Fen & co's Cabin studio shoot!

Last week I took some photographs of my friend Ria, who is the jewellery maker behind Fen and co, working away in her lovely cabin studio. I wanted to share the photos with you guys and also promote her gorgeous selection of jewellery which has a lovely nature and vintage vibe. 

To check out more of her work or to buy, please go to her Etsy store: www.fenandco.com

These gorgeous robin earrings are available to buy here

These gorgeous mini terrariums are available here

This is Fen! (he inspired the company name)

DIY cheap and easy valentine's day gifts

Valentine's day can be an excuse to splash out on your loved one but if you're strapped for cash or simply prefer to make the presents then here are some ideas. Don't do a chandler and get a sock bunny...

1. A valentine's day gift voucher. Make your own by designing a gift voucher for your other half. The voucher could be for a free breakfast in bed, massage or cooking them dinner! (Canva.com is a great site for templates) 

2. Strawberry chocolate hearts! Easy to make, tastes and looks great! 

Tutorial here

3. Print a photo of the two of you and put it in a lovely frame. Decorate the frame yourself if you're feeling crafty.

4. Hand Make a card. Get inspiration from Etsy or Pinterest, personalise it!

5. Create a hamper or bag full of their favourite sweet treats. 

6. Create a yummy valentine's day special breakfast, Click here for a list of recipes 

7. Make a personalised colouring book. Use photos of you and your partner together to create a colouring book of your relationship. You can easily do by following these steps. 

8. 

Chocolate bar card - see here

9. A romantic evening in a box. Things the box could include: a film you both like, popcorn or sweet treats, take away menus, rose petals, wine, chocolates. 

10. Make some paper flowers 

11. Valentine's party poppers 

tutorial here

12. Plant some seeds..

tutorial here

Hope this list gives you some inspiration, and that you all have a wonderful Valentine's day. 

DIY: Christmas crackers.

Christmas is my favourite time to get crafty because there are so many different things to try! Christmas crackers are a classic around our dinner table when having the roast. The photos won't be the same without us wearing those paper crowns. So I gave it ago myself, heres how I did it...

You'll need:

• A selection of small gifts 
• Cracker snaps, which you can buy very cheaply in craft stores or online
• Cardboard toilet rolls (start saving them early!)
• Wrapping paper of your choice. 
• Double sided tape 
• Ribbon
• Scissors 
• A selection of cheesey christmas jokes. 

So lets get started!

1. I started by getting everything ready for the inside of the crackers. I did this by buying little things that I could fill the crackers with. I then printed some cheesey jokes and made a paper crown. Check out this tutorial video on how to make your own paper hat, or buy some of amazon.

Individually wrapped sweets are great to fill the crackers with.

2. Once everything is ready, stuff the cracker with the joke, hat and present and the cracker snaps. 

3. Cut out a long strip of your chosen wrapping paper and stick some double sided tape to the toilet roll. 

4. Roll the tube onto the wrapping paper then attach with more double sided tape. 

5. Twist the ends like a sweet wrapper and tie it with some ribbon. 

DONE! 

  

(Surprisingly easy right?)

DIY animal toy christmas decorations - Easy!

This year I told myself I would try out some new christmas crafts and write more diy and tutorial blog posts, so here is my first festive tutorial!

I originally brought these plastic toy animals online for a different DIY but I stupidly didn't look at the size and they are way too small for what I intended. But thanks to the wonder of the internet, I got
some inspiration to make them into christmas tree decorations.

All you'll need is:

• toy plastic animals or dinosaurs
• Jewellery eye hook 
• a little bit of superglue
• Nail varnish (colours of your choice!)
• Ribbon or string. 

I brought a pack of 12 wild animal toys of Ebay for £2! 

I added a hook into the animal using a small drill, but the plastic was fairly easy to puncture so I reckon you could do it with some elbow grease and a pin. Before I put the hook in I dipped it into superglue to ensure it would stay. 

I decided I wanted some of the animals gold, so I just used this Barry M nail varnish to coat them. There are loads of different patterns and colours you could try!

You could try two tones...

or glitter or polka dots! 

Once the animals are dry all you need to do it tie string or ribbon through the hook and whey, you're done!

They'll be more christmas DIY tutorials coming soon! 

x

Pop up shop - 'WE ARE' 9th-15th Nov

I've always loved the idea of a pop up shop! Its such a great way to sell handmade goods, without the commitment of a long term lease. I ran one just over a year ago.  I'd asked a few friends if they wanted to exhibit some work as it was a large space and I didn't think I could fill it on my own.

I wouldn't say that it was a total success, but I know where I went wrong and what changes I'll make for next time.

So recently I heard about a community project called 'Somewhere to _' which helps 16-25 years olds get a creative space for whatever their medium is (I've put the contact info below). I contacted them about a pop up shop they were offering people, and a few weeks later I had to pitch my idea to them and the shop owners. Needless to say I was bricking it! But fortunately I was offered to share a pop up shop with Monster Pie Inclusive Arts, a scope associated art group.

 We have the shop called 'It is what it is' for a week starting the 9th Nov. Each day we're planning a free workshop as well as being open to customers.

Here are some things I've made to sell...

Handmade necklace using one of my photographs

As well as my photography I'll be selling my jewellery too.

All the items sold in the shop will be handmade and include works from the below artists

- Lisa Buttery - Illustration
- Anna Dunne  - Handmade bags and purses
-Artists from Monster Pie Inclusive Arts

On friday the 13th of Nov I'll be running a photo up photobooth with polaroid pics! Here I am testing out the props I made!

So if you're around Brighton between the 9th -15th of Nov pop by @
'It is what it is' 102 Gloucester Rd, brighton lanes.
we'll be open 10am-6pm Tuesday-saturday
and 11am-5pm Sunday

For more information please see our facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/460609517456693/

Somewhere to_ info:
https://somewhereto.com

Making earrings with a glue gun!

I simply love making jewellery, and last week I took a trip to my favourite shop, Hobbycraft! Of course I probably spent a little too much, but I did get quite a few pieces for my jewellery making, which I see as an investment! ;)

I watched a few youtube tutorials on how to make charms using a glue gun, it was difficult at first but once you get the hang of it, it's an easy way to make some lovely earrings! 

The glue gun was from Hobbycraft (£5 I think) and the glue sticks were £1 from Tiger (bargain!)
Glue guns are so useful if you're a keen crafter,  and if you can even get different coloured glue sticks! 

For the most recent earrings I've made, I've been using a silicone mould by Gedeo, which I bought from Hobbycraft. It comes with small moulds of hearts, circles and squares, and they're the perfect size for earrings. The larger moulds are great for necklace pendants. 

Once your glue gun is heated up, just squeeze some glue into which ever mould you fancy. Leave it to dry for a few mins and then it should easierly pop out of the mould. Trim around any excess glue and now you're ready to decorate /colour! 

To colour the earrings I use a few coats of nail varnish, and then a clear one to add an extra shine!

Once coloured I use super glue to attach the earring backs to the charm I've made. 

Red rose stud earrings.

Other ideas:

While the glue is still wet in the mould, add a small nail art design, these are some little fruit ones I found. They were from the pound shop but are available online. Make sure you push the fruit down so it's visible through the glue.

  

Here are some sweet little strawberry earrings I made. 

Use glitter to add some sparkle to your earrings! This can be done by using glitter nail varnish or by adding glitter while the glue is still wet.

Use vintage pictures of flowers! Push them into the glue while it's still wet. (Make sure the flowers are the same size/shape!) 
Thanks for checking this tutorial out! Keep up to date with me via my instagram @beckynetleyphotography