101 Things in 1001 Days #80

Create or go on a scavenger/treasure hunt

Over the Easter Weekend, myself & Nick decided to go Geocaching!! I had heard of it a few weeks ago but hadn't had the time to properly research it so didn't fully understand what it was all about. So over the weekend I downloaded the app & we decided on the best area to go so we could walk a route.

If you haven't heard of it before, you basically look for small capsules that are hidden in the outdoors - on gate posts, signposts, under bushes, in tree stumps! These are marked on a map on the app & you can also ask for a hint if you're struggling to find it. Once you find it, you open the capsule, log your name & the date you found it on the bit of paper inside then put it back exactly where you found it for the next people to find! You can also log it on the app too. 

The app shows you where to find the capsules

There are different size capsules, some with small items in which you can move around - but that all gets a bit technical & we are new to the party so just stuck to writing out names. There are literally thousands all over the place & the app it's totally free. It's a really good way to encourage people to get outside. You can pay for the premium version, which allows you to find the more challenging ones - I am seriously considering doing this!

I am not sure if it is cheating my ticking this one off my list as it isn't really a scavenger/treasure hunt but it's a very similar idea & a brilliant way to satisfy your inner nerd! Have you ever been Geocaching before? 

♥  

ZoFlo

Craft Blog Club // Craft Resolutions Reveal

Another Craft Blog Club Challenge! This time is was a "Crafty Resolutions" challenge. Whether it was something new you wanted to learn, or something you had been meaning to do for a while, it was time to finally give it a go! I opted for Cross Stitch. As well as being something I hadn't done before, it was also a gift my Mum got me for my birthday so I definitely needed a kick up the butt to get going with it!

I think for a first timer, I have opted for something quite challenging. But my Mum chose a design she knew I would like once it is completed. It is quite time consuming, although I do really enjoy it. I haven't finished it yet...in fact I'm quite a long way off completing it! But I am pleased that Craft Blog Club gave me the motivation I needed to get started on it. 

The reason I wanted to give Cross Stitch a go was of course due to Pinterest. I have seen loads of great Cross Stitch designs on clothes & it looks so cute - very boho! So of course I wanted to learn the skill so I could do some DIY of my own to liven up some of my plain tops/dresses/skirts! My absolute favourite is this dress I saw a while back on Pinterest - isn't it so beautiful?!

Have you taken part in the Crafty Resolutions Challenge too? If you have, please post your links below. I would love to see what you did too!

♥ 

ZoFlo

My Pattern Stash!

The other day I was organising my fabric & pattern stash. I didn't realise how many patterns I had until I whipped around my sewing room & collected them all up, so I thought it was only fair to share my favourite ones with you.

All of the patterns (& Humphrey)!

I am currently using the New Look K6144 pattern for a dress making project I am working on. It is really easy to follow, although it has been a while since I have had to sew darts so I had to really think about what I was doing!

I used this pattern to make my Mums Christmas gift. It was free from the Daily Mail & is the most simple pattern ever!

I recently got some really cheap, thick upholstery material from a Flea Market which I plan to make a skirt with (which also cost me £1.50 for a meter & a half). It always takes me a while to decide, but I have managed to whittle it down to 2 options - the New Look K6217 or K6107! Which one would you pick?

I have finally organised everything nicely, into a vintage suitcase that use to belong to my grandparents. It is very snug so just means I can't make any more purchases for a while...

What are your favourite patterns?

♥ 

ZoFlo

Kirstie Allsopp Button Kit // Review

Hey remember that competition I won last summer? Well here's another review of one of the kits I won - this time it's the Kirstie Allsopp Button Kit. The buttons can be used for lots of different crafts, but I jumped straight into jewellery making (crossing off another of my 101 Things). 

I decided to create my own bracelet using yellow, cream & grey buttons. You get lots of different charms included in the kit, which I absolutely love! I did add a couple to my bracelet but it seemed a bit much, so I decided to stick to one; a cute safety pin! 

I found this kit super easy to use & there are so many things you can use the buttons for. The only thing I would say is that the necklace chain is rather short (literally it is almost a choker) which is a shame as I love a good necklace! But nevertheless, it is a lovely little kit that could be a great give for an avid crafter or someone who is new to the crafting scene! 

Have you created any button masterpieces before?

♥ 

ZoFlo

Crafty Haul #4

I think we can all agree that I am not very good at updating you on my crafty purchases, with my last Crafty Haul being in May 2015. As I have treated myself to a couple of bits recently, I thought I would share them with you all.

