Search This Blog

Friday, 9 October 2015

October 8th 2015 - My own Wheels!

The benefits people agreed to do us a loan so that we could get me a mobility scooter.  Today we went over to the place that we hire 1 from in august as we had spoken the man a few weeks ago and he said once we had the money he would have a scooter or find me a suitable one as soon as he could.

The one we have bought is not the one I borrowed in august but one a simialr size, the difference is this 1 is a 2014 model and not a 2015 model, but this did mean the cost was much less.

It is blue and a gogo elite traveller model.  I'm hoping that I dont have to use it very much but at least I now have one if we want to go out as a family for a day etc.  It fits in the boot and we will be able to pack around it - yes it may mean we have to buy some smaller hold-alls rather than big suitcases but  we can work round it. 

At present it is sat in the middle of my kitchen whilst we work out where it is going to be kept.

Wednesday, 7 October 2015

October 7th 2015 - Pass the pumpkin game

October 7th 2015 - Pass the pumpkin game

Last Halloween I came up with the idea of the pass the pumpkin game based on the traditional pass the pass the parcel.  However, instead of keeping going with unwrapping to get the prize each player it landed on took a sweet from the pumpkin, once everyone had had 2 sweets (we only had small numbers playing) the next time the music stopped that person took home the pumpkin and all the rest of the sweets in it.

In the sale after halloween last year I picked up a plastic pumpkin (trick or treat bag) that we could use for this years party.  Today I have sat and filled it up with sweets of various types - body parts, lollipops and sherbet straws.  It is now ready to take with us to my friends house.

The kids loved playing it last year as they all got sweets.  And it also made up for the fact that they didn't all go trick or treating before the party.

I have also done this as a train.

Tuesday, 6 October 2015

October 6th 215 - Blood splatter nails

October 6th 2015 - Blood splater nails

To go along with my nurses outfit for halloween I wanted to have blood splatter nails as I think they will look good.  I looked on ebay and the false ones are all really long and as I don't do nails and girly very often they will drive me mad.  I then looked at the sticker options and again say look better on long nails (mine are fairly short).

This left me the option of nail varnish.  I looked at various tutorials and they all said about using a straw and blowing it - well I tried that option and managed to get it on paper not my nails!  So I tried to just tap the brush over my nails without touching them - it worked but its not easy to do on yourself.

However my hubby had a go for me and it's worked out ok.  So on Halloween (or the day before) the hubby will become my own nail technichian once I have done the base and white coats.  I think I my use 2 different reds so it gives a look of some fresh and some not.

Here is the result of the trial run today:


Monday, 5 October 2015

October 5th 2015 - tshirt 2 pillow

October 5th 2015 - tshirt 2 pillow

Last year myself and a friend in USA did a christmas gift swap based on Elves.  It was great.  We decided that we would do it again for this year.   Just after christmas last year I picked up a baby tshirt that said "I Elves they have magical powers".  My friend doesn't have a baby so this may seem like a strange thing to buy for her.  However, I had plans for the tshirt.  And that plan was to turn the tshirt into a pillow.

I started off  by cutting the long sleeves to just below the arm holes (as you don't need long sleeeves or extra pieces of material as they will just get in the way.)  I then stitched up the arm holes and along the base of the tshirt:















 I then started to stuff the tshirt via the head hole and pushed it down into the tshirt.  The stuffing is from a quilt I bought for this type of craft.  Its cheaper to buy new quilts and rip the stuffing out of than it is to buy bags of toy stuffing which is exactly the same thing!  Once it was fully stuffed I stitched up the head hole.

And have a finished pillow.




I forgot to take pics as I was working hence why its all a stuffed pillow.  I think it's nice and i'm sure my friend will as she is Elf mad!

Sunday, 4 October 2015

October 4th 2015 - toilet roll mummy

October 4th 2015 - toilet roll mummy

Lil man was wanting to do some crafts today, so as its near Halloween we decided that we would do Halloween crafts.

We have made some toilet roll mummies from a bandage and googly eyes.  It has kept little man amused for while.



Saturday, 3 October 2015

October 3rd 2015 - pot o gold

October 3rd 2015 - Pot o gold

Today I have finally finished the leprechauns house for the fairy garden and started to varnish it.  Tomorrow I will varnish the bottom and then it is ready to go outside.  Lil man asked if I could make him a pot of gold to go with it.  This pin gave me the idea. 

