So you know how I blathered on a couple of weeks ago about how much I was in love with Instagram? I wondered if something good would come of it…well it has!!!

Always looking to change things up I fashioned a macro lens for the phone! I got all excited over on instagram about it & now I’ve made a how to so you can do it too. Hooray for that I say…so I have saved the mind blowingly good content for the blog eh?

Anyway … I used more bits of broken lens from the camera lamp affair (lucky I don’t chuck stuff out). The corner was fashioned using a product called Sugru. I found this product via Swiss Miss last year & frankly anything with the slogan “hack things better” is a product I need to have. It’s brilliant brilliant stuff. So thank you Swiss Miss & thank you Sugru.

So off you go & make a macro lens corner for your phone – it was a quick & easy project. Maybe I’ll see you (& your macro shots) over on instagram @kootoyoo. xx

How does your garden grow?

These little activity packs are being given to all the small people on the nice list this year.  Each activity pack contains a circle of artificial turf, 12 squares of colourful felt & a pair of scissors.

It’s a bit fuzzy felt isn’t it?  Just a super cute gift idea that I thought you might like to have a crack at too.

You don’t need a “how to” … it’s really just a shopping list.

You’ll need to buy…
mailing tubes (I used 60mm x 420mm)
scissors (test they fit inside the tube)
A4 single page labels so that you can print the “artwork”
felt (I bought mine from Winterwood & cut the squares to size)
artificial grass (you want the cheapest nastiest stuff they have so that it grabs onto the felt)

You’ll need to print…

how does your garden grow (link to original for print)

&

grass (link to original for print)

Knock yourselves out.

This tutorial for how to make a shoulder bag was submitted to Whip Up as part of their recycling/upcycling month.

It’s made from a pillowcase which means that there is only one line of structural sewing.

It’s really all about careful folding & cutting.

On Whipup here & there is a PDF how to available here.

My product testing phase of the “Tea Bag” drawstring bag is complete. I thought I’d share the how to as I rated the little soap saver bag very highly.

It’s easy to make
& a fabulous gift idea
& increases the life of your soap
& encourages thriftyness

It’s a bit fancier than my original & really there’s no need for the “tea” at all. I think that they’d look gorgeous made out of vintage sheets or lovely new fabric too.

I like it & you might too.

View tutorial at full screen by clicking the screen icon in the bottom right corner.

I’ve also hosted a PDF version of the drawstring bag tutorial.

I’ll be back later with my happy.

Look how lovely & ropey that cord is.

I love twisted cord, it’s touchability is high & it’s super easy to make.

We used it as the closure for the pencil boxes we made at Brown Owls the other night & this lovely girl asked what it was.

So…

I think it would look gorgeous wrapped around a journal.