As you all know, I recently won tickets to the Craft4Crafters Show in Exeter where I picked up some really lovely fabric at a great price. I have some really great projects line up for both of these fabrics, which I can't wait to share with you when they are done. 

I recently saw a project idea that really caught my eye; a cute clutch bag with a purse clasp. So when I popped into Millie Moon & saw this oversized purse clasp, I just had to get it! They had lots of different sizes available, with this one costing £5. It was a bit of an impulse buy, but I have some fabric in my stash that I immediately had in mind for this project so that made it slightly more acceptable. I also picked up a burgundy zip, for a sewing project I am currently working on...

I am yet to receive my next item, but I can't wait for them to arrive; Line Painter Pens! I have a project in mind for these, which I why I purchased them (obviously) so I will be sure to update you all when I use them & let you know what I think of them. I found these on Amazon & they only cost around £10.

I think that is about it for now. Lots of future projects in the pipeline to update you all on which is exciting.

Have you purchased any craft gems recently?

♥ 

ZoFlo

Get Crafty Card & Decoupage Starter Kit // Review

Remember that time last summer when I was lucky enough to win a box of goodies in a competition? Well, I have finally cracked open the Get Crafty Card & Decoupage Starter Kit. Ill be totally honest with you, I wasn't convinced from the look of the designs on the box. It didn't look very "cool" or "fancy" so I just popped it on the shelf & there it stayed. But ya know what? It's lush. I feel really bad & it just proves you shouldn't judge a crafting kit by the box....! 

The kit comes with a pack of plain white cards & envelopes, a pack of 3D Foam Squares & loads of cute decoupage designs to make beautiful handmade cards! It is so simple to do & super quick too. If you ever forget a friend's birthday you could knock them up a lovely homemade card in a flash & they wouldn't know any different! It is the perfect kit for beginners & I actually really enjoyed having a go at it whilst watching TV. 

I only did 2 cards for the time being - I didn't want to get carried away & waste the supplies! I did use some extra patterned card with mine too, just to add a little more colour to my designs. You could really add anything you like to it; buttons, ribbon, even mix the different decoupage designs together. I'm pretty pleased with my designs & can't wait to have an occasion to make another one! 

Beware friends & family - you'll all be getting handmade cards from me this year! 

Have you ever done any card making before? What kits would you recommend? 

♥ 

ZoFlo

The Craft4Crafters Show

A little while ago I entered a competition with Crafts Beautiful to win a pair of tickets to The Craft4Crafters Show. It was one of those times when you totally forget you have entered it until you check your inbox & boom......"Congratulations you have won". I was so excited & thought it would make the perfect girls day out for me & my Mum. 

After a surprisingly quick drive to Exeter in the world's worst driving conditions(!) We went straight to the nearest cafe to grab a cup of tea & plan what we wanted to buy. I had 4 dressmaking patterns with me so we had a look at those to decide on which ones I should go with.

As usual it was difficult to know what way to turn with the many different craft stands to look at. We tried our best to explore the show in some kind of order, but it's so easy to get distracted - particularly by the giant knitting needles...

And this paper cake was just the cutest thing...

I found it so difficult to make a decision on fabric so spent a lot of time going back & forth comparing! I obviously chose some fabric from the cheaper stand (a very girly navy blue floral fabric @ £5 per meter) but also chose to treat myself to a slightly more expensive fabric too (some gorgeous burgundy fabric with dragonflies on @ £8 per meter). I think I was very good at being sensible as I could of spent much much more! 

It was such a great day, I do love a good crafty show. What craft shows would you recommend? 

♥ 

ZoFlo

101 Things in 1001 Days #86

Go for Afternoon Tea

Last year for my birthday I went with a friend to a local spa. It was really lovely to spend the day relaxing & our package also included a Facial followed by Afternoon Tea! I always love the idea of Afternoon Tea, as it is a more ladylike way of stuffing your face with sandwiches & cakes....!! 

It was absolutely delicious & the perfect way to finish off a day of pampering. Have you ever been for Afternoon Tea? What places would you recommend? 

♥ 

ZoFlo

How To // I ♥ U 3D Card

I always think handmade cards are the best - but Valentine's Day can be a tricky one. I have a simple Valentines Day Card idea which is super cute & "cool" (for those that are in new relations & don't want to seem too clingy/loved up)! 

To make your card you all need:

• White Card
• Coloured/Patterned Card 
• Craft knife (with a cutting matt)
• Glue
• Pencil & Rubber

I obviously stumbled across the idea on Pinterest & after much searching, I managed to find the perfect printable template. Once you have printed your template & cut it out....

