Oops!

Ha ha yesterday I mentioned my shiny new noticeboard that I made myself, but I forgot to show a photo of it (think I was tired as I worked so late the night before).

So today's main photo is my new noticeboard.

I made it by modifying a reasonably priced one (Target $12) by Board Dudes..I wanted a board that you can pin stuff on and use magnets..fussy fussy.

I used my hot glue gun (for the first time ever..) and it wasn't quite as scary as I thought it would be! I used Ikea fabric that I bought to make the lampshades for our flat in London and masking tape on the back around the edges of the fabric, to make it all tidy.

On the lovely new noticeboard you can see magnetic pots - $1.50 for 2 from Michaels - I am planning on filling them with things that I use often, but can't keep in reach due to logistics..so far I have googly eyes in the white one (Hubby's suggestion) and fabric bows in the yellow one. Also on there are x2 images I created using stencils and distress inks.

Stenciling is new for me and I am pleased at how well they have come out. Here is another one -

Love Stencil

I am going to buy some more inks tonight on my way home and have a bit more of a play...I got a big pack of stencils for free with a magazine ages ago, so I have lots of choice.

Final photo for today shows the noticeboard in relation to my desk - sorry the photo is a bit dark.

Noticeboard - in situ

Cx

Let there be light

Since the flat got a makeover, I have been looking for the perfect lampshades for the bedroom and the hallway.

Everything I liked was too expensive - £45 upwards - eek! So I decided that I'd make my own. After trawling the internet I came up with a couple of options of how to do this, my favourite one came from BHG.

I made my parents take me to Ikea to buy inexpensive plain lampshades and I got the fabric there too, I like Ikea fabric, as it's a bit funky and not too expensive.

2 lampshades and 2 metres of fabric cost me £31, which I think is pretty good.

To make both lampshades it took about an hour and I only made 2 mistakes!!

Essentially, all you are doing is recovering a lampshade, so you could buy a second hand lampshade or recover an existing one. Just make sure that the lampshade doesn't have a strong pattern that will show through.

Birdie Lampshade for the Hallway

My 2 mistakes were actually really dumb ones to make, but you live and learn right? Mistake number one - I didn't check how the lampshades would hang from the light fitting I just assumed, so the birdie lampshade for the hallway has the pattern upside down! Hubby assures me that only I will notice this. Not convinced, but it's a sweet thing to say. Mistake number two - I didn't place my pattern to the edge of the fabric when I was cutting the grey flowered one (today's main photo) for the bedroom, so had to use ribbon to hide the joins. I actually think that this mistake has enhanced the lampshade.

I decided not to put a trim round the edges of the lampshades and if you decide to do it this way, you have to trim the edges really neatly, fortunately I have the most lethal dressmaking scissors, which help keep things neat.

I want to make lots of them now, as it was a super easy and fun project. My Dad thinks I am mad and must have better things to do with my time. Ha ha, that's crafters for you.

Cx