & Crafts - my idea of heaven!

As discussed on a "Folksy" forum, I have decided to open up my home (in Sleaford Lincolnshire) for a day on March 22nd, for tea, cake and crafts.
You can drop in anytime between 10am and 4pm - bring what you are making at the moment too as it will be a good time to exchange craft ideas - I will also be swapping/selling small packets of buttons/fabrics/etc so if you have anything to add to the sale/swap table bring that too. Should be a good fun, informal day, for everyone interested in crafts (doesn't have to be sewing). I know that five people are interested in coming already so if you are going to come along too and join us then please leave a comment and I will email you directions etc.

Russian Dolls and Spotty Bunnies

Russian Dolls and Spotty Bunnies are all I've made lately... now working full time, my crafting time has been swallowed up dramatically. But today i am going to light an open fire and cosy up on the sofa with all my buttons, beads and fabrics and...create! Latest additions to my Folksy Shop include a Spotty Bunny Egg Cosy (perfect gift for Easter) and a blackberry/ipod cover made with some fab Japanese fabric I bought a while ago with Russian Dolls on it.

Japanese - Matryoshka Dolls Fabric

OK, I gave in - and bought some from Folksy.com ! But only after I'd sold a few pieces from my own fabric stash to pay for it. Don't feel so bad splashing out on it now. Am going to make small lavender dolls and brooches from it when it arrives. Can't wait!

Found a use for those buttons!

Spent another glorious day in the garden today, with Harry, boiling his brains in the midday sun. (at least I sat in the shade and had sunscreen on!).

Had fun making button flower brooches (to see how to make your own design go to my folksy page at http://www.folksy.com/shops/anniefloribunda) - Oh, and I made clay and paper beads, (and some other things that I am not quite sure what they are yet)!