Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Whip It Up Wednesday: Pretty Bowl Baubles

A few months ago now I made this pretty doily bowl, but until now haven't found anything I liked to put inside it!  Everything in the shops is too dark or "heavy" for the my delicate little doily bowl, so I finally got around to making some baubles of my own! 

Please excuse the daggy picture of my face in the background XD

I made five different baubles, so today you get five ideas in one post!


Bauble #1: Buttons!

Easy really! Grab your jar of buttons, a hot glue gun and a Styrofoam ball and get gluing!



It can get a bit tricky getting the ball covered without any huge gaps, but having a good variety of different sized buttons definitely helps! Also, I didn't do it but I'd recommend painting your Styrofoam ball in the same colour as your buttons before you start - that way gaps are less noticeable!


Bauble #2: Fabric strips!

This one's a bit messy but looks great! You'll need some fabric scraps and your Mod Podge!


I cut my fabric into thin strips long enough to go around the entire edge of my bauble, then glued them on in a "spoke" pattern until the entire bauble was covered. Finally, I gave it a top coat of Matt style Mod Podge and let it dry.



Bauble #3: Fabric and Lace!

First, cover your bauble in fabric as before - I used a plain coloured fabric for this layer. When that's dry, use the same technique to add a lace fabric layer in a coordinating colour. Mmm, texture and layers!



Bauble #4: Tissue Paper!

Easy peasy lemon squeezy! Tear your tissue paper up into little pieces, give your Styrofoam ball a light coat of Mod Podge and then roll it in the tissue paper! Roll it around in your hand to smooth down the surface, and give it a top coat of Mod Podge if you like.



Bauble #5: Beads!

At first I tried using Mod Podge for this, but it didn't work. Re-enter the trusty hot glue gun!

Pop a heap of seed beads (and bugle beads if you like) in a bowl. Doing a patch at a time, add hot glue to a section of your Styrofoam ball and then push it into the beads before the glue dries. Use your fingers to push beads into the glue securely, and even up the surface.



There you go! Five easy ideas for making your own baubles that cost next to nothing, are in the colours that suit your decor and have lots of different textures and layers!



Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Scrap Box Sunday (Tuesday?): Link Party #17

Thanks to everyone who linked up last week! Tell your friends to join in this week so it gets bigger and bigger! It was hard choosing who to feature because every project was fantastic!

This week the most clicked link - and definitely one of my favourites - was:

DIY Harry Potter Wands by Falafel and the Bee
Totally. Awesome.

Some of my other favourites were:

It looks soo pretty, I would never have guessed what the flowers were made from!

I just love these practical ideas <3

Just gorgeous, you did a great job! I love that fabric too <3

 Thank you again wonderful crafters! 
If you were featured, please feel free to grab a Featured Button from here!


Time For Linky Party #17!

Link up anything that you've made with scraps lying around your craft room! It doesn't have to be fabric scraps, it could be paper, ribbon, food, beads anything! Because we're starting late this week, the link party will close on SUNDAY the 31st of JULY!

Just display H&H's button somewhere on the post or in your sidebar, and link up! Link as many projects as you want, as long as you haven't linked them up here before. And remember to visit at least two other projects and leave a nice comment! Everyone loves visitors! <3







Monday, July 25, 2011

It's Monday! Just showing off my pretty new plates

A couple of months ago Mum came to holiday with us and of course we had to have a "girly day" and go shopping. I fell in love with a set of plates in at General Pants Co. but couldn't really afford them, so Mum offered to get them for me "as an engagement present" (we're not engaged yet XD enthusiastic much Mum?? <3)

Anyway, she did end up getting them for me and I've finally had a chance to rearrange my display bookshelf to show them off! What do you think?

Before            -                                                      After

It's actually a set of four, but I couldn't make them all fit in the bookshelf in a way that I was happy with, so three get to go in there:


And my favourite gets to sit out alone:


Aren't they just so sweet?

Happy Monday everyone!


Thursday, July 21, 2011

New Things in the Store!

I've just added a couple of new pretties to the Hazel & Honeysuckle MadeIt store! 

