Button Rings

For rings which are as cute as a button, start with ring blanks which you can source from online jewellery suppliers or craft stores. Take your favourite buttons, beads, trinkets or scrabble letters and use a strong glue to secure them. I like to use Loctite Gel glue or similar which you can find from the hardware. For a silver border around your button, glue down a metal washer first - again you can pick these up from the hardware and they come in various sizes. Leave your completed rings over-night to set before wowing your friends with your glam creations.

Add a touch of 'Chanel' chic to your specs with a simple chain that's really easy to make. The chain I used came from the hardware. It's made by Zenith and is called Watchmaker's Chain. Just cut the length you need, open the end links with pliers then attach rubber grips which you can buy in small packs from art and craft stores. Use thin ribbon in your chosen colour and a tapestry needle to thread it all the way along, weaving in and out of each link. Finish the ends with small bows and add a few charms as well.

I travel around a fair bit, and lately I have been lucky enough to have seen parts of Australia I have never been to. Just last week I headed up to Queensland to host some events and this was the stunning view from my hotel room in Hervey Bay. What a pretty part of the world, I would so love to see the whales when they swim through. It turns my creative head to all things coastal. Hmmmm I feel some beachy ideas coming. Watch this space!

Logies Win

A big congratulations to all of my friends from Better Homes and Gardens for our 2010 Logie Award for best lifestyle show. It was an amazing night, very glamorous and lots of fun to catch up with everyone. All of the girls looked stunning as always. For us it was lovely to swap our usual work gear for a little glitz and sparkle. Well done everyone!

Butterfly Pillow

When the weather turns cool I love making my home cosy and inviting. This was a plain white cushion which I layered up with a piece of felt. I started by cutting a square of cream felt to size and then I ironed on a piece of HeatnBond paper to the felt (you can buy this from sewing shops). I drew butterflies across the paper and carefully cut them out, not completely, with small, sharp scissors. I ironed this to the cushion case taking care not to affix all of the butterfly wings so some appear in flight. Easy and fun!

I went down to the Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show yesterday for Better Homes & Gardens TV and this was one of the projects I worked on. Jason Hodges is entering into the competition again and this year his garden design included a fun area for the kids, complete with a coloured pencil fence. The pencils were shaped out of treated pine and ready for me to paint in bright, happy colours. They were really easy to do and so effective - I wouldn't mind a few in my own back yard! Good luck Jason! Don't miss the show on Friday 7:30pm on Seven.

Shadow Box Art

I created this knife picture years ago and it's been part of our kitchen ever since. People often think there must be sentiment attached but really it's just a nice way of showing off some cute knives I found at a market. The box frame came from Corban & Blair. They're available in a few colours and are deep enough to house all kinds of treasures. I covered the backing board with thick white card, then attached a sheet of foam core and textured watercolour paper cut just a little smaller - this gives a nice raised effect to the composition. I prefer a hot glue gun to attach the knife handles but you could use super glue or a quality craft glue instead. And I suppose it goes without saying... but I will anyway, please, please don't do this to your Grandmother's heirloom knives as they glue is not awfully kind to the handles. Save the good ones for best and scour junk shops or flea markets for your art instead.