Been busy decorating...

...digitally, that is. My crafting has been more in the virtual realm the last couple of weeks and I have designed some 'wallpapers' for Gathered magazine's Wallpaper of the Week!

So if you want a fabulous wallpaper for your iPad, then simply subscribe to Gathered today. It goes without saying that there's lots of great crafty projects and features to read about in there too! Keep your eyes open for more of my designs to be featured over the coming weeks...

Lu x

You spin me right round!

I'm a cover star on issue 3 of Gathered! Well it's my project (and even my hand). So if you want to make some paper fireworks that are totally safe indoors then click here to find out how you can get Gathered for your iPad.

Lu x

Spooktacular Crafting

How exciting! Check out my Halloween party kit project featured in issue 2 of Gathered by Mollie Makes. Super proud to be part of this wonderful new digital magazine, available to download to your iPad now. Click here to find out how to get crafty goodness beamed directly into your hands today. I'd love to know if you've enjoyed my project so feel free to comment below or tweet me @crafty_lu.

I've also got some more projects in upcoming issues so make sure to keep an eye out for those too. I'll blog more when the time comes...

Have a crafty Halloween!

Lu x

Fancy a cuppa?

Except you can't drink this one :(

Whilst laying out a scrumptious crochet project by Meredith Crawford of One Sheepish Girl blog fame in the Christmas issue of Mollie Makes magazine, I was prompted to finish this little project that I started aaaaages ago.

I came across this image early on in the year and I decided to try amigurumi for myself. Having only made crochet coasters and scarves before now, I knew this was going to be a bit more of a challenge. Found and tailored a pattern to my own liking and it wasn't too hard to do after all.

For fabulous patterns to follow for yourself, look out for Meredith's crochet tree ornaments in issue 21 of Mollie Makes on sale 23rd November!

Now where did I put that packet of biscuits...

Lu x

Honey, I shrunk some plastic!

And no ray gun needed. Could crafting get any cuter than this?! A very successful first attempt at using shrink plastic. A few little things I want to adjust (the colours in particular as they end up much more saturated than you expect) but I'm very proud to be wearing my ice cream necklace today. I feel a lot more food with faces designs coming on...

If you've never tried shrink plastic before, give it a go! It's so simple to do and fun too. You can see my step by step tutorial below for instructions:

Enjoy! Lu x

A model crafter

I'm so excited to finally be able to share this project with you. It was a secret for such a long time! Commissioned by O2 for their monthly phones & tariffs guide, here are my fun card models to depict the different functions available on phones. Popcorn for films, headphones for music and a camera for, well, a camera!

Here is a quick snap shot of the finished items at home:

It's a really tough call as to which is my favourite but it might just be the satellite.

Here is the first test shot taken by the photographer:

And the finished product (the cover and internal spread of the phones & tariffs guide):

Probably one of my proudest work-related moments (that's not to do with my day job). And I'm working on a couple of similar projects again now. Will tell you more about that when I can.

Lu x

Just my type

Designer-geek alert! Upon reading about Presstival on Eye magazine's blog, I instantly declared to my colleagues that this was a must-do event. To be honest I'm more a lover of letterpress products than all of the process behind it but there's something magical about looking at trays and trays of type. On 1st September 2012 the family-run Whittington Press opened the doors of its quaint premises for all to see (and stroke). And the smell took me right back to my uni days spent in the print department. 

As well as the opportunity to make your own prints and chat about all things typographical with experts on hand, there was all manner of printed items to covet (and buy). And as it was also the village fete on that day there were brass bands, raffles, cakes, best vegetable competitions and dog shows aplenty. I know I have a few more converts to take with me next year now!

I'm not sure that I even know what half of the pics below are of, but they are just so pretty:

Lu x

Welcome to my world

So it's finally happened. I've got myself a blog after a long, long time of putting off getting one because I just didn't think my life was exciting enough for others to want to read about. It probably still isn't. So I'm going to keep it simple for my first post and just share with you some lovely images relating to one of my favourite subjects - cake! Here is just a small selection of some of the cakes I have made over the last year or so.

Top row: Strawberry and white chocolate cupcakes made for The Flowerpot Gang television series, a rainbow cake for my friend's wedding, devils food cake with chocolate finger surround.

Bottom row: 6 layer milk and white chocolate extravaganza (also for the aforementioned wedding), strawberry cupcakes after icing, chocolate and strawberry cupcakes for a friend's birthday. Hmmmn a sense a strawberry theme...

That's it for my first post then. Hope to bring you more very soon from my world of cakes and makes.

Lu x