Cute, huh?

Is the pink heart on green floral cotton and felt the one for you? Perhaps the adorable "Buzzy Bee" on grey felt is more your style? These beauties can be added to a brooch backing, hair clip or elastic headband - you choose!

 

I've also re-listed these gorgeous fabric and wooden bead necklaces, I have two of these myself and just LOVE them! I always get strangers commenting on them when I wear them out!


Do you like the Asian-style fabric or the fun flowery brown fabric best?

Remember, I do ship internationally and I love doing custom orders
especially for you my favourite bloggy friends! <3


Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Whip It Up Wednesday: Black Forest Cupcakes

Last week I shared a yummy recipe for Chai flavoured cupcakes and promised I'd share the other nommy cupcake recipe shown here:


So without further delay, here's the delicious recipe from our Complete Cupcakes book for Black Forest Cupcakes - yum! These are my man's favourites, and he's the cook in our house so they must be good ;)

Ingredients:
Cupcakes:
* 1/3 cup butter, softened
* 1/2 cup caster sugar
* 1 egg
* 1 cup sifted self-raising flour
* 1/4 cup milk
* 2 tablespoons cocoa powder, sifted
* 1/4 cup morello cherries, drained and chopped

Topping:
* 1 cup whipped cream
* Morello cherries, drained - one for each cupcake
Optional - grated dark chocolate to decorate

What To Do:
1) Pre-heat oven to 160 C (320 F)
2) Use an electric mixer on high speed to cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
3) Add egg and mix well.
4) Add flour, milk and cocoa powder and beat with an electric mixer on medium until well combined. 
5) Stir in cherries.
6) Divide mixture evenly between 12 cupcake papers in a cupcake pan and bake for 18-20 minutes.
For mini cupcakes, use 24 mini cupcake papers and bake for 10-15 minutes.

You can tell the cupcakes are done when they are risen and firm to the touch. Allow to cool fully before icing.

Top each cupcake with whipped cream and a Morello cherry and enjoy!!




Monday, July 18, 2011

Scrap Box Sunday: Link Party #16

Thanks to everyone who linked up last week! This week the most clicked link was:

$0 Kids Room Re-Do by MeiJo's JOY
Amazing! Quite a few neat changes made with found items, way to go!

And my other favourite projects this week were...

Penguin and Narwhale Cupcakes at Tinkeranniebelle
*SQUEEE* I love these so much! Epic win!

Such a neat idea! Nice work Steph!

I love practical projects, and this is super cute too!

 Thank you beautiful crafters! If you were featured, please feel free to grab a Featured Button from here!


Now let's party again, with Linky Party #16!

Link up anything that you've made with scraps lying around your craft room! It doesn't have to be fabric scraps, it could be paper, ribbon, food, beads anything! The link party will close on FRIDAY!

Just display H&H's button somewhere on the post or in your sidebar, and link up! Link as many projects as you want, as long as you haven't linked them up here before. And remember to visit at least two other projects and leave a nice comment! Everyone loves visitors! <3







Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Whip It Up Wednesday: Chai Flavoured Cupcakes

A few weeks ago it was my man's birthday, and so he had to take birthday cake to work. Since he'd been bragging about how awesome his cupcakes were, his work mates insisted that he bring some. 

Yuuuuuummmm!

He made two types, today I'll share the recipe for his Chai Flavoured Cupcakes! Next week I'll share the other. I loooove these! The recipe comes from Complete Cupcakes, we take no credit for it, but it is delicious!

Ingredients:

Cupcakes:
* 1/4 cup chai mixture (Indian spiced tea)
* 1/4 cup hot water
* 3 eggs
* 1 cup butter, softened
* 1 cup caster sugar
* 1/4 cup milk
* 1.5 cups sifted self raising flour
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 1 teaspoon cinnamon
* 1 teaspoon nutmeg

Topping:
* 1/4 cup raw sugar
* 2 tablespoons warm water
* cinnamon sugar
You could decorate with star anises too, but we didn't.

