The Making Home Weekly Link Up #12

 Welcome to the #MakingHome weekly link up!

Be inspired by posts all about home; moving house, decorating, DIY, family activities, recipes, gardening and more. It’s all here under one roof at Mrs Crafty B’s.

Don't forget to join in this week and link up your own posts! The linky is now open until late Wednesday.

Huge news! We have finally got our backsides into gear and got ourselves a blind and some curtains to dress the windows and patio doors in the kitchen and dining area. I cannot tell you how happy this makes me and I will be showing off our kitchen decor very soon.

Today I am embarking on some crafting missions including sewing some handmade gifts, making another lampshade and maybe doing a bit of baking. In order to inspire you #CraftyBs out there to get crafting this weekend I have dug deep into the Mrs Crafty B archives and found a post on how to make paper pom poms out of napkins! So effective and great for matching your dining decor.

Making Paper Pom Poms from Napkins

Halloween 2015 With Dylon

Here at Crafty B's HQ we are big fans of dressing up. The Little Bs have a dedicated storage unit in their room with all manner of costumes and items to use in role play. With a few ideas of what the Little Bs might like I was keen to find out what Dylon had come up with for this years Halloween palette. I was not disappointed. 

The Making Home Weekly Link Up #11

 Welcome to the #MakingHome weekly link up!

Be inspired by posts all about home; moving house, decorating, DIY, family activities, recipes, gardening and more. It’s all here under one roof at Mrs Crafty B’s.

Don't forget to join in this week and link up your own posts! The linky is now open until late Wednesday.

It is ever so convenient that #MakingHome falls on this day. Today, one whole year ago we arrived at our new home having bought for the very first time together. We moved from the beautiful Cambridge where we had married and had two wonderful children, to the depths of the Welsh Valleys. Three and a half hours away from friends and family, to a place we knew nothing about. Having taken a huge risk and bought straight in, you could say we did ok. We have a beautiful 4 bed house with a large garden, lovely neighbours and a quiet street. It hasn't been without its difficulties though and as much as I count our blessings everyday I also dwell over woes that I know so many of you will be familiar with.

Catching Up With Sniffy Wiffy and The Sniffettes - Supporting Cancer Research UK and Ballboys

During last year's Meet the Maker Christmas special, we met Sarah of Sniffy Wiffy. Sarah has developed a fabulous range of beauty products that encourage women to perform breast checks. Having mentioned some great plans for 2015, I have invited Sarah back over to Mrs Crafty B to tell us what she has been up to this year so far and what is next for Sniffy Wiffy...

GIVEAWAY: 3 Pairs of Tickets for ICHF's Crafts for Christmas!

On the 5th - 8th November, ICHF are returning to the NEC in Birmingham with Crafts for Christmas, The Stitching, Sewing and Hobbycrafts Show at Christmas and Art Materials Live. 

I recently ran a competition giving you the chance to win a pair of tickets. Well, I now have not one but three (yes THREE!!) pairs of tickets to give away to 3 lucky winners!

The Making Home Weekly Link Up #10

Welcome to the #MakingHome weekly link up!

Be inspired by posts all about home; moving house, decorating, DIY, family activities, recipes, gardening and more. It’s all here under one roof at Mrs Crafty B’s.

Don't forget to join in this week and link up your own posts! The linky is now open until late Wednesday.

This week I wanted to share with you a post I wrote recently when my Little B's took on their own #MakingHome project. Baby B was very specific about how he wanted to decorate a cardboard house because he didn't want the big bad wolf to get him...curious? Catch up here.

#CardboardHomes

WIN A Warm Hearts Tealight Holder and Iced Snowberries Tealights from PartyLite

You may remember that last week I posted about some great products from PartyLite. My favourite was the Warm Hearts Tealight Holder which gave an atmospheric glow from a singe tealight.

Paper Bunting and Paper Garlands for Your DIY Wedding

Today I am being hosted by the lovely Gem over at Gem's Country Life Dream. 

Paper bunting or a paper garland is a simple but lovely decoration and easily made for those DIY weddings or parties.

Paper Garland

Pop on over and see how to make your own.

The Making Home Weekly Link Up #9

Welcome to the #MakingHome weekly link up!

Be inspired by posts all about home; moving house, decorating, DIY, family activities, recipes, gardening and more. It’s all here under one roof at Mrs Crafty B’s.

I have been trying to find some time and motivation to get our front room painted this week but having just started a new part time job I am finding it hard to say the least! I am hoping that a boost in finances will help us along the way with our #MakingHome journey; I have a long wish list!

Alongside trying to get myself in an organised state the last few days, I have been thinking about Christmas! I know I know its October but this year I would like to make a few personalised gifts, so I have been experimenting. I am talking hot chocolate stirrers and chilli chutney. With that in light, I thought this week I would share this sewing tutorial. This carry case for the Little Bs' colouring books and crayons is really handy in keeping my under stairs cupboard tidy and is easy to grab for long car journeys and weekends away. I think it would also make great Christmas present for any #MiniMakers out there. What do you think?

Sewing tutorial for a colouring book and crayon carry case

Scenting Your Home: Forbidden Fruits GloLite, Warm Hearts Tealight Holder and Iced Snowberries Tealights; A PartyLite Review

I recently conducted an online poll in which over 45% of the participants said that fragrant candles were their favourite way of scenting their home. I only ever use fragrant candles but alongside scent, the warm glow of a candle adds something extra to a cosy evening in. Being a fan of lighting candles in the home for various occasions I was excited to be asked to review some products by PartyLite. 

The Making Home Weekly Link Up #8

Welcome to the #MakingHome weekly link up!

Be inspired by posts all about home; moving house, decorating, DIY, family activities, recipes, gardening and more. It’s all here under one roof at Mrs Crafty B’s.

Very recently I have been a bit more focused on trying to get my craftiness back. I really want to channel this into making some lovely items for our home but the list of things I would like to make is far too long! I've been trying to narrow it down to functional usable things for now and whilst looking in my bag of unfinished things this week, I found a half finished crocheted jute twine basket. The first one I made is sitting on a shelf in our front room (with more unfinished craft projects in it). These are great for storing odds and ends and look good too. I've been wondering if I could make a larger version for toys in the front room or maybe washing. What do you think?

A crocheted jute twine basket

A Cardboard Dream House with Ocean Finance

We have taken a different stance on #MakingHome over the last few days and I am excited to show you what me and my #MiniMakers have been up to. A few weeks ago we were invited to take part in the Cardboard Dream House campaign with Ocean Finance. Baby B (aged 4) was so excited when the house arrived and we wasted no time in putting it together. Armed with a brief dictated by Baby B, we set about creating his Cardboard Dream Home; with a little supervision from Littlest B (aged 2)