DIY Painted Wood Grain Tablecloth

  • 7 min read

A couple years ago I was challenged to style a dining table for Christmas. (It still feels crazy to say “as seen on Kirstie Allsopp’s Handmade Christmas”.) Of all the things I made for my festive table, this tablecloth has been my favourite every season since.

And it’s definitely not just during Christmas.

This painted wood grain tablecloth was designed to enjoy throughout the seasons. When I put together my table setting for the Handmade Christmas programme, I wanted every minute of DIY time to work as hard as possible. This tablecloth took me (in all honesty) about six hours to make from sewing to painting to ironing. It’s a good weekend project to spread over a couple afternoons. To get ready for the show, I rushed around making it all in one day. (Not recommended. Do try to enjoy the process itself.)

BUT, panic DIY aside, this tablecloth suits any season depending on how it’s styled. Multi-purpose for the win!

Wood grain and other nature-inspired designs are perfect for beginners. Uneven brush strokes and wobbly lines just add to the organic feel. If you want to practise, use these same techniques on scrap fabric or some napkins before you make your tablecloth.

Read More »DIY Painted Wood Grain Tablecloth

DIY Bohemian Easter Eggs (FREE Printable)

  • 4 min read

In two weeks, Easter will be upon us! The unwieldy grass and blooming wildflowers around our house give proof that spring is here.

To celebrate my love for spring, earthy pastels, and boho chic I’ve made this Easter egg printable that’s too good to keep to myself. I designed this printable with DIYs in mind. There are so many things you can do with a bit of paper, glue, and imagination. I’ve listed a few DIY ideas below, and I’d love to hear what you make!

Scroll down to download the PDF. Here’s what the sheet looks like once you’ve printed it out:

Read More »DIY Bohemian Easter Eggs (FREE Printable)

5 Things That Helped Me Get Unstuck and Back on Track

  • 7 min read

Disclosure | Some items featured c/o Barker and Stonehouse

Once upon a time, I thought burnout was something people made up as an excuse.

Then it happened to me. Twice. Both times a combination of work that didn’t fuel my spirit, lack of exercise, too many restaurant meals, and plenty more bad habits spiralled into months of no real creating. Instead of doing things I might have wanted to do or craved doing, I did what I “should”.

Here are some things that have helped me heal and thrive after burnout. I’m very much an introverted person so for me, getting the right mindset is all about what I’m thinking about and my personal home space. Getting over burnout is all about letting yourself truly relax & unwind.

Read More »5 Things That Helped Me Get Unstuck and Back on Track

DIY Thrift Store Art Chalk Marker Makeover

  • 6 min read

Disclosure: I got Chalkola chalk markers in exchange for a review. Affiliate links are marked with a *.

Whenever I go into a thrift shop or charity shop there’s always a good piece of wall art or two.

In other words, I might have a bit of a collection at this point. My favourite find so far is this A2 sized impressionist art print within a matching blue frame. After being in our home for a few years, I wanted to give it an update. (And the print doesn’t have any info on the artist, so if you recognise the work please let me know!)

I wanted a quick art makeover that still celebrated the beauty of the print and could be easily changed in the future, too. Armed with chalk markers and a bit of Pinterest inspiration, here’s the process so you can makeover your own thrift shop art finds.

Read More »DIY Thrift Store Art Chalk Marker Makeover

Stepping back into the party

  • 4 min read

If a crafter makes something without anyone else around, does it make a sound?

Ok, ok, bear with me. I’m a bit rusty when it comes to this whole writing thing. Maybe a better start would have been the golden cliche of ‘Is this thing still on?’

This month I’m honoured to be featured in Simply Crochet magazine. In Issue 55, they’ve dedicated a whole article to one of my favourite topics: finding a tribe. You can find some of my comments on the topic from page 66, where I discuss online community along with the skilled Amanda of Little Box of Crochet, Mandy of Red Agape, and other inspiring makers.

I look back on the history of this blog. There have been highs and lows. I have nostalgic memories of making new friends and the satisfaction that can only be won through hard work, as well as literal blood, sweat, tears, and tension headaches. I have written over 150 posts on Crafting Fingers alone and been honoured to get over 600 comments so far. It’s harder to measure how many conversations, giggles, and debates have been had on social media, too. This blog wouldn’t have kept on if it weren’t for the community I found online & off.

Read More »Stepping back into the party

Sewing with Craft Club Box

  • 5 min read

craftclubbox subscription review Crafting Fingers-2

Above: The results of my first Craft Club Box

Sewing is my big craft focus this year. So when Courtney of Craft Club Box offered me a trial of her craft box subscription, I couldn’t resist. Each box has a surprise pack of beautiful materials, instructions for a project, and a complementary eMagazine with hundreds of curated projects for inspiration.

Neatly packed, April’s kit is a wonderful bundle of spring colours and useful materials, including the main star of the show: the triangle zipper pouch kit with step-by-step instructions. I really enjoyed this project, but more on that below!

craftclubbox subscription review Crafting Fingers-1

For a total of £10 per box and £3 p&p, I think the box is a bargain. As well as kit materials and instructions, there’s a few bits to add to your craft stash for other projects. April’s box contains:

The Kit Contains:
* Art gallery fabric for patchwork x 3 roughly 5×14 each”
* Lining fabric roughly 8×14”
* 8” Light blue zip
*Mint Green Flat Faux Suede Cord roughly 28”
* Vilene quiltex iron on wadding roughly 7×14”
The Bundle Contains:
* Wool blend felt in mint 5×5”
* Wool blend felt in rose 5×5”
* Wool blend felt in beige 5×5”
* Fat quarter Cotton lawn in mint
* Mint shank buttons x3
* Edged crochet trim in light blue or pink or white x 1y
* Metal dog hook
* Embroidery thread in mint
* Embroidery thread in coral

craftclubbox subscription review Crafting Fingers-5

And every month, Courtney sends subscribers a helpful emag. As well as including a peek of the box contents, the Craft Club Box emag includes a wealth of more crafting inspiration and helpful tips for the month’s sewing kit.

Read More »Sewing with Craft Club Box