Book Crossing

Today's post is a little tip for book lovers and book worms alike.

Lella Loves... Book Crossing

Last month I went to a book crossing event: I came home with an armful of books for my nephew and every single book was free!

Book Crossing is a worldwide website which is supported by local community events with the aim of releasing unread books from members' book shelves, into the wider world for others to read. The setting free of all the lovely books is done at a book crossing table-top event.

I love attending book crossings and it was the fourth or fifth one I had been to.

Each time I go, I take a box of books which I no longer need, no longer read or can simply live without. I donate the books and then browse to see if there are other newly donated books which might be of interest to me to take home at no charge.

My only commitment is to register the book(s) on their website or to make a journal entry on a book which has already been registered. It is fun to see where your books have come from as well as tracking to see where they end up.

Lella Loves... Old Books

The lady who organises our local book crossings encourages every person who takes a book away, to register it, and I make sure I register mine!

As much as I want to warble on about it, your best option is to actually visit their website.

http://www.bookcrossing.com/about

Make yourself a cup of tea and see if a book crossing is something you might be interested in.

Lella xx

http://lellalovescreativity.blogspot.com

Silk Flowers (Cherry Blossom)

Hello there, and welcome to another floral Friday. Today I am going to show you how to create a very large display of cherry blossom. Each branch is 3ft in height and I have combined it with various greenery including willow. The whole display is finished off with a fairy ring of grasses.

Lella Loves... Silk Flowers

If you wanted to recreate this display, you will need:

Terracotta Long Tom pot
Bag of gravel
Newspaper
11 branches of cherry blossom
11 branches of pussy willow
11 branches of winter stems
22 stems of grass

Lella Loves... Silk Flowers

These cherry blossom stems were bought from Dunelm. Most Dunelm stores stock them in the red option, white and baby pink.

If you fancied orange, blue or purple blossom, try Wilkinsons as they have a wide range of floral supplies in all the jewel tones.

Lella Loves... Silk Flowers

I bought these twiggy winter stems from Hobby Craft but it was a few years back. If you have a neighbour with real fruit trees, ask them if you could have a few stems next time they prune their trees.

Lella Loves... Silk Flowers

Pussy willow stems can be found in various garden centres such as Notcutts or Wyvale.

Lella Loves... Silk Flowers

The grasses are a super bargain: they are 59p a stem from Dunelm. There are several colour variations so choose the greenery which will enhance your blossom choice.

Lella Loves... Silk Flowers

To start, block the flower pot's hole with several sheets of newspaper and half-fill with shingle.

Place all the cherry blossom stems in the centre, and let them face in all directions. Every stem has a natural lean: don't try to fight it. You then arrange the willow and the winter twigs in a ring around the top of the Long Tom - the base of the cherry blossom. The stems of the greenery will support the much taller stems of the blossom.

Finally, infill with all your lovely grass.

Lella Loves... Silk Flowers

Have fun arranging this in your home. If you choose a different coloured blossom, do let me know as I love to hear how you make the blog-makes your own.

Three cheers for silk flowers...  Hip. Hip.. Hooray...!

Lella  xx

http://lellalovescreativity.blogspot.com

Handbag Charm Pins (Green)

Hello there and today's post is another example of how to make a charm pin for your handbag.

If you love green and honey-coloured gem beads, this is the project for you.

Lella Loves... Handbag Charm Pins

My finished handbag charm which took no more than 1 hour to make.

Lella Loves... Handbag Charm Pins

I found this necklace in my local Cancer Research store and paid £2.50 for it yet its original price label showed that someone had paid £24.99 in a large high street department store. 

Charity shop bargains never cease to amaze me.

If you wanted to make your own handbag charm pin, all you need is a large kilt pin, a lovely beaded necklace which has metal fastenings and pliers. You can add ribbons or lace if you like the look.

Simply follow this project and let your creative side flow.

Lella Loves... Handbag Charm Pins

To get started, I took my round-nose pliers and began to dismantle the necklace.

Lella Loves... Handbag Charm Pins

Leaving three or four links, I twisted at the points where the beads linked and they simply open out.

Lella Loves... Handbag Charm Pins

Having selected my chosen beads from the original necklace, I threaded them on to my kilt pin.

Lella Loves... Handbag Charm Pins

I continued to thread the beads and I adjusted the links as I felt is necessary.

Lella Loves... Handbag Charm Pins

Ribbon is something I like to use to add an extra texture to the overall look.

Lella Loves... Handbag Charm Pins

Using a basic up-and-over loop, I tied three little ribbons and pulled tightly. The ribbon tails were trimmed at an angle to complete the look.

Lella Loves... Handbag Charm Pins

After I added my ribbon, I slipped on a few more beads to pad out the charm as I do like more than less :)

All I have to do now is find a bag to put it on and I will take a photo of it for this blog.

If you wanted to see the previous post on charm pins, simply click here:

http://lellalovescreativity.blogspot.com/2011/08/handbag-charm-pins.html

Many thanks for reading,

Lella xx

http://lellalovescreativity.blogspot.com