Plush Kitty DIY

I've been meaning to do a DIY post for quite a while now, and I've finally got round to it!  It's how to make a simple plush toy kitten!  My inspiration comes from Lyzi from Being Little as she made some a while back and at the time I was busy, but now as I have a load of spare time I was able to get round to making my own.  It's a really easy DIY so fine for beginner sewers and it's really quick, taking me just over an hour ish.  The equipment list says you need stuffing, but my mum has been collecting the linty fluffy stuff you get in your dryer that you have to empty for a while so she can make a toy for my baby brother, so that's a cheaper way to stuff your toy.  I put lavender in mine so it smells yummy, but you can skip this step if you want to.

You will need:
1/ Cute fabric of your choice, size depending on how big you want the kitty (easier if it's not stretchy)
2/ Scissors
3/ Needle & thread, colour depending on fabric colour
4/ Contrasting thread (for features)
5/ Stuffing (or in my case, dryer lint)
6/ Lavender (optional)
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STEP ONE: Fold your fabric in half with the underside of the fabric (often the paler part) facing outwards.  Pin the two layers together so they don't move and draw on the design with a pencil.  Cut out the shape (remember to leave a seam allowance).

STEP TWO: Sew all the way around your shape with the matching cotton but leave a gap, around an inch or so, so that you can put the stuffing in.

STEP THREE: Using the small gap you didn't sew, turn your shape inside out.  You should then have a nice clean seam, and fabric is the right side out.

STEP FOUR: Get your lavender and place on your palm and rub your palms together.  This will help release the smell and separate the little pods from the stem so you can put them in the kitty with the stuffing. Discard the stems.

STEP FIVE: Start to stuff the kitty, starting with it's limbs.  Make sure you push the stuffing in really tight, or the kitty will be all floppy.

STEP SIX: Stuff the rest of the body and sew up the gap you left.

STEP SEVEN: Using the contrasting coloured cotton, stitch on the eyes and nose.

Now you should have an adorable little plush kitty!  If you do try this DIY out, let me know, I'd love to see your creations!

love amy x

Nude Nails

I went to the salon the other day to get my nails done (I have acrylic nails) and I decided that I wanted a light colour to emphasize my tan (haha) so I picked this light pink by OPI.  Unfortunately I don't have the bottle as it belongs to the salon, but the salon only ever puts two coats of nail varnish on, so the colour didn't stand out as much as I wanted.  However, I'd been watching some tutorials online on how to marble nails and when I got home I tried it out.  I used a few colours, mostly nude pinks and a white to help differentiate between colours and I was really pleased with the result!  I'll be sure to post a tutorial or something next time I try it, as the combinations are infinite and it's a really effective way to change up your nails if you don't have the time to do proper nail art!

love amy x

Sunday Summary Week 12

1/ 38 people on my blog at once!
2/ Laughed out load at this ridiculous gaga outfit
3/ My friend comically rolling a cigarette, mid-motorway
4/ Found a kettle on a pavement, random
5/ The car crash
6/ Alex's arm (broken in 3 places!)
7/ Alex after surgery, awwwhhh
8/ My inbox after not being home for two days, owwwp

Things I loved this week:
1/ This blog called 'We are the crowd'.  It's run by three girls and is really great, one of my favourite blogs!
2/ The Regretsy site.  Some of the stories on here are so funny!
3/ These amazing graffiti photos!

I'll be honest, I competely forgot about Sunday summary aha, so here it is a little later than I would have liked!

So yesterday turned out to be completely hectic.  My friend was having a party and I got the train to town then got picked up by my friend.  We were nearly at the guys house when we were going round a corner that little bit too fast, skidded on some gravel and swerved, resulting in the car slamming into someone's fence.  We all slammed forward in the car and it was pretty scary, thank god we were all wearing our seatbelts.  I was fine, as the seatbelt had held me in, and my face broke my fall (haha) on the seat back, whereas the people in the front got affected quite a lot by the seatbelt yank, the driver actually got whiplash I think.

My boyfriend Alex was sitting in the middle and was holding on to the handle you get on the car roofs on my side so when the car crashed I must have pushed his arm and hurt it.  We got out and he was in loads of pain so we rang the police and the ambulance and they didn't take too long to arrive.  All the people who were in the car were checked out by the nurses and gave a statement to the police.  Alex's mum drove over and took me to the hospital to meet Alex and it turned out later on that they found out Alex's upper arm bone (humerus) was broken in three places and he would need an operation to fix it, which involved a plate and lots of screws. I stayed at one of my girlfriends houses that night and went to visit Alex in the morning.  The operation started at midday and he came out 3 and a half hours later all woozy and sleepy from the anesthetic.  His arm is now all casted up and he has 8 screws and a plate on the bone, which should take 4 to 10 weeks to heal.

Altogether it's been a rough couple of days but I'm just pretty glad to be alive and well.  These things do happen and it could have been anyone, I'm now knackered so maybe I'll post tomorrow, byeeee

love amy x

Crystal Castles [UPDATED]

Top: Topshop
Cardi: Topshop
Shorts: Made by me
Socks: Primark
Ear cuff: made by me

So this was a really rushed post yesterday.  I was just about to go out and I don't even know why I didn't just wait until today to post, oh well.  Don't really have much to say so enjoy!

love amy x

150 Follower Giveaway! (CLOSED)

THIS GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED 

As promised (a little too many times!) here is my 150 follower giveaway! It's just to say a huge thank you to all the people that have supported my blog, I read all of your comments and it all means a lot to me!

Can I just add, Sew Beastly is the fabulous sponsor of this giveaway, donating the lovely pouch.  Her shop is super awesome, selling top quality handmade goods worth every penny.  I was sent one identical to the one in this giveaway and it has been my savior.  I've needed a makeup bag for so long and this is exactly the perfect size and it stands up by itself, as well as being the perfect size to slip in your handbag.  The details are also beautiful.  The pouch is lined with a pretty pink, matching the frill and there is a Sew Beastly tag sewn into the side as well as a handmade charm on the zip.  Altogether my praises could not be higher of her stuff and I urge you to visit her adorable Etsy shoppe!

Anyway, included in this giveaway is:
- Feather ear wrap made by me
- Candy Stripe pouch from Sew Beastly (buy here)
- One 10% off discount code to the Sew Beastly shop
- Rimmel London nail varnish
- Little tiara pinkie ring from wholesale-dress.net (buy here)



To enter:
1. You MUST be a follower of my blog via Google Friend Connect or Bloglovin'
2. Leave a comment on this post saying 'enter me' with your email address.
3. Like Sew Beastly's Facebook page here (+1)
4. Follow Sew Beastly's blog here (+1)

Extra entries:
1. Go to the Sew Beastly shop and heart it (+1)
2. Heart your favourite item from the Sew Beastly shop (+1)
3. Be a follower of my blog via GFC and Bloglovin' (+1)
4. Follow my Twitter (+1)
5. Tweet about this giveaway saying "@amyvalentinex is having an awesome giveaway on her blog, follow the link for more details! http://tinyurl.com/3vqez36" (+2)
6. Follow my Tumblr (+1)
7. Fan me on Lookbook (+1)
8. Make a blog post about this giveaway (+3)

Altogether that is 14 entries available for each participant!  All extra entries MUST have a separate comment each or you will not be rewarded the entry.  Giveaway is open to international participants.  A winner will be drawn on the 30th August, and I will be checking that you followed the compulsory steps.  Happy entering!

love amy x