I have moved on over to Wordress. You can now find me at http://mamabettys.wordpress.com
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Thank you all for your time and support and I hope you will continue to follow me at my new home!
Thanks!
Liz x
Monday, 24 February 2014
Wednesday, 12 February 2014
Fanny crown
Labels:
2b,
Bobbi Brown Cosmetics,
fashion,
GUESS by Marciano,
Oasis,
polyvore,
style,
Topshop
Monday, 10 February 2014
Lampshade Tutorial Part 1
This is part 1 of 2 Lampshade Upcycle Tutorial. I would of made it one big post, however, both are entirely different and deserve the recognition alone.
This tutorial is for covering a large shade for a floor lamp or ceiling shade that you simply no longer like.
I'm making over a plain cream shade that I bought as a tall floor lamp from Dunelm Mill several years ago, the stand is beautiful but the shade had seen better days and well I couldn't find a replacement so I decided to make it over.
What you'll need:
Fabric. Enough to cover the shade you want to re-cover. I used fabric samples from John Lewis that I had collected over the years. I wanted a cosy yet masculine feel so I chose similar fabrics but mixed up the patterns for texture and well I love the patchwork look! Just make sure you have more than enough fabric to cover the shade, always better to big than not big enough!
An old shade. Luckily my shade was plain but in all honesty it doesn't really matter either way, well until you switch it on, see Part 2 for an explanation!
I was having a moment when I decided to take on this make over, I wanted time to relax whilst I was still being productive so I decided to hand stitch the panels together instead of using the sewing machine. A machine would take a few mins to sew all the panels together large enough to cover the shade, hand sewing meant it took me a whole day just to get it large enough. I thoroughly enjoyed this, and you don't have to worry to much if your hand sewing isn't tip top, once its glued on you will never know.
I then ironed the panels to get them nice and smooth ready to adhere to the shade.
This tutorial is for covering a large shade for a floor lamp or ceiling shade that you simply no longer like.
I'm making over a plain cream shade that I bought as a tall floor lamp from Dunelm Mill several years ago, the stand is beautiful but the shade had seen better days and well I couldn't find a replacement so I decided to make it over.
What you'll need:
Fabric. Enough to cover the shade you want to re-cover. I used fabric samples from John Lewis that I had collected over the years. I wanted a cosy yet masculine feel so I chose similar fabrics but mixed up the patterns for texture and well I love the patchwork look! Just make sure you have more than enough fabric to cover the shade, always better to big than not big enough!
Glue. I used carpet tile spray glue, this stuff is great from being able to peel it back if you get a crease or need to start over. It dries pretty quick and is inexpensive for the quantity. I got a can from B & M for £3.99.
I was having a moment when I decided to take on this make over, I wanted time to relax whilst I was still being productive so I decided to hand stitch the panels together instead of using the sewing machine. A machine would take a few mins to sew all the panels together large enough to cover the shade, hand sewing meant it took me a whole day just to get it large enough. I thoroughly enjoyed this, and you don't have to worry to much if your hand sewing isn't tip top, once its glued on you will never know.
I then ironed the panels to get them nice and smooth ready to adhere to the shade.
Now this can be the tricky part, I ended up covered in spray glue! Lay your fabric wrong side up and lay the shade on top starting at the seam.
Now spray the glue and smooth out, keep going in small sections making sure its all covered in glue and is nice and smooth, now make your way around the shade.
When you get back to the seam, fold over the fabric to give a nice clean edge and glue down well.
Trim the excess fabric and glue around the top and bottom, and voila... your shade is complete!
I adhered mine at an angle and you will too as with the shape it doesn't allow for a straight finish, see part 2 for more info!
Allow to dry and add back to the stand.
Stand back and admire your work, you made that, feel proud!!
Saturday, 8 February 2014
Dreamcatcher DIY
Materials:
Anything round to the size you require.
Embroidery floss
Charms
Cotton
Lace
Crochet doily
1: Stretch the doily to cover whatever you are using. I found this ring at the local haberdashery, I'm not sure what its used for but anything that can be circular, like a wire coat hanger can work.
2: I then began to stitch it onto the fame by wrapping the embroidery floss around the frame and through the doily. This part is a little time consuming but it's well worth it for the over all look.
3: Once you've cover that entire frame you can get creative and stitch on anything you want really, I used some lace and wool and some old semi precious stones and pearls I had left over from something else.
4: When you are happy with how it looks, sew something that can be used to hang it, put it in place and have sweet dreams!
This is the second one I've made with two different styles, this one now lives in my daughter's bedroom.
I'd love to see what your creativity creates!