1. Use your pencil to carefully draw around your template on to the white card, remembering to mark which lines to fold & which ones to cut. 
2. Using your craft knife (& cutting matt) cut along the correct lines. 
3. Gently fold along the correct lines to create a 3D/Pop-up effect.
4. Very carefully rub out any pencil lines that may be showing, taking care not to rip the card.
5.  Once you are happy with the way it looks, glue the back of the white card & carefully stick it to the patterned card (it is easier to do this if you fold both cards in half first & stick down one half at a time)

....and you're done! 

I'm sure you'll agree it is really quite simple & looks really cute! If you do have a go yourself, please share with me on Twitter or Facebook.

♥ 

ZoFlo

Kirstie Allsopp Cosmetic Bag // Review

Last summer I received a box full of goodies in a competition I won. I have been slowly working my way through all of the different sets, so I can review them all for you as well. Before Christmas I was in desperate need of a new make up bag. When I remembered I had the Kirstie Allsopp Cosmetic Bag Kit I was super excited...! 

The kit comes with the most beautiful contrasting fabrics for the outside & lining, along with a matching pink zip, fusible interfacing & a needle & thread. Everything is already measure out correctly so it is just a case of cutting it out - super easy & a major time saver! Measuring our patterns can be a tedious task. The instructions are really simple to follow - I didn't get headloss once (I do sometimes get frustrated when I can get it right)! I pretty much followed the instructions completely, apart from the pocket on the front, which I chose to keep as one big pocket (rather than 3 smaller ones). I really took my time with this project, as I I knew it would be something I would use everyday, so wanted it to be perfect. I did it over two evening's but you could quite easily do it in an afternoon, depending on your ability. 

I would say it is a perfect project for beginners & would make a really nice gift for someone who wants to get into sewing. I am really pleased with my finished Cosmetic Bag, although I do struggle to fit all of my make-up in it! I really love Kirstie Allsopps products & am really looking forward to trying out some of the other sets I won.

What Sewing/Craft sets would you recommend? 

♥  

ZoFlo

101 Things in 1001 Days #74

Buy a pair of Ray Bans

When I wrote my list of 101 Things, I am guessing I imagined myself buying a pair of Ray Ban Sunglasses! Unfortunately I am blessed with having poor eye sight, so prescription glasses are much more essential than a cool pair of "sunnies" these days. My last pair of glasses were a small pair of Red or Dead glasses, which were "on trend" when I purchased them...7 years ago! So it really was time for an upgrade. I always feel really under pressure when I'm trying on new glasses in the shops, so decided to order some from Glasses Direct this time. You can order up to 4 different pairs for a free 7 day home trial. Try them on in the comfort of your own home with no shop assistant bugging you - perfect! I knew I wanted slightly bigger frames this time, so order 3 different pairs - the Ray Bans were immediately my favourite ones! 

Once I had sent back my free trial glasses, I uploaded my prescription on their website. I actually uploaded it totally wrong (as I really don't understand what any of it means) but I emailed Customer Support who were really helpful & input my prescription correctly for me. As I ordered them on Christmas Eve, I wasn't expecting them to arrive any time soon...so when they arrived just before the New Year I was super impressed!

I absolutely love my Ray Bans & would 100% recommend Glasses Direct to anyone wanting to find designer glasses at reasonable prices! Maybe one day I'll have some "cool" Ray Ban Sunglasses too - but as these ones help me see & stop my migraines, I'm happy for now...

♥  

ZoFlo

Upholstery Tips for Beginners

A little while ago (before my little blogging break) I took on another little upholstery project - a large foot stall. It has become a much loved piece of furniture in our lounge & gets used all the time! Visitors often comment on how lovely it is & say how clever I am for being able to do it all by myself. But you know what? It's so simple, literally anyone could do it. I promise. So I thought I would share some little tips with you all, to hopefully inspire others to give it a try...

It's not as scary as it looks - honest! 

• Start Simple - admittedly my first upholstery project was an arm chair. However I was doing it with my Gran, who knew her stuff! Pick something simple, like a small foot stall, that will be easy to complete so you don't lose interest. 
• It doesn't have to be expensive - once I got the upholstery bug, I was always on Gum Tree searching for bargains. My large foot stall cost me £20 (on Gum Tree) & I picked up my small foot stall for £4 at a car boot. Material can be costly, but I managed to find some at a local Flea Market for only £1.50 a meter! Don't forget to take a look at Free Cycle or your local Buy, Sell, Swap Facebook Pages too!
• Be careful when unpicking - if you're removing the old material, do it carefully. You can use the old material as a rough pattern for your new material. You can also see how it has been shaped around any corners. 
• Take your time - there really is no rush. Really take your time so you can understand the best way to complete your upholstery project. If you can feel yourself getting impatient or rushing it, step away for 5 minutes. You really don't want to rush it & ruin it if it is something you'll have to look at every day. Trust me. It's very annoying...! 

