Bespoke Sparkles // Montana and Sapphire Crystal Jewellery

I'm a little behind with sharing some of the bespoke jewellery orders I've completed recently and thought it was about time I crossed 'Bespoke Blue jewellery' off my To Blog list! 

I love this blue set with Montana, Light Sapphire and Clear Swarovski crystals. It's always nice to work with different colours and crystals than the birthstone Swarovski crystals I normally work with . I really do love making designs like this with plenty of wire wrapping. I love starting with a pile of beads and some wire and turning it all into beautiful jewellery. I love the finished look that wire wrapped loops give -they are also more secure than simple loops that haven't been wrapped. 

Fancy a bespoke design of your own? Get in touch with your ideas and we can work on creating a beautiful and unique piece just for you. 

Google reader is coming to an end soon,  
to stay up to date don't forget to 

Recipes // Spicy Lentil and Carrot Soup

Despite it being May we've not said goodbye to soups just yet - some days the weather just isn't for salads! On Saturday my parents came to visit. We had no plans and as lunchtime neared I offered to provide lunch knowing that I had a bag of carrots that needed using up. So, grating around 7-8 carrots wasn't all that much fun, but apart from that the Spicy carrot and lentil soup recipe I've used a few times from the BBC Good Food website is a winner. I'm not a yoghurt eater, so we omitted that part and opted for a crusty baguette instead of naan bread, but I do love this soup. 

I have to say that I do love the Good Food website for recipes. I've tried a number of the recipes on there and just once have I been let down. I love that you can read through people's comments and often find great ways to tweak a recipe to make it even better. 

What's your favourite source for recipes online? 

Google reader is coming to an end soon,  
to stay up to date don't forget to 

DIY // Washi Tape Gift Bag and Birthday Card

There was a time when I did a lot of paper crafting, in fact I did a lot of crafts in general. Then I found I simply didn't have time for everything and I wanted and needed to focus my time on Poppy Sparkles - making jewellery and promoting it. As my babies are just that bit easier and less time consuming, and to be honest they aren't really babies, but as I tell them "you'll always be my babies" I'm finding myself itching to get back to a spot of crafting. It would appear that my time spent on Pinterest hasn't been wasted and I've totally adopted the trend for washi tape and feeling all inspired with a variety of ideas.

This DIY is really easy. Literally three strips of washi tape to jazz up a plain white gift bag. I added a heart which you could personalise with a stamped initial. I thought this might be a neat idea for party favour bags or a birthday gift bag which was my original intention.

With birthday party invitations for both Miss P and J coming in I'm finding that I'm really getting through birthday cards and it's spurring me on to return to making cards again - it's cheaper, but so much more personal. First up was making a matching card for my gift bag. I used the same washi tapes to decorate and then simply added a stamped 'happy birthday'. Of course, this doesn't have to be a birthday card - stamp any message you wish to make this a card for any occasion. 

If you give this a go why not post a picture on Instagram and tag me (@poppysparkle) - I'd love to see your creations. 

Twist handle gift bag - I buy these from Ebay

White card - I make my own card blanks from 300gsm A4 white card

'Happy birthday' stamp by Penny Black (I've had this for ages!)

Versa color ink in Peony 

Washi tapes from Superlovely and Washitapes.co.uk

Large Heart Paper punch

Miniature wooden peg

Please feel free to pin and share this DIY craft idea, but link back here to the original blog post. 

Do you love to make cards and craft? What are your favourite materials?

Google reader is coming to an end soon,  
to stay up to date don't forget to 

Inspiring Words // What is this life if, full of care, we have no time to stand and stare?

Busy, busy, busy. Rush, rush, rush. We all seem to be busy, rushing from one thing to the next, usually distracted by checking our mobiles in the process of rushing. And what are we missing when we are so consumed by being busy? 

Commuters in Washington were put to the test in 2007 in a social experiment by the Washington Post when Joshua Bell played incognito in a Washington metro station. A world famous violinist, Bell played several masterpieces as over 1000 commuters passed by. A few paused briefly, a few threw him a dollar or so for his efforts. A three year old appeared to recognise the talent, but was dragged away by his mother. So busy in their rush to work the majority of the people who passed by Bell, who can command $100 per seat for his performances, barely slowed as they passed and some failed to even register the internationally acclaimed virtuoso. 

It is perhaps a dramatic example, but it makes the point. We need to slow down and stop rushing. But, just how much beauty are we all missing? It's one of the reasons I love Instagram. I love seeing the beauty that other's have seen and also seeking it out myself to share with those who follow me. Blossom and blue skies have been popular recently. Just be careful that you are not so busy looking at Instagram that you miss the beauty around you. 

I hope you like the pink in this week's print. Miss P was upset that she wasn't allowed to help daddy on his race car, so I let her 'help' me. When asked to pick a colour it had to be pink. A small price to pay to make her happy!

