Tag Archives: tips

Top Tips for getting glammed up for party season!

Posted on by Abi

I’ve said it before and I dare say I’ll say it again but the festive party season is nearly upon us! Whether it’s a work-do or a night out with friends, getting glammed up can be a real treat! Here’s a few ideas to get you started.

Pauls Hair WorldHair

Trying to get your hair to behave in Winter can be challenging at best, impossible at worst. Instead of single handedly making a hole in the ozone layer with hair spray, consider getting some good quality hair extensions. You can shop for fabulous Universal Hair Extensions online at Pauls Hair World, they even come in some really funky colours if you’re feeling daring.

groovykind-aloveMakeup

Treat yourself to some gorgeous new makeup, I particularly like this >Groovy Kind-a Love set from Benefit cosmetics, everything you need in a funky little tin! You could even take it to work with you if you’re going straight out to a party afterwards.

takeapictureIf your skin is feeling (or looking) a little worse for wear thanks to the drab weather then grab yourself some moisturising body balm >‘Take a picture…It lasts longer…’ again from Benefit Cosmetics even has a little shimmering sparkle!

mischaFootwear

Heels may be obligatory for the party itself, but save your tootsies from unnecessary pain by purchasing some folding shoes like these >Mischa Black Pumps from RedFoot to wear to and from the party. They’re a life saver for tired aching feet.

diagonalzipclutchBag

A sparkly clutch is a standard party favourite, but if you’re dancing the night away consider buying one that comes with a strap to wear across your body. This >Diagonal Zip Across Body Bag from Accessorize is perfect for keeping your change safe, secure and stylish!

champagnedropAccessories

Keep your accessories sparkly and fun! I love this Champagne Drop Necklace from Tatty Devine, they even make matching earrings!

 

Comments Off on Top Tips for getting glammed up for party season!

Inkodye Printing

Posted on by Abi

I recently read an article in the Mollie Makes magazine about a really unique printing ink called Inkodye and I instantly wanted to have a go.  Unfortunately there is currently only one company in this country that stocks it www.firstcall-photographic.co.uk and the postage is quite high but I felt really impatient to try it out!

Inkodye comes out of the bottle colourless, you then apply it with a brush and then leave it to the sun to develop, almost like a fabric photograph. In theory it allows you to create beautiful prints using anything that casts a shadow. Of course I bought it in the winter when sunlight is sparse but I have still managed a few goes with it. At present it only comes in three colours: red, orange and blue, but you can mix them so it’s not too restrictive.

My first attempt was using the red, I placed some old keys onto a small bag which I put outside for about 45 minutes. There wasn’t really enough light so it turned out pink and I don’t think I painted enough dye onto the fabric either.

My next attempt was using the blue and the same old keys. This seemed to go a dark colour very quickly, so I panicked and washed the ink out too early and again it was rather pale.

Once your piece has developed the depth of colour you desire you have to wash it really well otherwise it continues to develop! I washed the blue bag by hand (really scrubbing it) and then put it through a machine wash. Despite this after leaving it on my table folded in half for a few days I noticed that it had still continued to develop and one half was darker and some of the keys had started to turn blue 🙁

My third attempt was more successful. I cut some shapes out of cereal box and put a sheet of glass over the top to weight it down. I left it outside for one and a half hours but again there was not much light. The mistake I made with this one was washing my brush in my white kitchen sink and finding later in the day that I now have an orange and white sink!!!

Dyed sink aside I’m very pleased with the third piece and how it turned out. I think Inkodye is going to take me a little while to completely perfect but it’s definitely worth a try if you’re interested in trying out a new form of printing. Just remember my top tip…. wash that ink out until you can wash no more! Otherwise be prepared to see further colour development 🙂

Comments Off on Inkodye Printing

Guest Post: How to keep children entertained in the car

Posted on by Abi

If you’re a parent then chances are you’ll be familiar with the challenge of trying to keep kids entertained during car journeys. Thankfully the good people at Salisbury’s have done the hard work for you in today’s guest post and have given me their top tips for a stress free family outing.

One of the challenges of a long family car journey is trying to prevent a riot breaking out on the back seat! Negotiating unfamiliar roads and traffic systems is hard enough, so you could do with out distractions from the kids behind you. With that in mind, here are some suggestions for keeping the little ones quiet and content during your journey.

Take plenty of breaks

Children have short attention spans at the best of times, so it will benefit everyone if they can get out and stretch their legs once in a while. Every time you stop it gives your children something different to do, and breaks up the journey. A break every hour is ideal, but try and stop every two hours at least, in a safe, suitable location.

Keep them entertained

This gets easier by the year thanks to new technology. These days, it is not unusual to see children watching DVDs on screens attached to the back of the head rests of the front seats. That’s something that can work for kids of all ages, including teenagers.

Everyone loves games

There are many great games that your children can play in the car, and a lot of well known board games are available in travel versions, with features designed specifically for moving vehicles.

Of course, with just one child in the back it can be harder to keep them entertained, but there are plenty of games that require nothing more than a little imagination – the old favourite ‘I spy’, for instance.

You could also try ‘red car blue car’. All you have to do is choose a colour of car to watch out for. Whoever sees the most cars of a particular colour in the allotted time wins.

And how about some colouring pencils and paper in the back to bring out the little one’s creative side?

Feed them up

A surefire way to keep kids happy and occupied is giving them something to eat and drink (it will keep them quiet, too!). Of course, common sense is required – the more liquid they take in, the more toilet stops you’ll have to make!

Have some music handy

Most children respond very well to music, and while your three-year-old might like nursery rhymes a bit more than you do, anything is preferable to a high-pitched whine from the back seat! Be warned, though – you might have to join in.

Prepare for your journey in every way

There are many things to think about if you have to plan a long journey, and keeping the children entertained is just one of them. Make sure you have adequate car insurance for the journey before you set off. Little extras like roadside assistance and courtesy car availability can make all the difference if you run into problems with the whole family on board.

2 Comments (Leave a comment)