in progress

things are underway to launch my weddings page for tommorow. i thought it would be a good idea to launch it on valentines day - and this also gives me a deadline to work by which is something i am training myself to do. i decided that if i give myself deadlines i will get more things done this year.

anyway, this is a little sneek peek ....

weekend tutorial - balloon birthday card

i wanted to share some card ideas with you by way of a tutorial.
i made a similar birthday card to this one recently for a friend and it is really simple to create. it incorporates vintage papers but you can really use whatever papers or card colours you like. i hope you enjoy it!

what you will need -
1. vintage papers from old books (or whatever style papers you like) i used a 1970's floral book page
2. some card about 4 x 4 inches (10 x 10 cms)
3. a piece of stiff card about 3 x 3 inches (7.5 x 7.5 cms)
4. 3D foam dots
5. double sided tape
6. 15 x 10cms card and a matching envelope
7. happy birthday text (see instructions below for details)
8. 3 different colours of cotton thread
9. scissors * please note you will also need some pva glue too

1. cut out a balloon shape from the stiff card about 4.5 x 3 cms in size
2. using the balloon shape as a template, draw 3 balloons onto your vintage paper - being careful to only draw on the side you do not want to show (ie. reverse side)
3.cut out your shapes and then apply some pva glue to the backs (reverse side) and then glue them onto the other piece of card
4. once dry cut out your balloon shapes from the card

5. cut out one length of about 30cms from each of your thread colours
6. take one of your balloon shapes and twist the end of the thread around the bottom of the balloon three times leaving a small length at the back of the balloon
7. apply the double sided tape to the back of the balloon making sure to cover all areas of the thread
8. turn your balloon over and check that there is no tape showing on the other side - repeat with the other 2 balloons using a different colour thread for each balloon

9. on your computer or if you have a typewriter, create some 'happy birthday' text. i have a typewriter so i did mine on that but if you want a similar font from the computer you can use courier or typical writer. use around a size 9 font and print it onto some thin card. cut it out about 5 x 1.5 cms. then cut out a 6 x 2cms piece of the vintage paper and stick the happy birthday text onto it with the double sided tape so you have a matted effect (you can also just use the text alone if you like)
10. lay your matted text piece and your balloons onto the card and decide how you would like them all to be positioned
11. apply 3 sticky foam dots onto the backs of the balloons and attach them to the card. then attach the text piece over the threads making sure to pull them slightly taught. once attached snip of the ends of the thread so that they finish at the bottom of the card.
12. i used a translucent envelope as i love the effect it creates once the card is inside. i got mine from here but if you are not in Europe you could use large glassine bags from here.

i hope you enjoyed my first tutorial - if you have any questions or comments please let me know and, have a great weekend :)

vintage bags

i need a new bag for summer and have been looking on Etsy at some vintage bags. i came accross these. they are all nice and big as i always carry a lot of stuff. including, my full make up range (yes - two whole bags) usually my camera, purse, business cards, an old apple, tissues (my eyes always run when it's windy - and my nose) keys, my kindle - when i dare to take it out of the safety of the house, a few dried up tangerines, nuts - you may have noticed that i carry a lot of food , it's because i get panicky if i get hungry and there is no food at immediate use (this comes from being very well fed as a child) lots of old receipts and leaflets etc,painkillers,plasters,perfume and i think that is about it!

i love the style of these bags, they remind me of when i was a wee nipper at school and they have that 'school satchel' feel - which i like as i loved going to school. which one is your favourite?

TOP LEFT - stephanieD
TOP RIGHT - LittleBeeVintage
BOTTOM LEFT - zelda110
BOTTOM RIGHT - mellow mine

shoppe update

vintage lamp

vintage christies books , vintage monopol corkscrew & vintage penquin book sets (coming soon)

top row -antique sheet music set no. 1, no.2 & no.3

middle row - superb 1890s library of william shakespeare, 1960's christies review book set, fab morroco guide book circa 1958

bottom row - antique decorative music book cover, instant vintage bottle collection, large enamelware bowl

all availiable now in the shoppe

january sale

we currently have a sale on our handmade dolls, we are now offering up to 25% off on all dolls . these dolls are so beautiful, each dolls was sewn on our vintage sewing machine and then the clothes lovingly stiched by a local seamstress. they make lovely decorative items for your home or nursery. the children dolls were originally inspired by this website - so many sad stories, how different things were in those days.

also, our typewriter postcard sets and single typewriter postcards  are now reduced too, the sets are now available at £4.50 ( $7) and the single cards are now £2 each ($3) - hurry though, they won't be around for long.

vintage wedding range - inspiration

hope you are all having a lovely festive season. i just cant stay away from here and i am brimming with new ideas for 2011 and one of which is to start a new line in wedding invitations / wedding suites. i have had people request my love cards be converted into wedding invitations before so i thought - why not just add some wedding invitations to the shoppe. my friend Becca runs a high class catering company and is looking into having 'vintage tea party weddings' with this in mind i thought i would surf the net for some inspiration along that theme and share them here with all of you.

as i have mentioned here - i will also be looking for vintage finds that would be ideal for wedding decor and i will be sharing with you some tutorials and diy tips for a stunning vintage style weddings. here is a lovely diy project involving vintage wall paper from 100 layer cake a wedding inspiration blog full of wonderful ideas such as these rather apt vintage teacup favors.

i love the above picture with the rustic vintage furniture and - those recipie cards make amazing favours. what i love about vintage / diy themed weddings is that you do not need to spend a fortune for it to look wonderful. your local car boots, charity shops and antique fairs have an abundance of old furniture, crockery, cutlery and other unique details  - so there is no need to break the bank. 
for more ideas on vintage themed weddings here are some more of my favourite websites - some even feature real weddings to inspire you.

elizabeth anne designs  
www.ruffledblog.com
www.snippetandink.com
www.stylemepretty.com.

above collage - 
left - www.pinkfrosting.au.com                       

right - www.countryliving.com

middle and bottom collages -
all from www.100layercake.com

Have a Happy Christmas and a Wonderful New Year

hello to all of my blog readers, facebook fans, twitterers and of course - wonderful customers. thankyou so much for this year, i have met some lovely people via sepia smiles and the blog and etsy community. i am really grateful for all of your support and i look forward to an even more amazing 2011. have a wonderful christmas and an excellent new year! see you soon :) xx

above photo is from one of my very favourite blogs - www.bloesom.blogs.com