This print is free to download and print for personal use, for your home, business or give aways. Please do not repackage to sell. 

For best results, download and save the file to your computer and then print from the saved file. 

I'd love for you to pin or share this print, please link here to the original blog post. 

If you love this, have your seen the other free printables in my Inspiring Words series. Check back next Sunday for another free print. 

Do you need to slow down? What little moments of beauty have you observed lately?

Have a lovely Sunday and remember to take time to stand and stare, 

Google reader is coming to an end soon,  

to stay up to date don't forget to 

Giveaway // Name Art Personalised Gifts

Personalised gifts are such a lovely way to show you care and know the person for whom you are buying and Charis of Name Art has this idea at the heart of her business with names cleverly hidden within the picture being at the core of her work. 

I particularly love the personalised kids' items. My own children have their own personalised place mats and coasters. They adore these especially because they have their names on them giving them a sense of ownership and pride. 

The Name Art Footprint™ prints are a popular choice and make a lovely gift for Mother's Day, Father's Day or to welcome a family into their new home. 

There's a whole host of beautiful and personalised gifts on the Name Art website from mugs and coasters to clothing and prints for your home. Charis has it all covered included lovely gift ideas for teacher thank you gifts and wedding presents. 

Charis has very kindly donated an unframed 25cm x 25cm personalised print of your choice to one lucky winner. Entry is simple via the rafflecopter - good luck! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Do you know someone who would love a personalised Name Art print? Then share this give away with them! 

Google reader is coming to an end soon,  

to stay up to date don't forget to 

Inspiring Words // FREE Iphone wallpaper

Don't let anyone ever dull your sparkle iPhone wallpaper

Hello my Sparkles, 

I was up early this morning and it wasn't my kids fault. Let's just say my husband wasn't the quietest getting ready for his early start for work today! Rather than grump or moan about it I carried on with some plans I have to improve my newsletter. You know, the one I rarely sent out and has been on an extended haitus?! Well, that is set to change after been inspired by the Oh My Handmade post on newsletters by Aeolidia  and I'm working on some fab ideas and exclusives for those signed up to the newsletter. Go on, click 'newsletter' in the menu bar at the top and get yourself on that list to be sure to be among the first to receive these exclusives! 

Part of my plans led me to photoshop and having a go at creating my own iphone wallpaper. I'm pleased to report that I did it! To celebrate I'm offering this 'Don't let anyone ever dull your sparkle' wallpaper for iphones FREE! If you'd prefer a larfer version to add to your pinn board, then see the original Don't let anyone ever dull your sparkle post. Otherwise click here to get your iphone wallpaper: 

This wallpaper is free to download and use on your mobile (it's set to fit an iphone, but may work on other devices depending on the measurements). 

To install on your iphone, 

1. download the jpeg and save to your iphone's camera roll. You can email it to yourself from your computer. 

2. Go to settings, then Brightness & wallpaper. Then select your saved image as your wallpaper from your camera roll.

3. Enjoy being inspired to 'Never let anyone ever dull your sparkle'! 

Feel free to share and pin this, but please link back here to the original blog post. 

Are there any other of the insipiring words series that you would like to see as an iphone wallpaper? Or would you like to know how to create your own? Perhaps I should do a tutorial? 

Keep Sparkling! 

Google reader is coming to an end soon,  
to stay up to date don't forget to 

Fashion on a Budget // Thrifted Wardrobe finds

In a bid to reign in our clutter I'm gradually sorting going through the house to remove the things we no longer use, wear or have a use for. There's been a few trips to our local charity shop (Thrift Store for the American readers) and I can't help but take a look. Don't panic, I'm mindful of the fact I'm trying to de-clutter not add more! 

Last week I found a delightful swishy red and white skirt. It's a perfect fit and I have so many ideas for how to wear it - casual with a vest and denim jacket and ballerina pumps, smart with a white shirt and maybe even a little dressy with smart shoes. 

I returned again this week and couldn't help but have a look through the clothing rails again in case there was anything new. A few things caught my eye, sadly a few were in the wrong size, but I did score two lovely dresses. I love the bold floral one - not something I would normally buy, but at £5.99 it's worth a try. I'm going to get a big wide belt in white to define it more and then a bright pink twin set style cardigan in case I wear it when it's chilly. 

And the floaty dress from Topshop is on course to work hard! Cute in the Spring with a denim jacket, cool in the summer with sandals and layered up with tights and boots in the Autumn. Another bargain at just £5.99. 

If you're wondering where all the ideas for how to wear my new clothes came from, then it's the Putting Me Together blog. I had a read through of her Building a Remixable Wardrobe series and it really helped. I actually went and tried on a dress I bought in a sale ages ago that lacked shape and was about to hit the 'send to the charity shop' pile, popped a belt on and viola! Instantly it looked better and is now staying in my wardrobe.

Do you go thrifting and buy clothes from Charity shops? What are your top tips for budding thrifters?