Paint Sample Art

Fancy making a retro piece of art using just paint chart samples, then look no further than Jessica Jones of How about Orange. This is a great and easy project to create very chic looking prints. All you need are a vast array of paint charts, which if you haven't got any lying around you can get them from most hardware shops. Cut the swatches into triangles and lay them out in a display that works for you.

All Images from How about Orange)

Moo Business Cards

I was talking to an illustrator friend recently and she showed me these fantastic mini business cards she had had printed through Moo. They are half the size of a traditional business card and all the more cute for it! They have a wonderful array of ready made cards or you can submit your own design for them to print at very reasonable prices. You can even have a mix of as many designs as you like so each card is unique. That would make a nice personal touch or you could even do as Nicole of Red Berry Hill has done and use them as product labels.

Images from Red Berry Hill

I particularly like the Fabulous Florals ready made pack, I am quite tempted to get some for myself. They also print regular sized business cards, postcards, greetings cards, stickers and labels. 

I am currently knee deep in a house nightmare so unfortunately I've been distracted from my blogging duties. 

Here is just a quick note about these lovely printable recipe cards from the people at Scissors Paper Wok via the How About Orange Blog. Print your own cards for soup, salad, sauce, baking, roast, drink, dessert, bread, breakfast, main dish and side dish, download them here

Image from Scissors Paper Wok

DIY Citrus Stripe Boxes

Kristen Magee at Paper Crave have posted about these very cute DIY Citrus Stripes Boxes. The cut out citrus fruit pieces were created using  a die-cutting machine such as a Silhouette machine or just a pair of scissors if you've got a steady pair of hands. Download the card box and citrus fruit templates here. Happy Crafting!

Images from Kristen Magee Paper Crave

Skull and Cross Buns

While looking through Not on the high street for pressie ideas, I came across Emily of Skull and Cross Buns who produces fantastic hand carved rubber stamps. They are all made to order and involve quirky images not usually found in your run of the mill craft shops. My favourites are the Little Caravan of Love, Mini Bunting, Mini Moustaches and the simple but adorable Retro Love Stamp.

All Images from Not on the High Street

Why not take a look for yourself and let me know which are your favourites!

More Moorish Tiles

I was flicking through Elle Decoration and found in their Smart buys section yet another company who produce Moroccan inspired tiles. Original Style have an Odyssey collection inspired by the Moorish tiled courtyards of Seville. My favourites are the Ottoman, Seville and Romanesque patterns, check out the others on their online catalogue here.

Cute Tape Measures

I was reading today's post from Jessica at How about Orange about this super cute Panda Tape measure. I instantly thought I want one! I found an ebay seller in Birmingham who sells them for £2. They also sell other animal based tapes such as frogs, pigs and cats. There is also another seller based in Sheffield who sells them here and has a choice of pig, frog, panda, brown bear, blue bear, pink bear and a red bear. So you are really spoilt for choice but the panda is probably the sweetest.

Image from How about Orange

Image from ebay

Image from ebay

Free Airmail Thank You Notes

Jessica at How about Orange has been given some fantastic free downloads of Airmail thank you notes by Amy Lowry of the Thank You Cards Shop in Vancouver. Download the free pdf here or take a look at the post of How about Orange. It includes note paper, matching envelope and lots of coordinating stickers. Other colours are available to buy from Amy's Shop.

Image from How about Orange

Tissue Paper Pom-Poms

The people at Martha Stewart have done it again. This time they've posted a step by step guide to creating your own Tissue Paper Pom-Poms. They are seriously cute ands fun!

Image from Martha Stewart

Armed with fluffy pom-poms, kids can tell parents what to do: Stand up! Cheer! Make some noise! Construct these crowd-pleasers by cutting strips from layers of tissue paper and then wrapping them around dowels. Design them in team colors or any festive combination. Add extra layers for super-large pom-poms, or tape skinny strips to both ends of a longer dowel for a spirited baton. Hurrah!

Pom-Pom How-ToNote: Kids age 5 and under should not play with dowels or pom-poms made with them.

