DIY: Paint Your Own Folder

As I get ready to head back to uni next week I have the very important task of buying all my new stationary (who doesn't love a good old stationary shop!). This year, after seeing some plain brown cardboard lever arches in Hobby Craft, I got my creative hat on and had a go at painting my own designs onto the front and back. The perfect way to add a bit of fun and colour to an otherwise boring file for all my lecture notes!

I find the best paint to use on this type of material is acrylic paint. The thicker consistency of acrylics means you get a great solid colour without have to add 100 coats! I added two coats of the paint on the base of each folder and found I only needed one coat when painting on the individual patterns. On the colourful flower folder, as well as some sections of the stripy folder, I used a sponge to create more of a tie dye background. I also added some glitter glue and gems to one of the folders to give it that much needed sparkly girly touch! I picked up all these materials from Hobby Craft too.

What do you think of my d.i.y folders? Have you got creative at all this summer?

Thanks for reading!

Sam x

Make Your Own Flower Crown

I am loving a flower crown at the moment and I have seen lots around, but I either don't like the colours of the flowers or feel they are slightly too big. Therefore I decided to try and make my very own flower crown so that I could make it exactly how I wanted! If you want to find out exactly how I made my flower crown keep reading!

What will you need?

In order to make your own flower crown you will need a selection of flowers in colours of your choice (I used flowers which were attached to hair bands and cut them off), a plain head band and some felt. You will also need a glue gun/ fast drying glue and some scissors. 

Making the flower crown:

To begin with you will need to cut some of the felt into tear shape pieces. These will be used to attach the flowers to the head band.

Next you need to take a flower, place some glue onto the back and press it onto the head band. I held it in place for about 30 seconds in order to ensure it did not move and slide to one side.

Using a piece of felt I placed glue on one end and pushed it onto the side of the flower. I then glued the other end and pulled it round to the other side of the flower. Ensure that the felt is tight around the head band.

Complete these steps on each flower until you have the desired amount on the head band. I put enough flowers to cover the entire headband, leaving a small gap at the bottom so the head band would comfortably fit behind my ears.

And there you have your very own flower crown! I hope you enjoyed this mini tutorial and if you make one be sure to let me know in the comments below!

Until next time, Samantha xx