What To Do:

1) Preheat oven to 160 C (320 F)
2) In a small bowl, add hot water to the spiced tea mixture and leave for 15 minutes. Strain and set aside. Actually, we use 3-4 chai teabags and steep them in the 1/4 cup hot water for a while and it works out great.
3) In a medium-sized bowl, lightly beat the eggs, add butter and sugar, and mix until light and fluffy.
4) Add milk and flour and stir to combine. 
5) Add remaining ingredients and beat with an electric mixer for 2 minutes, until light and creamy.
6) Add chai tea mix and stir through.
7) Divide mixture evenly between 12 cupcake papers in a cupcake pan and bake for 18-20 minutes.
For mini cupcakes, use 24 mini cupcake papers and bake for 10-15 minutes.

You can tell the cupcakes are done when they are risen and firm to the touch. Allow to cool fully before icing.

To make the topping - combine raw sugar and 2 tablespoons of warm water in a small bowl and mix. Spoon onto cupcakes then sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.

YUM!




Linking it up to the Month Long Cupcake Party!
A whole month of cupcakes? Sounds too good to be true! 
  Cupcake Month!


Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Giveaway Winner!

Thank you to everyone who entered our 200 Followers Giveaway, you guys are just fantastic and are what make all the time and effort of blogging worth while! <3


I'd like to give everyone a pressie, so I'm offering 20% off any order placed via our MadeIt shop or via the Facebook Page for the next WEEK! 

The offer stands until midnight on SUNDAY 17th of July! (Midnight my time, so GMT +09:30) Just include the code HHGiveaway in the "Message to Seller" section or in a PM/email and I will reimburse your 20% :)

(YES, I do ship to international customers and YES, I do custom orders!)


OK, on to the all important part of this post - the winner of the give away!!

The winning comment number was generated with Random.org:


So comment 20! Which was....


Congratulations Brycie! Check out Bry's awesome blog while you're at it!

Bry, drop me an email with your mailing address and the pair of earrings you'd like - all the piccies are on the FB page - and I'll post it ASAP! :) Congrats gorgeous!


Monday, July 11, 2011

Scrap Box Sunday: Link Party #15

Thanks to everyone who linked up last week! This week the most clicked link was:

The Wacky Watermelon Necklace @ Tinkeranniebelle
How cute is this necklace?! Amazing!


Lots of the other links had the same number of clicks, so I've picked a few of my favourites instead ^_^ it was really hard to choose though, I love you all!!

These just look so elegant!

Who doesn't love a headband?!

And finally, while we don't celebrate the 4th of July here, I love this wreath!


 Thank you beautiful crafters! If you were featured, please feel free to grab a Featured Button from here!


Now let's party again, with Linky Party #15!

Link up anything that you've made with scraps lying around your craft room! It doesn't have to be fabric scraps, it could be paper, ribbon, food, beads anything! The link party will close on FRIDAY!

Just display H&H's button somewhere on the post or in your sidebar, and link up! Link as many projects as you want, as long as you haven't linked them up here before. And remember to visit at least two other projects and leave a nice comment! Everyone loves visitors! <3







It's Monday! Thanks Amber! And Baby Bag Progress...

A while ago you might remember me mentioning the Craft Swap, well the gorgeous Amber from life...unscripted was one of my craft swap partners, and this is what she made for me!


How gorgeous is that headband? And the bunting card is TOO CUTE! I'm in love with it all! And just to make things even more perfect, the package arrived just in time for me to take the headband with me when I went to Sydney for training - yay! 

Thanks so much Amber! Everyone should check out Amber's blog and don't forget to head over and snag yourself some of her lovely creations at her Etsy shop, life...handmade! <3

In other news, things are starting to come together for the baby bag I'm making my friend! You may or may not remember me asking for advice a little while back - well, we think we have it all planned out now, so we've started buying supplies!

Down the middle are the two cotton fabrics we're using for the outside, the oilcloth for the inside and we're still deciding which shade of brown faux leather will be best for trimming and piping and whatnot.


Good times!! I can't wait to start sewing, and I will definitely be sharing how it goes with you all!

Happy Monday! <3


Friday, July 8, 2011

Last Day to Enter the Giveaway!