L x
Thursday, 6 February 2014
Seasonal flu and feeling sorry for yourself
I haven't wrote a ' personal' post in some time, I don't know if it's been a lack of motivation and inspiration or just that well things haven't been epically shit enough to have a moan about.
I have the flu! It's that seasonal type flu people go on about, its swept through the rest of the family like some plague and as a head count goes we are now up for 5 of 5. I feel like death and I'm only on day 1, middle child is into day 7, she's still snot filled, the out look doesn't look promising.
I feel slightly lacking as a person, this is not flu related, this is people related. Again, even at 31 I've fallen prey to the 'sure I wanna be your friend' * actually read, *I'll pretend to be your friend whilst it benefits me then I'll be mean in an indirect way, enough to emotionally whip yourself so you naff off and I don't have to be associated with you again* trap of "friendship", actually "FRIENDSHIP" you can officially C*CK OFF!
So this is me, moaning, craving cake and wondering why men can't take a sickie to nurse their poorly, emotionally damaged wives?
L xx
Monday, 27 January 2014
DIY Bedroom Makeover Done in a Day!
Labels:
decorating,
DIY,
home improvements,
statement,
style,
wallpaper
After how well my stairs makeover went ( you can find it here ) I seem to have caught the decorating bug and next on my list was our bedroom.
Its not a massive space and often ends up being a dumping ground for bedding I have no storage for or unwanted toys (at least that part never lasts!)
So this makeover is just the first part to transforming our bedroom from glorified closet to master bedroom of joy!
I'm attempting to over haul the whole house on a teeny tiny budget, and this makeover is something we can all do for literally nothing, I have used wallpaper samples collected over a few months from online stores like Farrow and Ball and John Lewis or you can simply pop on down to B and Q or any other store that sells wallpaper and collect some samples of all the paper you like. Don't worry if there is no theme, if the colours clash or you have mixed bold patterns with muted florals, who cares!
This is all about just going with what you like and the fun is in not having to live with just one pattern or colour until you decorate again and who can afford £55 per roll of paper for something you may stop loving within the year.
I already had the white paint and wallpaper paste. I always use the premixed tubs ( £1.99 from B and M Bargains) so i don't have to mix up a massive batch to find I don't need it all.
So here's how it went..
The walls where boring old magnolia still from when we moved in, it really has been neglected!
They where pretty dirty now and needed refreshing so I've just painted them all white, can't beat it to lift a room and fill it with natural light.
Its not a massive space and often ends up being a dumping ground for bedding I have no storage for or unwanted toys (at least that part never lasts!)
So this makeover is just the first part to transforming our bedroom from glorified closet to master bedroom of joy!
I'm attempting to over haul the whole house on a teeny tiny budget, and this makeover is something we can all do for literally nothing, I have used wallpaper samples collected over a few months from online stores like Farrow and Ball and John Lewis or you can simply pop on down to B and Q or any other store that sells wallpaper and collect some samples of all the paper you like. Don't worry if there is no theme, if the colours clash or you have mixed bold patterns with muted florals, who cares!
This is all about just going with what you like and the fun is in not having to live with just one pattern or colour until you decorate again and who can afford £55 per roll of paper for something you may stop loving within the year.
I already had the white paint and wallpaper paste. I always use the premixed tubs ( £1.99 from B and M Bargains) so i don't have to mix up a massive batch to find I don't need it all.
So here's how it went..
The walls where boring old magnolia still from when we moved in, it really has been neglected!
They where pretty dirty now and needed refreshing so I've just painted them all white, can't beat it to lift a room and fill it with natural light.
Here is my stash of wallpaper samples, scrapbooking paper and those cute papers you sometimes get for free in craft magazines. Anything like this is suitable to use really just be careful when applying to the wall in case you rip the paper.
So I got itchy feet waiting for the paint to dry so i started papering.
It progresses quickly and you would be surprised how quickly you can fill a whole wall like this. I didn't follow a theme or anything but I did find when I was putting them up I had a lot of similar colours so I tried to mix it up as much as possible.
I stopped at half way for a brew break, this took about an hour and gave the paint on the other walls to dry from they first coat.
2 hours later and I'd filled the wall and given the walls another coat. I just love it, even more than the one I did in the kitchen last year! I do believe it's the kids room next!!!
It really is a wallet friendly style statement, I have had so many compliments just from posting to Instagram yesterday and our bedroom finally feels like somewhere I can lay and relax after a long day ( that is if you ignore the pile of boxes in the corner ear marked to live in the loft!)
If you decide to give this a go, do tweet me your gorgeous pics! @immamabetty
Happy Monday folks ;)
L x
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