A Valentines card that's close to my heart

I can hardly believe it's almost Valentines Day. This year once again I'm making my card to MOH and this year I'm sharing it early - and he's under strict instructions not to read this post until after the event!

For all of my cards I like simple and strong designs and this card is no different. The part of it that's close to my heart, is that I've reused old magazines and made them into something pretty special.  Throughout this post I'm also going to share more about my new craft light from Iconic Lights. It's brilliant.

GETTING STARTED

1. I started with some colourful pages from an old magazine and cut them into oblongs around 5cm x 12cm - just large enough to cover my heart die.

My plan was to roll these pieces of paper up and stick them onto a piece of backing card, and then use my die cutting machine to cut a heart shape.

If you don't have a die cutting machine you can follow a similar approach but you'll need to draw a heart template and cut that out by hand.

2. I used a small amount of PVA Craft glue as I rolled each piece of paper up to stop it unrolling as soon as I'd turned my back, and then attached them to some scrap backing card using the same glue.  

Already you can see how the pattern is building up, and while you only see part of the magazine page I think it's interesting watching the pattern develop.

Before we carry on with the card, let me tell you more about my new light from Iconic Lights. I am clearly using it as a craft lamp, but it's more regularly known as a 'Stell' LED Telescopic Adjustable Desk Lamp. It comes in black and white and folds flat when not in use - so a mega-plus if you're using it for a specific purpose, like me and don't have room to keep it on show all the time.

It gives out a decent amount of light and really helped me focus on the close work. At £18 I think it's very reasonable and am considering buying some as presents for fellow crafters.

Here's a few photos of it fully extended, unextended, tilted and folded flat. What I especially like about this lightweight light is the telescopic bits which remind me of telescopic aerials we used to get on radios - perhaps they still exist, but I don't have those any more.

FULLY EXTENDED

UNEXTENDED

TILTED

AND FOLDED FLAT

Right, back to the card.

3. Once you have stuck sufficient rolled paper pieces to cover your die or template, it's time to leave it to dry. If you're using a die cutting machine you can place it under a large book (or something equally heavy) while it dries, but if you're cutting your shape by hand be careful about how much weight you add, or you'll flatten your rolls of paper.

The rolls of paper will flatten in the die cutting machine which is why it is less important to keep the shape at this stage.

4. Now all that you need to do is to attach your newly created heart to a blank card. I've chosen a brown card to reflect the recycled nature of my card, and I think it shows off the heart well. 

It really is as easy as that.  And as with my other cards, the possibilities are endless - who knows how else I use this technique. I'm pretty sure I'll be using it again though.

What green Valentines crafts are you planning this year?

I was sent the Stell LED Telescopic Adjustable Desk Lamp to review as part of my role as one of Iconic Lights' approved blogging ambassadors, but all views and opinions are my own.

Introducing the Loo Series...

Yes, it seems I have a thing for loos, specifically their decor.  Remember those fancy-pants ones at One Marylebone?  Well this weekend I spotted a trend when I found myself snapping pictures of the decor of the loos in the new Flat Iron in Covent Garden.

We'd had a busy day in town Sunday. MOH had run in the 10k Winter Run and then we'd popped up to the Alessi store to buy some new tableware. Well after all of that, and despite the croissant in Paul, we were both rather peckish, so we headed over to the new Flat Iron in Covent Garden with the hope that there wouldn't be a queue longer than all of our arms put together.

We were in luck, there wasn't a queue at all and we were quickly shown to our table. The menu there is fairly easy to navigate - flat iron steaks, house salad are de rigeur and along with some fries and a side dish of green veg, I'm easily sorted. So leaving these instructions with MOH I headed off to find the toilets - coffee and a pint of beer, followed by lots of walking necessitated a visit.

There wasn't a queue there either, and just as well really or else I'd have looked a right oddball taking these pictures. 

At first I was struck by the funkiness - and well let's be honest, the hardware shop approach, to the taps. They worked well with the trough sink - there were four taps along the length of the sink. And then I took more time to take in my surroundings and they were quite something.

The colour of the tiles for one. Gorgeous aren't they?

A wire basket for hand towels.

And the cubicle doors were great too.  It's not the best photo as well, I hadn't really expected to find myself taking these pictures but with an empty ladies and one looking so funky I just had to.

Remembering the real reason we were in the restaurant - yes to eat - I eventually went back upstairs and arrived back at the table to MOH's questioning look. I'm still not sure he totally got it, even when I showed him the photos - maybe one day when I'm angling for copper pipe taps in a bathroom of ours he'll click, maybe not.

Anyway it's not just the loos at Flat Iron that are fab, the restaurant's decor is pretty cool too. It clicked for me as it mixes old and new so well, something I'd love to be able to do more of at home. Just look at this floor.

And the tiles in the window (to the right of the picture). I'm including this picture because, the blocks are actually bars of chocolate. You can just see some shavings in the foreground, when we left we left with an ice cream rolled in this chocolate - it was heavenly.

So back at the table, with steaks and wine ordered I was still enthusing about the loos. That is until I saw the light above our table...

Yes, wow. Just wow.

A great place. The decor's a mix of modern and reclaimed with a hint of quirky. And the steaks are good too. If you're in Covent Garden stop in, but be prepared to queue.  The worst that can happen is a cocktail while you're waiting - if anyone asks, tell them I said it's the rules!

And the next time I find some fancy loos, I'll be sure to share them with you!

Some shiny Alessi table accessories

On Sunday after enjoying a celebratory pint with MOH following his 10k run we took advantage of being in town and headed off to the Alessi flagship store for a spot of shopping. Well it would have been rude not to. 

You see, with a new table on the way we decided we wanted some new table accessories. Our new table is white glass, so we wanted something equally modern - but still practical - to show it off and after some pre-shopping internet browsing soon settled on something chrome. 

It's very likely - given our current behaviour - that we'll leave a couple of coasters on the table at all times, so we wanted some that we'd be proud to leave there. We left the Alessi store with these:

They were a bit of a bargain. They were only two in the shop and both were ex-display, so we were offered - and accepted - a discount on these.

That was handy as we hadn't finished selecting our purchases just yet.

We were also keen to buy some kind of centrepiece. We often have fruit on the table but wanted an upgrade to our Denby bowl that we currently use. There's nothing wrong with it, but a new table called for something else.

And while we wanted something practical - to put fruit in still - I didn't want another bowl to store somewhere when it wasn't in use. This Blow Up Basket (which doesn't blow up at all) was perfect for us. 

I haven't unpacked it yet, so you'll have to make do with a picture of the box!  With fruit in it's a fruit bowl. And without fruit it's a kind of modern art sculpture. Perfect.

And I finally got around to buying the trivet I've been lusting after since I saw it at the Christmas in July event I went to, erm last July.

It really is very clever as it'll fit any size dish - you just place the knobbly, jack-like pieces so they fit under your dish.

And yes, the man in the shop knew what I meant when I asked for the Jacks trivet - he had to explain it to his assistant after we left. In case you're struggling with the Jacks comparison, take a look here.

So a successful trip, and we managed to leave the shop without looking at the cutlery or buying one of their iconic juicers. Although for the latter it was a very close call...

I think MOH was expecting to also leave with some new place mats. And while I don't like to disappoint we already have two sets and really don't need another. I do have a plan though for giving one set a bit of a revamp. I think I should have enough time before the table and chairs arrive to put that plan into action.

Until then, I think I'm done with table-related shopping.

Can you hear MOH sigh with relief?