Lotts and Lots | Making the everyday beautiful

Three Egg-cellent DIY's for Easter

Thursday, 18 April 2019

I love the Easter weekend, four days off and the summer stretching ahead - its my favourite. Less stressful than Christmas its the perfect weekend to get a little crafty. I've rounded up a few of my favourite Spring projects if you're looking for some inspiration. There are more on my Instagram stories too, if you fancy a look. Have a lovely weekend and let's hope the sun shines.

Spring Gift Wrapping - Love this one, it works for all Spring gifting and not just Easter

Fabric Bunny Easter Eggs - Easily one of my favourite Easter tutorials I've made, so simple I'm going to dot these around my bunch table this Sunday.

Floating Driftwood Shelf - The internet loves this tutorial, its been one of my most shared. If you're heading to the beach at the weekend look out for driftwood that could be used to make a simple floating shelf, then fill with treasures throughout the summer.

Happy making! x

DIY - Really Easy Easter Egg Party Cups

Sunday, 7 April 2019

I love Easter making - spring colours, baby animals and abundance of chocolate definitely coax me out of my cosy winter hibernation and up into my craft room. Stanley and I put these super easy Easter Egg Party Cups together for his preschool teachers last week. I couldn't resist using a few of the pretty cups (I've used these Neon Edge and Coral Stripe) I used for my Spring Celebration Table and some left over tissue from my Confetti gift wrapping. So simple to make, you cut a square of tissue big enough so that it pokes out the top of the cup, line the cup with tissue so that it pokes out the top, add confetti and then fill with Easter treats and small easter animals. I found my rabbits and eggs in TK Maxx (I choose based on aesthetics only but they are delicious) plus a few from good old M&S. I think these would look great as part of an Easter table, placed on each setting or down the centre of mixed with spring flowers. I also think they would look fabulous on a treat table (if they last that long!). If you're up for a sugar high then these are great to make with children over the holidays. Happy making! x

Thanks to Other Letters for lending me the cups and plates for this tutorial, concept, photography all me.

Inspired Spring Celebration Table with Alice and Rosa

Wednesday, 3 April 2019

I'm absolutely delighted to share this Spring Celebration Table collaboration I recently styled and photographed with the exceptionally talented Alice and Rosa - just look at those stunning cakes! We wanted to create a table that was both inspiring and achievable, we designed it as a children's party table but it'd work just as well for bridal and baby showers as it would for a cake table at a spring time wedding.

I created some beautiful details that I'll be sharing with you in the coming weeks, the table topper and simple streamer back drop were surprisingly easy to put together and I must say I adored bringing this project to life. I started the whole set up with a layered tablecloth, choosing a blush base (this one was from a charity shop), then a patterned layer. I used a metre and a half of Shine Blue Black - from M is for Make which I can't recommend enough, beautiful fabrics and super speedy delivery. Finishing everything off with a dusty green tablecloth from H&M . I made sure everything was really slouchy and slightly crumpled, I was inspired by unmade beds but also the fact that nothing stays perfect with children around ;-)! Focusing the layers at one end of the table takes the detail from floor to table top.

The cakes were the main event, and if you've been following me for a while my general rule for throwing a party is to buy a beautiful cake serving it with tea and bubbles for an afternoon celebration. I lucked out with this trio - I can't believe such gorgeous cakes actually exist and were in my home! Caro decorated each one in a spring time meadow design which sat perfectly with the table and we displayed them on simple white cake stands which are always a worthwhile investment.

For the rest of the table I scattered the handpainted honeycomb balls over the table and finished with the loveliest partyware from my favourite party people Other Letters. I used a mix of Neon Edge Pastel Cups and Mint Striped Pastel cups "casually" stacked and tipped near the cakes. A stack of Round Neon Edge and Small Mint Stripe plates joined these Pastel Neon Edge and Yay Sparkle napkins (which I LOVE) and not forgetting a mix of paper straws (I love these gold and pale pink ones).

I absolutely loved working on this project, Caro was such a lovely lady to work with and full of such talent, I can't wait to share the rest of details with you all. xx

Concept - Alice and Rosa and Lotts and Lots
Photography & Styling - Me
Partywarekindly supplied by Other Letters

DIY - Watercolour Gift Tags

Wednesday, 20 March 2019

I can spend days thinking about a DIY but often the best ones happen organically. These watercolour and ribbon gift tags are a result of some simple breakfast crafting with Milly and Stanley. We were making birthday cards at my mums a few weeks ago - as fun as painting with a three and one year old can be the results always end up a little muddy. Before the paints got totally mixed Milly managed a rather nice sludgy palette, it didn’t make the birthday card grade but chopped up it transformed itself into these gift tags. When I got home I added some peachy ribbon from my odds box and made ribbon from a scrap of cotton. Voila! Beautiful gift tags ready to go. Happy Making! xx

Styling work with Other Letters

Sunday, 17 March 2019

Can’t believe it’s been almost a year since this project happened, talk about time flying. Last year I worked some amazing local ladies - party people Other Letters, dream cakes, My Petite Kitchen and super photographer Anna - to style this pretty scene. Commissioned by Lionheart magazine our theme was happy, and what could be happier than spring colours, beautiful cake and a gift wrapping DIY*?!

You can buy your copy of Lionheart issue 10 here.

*perhaps a nights sleep ;-)

Three DIY's to put a spring in your step

Thursday, 14 March 2019

I’m really enjoying revisiting old tutorials and posts at the moment I used to work at such a pace that I never shared what I created as much as I should have. Here are a few March favourites if the glimpses of spring we’ve had got you feeling creative...

Rose Gold and Semi Precious Stone Hoop Earrings - I wear these constantly

A Beginners Guide to Growing Flowers - Now is the time to get those seeds going

Watercolour Flower Card - My mum still talks about this one (five years on!)

Happy Making! xx

I have this thing with tablecloths

Monday, 11 March 2019

I was on Instagram stories talking about tablecloths and I got SO many comments - turns out there is a lot to talk about. I've grown up with tablecloths signifying an event - whether that be Sunday lunch at my Gran's when she got out a special lace tablecloth or a birthday with a cake and candles. A cloth on the table always made a gathering into a special occasion. I thought everyone knew about tablecloths but talking to friends (IRL) and chatting online, it turns out not everyone's in on the tablecloth chat.

If you've followed me for a while then you'll know that most table setting posts start with a tablecloth. I buy mine (stripes are always a winner) mainly from charity and second hand shops for a few pounds, I also bought a stack of pretty embroidered ones for my wedding from Ebay. In addition to charity shop treasures, H&M Home have a great variety at really reasonable prices as do places like TK Maxx, Homesense and Tiger. If you're looking to start a collection I'd go for white as it always looks clean and fresh or something textured and neutral like a soft blush pink (I personally count pink as a neutral because it does go with everything) or any shade of grey. I also like to buy plain lengths of cotton fabric from Ikea and dye it to suit my table setting.

A tablecloth always forms the basis of a pretty table plus it hides the fused on Weetabix. It instantly creates the mood for the rest of the setting where you can then have fun layering plates, glassware, candles and flowers on top. I've gone through my archives to show you some of my favourite ways I've laid my dining room table over the years, its really fun to look back plus its given me some new ideas for tables to come. As always I really hope it inspires you to make your everyday beautiful.