Hair Piece DIY

I love wearing pretty things in my hair. I'm going to show you how I make these fabric yo-yos. I have been making them for several years and I can't remember where I first saw them but they are ideal for adding to hairbands and clips and you can use up the scraps of all your favourite fabrics.

You will need...



A piece of fabric, sewing thread, needle & button. You will also need a hair clip or band to attach it to.

To make it...

Cut out a circle from your fabric. It will need to be about twice the diameter of the finished yo-yo. I used a cereal bowl to draw round.



Sew around the edge of your circle using a running stitch. Start off with a knot but don't knot the end of the thread.



Once you have sewn around the whole circle, pull the end of the thread so that your fabric gathers up. Make sure that the right side of the fabric is on the outside.



Once your edges are all gathered into the middle, sew a couple of stitches across the middle. flatten your yo-yo and sew a button in place.



You can then sew your finished yo-yo onto your choice of headband or clip and wear it with pride!



Enjoy, Lisa x

Easy Craft Projects Update

There are three very pretty projects recently posted at Easy Craft Projects.

Do you want this vintage style key rack to hang pretty things on designed by Lauren.


What about making these gorgeous roses designed by Nancy? They are the first of our new series of handmade flower projects.


Or this photo pocket designed by Katie? It would make a perfect gift full of your favourite photographs.


Still want more projects? I've got a pretty DIY for you later!

Lisa x

Moving forwards...

As of this week, Altered Chic products are available to buy locally at The Handy Cookshop in Chesterfield.

You will find products such as these Scented Soy Glass Jar Candles...



Fabric Bunting...



Wooden letters...


As well as...

Shabby Chic bunting. Framed fabric note and photograph holders. Fabric bunting. Scented soy tealights. Magnetic note holders. Heart chalkboards. & Gift cards.

We'll also be adding to the range over the next few weeks so I'll keep you updated.

Lisa x

Craft Journal

Craft Journal was my first blog/website.

I built it up from scratch so it means so much to me.

However, this week I have made the very difficult decision to close down the blog.

I started the blog back in 2005. At the time I was living in Edinburgh and only worked a few hours a week. Easy Craft Projects did not exist. Altered Chic wasn't even a dream then. I was just learning about the online crafting world. I had so much time to invest in a project like that.

Over the last 5 years I have taken on more and more commitments. I am now running the local Rainbow unit, working a 30 hour week in my day job. Working every evening and weekend on my business. I have come to the conclusions that I am burning myself out. Stressing myself out. And spreading myself too thinly.

I want to expand my business so that one day my dream will become reality. And I want to give my other projects the commitment they deserve.

This is why, sadly, I have come to this decision.

Craft Journal will be closing its 'doors' this weekend. But hopefully its spirit of inspiration will live on through this blog. My new creation.

Lisa x

Beautiful Blogger Award...

Look at this lovely lady's blog. She's just given me this award...

Thank you Sal! Her blog maybe new but she's filling it with some really cool things : )

In true Beautiful Blogger Award style, here are my nominations...

Debbie at Country Heart & Home
Deanne at Quirkyboots
Kayla Aimee at Only Slighty Neurotic
Elsie at A Beautiful Mess
Jane at Posy
Miss Indie
Anna at Scrapping Tonight
Emma at My Little World
Danni at Oh Hello Friend
Wilna at He{ART}
Sharon at Fairy Dust Bag
Karen at JustKJewellery
Rachel at Smile & Wave
Claire at Heart Handmade

7 (hopefully) interesting facts about me...

1. I am not a very organised person. I always leave things until the last minute.

2. I lived in Edinburgh for 14 months and it is my favourite city in whole world.

3. I have a super large family due to my great-grandparents (who I never met) having so many children. We try to get together once a year at Christmas.

4. My favourite colour is blue. The shade changes all the time but I do love blue. At the moment it's a pastel chalky blue : )

5. Our house is a mess. Partly because we are decorating the kitchen, partly because it's part of the whole lack of organisation thing. I'm determined to make our house look all pretty like you see in those home magazines! (eventually....)

6. I work in my parent's business. It's a craft shop in town. It's there that I got my love for working in a creative environment.

7. I WILL open my little home store someday : )

The rules...

if you choose to accept the award you must...
- Thank the person who nominated you and link to their blog.
- Copy the award and paste it to your blog.
- Tell us seven interesting facts about yourself.
- Pass this award on to 15 fantastic bloggers you have discovered.
- Contact your nominations and let them know they’ve won.
Lisa x

A work in progress...

After being inspired by Kayla Aimee's post today. I went and took a couple of photos of our garden.

I don't think I've ever really written about our house properly. We bought our house in September 2007. It was an ex council house that someone had bought and was renting out. The people that had rented the property had pretty much wrecked it. The kitchen was falling apart, the bathroom disgusting and every room pretty much needed old carpets removing and plaster work fixed.

It was a huge job to take on but we wanted to get onto the property market and luckily my Dad used to work for my Grandad's building firm so we had his help and advice. Plus we learnt an awful lot as we went along. All the work was done with help from family.

We had a new kitchen & bathroom. Repaired, painted and floored every room in the house and we finally were able to move in November the same year after working almost every spare hour.

Things still need finishing now and the garden is one big part of that.

The garden was just a weed-ridden grassy patch with an old rotting shed near the house. We replaced said shed, added a new patio, space to hang washing, lots of places for pretty flowers and the trees for some privacy. We've just added a new vegetable plot to go green!



It's still a work in progress. It's taken a long time already but it's getting there and what with the recent British weather I'm suprised we got this far! Especially baring in mind that the garden is over 21 metres long! I do dream of this pretty little garden where I can sit with a book, enjoying the sunshine and a glass of lemonade.

Some day...

Lisa x

On my radio...

What are you listening to right now? The last few weeks my playlist has been full of tunes from Florence + the Machine, Muse, Snow Patrol, Paolo Nutini and these guys...

I only found their music recently but I'm loving it.

Especially this song...



Lisa x

Happy Easter!

It's Easter sunday tomorrow and I'll be at Bakewell craft fair all day (and Monday) so I want to wish everyone a Happy Easter.



Enjoy your chocolates hehe.

Lisa x

Image courtesy of www.weheartit.com