My most recent project! 

Hopefully these tips will encourage you to give upholstery a go. It's not that scary once you get into the swing of it. I'm still only a beginner myself, so plenty for me to learn too, but I can safely say I am addicted to it! If you want anymore advice, you can comment below or email me. And if you do give it ago, be sure to share your photos with me on Twitter or Facebook. 

♥ 

ZoFlo

101 Things in 1001 Days #29

Volunteer

Last summer, one of my 100 Happy Days was that I became an official Make-a-Wish Volunteer. It is something I had thought about doing for a long time, as I had worked with the charity in a previous job. I was able to understand first hand the positivity that the charity are able to create during such a difficult time, so being able to offer them a helping hand once in a while was important to me. 

I have only done the odd bucket collection but hope to be able to help out much more this year. It is nice to be able to do something so simple but know that it is helping to make a real difference. It is also a tick off of my 101 Things list...!

Have you ever done any volunteering? 

♥  

ZoFlo

101 Things in 1001 Days #49

Give (more) blood

Just before Christmas I gave blood. This is something I try to do regularly, although sometimes various other commitments get in the way. I was really pleased when I received an email to say I had reached my first milestone - I have donated 5 pints! 

It sounds silly, but this has definitely motivated me to donate more regularly, so I can reach the next milestone! As well as this, I know a few people who have had to have blood transfusions, so giving up an hour of my time doesn't really seem much when you consider the lives it could save. I know some people can't give blood for various reasons, but if you are able to then I would really recommend giving it a go (unless you're scared of needles or prone to fainting). It really doesn't hurt & you even get free tea & biscuits. 

♥ 

ZoFlo

Made By Me // Girly Apron

A few months ago, my Mum mentioned that she wanted me to make her a new apron. As it was leading up to Christmas I though this would be the perfect gift!

I already had a pattern for it, which my Gran got from the Daily Mail (they had a token collection thing a while back which resulted in her receiving a whole load of free patterns, which I was more than happy to take off her hands...) & the fabric was an absolute steal from Hobbycraft at £6 a meter! I picked a cute, baby pink binding that complimented the pink shades in the material - very girly so perfect for my Mum! 

As I am sure you can imagine, it was super easy. Just a case of cutting out the fabric, hemming it & sewing on the binding. It also included a pocket on the front. 

This was such an easy make & a great one for beginners. I would definitely recommend this to project to anyone who is new to sewing & wants to start with something basic. 

♥ 

ZoFlo

Happy New Year // 2016 Resolutions

Happy New Year!

Like many others, when the New Year approaches I immediately begin thinking of ways to improve my life. But if I am being totally honest with you, 2015 was a great year for me...so I don't really feel the need to make any dramatic changes. One thing I am certain of though is that I want to push myself more when it comes to sewing.

Image Source 

 So here are a list of my 2016 Sewing Resolutions:

• Challenge myself - I always play it safe by making simple skirts or tops. I want to try new things this year so I can extend my skills & learn new things. 
• Make more clothes than I buy - this will be difficult one, but by the end of 2016 I want the majority of my wardrobe to be handmade.
• Sew my holiday wardrobe - okay so maybe not all of it, but Nick got me the Sew Many Dresses, Sew Little Time book for Christmas. Sew (sorry) many of the dresses in the book will be perfect for our holiday. 

I also have a few blogging resolutions too...

• Get organised! - This is a big one for me. I have only recently started scheduling posts & would love to be able to prepare more blog posts in advance so it becomes less of a chore. 
• Meet more bloggers - I would love to go to a bloggers event or meet up with some fellow Somerset / South West Bloggers this year. I have met lots of lovely people online, so would be great to be able to meet some of these people in real life!! 

Only a small list, but hopefully it will help to motivate me in 2016. I will of course update you on through the year! Do you have any New Years Resolutions?

♥ 

ZoFlo

101 Things in 1001 Days #46

Go to a Wedding 

At the end of last Summer, I ticked another thing off my 101 Things - going to a wedding!

Nick being hilarious - as usual (taken by photographer)

"Just Married"

Most beautiful venue!

Playing dress up! 

Black & White 💜 (taken by photographer)

#Selfie 

I hope you enjoy this photo heavy post - just a handful of photos from what was a beautiful day! I do love a good wedding!

♥  

ZoFlo