How to make a kanzashi flower...

I bought Making Magazine for the first time back when it released it's September edition...I couldn't resist all the Japanese styled crafts...it's not often I drool over a pincushion but they well and truly had me hooked! Less than an hour after sitting down with a cuppa to read I moved onto trying their Kanzashi flower tutorial. They suggested using them as a brooch but I had them in mind for a decoration to form part of my nieces birthday present. Once I started I just couldn't stop!

I tried with different fabrics, I found stiffer fabric worked best for me as it held it's shape well. I think they're so pretty, I want to try to make a garland from them next!

Here's how I made it...

What you need:

Fabric (I used 100% cotton in these photos)

Scissors

Measuring tape

Iron

Pins

Needle and thread

Glue

Button (optional)

1. Cut out 5 squares 12cm x 12cm

2. Take one square and fold into a triangle (right side facing outwards). Press with the iron.

3&4. With the folded edge facing you bring the right and left outside corners up to the top corner and press the edges.

5&6. Turn the diamond over and bring the outside edges into the centre.

7. Fold in half and hold in place with a pin.

8. Trim the end with the raw edges.

9. Repeat with the remaining squares of fabric.

10&11. Feed the thread onto the needle, and thread each petal onto the thread (make sure they're facing the same way!) and tie both ends of the thread together.

12. Next ease each petal into your desired shape.

13. Sew the petals together on both the top and bottom side of the flower. Trim the thread.

14. Next cut a circle of fabric and glue to the behind of the flower (not pictured). Next decorate the centre of the flower, for this one I simply glued a little circle of the fabric but a button would look sweet!

You will get different effects depending on the type of fabric you use, how many petals you have and how you decorate it. Here's the first one I made...

The things you could do with these are endless, They'd make cute hair accessories or brooches, or additions to handmade bags or home accessories...I made two which I added to a cushion...but more on that in a different post!

Have any of you read Making magazine? I've struggled to get hold of it and am thinking about taking out a subscription...the craft ideas were so contemporary and beautiful.

Have a great day!

D.I.Y. painted terracotta pots...

I picked up these mini terracotta pots from Nest at Burwash Manor (if you're ever in the Cambridge area it is well worth a visit, it's a really sweet collection of shops with a lovely deli and tea shop). The pots were too good a deal to turn down so of course I bought far too many of them! I mentioned in my last post that I meet up with some friends for craft evenings so I thought it would be fun to decorate these together. I thought I'd share what I made today. It was slightly addictive and I carried on into the next day...it's had been ages since I last picked up a paint brush and I found it so therapeutic! One is currently housing my make up brushes, another is on my bedside cabinet next to my jewellery tray and I think I might use the other to hold some craft supplies.

I painted two of the pots and used decoupage for the other. I haven't really dabbled in decoupage before but I found this gorgeous paper in hobby craft so I wanted to have a go! I love how it turned out.

To make: simply cut up small squares of paper (you can use any paper but thinner paper will give the best result, I used specific decoupage paper) and glue to the pot. I applied mine in quite a uniform fashion which when looked at close up means the separate squares are quite evident. Next time I think I'll add them at different angles and overlap them more...what do you think? Once the whole pot is covered with the paper apply a layer of glue over the pot to smooth down any loose edges, leave to dry. Next I painted the inside of the pot, leave to dry between layers.

I painted two different patterns. I used electrical tape to mark out the patterns on the pots. Admittedly that was because I didn't have any masking tape but the electrical tape peeled off really easily so I would definitely use it again...just make sure you leave the base coat to dry before sticking the tape to it. I painted two layers of paint for the triangles and 3 layers for the cream base coat and bronze stripes.

I still have a few pots left, any idea on what else I could do with them?

Have a great Thursday!

Autumnal notes...

I feel like Autumn is quickly giving way to Winter so I decided to change up what I was going to share today so that I could share this cute D.I.Y. whilst some leaves still remain on the trees! A couple of times a month I meet up with some friends to get crafty together. It's so much fun trying out new things whilst having a good chinwag :)

My friend Lenny shared this idea for Autumnal lanterns. I think they're such a sweet way to bring a touch of Autumn into the home...plus it is a really simple but lovely D.I.Y.

Lenny collected loads of gorgeous leaves and then dried them in the airing cupboard. I just came onto the scene once the leaves were already dried so it was an even simpler project for me :) The only issue was deciding which leaves to pick!

What you need : dried leaves, glass jar, PVC glue or modge podge, glue brush

What you do: Simple apply a thin layer of glue to the jar and adhere the leaf to the jar. Brush glue over the top and edges of the leaf until it lies smooth against the glass (this might take a little patience!). Repeat with each leaf. Leave to dry and then finish with a top coat of glue.

This leaf was particularly mischievous, it felt like it took me forever to get all the edges to stick!

How do you see in Autumn? I'd love to hear any seasonal craft projects you've completed.

Happy Monday!
(You can see how to make a handle for your glass jar over on the post I shared last year on making decorated hanging jars)