Handmade Monday #36

Hello, welcome to another Handmade Monday link up, it's so good to have you join us this week. 

Handmade Monday is where we share our makes, bakes and other handmade craft ideas and find some new inspiration.

This week I joined a CAL. A Crochet Along. I've done CAL projects before but never 'live' so to speak. I've always found the patterns long after they've finished and just tried them in my own time. This time I actually found the 'Tea on the Green' CAL on the day it started.

It's a large blanket with a new block pattern released each Friday for 8 weeks. Block A is HUGE (well it's 12" so maybe HUGE is overstating it a little) and had a few stitches I've never tried before so it's been really fun to learn new things. 

There is a super supportive facebook group which runs alongside and brilliant video tutorials for each row. It's on the Hobbycraft blog (Hobbycraft is a major craft shop chain here in the UK) and the pattern is by a talented duo Lynda's Craft Room and The Wee House of Crochet.
I'm totally behind already, I have no expectations about finishing in 8 weeks but it is a lovely pattern if you want something a little bit challenging but achievable.

Now, enough about me, here are the features from last weeks link up:

Wendy from My French Twist has covered the top of an old table with pennies and resin. I've seen this done on whole floors and old bowling balls for garden ornaments but I love the manageability of something like a table top. Isn't it cool? 

Claire from Pillar Box Blue has turned a pallet into this beautiful planter using paint & stencils. I think it is just beautiful. 

Congratulations to both of you, here is a "Yay! I was featured" button for your blog.

<div style="width:100%;text-align:center;"> <span style="margin:5px;padding:5px;border-radius: 5px;border:1px solid lightgrey;display:inline-block;"><a rel=_nofollow href="http://www.sumoftheirstories.com/"> <img style="border: 1px solid gray;width:150px;height:150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJK6GjfiYCihYs7yN5bI2KiuuM6RlAoPTFz8KVoDUqHF3puN9_2mSVFcI9FdaVhyf8DJULWyM24nNIqTYSdh2Fbjj24s7SvAQHhry3rWdocC8lEPpqg59szjVwSiNCeCOKKFS5YEIADQ/s200/Handmade+monday+featured.jpg"> <p style="allign: center;"> </p> </a></span></div>
Instructions: Select all code above, copy it and paste it inside your blog post as HTML

Handmade Monday is all about building a craft community, please so take a few minutes to visit some of the other links, leave a comment, and maybe share your favourites on the social media of your choice if you can.
We have a facebook group where we share useful or interesting things so send a request if you'd like to join us. 

The rules for Handmade Monday are simple:

• Did you make it? Yes - hooray, we'd love to see it!
• Add the link to a specific blog post, not your main site URL.
• Link up to 3 posts each week.
• Mingle - visit some of the other links - comment - share - let's support one another and grow our craft community.

If you're not sure on anything, more information can be found here.

Don't forget to ask for an invite to our group pinterest board too. Just follow the board then message me letting me know the email address you use for pinterest. 

An InLinkz Link-up

Delicates Wash bag

Keep your delicates safe in the washing machine using a little net bag.

I'm going to start with a bit of a long background story today. If you have no interest in the 'why' and only want the 'how' just scroll on down!
I have had a very lengthy (ie: all my life) love/hate relationship with sockies, invisible socks, sockettes, shoe liners, call them what you will. I love how they look ie: you can't see them I love how they help stop your shoes stinking I hate how they don't stay on my feet It is just like when we were kids and our socks would always 'go to sleep' in our welly boots. Here's a facebook post of mine from last year:

Well I'm happy to say I have found a solution. PEDS Liners. I saw a review online (I can't remember where now, sorry) and thought they were worth a try.  Whoop whoop, they are great. They stay on my feet all day. It's the little rubbery grippy bits on the heel that make all the difference.  So once this problem was finally solved I had a new problem.  How do I stop these delicate and fairly tiny things getting swallowed up inside the washing machine? They are on the expensive side so I want them to last, and getting caught up in the machine somewhere is not good for the machine either. The solution - a net delicates bag to wash them in.
These delicates bags are available in the shops and they are not expensive.  You might decide to go and buy one right now and that would be great. If however, like me, you have a bit of old net curtain and an old zip (mine was rescued from an old cushion cover) then you can make one "FOR FREEEE" (Bedtime Stories anyone?) and in about 10 minutes.

