HOW TO: Fill your home with comfortable seating for the whole family

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After a busy day at work or school most of us will be looking forward to sitting down, relaxing and enjoying the comfort of being at home. But how can you create a cosy, comfortable environment both indoors and outdoors within your home without spending thousands on new sofas or armchairs? Big Bertha Original have this problem solved with their incredible range of Bean Bag Chairs, Giant Bean Bag Sofas, Children's Bean Bags, Outdoor-Indoor Bean Bags, Cushions, Blankets, Oversized Hoodies and even your furry friends aren't forgotten with their Dog Beds. Bean Bags are one more affordable way to add comfortable seating to both your indoor and outdoor spaces, as well as bringing that fun, nostalgic feel from childhood. 

CRAFT: How to make Pom Pom Ice Cream Bunting for less than £3

I can't believe Isabella and Poppy's birthday was already so long ago, but summer is finally here and this Pom Pom Ice-Cream bunting is perfect for putting up at garden parties or as a summery addition to children's bedrooms. Since receiving a pack of pom pom makers at Christmas I have really enjoyed making a variety of pom pom related things, such as these hair accessories. Unless you've made pom poms before you won't believe quite how quick and easy they are to make; we're talking minutes and that's with an eager child trying to help. So when it came to planning the girl's joint birthday party I knew I had to make something ice-cream related. 

I MADE: No-Sew Bunting ♥

Anyone else love bunting? I love it...any pattern, any style, anywhere...it just feels so summery and celebratory! As we're getting married in a Tipi next year we really want LOT's of bunting all over the two Tipi's. Ages ago I had bought the cheapest single duvet cover from IKEA (I think it was £3) for craft projects but hadn't done anything with it. I decided it would be perfect for making bunting with but there was one problem...my sewing skills are quite limited! During a trip to Home Bargains I saw some Hemming Web for 65p, perfect for No-Sew Bunting :)

 

 

I felt like such a 'rebel' cutting up a duvet cover (haha!)

Firstly I cut along the joins of the pillowcase to open it up. You will need two triangles cut out of the material, so that the pattern is on both sides. 

 

I then used a cardboard triangle I had cut out as a template. Make sure you have the inside of the pillowcase (so that the pattern isn't facing you) and fold the material over. This should result in you having two layers of material. You don't have to do this but it helped me to try and make both the triangles the same size.  

 

 

I cut 3 lengths of the Hemming Web to go around each edge of one of the triangles (make sure you put the Hemming Web on the inside of the material, so that once again the pattern is facing away from you). Carefully place the other triangle (pattern facing upwards) on top.

 

 

Next you need to carefully iron the triangle, make sure there isn't any of the Hemming Web hanging out! The heat of the iron melts the Hemming Web, which keeps the two triangles together.  

Ta-Dah! One triangle done! From just one pillowcase I made about 14 of these triangles, so you don't need much material to create a lot of bunting.

 

 

(As you can see I don't have the steadiest hand when cutting a 'straight' line - but it doesn't matter once the bunting is hung up).

To finish the bunting off I used some blue spotty ribbon from the NEXT sale (£1.50 for 3 m). Carefully put a strip of the Hemming Web along the top of each triangle, placed the ribbon on top and ironed it (for as little time as possible).

 

 

Have you tried to make bunting before?

 

What do you think?

 

I SHOPPED. I BOUGHT. #1

Over the summer I wanted to start trying to finish the interior design of our house, since moving in 2.5 years ago we have only finished one room - the dining room! So I started buying some more home accessories and was so excited to finish some more rooms. But then an 'issue' occurred, the house we live in is rented and I kind of forgot this! We got a letter recently telling us we have 2 months to pack everything up and leave :( Part of me is devastated, this was the first home we've set up together but we have been looking for a house to buy for the last 1.5 years without any luck. So I guess we were already planning on leaving this house but I'm sad that the decision has been taken out of our hands. Ah well, so the house hunt has really been stepped up! We've seen a couple of properties in the last couple of days but nothing that suits us. I think we'll end up renting somewhere else before we buy somewhere, there's no point wasting money on a house we don't want.

 

So, anyway before this little 'issue' this is what I'd been buying....

 

'HOME' Beach Hut Wooden Blocks - B&M Bargains - reduced to £1.99

The heart photo frame is Sass & Belle and was from a charity shop for 95p.

 

Wicker/Fabric Basket - TK Maxx - £9.99

 

Driftwood Hanging Heart - The Store Room (at Center Parcs, Sherwood Forest) - £8.95

 

This is my favourite purchase and biggest bargain - Glass Lantern - TK Maxx - 20p, YES that's 20p!!!!!!! There is one pane of glass missing but you can't really tell can you?

 

Lit up at night.

 

Coral Chunky Knit Jumper (roll on autumn!) - New Look - reduced to £12

 

Orange Zip Dress - H&M - reduced to £7

 

Shirt/Skirt Dress for work - H&M - reduced to £10

 

Home Sweet Home Photo Frame - B&M Bargains - reduced to £2.99

Wooden 'HOME' Decorative Hooks - B&M Bargains - reduced to £1

Wooden 'LOVE' Decorative Hooks - B&M Bargains - reduced to £1

 

Black Bamboo Container (with the hairbrushes in) - TK Maxx - reduced to 20p!

