This little Sunday project is so quick and simple that anyone could do it. It comes courtesy of some random channel 4 television show that I caught 2 seconds of about a month ago, it turned out to be a useful 2 seconds.

All you need is one of those biscuit/treat tubs from Tesco/M&S/Other places and some pretty wrapping paper:

I managed to nab this tub from work ages ago for this exact purpose but you can get them very easily...you may have to eat through all the calories they contain though before you can get crafting. If you don't have access to this exact tub then any round, plastic tub will do the trick.
My paper of choice is a pretty spotty, rose print design which could almost have been made just for me, it's perfect. This paper was one of the printable wrapping papers that I featured here. You can also use wrapping paper if you have some pretty offcuts lying around.

The rest is very simple, smother the tub in crafting glue and apply strips of the paper. You could try to add it in one layer rather than strips but I found it impossible to cut the paper in the right way so I chose the easier option. To make sure the paper is in the right shape along the bottom of the tub, fold the bottom of the paper inwards and press it against the edge of the tubs bottom, this will leave a line along the paper that you can cut along giving you the exact shape you need.

If you're using paper rather than wrapping paper then be warned the paper will crease a little from the dampness of the glue, try not to use too much glue but if you do the creases should disappear when the glue/paper dries out.

Once you have patiently covered the tub with your paper you will be left with a pretty little container for your desk/craft room/bathroom...whatever, wherever..

My little rose covered tub is now full of all my bulky loose craft equipment on my craft shelves...and I'm very very proud of it.

Happy crafting!

Feeding the birds

You may remember that I posted earlier in the week promising to try out a recipe for some birdie treats, well, true to my word I gave it a go and the results were....interesting:

The ingredients are basic and the recipe very simple, you just need to mix flour, water, gelatin and syrup with bird seed and voila....you end up with a mulch of birdie goodness ready to shape.

Then comes the fun. To make the perfect bird seed puddings you need cookie cutters- preferably hearts and circles and of a good size. I made the mistake of ordering heart shaped cookie cutters on ebay and not checking the size...needless to say I couldn't make my heart shaped birdie treats because if I had they would have been tiny!

So, without a circular cookie cutter I used one of my large bangle bracelets...it did the trick!

It all seemed to be going well until some of my little puddings started to fall apart...I'm thinking I did my usual trick of a little too much of one thing..or maybe not enough of another.

I left the puddings to dry (and crumble some more) in a cool room out of reach from troublesome cats and 16 or so hours later I have ended up with little birdie cakes.

Definitely rough around the edges and not at all perfect, I'm hoping the birdies will like them anyway..sadly the mini heart ones are a total waste of space but edible nonetheless!

Although I'm convinced they will quickly return to their mulchy, sticky origins as soon as it rains I think the birds will enjoy them and it is definitely more cost effective than buying lots of bird food.

I'll let you know what the birds think.

If you would like to give this eco friendly, bird feed idea a go then you can get all the details right here.

Update: I was right about the rain!

To be continued..

I've been a bit absent the last week, I do apologise. Although I do wonder if anyone actually notices. I found this little eco friendly project the other day and I have now purchased all the ingredients. So, come Saturday I will have some very well fed birdies..and that's saying something because they already eat better than I do!
I will be posting my success/failure story so let's hope it turns out well! The general consensus is that these would make great wedding favors..well sure, if your guests like birds and don't try to eat them themselves...I say, why wait to get married!

Tea my dear?

I am so desperate to make these, in fact I once purchased a whole lot of tiny, ornamental tea cups ready to fill with candle wax but I never got round to it! Have any of you ever made them, was it easy?

Domestiquette has a great tutorial for you all to use, let me know how you get on.

Repurposed

Image and project are the work of Little Birdie Secrets. 

Repurposing is so much fun and the possibilities are endless. I would love to do this DIY project. 

If you ever get hold of an old window, why not fill in the panes with beautiful wallpapers as suggested by the talanted Little Birdie Secrets, attach decorative knobs and turn it into a coat hanger! What a wonderful idea.

You can find all the details over at Little Birdie Secrets so head on over there before you get making.