Today is FRIDAY which means it's the last day to enter the giveaway!! 

(I'll leave the giveaway open until it's Saturday EVERYWHERE so don't panic, just enter!)

Here are the prizes you could win:




Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Whip It Up Wednesday: Wire Wrapped Pendant

Ahh, so I missed Whip It Up Wednesday last week - oops! I've got a good project for you today though!

On Sunday I shared the pretty wire wrapped pendant I made for my friend's birthday, and today I'm going to share how I made another pendant using the same techniques.

I made this when I wanted to just sit in front of my aquarium all afternoon because my pretty male gourami was building a bubble nest and dancing prettily to impress his girlfriends. It was quite a show! We haven't had any progress past flirting, but if we end up with baby gouramis I'll let you know ;)

The boy is the longer, stripy one. The other two are girls. I have to admit, I love my fishies!


What You Need:

* A large glass bead or plain pendant, ideally with a flat front
* Thin/high gauge wire for wrapping
* Thick/lower gauge wire for structure
* Coordinating charms and small beads, such as seed beads



What To Do:

Take your focal bead / pendant and your thick wire, and cut a piece of thick wire so that it can go around the entire circumference of your pendant, plus a bit of extra length for securing it, like so:


Now take your thin wire, and cover most of your piece of thick wire with it. To do this, I bend the end of the thick wire to make a "handle" - this makes it easier to turn it and loop the thin wire around. Then secure the thin wire on. You can trim off the messy ends when you're done.


If you find your thin wire spirals are getting "gappy", just push them back together. Make sure you do this often and keep your spiral nice and neat, like so:


When the thick wire is completely covered by the thin wire - except for the two ends that you'll use to secure it to the pendant - trim off any messy ends and push down the rough ends of the thin wire.

This next step depends on whether you're using a pendant, like I am, or a bead.

If you're using a pendant, bend one end of your thick wire back on itself and thread it through the loop of your pendant. Bend the other end of your thick wire at a 90 degree angle, thread it through the other side of the pendant's loop and bend it back on itself. Trim the excess thick wire.



If you're using a bead rather than a pendant - bend both thick wire ends downwards and insert them into the top of your bead. If you want, use thin wire to tie those ends to each other as well. 

In later steps we'll secure the whole edge around the bead / pendant, so don't worry if it moves around a lot at this stage!

Now we start attaching charms!

What charms and small beads you use and how you place them is completely up to you. It's a good idea to plan it out somewhat before you start. I'll show you the process I used here, mostly in photos.

If you're attaching a charm, take a long piece of your thin wire and loop it a few times though the charm's loop. Line it up with the "border" where you want to attach it, and loop the thin wire around the outside a few times to secure the charm into place.


With the excess thin wire, loop the short end around the long end a few times and trim off the excess of the short end, leaving you with one thin wire strand.


Take that strand across the back of the pendant and secure it to the "border" at a point on the opposite side. This helps to hold the focal bead in place and strengthen the whole structure. 


To attach beads, start off the same way - with a long piece of thin wire, looped a few times around the "border" - then thread on your beads.


Loop the thin wire a few times around the "border" on the other side, then take the long side around the back of the pendant again. When everything is secure, trim off excess wire and make sure you push down any wire ends so that there are no sharp bits.


If you wish to, use thin wire without any charms to beads attached across the back and/or front of your pendant to strengthen it and add visual interest. 


For extra visual interest, you can always make some wire swirls and attach them just like you would any other charm. The advantage here is that you can make wire swirls in any design, size and wire that you want rather than being stuck with whatever charms you have on hand, so you can make one to perfectly fill that empty gap ;)



OK, now the next part is optional (well, all the steps kinda are!) but I wanted to finish the top of the pendant a bit differently. So, I cut a length of thick wire and made a neat loop in one end. I then threaded it through the pendant's original loop and twisted the excess thick wire around to tie it on securely and neatly.



If you want, you can also wrap the thin, decorative wire around the top. I'm still not sure which version I like better!


That's it! Add a chain and you've created a lovely, unique piece of wearable art!



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