 

I'm also using it to keep my dangly earrings :)

 

 

Textured Black Dish (using it for rings/earrings) - TK Maxx - reduced to 20p!

 

 

'T', '&' and 'H' Wooden Letters - The Store Room (at Center Parcs, Sherwood Forest) - £2.99 each

 

Have you bought any home accessories/autumn clothing recently?

 

Feel free to comment :)

 

 

I MADE: Personalised Map Art

I absolutely love receiving and giving personalised gifts, sometimes for a reason but more often than not just because I want to! Daisy (my 8 week old niece) has received a lot of my recent craft projects, including a personalised photo frame and salt dough creation. This Personalised Map Art is one of my favourite personalised gifts to make, I made this one for Tom a while ago now and he loved it! It's so cheap to make - for the photo frame always keep your eye out at car boot sales, as their are often brilliant photo frames that have awful pictures in. With a clean and revamp they can be a brilliant, cheap alternative!

 

What you'll need:

 

Map (I bought one from The Works for £1.99)

Scissors

Ruler

Pencil

Photo Frame with separate sections (the website I got mine from unfortunately doesn't sell them anymore but there are lots of options out there. Here are some examples...

 

Large White Shabby Chic Heart Photo Frame £10.99 + £3.99 P+P

 

 

Cream House Shape Photo Frame £12.95

 

White Photo Frame with 37 Mini Frames £39.95

 

What to do:

 

1) Make a list of places that are important to you and the person your giving the gift to. Could be holidays, university, school's, anywhere that holds good memories!

2) Measure the different sections of your photo frame. Then cut out your chosen special places from the map.

3) Place inside each section and secure the back of the photo frame back on.

4) Give to someone who's important to you :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What do you think?

 

 

 

Confetti.co.uk ♥

If your getting married, know someone who is or maybe just love browsing anything to do with weddings...then you need to know about the UK's Leading Bridal Website - http://www.confetti.co.uk/

 

It's not simply a wedding online store but it has a host of articles related to wedding dresses, planning, inspiration and real weddings. I've loved searching through 'real weddings' on confetti.co.uk because it's not the unachievable, picture perfect wedding that some magazines portray! It's someone's REAL wedding, an achievable target and great source for inspiration :) The website is so easy to use, with options to search for items that are in line with colour schemes, as well as a FREE Planning and Budget Tools.

 

The range at confetti.co.uk is vast and the best part is that there are loads of products that could be used anytime, not necessarily at a wedding. So whether your getting married or not why not go and browse their lovely website.... http://www.confetti.co.uk/ ?

 

My top picks....

 

 

 

Vineyard Monogram Personalised Large Format Sign - £49.99

 

 

 

 

White LED Tea light Pack £7.99

 

 

 

 

Mr and Mrs Chair Signs £5.99

 

 

Large Marrakech Lantern £14.98

 

 

How gorgeous is this Rose Garland? Confetti kindly offered to send me a couple of their items, these were one of the beautiful items I chose.

 

This Rose Garland (see here) would look so pretty wrapped around a dressing room mirror, a cute sign or along the top of a bookcase. They are so versatile, especially as they are on metal wire. This means it's easy to secure them almost anywhere without sellotape or glue. The flowers are made to look slightly vintage, which I love and at only £9.98 they are a bargain too!

 

 

I also chose this set of Vintage Rose Polka Dot Cotton Bunting (£8.98) in Pink and Blue (see here). At the majority of Tipi and Marquee weddings you see loads of bunting everywhere! It just makes any room look bright and celebratory! Bunting isn't just for wedding's I also have bunting in my living room and bedroom. This bunting is much longer than I was expecting, the scalloped edge fits in the vintage theme and the cute little polka dots add a nice detail.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Feel free to leave a comment :)

 

Beautiful items that are amazingly cheap ♥

I'm always got my eye out for a bargain and this week Home Bargains has been my favourite place to shop! Unfortunately there isn't one very near me but when we went to Lincolnshire last weekend we visited the one in Grantham. I couldn't believe how many beautiful, vintage inspired items there were in Home Bargains, it certainly wouldn't have been a place that jumped to mind!

 

Here are this week's bargains, mostly from Home Bargains but some items from a couple of other shops...

 

Bits & Bobs Glass Jar - £2.50 from Home Bargains

 

Sugar and Tea Glass Vintage Style Jars - £1 each from B&M Bargains.



 

White Rose Pegs - £1 from The Range

 

Vintage Style Jam Jar Label Set (including Jam Jar paper tops, elastic string and sticker labels) - 99p from Home Bargains

 

Vintage Inspired Paper Bag and Stickers - 99p from Home Bargains

Vintage Inspired Paper Windmills - 99p from Home Bargains

 

 

Vintage Inspired Notice Board - £1.99 from Home Bargains

 

Have you found any bargain gems recently?

 

Feel free to leave a comment :)