Photo credit; plindberg

Button Hair Clips

These clips are so cute - and they're so easy to make!

You will need; hair clips or hair elastics, thin ribbon, buttons of different sizes and strong craft glue.

Cut a length of ribbon about 15cm/6inch. You will need to cut the ends at an angle to help when threading the buttons onto it.

Put a dot a of glue on the base of the hair clip and put the middle of the ribbon over the glue to hold it steady.

Flip the hair clip over - you should now have a hair clip with the two sides of the ribbon coming up through the clip.

Thread the buttons onto the ribbon. It works best to thread two buttons onto one side of the thread and then thread them onto the other end of the ribbon. Add a dab of glue onto the top of the clip where the button will sit.

Slide both buttons down the ribbon so that they are resting on the clip. Then knot the ribbon, add a dab of glue and knot it again.

Snip the ribbon at a desired length - and your done!


You can use the same process on a hair tie too.

The reason I use glue all the way through it to make the clips a little bit safer for using with young children. Of course use common sense when putting clips with things on then in young children's hair.

You can see what other people are making at Tea Rose Home link party

Garlands

I came across these photos on The drifter and the gypsy. So beautiful.

Garlands are gorgous way to pretty up a dull area.

These lovely paper garlands are from PaperKlip.

Agent Indigo

Heading to Finders Keepers last week has really got my creative juices flowing again.

Some of the products shown really made me wish I was a little more creative in the way I dressed. Like I did a bit more than wear the same necklace every single day.

If I was to choose a new neck lace, I would get one from here - Agent Indigo. Aren't they exquisite? Simple but classy.

They feel like spring to me.

Pins and scissors

One of my favourite parts of sewing clothes is cutting out the pieces. I love to mix and match the fabric, pin the pieces to the fabric and cut them out.

I especially love to cut out lots of outfits in front of the cricket :). I then put all the pieces in a clip lock bag ready to sew. It's fun to sit down at my sewing machine and have a little pile of bags ready to go.

Nothing sparks creativity

Quite like a well organised fabric cupboard.

DIY Childs mannequin

If you sew clothes to sell or resell clothes on ebay you know how important it is to have good photos. And part of selling clothes is showing how great they look worn - not just on a hanger.

You could always photograph your clothes on a child but what if you don't have one the right size just hanging around. Then there is the problem of kids photos being up on the net for everyone to see (and with easy access to your address).

So the next option is a mannequin. But have you seen the price? And I'd have to get a few sizes for 6months, 12 months, 3 years etc.

So I came up with a cheaper solution. Make your own.




First get a child's top or romper suit (depending on what types of clothes you want to photograph). Simply fill it with newspapers or cushion stuffing. Use a measurement guide to make sure it is in proportion (you can use making tape to help squish it a bit).

I then stuck the stuffed suit on a garden stake and put it in an empty pot full of pebbles. This way the clothes can hang properly. (I also covered my mannequin in a cream fabric so you arn't distracted by the safty pins being used to keep all the opening shut - and it adds a nice neutral backdrop too)

Here is an example of what I mean. This is a photo of a dress just hanging on a hanger. (and in bad light - ignore that for now)

This is the same dress on the mannequin.


It's simple - but it shows off the clothes so much better; and only costs a few dollars.

For other great tips head over to Rocks in my Dryer.