new card designs

I have some new card design available on my etsy store now ( www.etsy.com/shop/penpaperscissors )

I really enjoyed using my new tablet to do these, I actually can't believe I never used it before!!

DIY- detachable peter pan collar

1.ASOS 2.Topshop 3.Kate Spade 4.Moschino

Click image above for downloadable collar pattern.

Supplies:

Fabric- You don't need much at all so its great for using up scraps.

Iron on interfacing

Thread and a needle

Ribbon- About 60cm should be enough

Sewing Machine 

Pins

Iron

Fabric flowers, beads, sequins or whatever else you want to embellish your collar with.

Instructions:

1. Cut out collar pattern, adding 1cm seam allowance. Pin the pattern on to the fabric and cut around it. Do this four times.

2. Cut off seam allowance from pattern, pin to interfacing and cut around four times.

3. Iron on piece of interfacing on to the wrong side of each bit of fabric. The bobbly side of the interfacing should face down on the fabric.

4. Sew on any embellishments to the front two pieces of the collar.

5. Pin the front and back of each side of the collar together with the wrong sides facing each other. Sew around the outside of the interfacing leaving a gap at the end where the ribbon will go. Cut a zig zag or little triangles on the fabric around the stitching.

6. Turn inside out using a paintbrush or something similar. 

7. Cut ribbon in two. Fold over the open edges and put the ribbon in. Iron in place. Carefully sew the end shut with the ribbon inside. Repeat this for the other side of the collar.

8. Sew the two sides of the collar together in the middle with a few discreet stitches. I put another fabric flower over the stitches but you could put a bead, jewel brooch or whatever there.

Et voilà!

diy-studded collar

Adding studs is a great way to update and add a little detail to any clothes and accessories. I bought these triangular gold studs on ebay really cheaply, about £3 for 50. It was really easy and quick to do and I still have about 40 left so I'm going to have a lot of studded stuff!

Place the studs pointy side down on the fabric and push through.

Push down the points, I used scissors to do this. Keep adding as many studs as you like. I just did a few on each side but you could do a collar or make a pattern. 

styling ideas: ribbons and bows

Ribbons are great for adding a bit of colour and detail to your look. Heres a few ideas how to style ribbons....

 As seen here I have a few canvas bags I bought a while ago and hadn't done anything with so I've been trying to come up with a few ideas to jazz them up a bit! I didn't use fabric paint for this but acrylic seems ok, I just ironed it once it was dry and will make sure I wash it inside out. Also as its only a bag I wasn't concerned with it being stiff, where as with clothing you'd want it to be soft. 

Firstly use masking tape to mark out your pattern, this will work as a stencil. I cut strips of tape in half for the smaller parts of the pattern.

Then fill in all the shapes with paint. Watch out when painting over the tape and make sure its flat down on the fabric so you don't get any paint under the tape and mess up you're lovely design.

It doesn't take very long to dry so be patient! I had to distract myself whilst I waited and as soon as it was dry I peeled the tape off. I wasn't sure how this was going to turn out but I was pleasantly surprised and I am definitely using this next time I go out.

This Topshop tassel bag charms are such a simple way of brightening up a plain bag and are just gorgeous. I have a tan bag I love but would be even better with a bit of colour, so I've done a little DIY on how to make you're own.

All you need is 3m of leather cord, although this would also look good with maybe a suede or any other similar cord, a glue gun and a charm clip. I used a glue gun to secure the cord around the top of the tassel  but you could also tie it and secure it with a few stitches. 

Cut the cord in half and half again until each bit of cord is twice the length you want the tassel (about 18cm). So when you fold it in half to secure it its the right length.

Thread a few of the cords ( or all but one of them if you have a large clip) through the bottom of the clip.

Then tie the remaining piece of cord around the rest close to the clip in the middle.

 Put glue around the top of the tassel and wrap the knotted piece of cord over the glue around the tassel. I was a bit messy with mine but the glue can be easily peeled off once its dry.

glue gun

OK this might be really sad but I'm so excited about owning a PINK glue gun! When people at work asked me what I was getting for my birthday and I mentioned this ^^ , "Oh..right...?" was the general reaction but who cares?! I love my new glue gun, thank you mum!

nail art

feather earrings diy

I used:

Black feathers, Beads, Earring loops, Connectors, Jewellery making pliers, Thin wire, Chain

Thread one bead on to the wire and wrap the wire around the bead and secure at the top of the bead. Then add the chain, loop both ends of the chain over the top wire. Then add the second bead and wrap the rest of the wire around the top of the feather.

Close the connector over the part of the feather with the wire wrapped around it and connect the earring loop to the connector. And thats it!

diane von furstenberg nails