Instead of using a bottle I used a small plastic medicine tub:

I took off the lid and cut the tub abit shorter with a sharp knife.  From here I coated the inside in a grey nail varnish and left to dry.  I then coated the outside in a dark blue and silver nail varnish and left to dry.

 I filled the inside of the tub 3/4 of the way up with clear silicone and then started to place gold pirate coins into it, I also put more silicone around the coins so it should be waterproof.  I did place a few more coins than are in the photo.


It is now sitting drying ready to go outside tomorrow with the house and leprechauns.

Friday, 2 October 2015

October 2nd 2015 - Nail varnish uses

Ocotber 2nd 2015 - Nail varnish uses

Nail varnish is a wonderful thing and has many uses.  I would guess that 95% of what I use it for is not what it was made for! LOL!  It is especially great as the £1 shops sell it in loads of colours.  I have loads of bottles scattered about and they get used for various things.

1. putting on your finger and toe nails - this is very obvious because of what it is called.  I only ever use nail varnish if I am going to a wedding, christening or party.

2. To cover a hole in tights - clear nail varnish works on all colours of tights.  If you have a small snag or tiny hole cover it with nail varnish and it will stop it spreading or getting bigger.

3. High heel touch up - if you get a scrape down the back of your heels, find a nail varnish of the same colour and touch up your shoes.

4. Solar lights - place clear nail varnish over the solar panel of the lights and it helps keep them working for longer.

5. as a varnish - I have used nail varnish as a varnish or rocks/stones, glass, wood and plastic.

6.paint - yes I have used nail varnish as a paint, not  to make a full picture but to do small lines and dots and decorations, mainly when I have made rock houses and halloween potion bottles to cover the bottles and lids.

7. On the Paddling pool - it wasn't a permanant fix but it held the small hole for 24hrs until we were able to get puncture repair kit.

8. labels - place clear nail varnish over hand written labels and they do not smudge.  I have used various colours when making my halloween potion bottles.

9.on children - hand write your phone number when on a day out and cover with clear nail varnish, it stops the number coming off.

10. colour glass bottles - pour small amounts of nail varnish of 2 or 3 different colours into a clear glass bottle and gently move the bottle so that the colours mix slightly and cover the sides.  leave the lid of so that it can dry and coat the bottle.  this is ok as long as you dont put anything in it.

11. Sealing envelopes - over licked an envelope and dont have another or tape - small amount of clear nail varnish works.

12. colour coding - this works on plugs and keys (and probably many other things!) mark the top of the plug or the key (and maybe the lock) so that you know what it is for.

13. costume jewellery - cheap jewellery that leaves green marks on your skin - coat the inside of it with clear nail varnish it stops it happening.

14. Screws and nails - my Hubby laughed at me when I said about putting nail varnish into the hole that the screw was loose in on the stair banister - he didn't laugh after it held it tightly.

15. glue - my son has used nail varnish when making pictures and needed a glue to hold sequins and things to his paper.

16. maker - it works to make lines and marks for measurement, obviously this wont give ou number measures but works for "how much lawn feed you need" in a bottle to top up with water.

17.touch up furniture - this works best of it is browns like pine as you can get 2 or 3 shades of brown and cover where it has been scratched and damaged.

18. paint soles of shoes - if you want your plain heels updated simple paint the sole a bright colour.

19. touch up wallpaper - if you get a tiny rip in wallpaper (or child drawn on it) cover with nail varnish.

20. touch up cars - you usually need a metallic nail varnish in similar shade but works to cover small scratches.

21. crack or chip in a window - this is NOT a long term fix but works enough to get home or to garage safely if in car or until the window fitter can get out, it will stop the crack or chip from spreading.

22. tile filler - have ceramic tiles and have a chip fill the chip with a similar colour or clear nail varnish.

23. touch up ornaments - again if you have a chip or have had to fix something back on nail varnish can cover up the crack or flaking paint.

24. for crafts - this is where the 101 uses can come in as can be used for anything and everything craft related.

25. glitter everything - glitter nail varnish can add a new lease of life to everything!

26. marble effect - mix a few colours in a tub of water and add your item to it for marble effect - flower pots look good especially if given as a gift with a plant, plus its waterproof!

27. hair clips/grips/pins - it can add pretty colours and patterns to them but can also stop them catching in your hair as it smooths out sharp bits


i'm sure there are many other uses as well, but this is where my list ends.  I have to say that my best use of it is for crafts and the halloween potion bottles i have been making.