Last week was a tough week for someone very special to my son Ciarán, so we decided she deserved a little Valentines gift from him.
We know she loves hearts so we decided a nice bright colourful heart for her new house would be perfect for her. A small box canvas, some paint, bright doodles and a bit of spare time on a rainy Saturday afternoon gave us this.  
Hope she likes it!

I saw this idea on a random blog a while ago and really wanted to try it.  
When I finally found a Dublin Street map I liked the colours of in a charity shop (in Schull, SW Cork - one of the furthest places in Ireland from Dublin) I was delighted I could.
The first section of map is where my husband grew up, the second is where I grew up and the next two are where our two homes together have been.
I cut them into a heart shape (I really need to experiment with new shapes) and float-mounted them in a box frame.
I think it's a nice memento to have but we better never move house or I am scuppered.

My husband has gone to the pub, and when that happens I usually end up trying out a project that I have had on the long finger for an even longer time....accompanied with wine.  

Tonight I nosed around and found this box of bits from a broken watch I bought on ebay months ago.  
I wanted to make it into something new and sparkly and thought of the classic heart.
After lots of glueing and cursing, and cursing and glueing I ended up with this little picture frame and I really really like it.  

My fingers are now glued together and half a watch is glued to my kitchen table but at least it's transformed.  Voilà!!

I've been getting a few requests for Fathers day gifts, so here are a few ideas.
The Scrabble pictures can be done with any background and any tile.  
The Stars and Hearts can also be any colour and wording.
Just get in touch if you'd like to order any and make your Da very happy this year :)

I have a box full of all bits and bobs I've picked up along the way. There's steam punk cogs, wooden houses, pressed flowers, letterpress stamps the list goes on.
I've no idea what I'm going to do with them, but I hope inspiration comes from somewhere.
I got some free time this morning while the kids are off swimming to make this picture I've been dying to do.  
I used replica old typewriter keys and float mounted them onto the backing.  I think I need to hang it by my front door so it can be my mantra for the day.

Since I started making scrabble pictures I've kept all the scraps of paper and card stock that were left over when making a picture.  I had no idea what I was going to use them for but I hate throwing things out.  It's now got to the stage they're taking over my workroom wardrobe, so I had to think of something.
Last week I had the idea of a patchwork tree, so I chopped up some of the paper to make leaves and trunk, spent hours arranging  and voila! I am now the proud owner of a patchwork tree :)  

I've had this idea in my head for a while and tonight I got time to see how it would look.
My lovely husband shaped some small wooden blocks for me, I painted them and put the letters on.  
A few colour attempts later and I *think* I'm happy with the finished result.  
I'm looking forward to seeing how it looks in our cold blustery daylight.

I came home today to a lovely surprise, my husband had hung the cog picture I made us, and he picked the perfect spot. 

It's now in the kitchen and the kids are already asking which "spiky thing" is them.

I got some really nice mails about the picture and a lot of needling to sell them, so I've decided to make them for anyone who'd like one.

They're €25 and the family name can be typed, written or stamped along the bottom.  
Choice of colour background and white or black frame.

It's nearly Valentines and I've been busy making 'LOVE' pictures for people, but there are plenty more romantic ways to show love with scrabble tiles :)

I have some vintage Wooden tiles with rare red lettering, which I think would be lovely in a frame. Maybe I'll make one for my valentine, although our house is now heaving with scrabble pictures and paper cuttings I've made him, the lucky man.

On the way are some stamped wooden hearts that can be hung, and little wooden hearts in a frame, along with some other ideas I have tinkering around in my head.  Now all I need is the precious time to make them.

When I started my scrabble pictures, I had all my 'stuff' in a corner of my daughters tiny bedroom. 
Then it spread....
First it took over her wardrobe, which is now home to the scrabble tiles (nearly 20 different kinds last time I counted), papers, glues and tools.  
Then it took over her cot when she moved out of it, to home the frames, and then it slowly took over the remaining floor space. 
She moved into her big sisters room before Christmas and now her box bedroom is filled to the rafters with frames, mounts, bubble wrap, cardboard, bags, baskets, and the "workroom" wardrobe. 
I am crossing my fingers and toes that this is the end of the spread. Otherwise we're going to have to move to a bigger house.