Cut a piece of net curtain about 50cm x 18cm (20" x 7")

• Pin one short side of the net to one side of the zip and stitch.
• Pin and sew the other short side of the net to the other side of the zip.
• Trim the zip.
• Open the zip a little - this is important!
• You've basically made a tube so shuffle the bag round, until the zip is about 1 inch down from the edge.
• Stitch down each side seam, I went back and forth over the zip a few times just to make sure it was secure.
• Turn right side out through the open zip.

We leave this in the laundry basket so both our daughter and I can add our PEDS liners to the bag as we go along. Then whoever is putting the washing on can just bung the whole bag in with the rest without having to think about it too much.

I believe other little sockette things with the grippy heel are available, but PEDS Liners are the only one I've tried. This post isn't sponsored by the PEDS people, I just really like them! These are affiliate links, if you make a purchase when clicking through from here Sum of their Stories will receive a small commission. The cost to you is the same. Shop UK:
Shop USA:

Handmade Monday #35

Hellooooo! Welcome to another Handmade Monday link up, it's so good to have you join us this week. This is the place where we share our makes, bakes and other handmade craft ideas, find some new inspiration and connect with our fellow bloggers.

I love Mollie Makes Magazine and each month there is a sweet little kit included. This month there is a kit with everything to make a little custard cream keyring so I had a lovely quiet, slow hand sewing hour this Sunday afternoon and made this little cutie.

Do non UK people know about custard creams? They are a really popular biscuit that have been around with the same design since Victorian times. Apparently a few years ago 9 out of 10 Brits voted it their favourite biscuit of all time. They are THE perfect biscuit for dunking in a cup of tea!

Here are the features from last weeks linky, once again it was just to hard to narrow it down to just 2 features, so this week I've picked an extra one! (and even that is hard, you clever and creative people DO NOT make it easy for me!)
Chris from Made by Chrissie D made this super cute matching game and carry case for her grandson.

Lina from Sew Historically showed us how to make a beautiful power puff, can you imagine how elegant we would all feel with one of these on our dressing tables!

Caroline from Carolee Crafts has made the most adorable little owl paper weights with vintage style linen. She is also zooming ahead with plans for Christmas makes and fairs - Super organised!

Congratulations to both of you, here is a "Yay! I was featured" button for your blog.

<div style="width:100%;text-align:center;"> <span style="margin:5px;padding:5px;border-radius: 5px;border:1px solid lightgrey;display:inline-block;"><a rel=_nofollow href="http://www.sumoftheirstories.com/"> <img style="border: 1px solid gray;width:150px;height:150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJK6GjfiYCihYs7yN5bI2KiuuM6RlAoPTFz8KVoDUqHF3puN9_2mSVFcI9FdaVhyf8DJULWyM24nNIqTYSdh2Fbjj24s7SvAQHhry3rWdocC8lEPpqg59szjVwSiNCeCOKKFS5YEIADQ/s200/Handmade+monday+featured.jpg"> <p style="allign: center;"> </p> </a></span></div>
Instructions: Select all code above, copy it and paste it inside your blog post as HTML

Handmade Monday is all about building a craft community, please so take a few minutes to visit some of the other links, leave a comment, and maybe share your favourites on the social media of your choice if you can.
We have a facebook group where we share useful or interesting things so send a request if you'd like to join us. 

The rules for Handmade Monday are simple:

• Did you make it? Yes - hooray, we'd love to see it!
• Add the link to a specific blog post, not your main site URL.
• Link up to 3 posts each week.
• Mingle - visit some of the other links - comment - share - let's support one another and grow our craft community.

If you're not sure on anything, more information can be found here.

Don't forget to ask for an invite to our group pinterest board too. Just follow the board then message me letting me know the email address you use for pinterest. 

One last thing before this weeks link up. I had some issues a few weeks ago with some photos I used turning into grey boxes like this:

I had stored them in Photobucket but now you need an expensive account with them so I've changed things around. Just check if you have been featured in the past or used the Handmade Monday button from the sidebar on your links page. You may find where once was a pretty button is now that ugly grey box talking about needing to update. Just grab the new code and replace it and, fingers crossed, all should be well. Sorry about that everyone.