Begin by placing four sheets of tissue paper on top of each other. Fold them in half, and cut 1-inch-wide strips through all layers, stopping just short of fold so that strips will hold together (left top). Next, starting at one corner, roll folded edge tightly around one end of a short 1/4-inch-diameter dowel. Use vinyl tape to secure the bottom of the pom-pom to the dowel. Repeat entire process, beginning with the four sheets of tissue paper, at least two more times, to make the ball fluffy.

Finding Fridges!

As we are about to move into our new house we are starting to look for a new Fridge Freezer. Unfortunately I have a mild obsession with a certain Smeg Fridge, but alas they are far tooo expensive so we are having to look at something within our budget. As you can see below, one of my favourite bloggers Nicole of Making it Lovely shares my passions for all things Smeg.

Images from Making it Lovely

Do you have any suggestions for a stylish yet affordable fridge, if you do let me know.

If we can't stretch to the Smeg maybe we should go for something in stainless steel as they can look quite stylish and would go with all our other electricals in the Kitchen. That would be the sensible thing to do, but who wants to be sensible!

http://www.smeguk.com/

Mini Moderns for Magpie

Mini Moderns, the creators of fantastic wallpaper inspired by the 1951 Festival of Britain, have teamed up with homeware brand Magpie to create a selection of mugs, plates, and cups and saucers under the same theme. Using lovely mid-century colours the geometric patterns illustrate London landmarks such as the Royal Festival Hall. Mix and match the colours for an fab eclectic look!

Image from Homes and Gardens

The Lollipop Shoppe

Just wanted to let you all know that The Lollipop Shoppe has an offer available on Eames chairs, If you by 6 Eames plastic chairs you get 2 of them free. I'm not really in a position to take advantage of this offer but some of you may have been waiting for them to come into the sale, so snap up the offer while it's available because it's a huge saving.

Rocket Favour Packaging

This Rocket Favour packaging is the craft project of the week, courtesy of Martha Stewart. It would be great if doing a space themed kid's party, these rocket's could be the party bags or prizes for games.

Tools and Materials

• Rocket Crackers Clip Art
• 8 1/2-by-11-inch heavyweight paper, in Matte.
• Double-sided tape
• 8-by-5 1/2-inch pieces of white tissue paper
• White twine
• Hot-glue gun

Rocket Favor How-To:

1. Print the Rocket Crackers Clip Art onto heavyweight paper; cut out the shapes.
2. Place the rectangular clip art blank side up. affix double-sided tape to 1 long edge. Fold a piece of tissue paper in half (so it measures 4 by 5 1/2 inches). Place the tissue fold at the bottom of the card stock, pressing it to the tape to secure.
3. Roll the card stock and tissue into a tube, and secure with double-sided tape. Cinch the tissue at the bottom of the rocket, and tie it with twine.
4. Roll fan-shaped clip art into a cone; secure with hot glue. Place candies inside rocket. Use hot glue to attach cone to body.

All images from Martha Stewart

Real or Fake?

I freely admit I have an obsession with designer furniture, in particular chairs. However, they are often way out of my meagre budget and I spend forever saving various cheques from generous family members ready for the time when they are on sale.

I'm a true believer in investing in originals, even when my husband can't understand what the difference is between the real one and the copy. But as you start to decorate a house you realise how much even a couple of chairs can add up and how many other things you have to pay for like broken boilers or a leaking roof. I'm not saying I will definitely go out and buy copies, even if they are every good, but I just wanted to point out they are out there.

Bluesuntree apparently make very good reproductions of design classics at a fraction of the price. From the Eames DSW chairs to the Hang it all coat rack they stock pretty much of the classics and many other designs. I am particularly tempted by the marble topped tulip side table, at £150 it's a snip compared to the original, well they do say imitation is the best form of flattery!

Images from Bluesuntree

Hus & Hem Fabrics

I have previously posted about the joys of Hus & Hem's emporium of Scandinavian design, but I just wanted to make you aware of their fabulous selection of fabrics.

Spira Haga Sage Green & Grey Scandinavian Fabric

 I'm just thinking this would look great in our living room with our new blue sofa.

Spira Jaffa Light Turquoise Swedish Fabric

 I love this fabric for outside, it's so fun!

Spira Mallow Krinolin Scandinavian Fabric

Spira Stensota Pink Scandinavian Fabric

All Images from Hus & Hem