diy heart print bag

Tote bags are undoubtably very useful but I don't think there's any excuse for them not to look nice whilst doing their job. Here's a simple idea to give a plain canvas tote some life. Personally I think everything you need can be bought most reasonably from Ebay. All you need is....

• a plain canvas tote bag (or you could make one very simply)
• a speedball carving kit and a scalpel
• pencil
• all purpose glue
• a square of cardboard and a A4 sheet of card
• black fabric paint
• 1 square of gold leaf
• matte Mod Podge and a small paint brush

1. Cut a square of the rubber from your kit and draw a heart shape in pencil. Carve chunks of the rubber away to leave the heart shaped raised. Using your all purpose glue, stick the rubber stamp to your card board as a backing.
2. Put your card sheet inside the bag to prevent the ink seeping through.You can mark out where you want your hearts to go with a pencil or just freestyle. I painted the fabric paint onto the stamp because I like the textured affect you get when it prints. Once covered press down firmly and remove. Repeat all over, leaving a gap for your foiled heart.
3. Once the black hearts are dry you can mark out the outline for the foiled heart. I actually stamped a heart with gold fabric paint to make the shape consistent. Then cover the area with Mod Podge using a delicate brush and gently put the foil over the top, lightly pressing down (do not rub). Leave to dry and pull off the edges. If edges need neatening up, use a little more glue and the spare foil. Cover with two layers of Mod Podge, allowing to dry in between.
4. Once everything has dried you can iron the bag flat, avoiding the foiled heart and then you're ready to use your creation.

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so that was april....

From top right...

* A case of misplaced eagerness perhaps? The day before it had been snowing for most of the day!
* My friend introduced me to Gail's Bakery last month and I felt it very necessary to drag Nick along to experience the yum factor too.
* So you may have noticed I love old fashioned signs. I found this one at Borough Market.
* Spring finally arrived, much to every one's relief.
* After years of attempting to go to 'Pick Me Up' graphics art exhibition at Somerset House, I finally made it. I'd recommend it to any interested in graphics or illustration.
* On April 9th, Nick and I had been together for 3 years. I was totally oblivious to this fact (oops) but swiftly realised when I came home to roses, cute!
* Pizza making with the boy, courtesy of our underused breadmaker. Try fig, goats cheese, prosciutto and caramelised onions. You won't regret it!
*This month I've really enjoyed going through the book of Ruth at Trinity West and was happy to have another chance to do some artwork for TW. Have a listen here.

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Summer Stew

Today is a fun day as it's my very first guest post over on my lovely friend, Lauren's blog. She has a really sweet blog full of all sorts of interesting reads, giveaways and fun photos of their travels so I'd definitely check it out if I were you.

When I think stew, it conjures up images of chilly winter days, big cardigans and a huge bowl of something warming but this Chorizo and Butter Bean Stew with Lemon Cous Cous, is what I'd consider a summer stew, if there ever was such a thing. The Mediterranean flavours would be really nice on a warm Summer evening with a glass of wine. For the full recipe skip on over to Aspiring Kennedy.

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cut & stick

Oooo I do love these cards by by Fair Morning Blue. They have an Aztec feel about them but look as if they were created in some kind of exciting cutting and pasting craft session. I’m such a colour geek and these colour combinations really excite me! Check out the Etsy shop here for more lovely cards for your peepers to feast on.

 

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so glad you made it

After what felt like an abnormally long winter, Spring finally showed up this week! I've heard countless people say 'I'm very ready for winter to end this year' and I in fact am one of those people. I love Spring. Perhaps its mostly because it brings the promise of Summer with it but I just love that suddenly birds are tweeting in the evenings, the trees are full of blossom, the sound of kids playing drifts out of every park and thick coats go into hibernation. Every one's mood seems automatically lifted. What I do find hilarious about Spring in England is the unashamed over-enthusiasm for a teeny bit of sun and a temperature reaching little over 12 degrees. The amount of bare legs and flip flops I've seen in the last week has made me chuckle. I think I'll stick to tights for now.

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