An InLinkz Link-up

Inspired by - Comfy Flip Flops

Today another idea I've tried, inspired by another blogger. This time it's super comfy flip flops.

This was inspired by Kristen of Down Home Inspiration, she shared a little video back in 2014 showing how to make flip flops more comfy by swapping the plastic straps for stretchy fabric.

I have a love/hate relationship with flip flops, they are great for summer but some just really hurt my feet. It doesn't seem to matter what style, some rub and some don't, you just can't tell before you buy them which way it's going to go! 

I had a pair that were definitely in the 'rub my feet' category so with nothing to lose I chopped the plastic bits off and had a go. 

I used some jersey fabric left over from this top and just had enough. I didn't have quite enough to include the knot in Kirsten's version, my fabric wasn't quite long enough but it still worked out ok.

And here they are on my feet, on the beach last week.

 This is how they look without my feet in them!

They are SUPER comfy, it's amazing.

My only downside is I'm not sure how long the fabric with last before it wears through on the underneath where the knots are.

I wore these to walk down to the beach for 5 days and they are holding up just fine for now. You can see I didn't trim the fabric very close to the knots. You'd think it would make an uncomfortable lump but it doesn't seem to.

I think another time I would choose a fabric that actually matches with the foam flip flop bottoms! This time was an experimental 'just use what I have' situation!

If I want to take them on holiday for more than a week, I might take a few strips of spare fabric with me, just in case repairs are necessary. 

Get the full video tutorial on how to make them from DownHome Inspiration here.

My conclusion - definitely worth a go.

Block Craft Printed Cards

It's simple and fun to make an assortment of greeting cards using carved wooden printing blocks.

This post is a review of products I received free of charge and contains my honest review. A few weeks ago, I talked about the bloggers workshop I attended at the Stitching, Sewing and Hobbycraft Show at the NEC Birmingham. I mentioned the fab goody bag we bloggers were given and how many exciting goodies were in there.  The lovely people at The Arty Craft Place had popped a wooden block printing starter kit into the goody bag. It contained a flower (or is it a sun?) carved wooden block, orange fabric paint, a piece of cotton fabric to practice on, a sponge, a foam mat and instructions.

Well, I've been playing and today I have a few fun greeting cards ideas to share that I been able to make. I tried the block printing on the fabric and onto card (the folks at the Arty Crafty Place say it works on either) I used textured card as well as smooth, which gave some interesting results. I think I like the results on the fabric best, it was really easy to get a good print every time.

To make it washable you just iron it on the reverse, which I did do even though of course I'm not expecting anyone to wash these cards!   The instruction advise you to always use the foam mat under whatever you are printing on. I found when I printed onto card the first time I pressed too hard and the card creased a little. So I tried without the foam.

No - don't do that! Just don't press too hard and the wooden blocks actually print beautifully.  The prints onto the textured card were a little mottled as I would expect, I kind of like that look.
I trimmed the prints on the card and turned them into a selection of simple cards, just by stamping a greeting on some and mounting them using foam pads onto mini card blanks.

I experimented a bit with embellishing onto the prints, one with a few dots and doodles:

And one with some sequins, which I just glued on with PVA tacky glue:

After that I thought it might be fun to add some embroidery embellishment to the fabric prints.

I tried a few different ideas, all very simple stitches, it didn't seem to need anything complicated. I just used regular DMC stranded embroidery thread and experimented with using 1 and 2 strands.

Then I just cut the fabric into squares with the fabric prints centrally and stitched them onto scraps of card the same size on the sewing machine. That way it was easy to mount the prints onto the card blanks as before. 

Ta Dah!

This little matching gift tag was so easy. I just cut a basic tag shape, printed the design using the wooden printing block, punched a hole and added a little matching pom pom trim. 

This gift tag is on the textured card, you can see what I meant earlier about that giving a more mottled look.

I've loved playing with this carved wooden printing block, even with just one block and one colour of paint you can get different looks. I've got some more ideas of how I'm going to use this block next - it's not the last you've seen of it I'm sure! The Arty Craft Place have a blog with more ideas too if you want to check it out.