BURKATRON

I thought I'd show you a really easy little DIY for those cami tops we've all been buying this summer! it's a simple update for strappy tops and perfect wear for nights out (it's so basic even the most sew-phobic can get involved!) here's how I made mine: the most important items are a simple cami top and a length of chain, the pliers are just used to open the chain links! cut the straps off your cami and lay them out flat; use your pliers to open the links on chain and cut into two equal lengths (use the original straps as a guide to the length) take a needle and thread and simply sew the chain lengths onto the cami where the original straps were; you're just replacing the fabric straps with chain ones! there you have it; a simple twist on a basic cami top!  what do you think? would you try this yourself? caroline x

I've been meaning to make a floral crown for ages (since last summer in fact) I never quite got around to buying the essentials so it was left on my neglected DIY to do list! the combination of sun and an urge to get away from my laptop finally got the better of me this week so here it is! it's so fun to make and not expensive either, mine came in under £10 and took me roughly an hour or so to finish! I'd love to make one out of fresh flowers but for the time being I opted for silk flowers which are easy to get hold of and last a lot longer! the main things you need are an assortment of flowers (available at craft or home stores- mine were from dunelm) garden wire and some fine jewellery wire. A pair of scissors or pliers to cut is also a must! measure and bend the wire to fit your head (make it a little bigger as the more flowers you add the tighter the fit will become) wrap another length of wire around the crown to make it more secure. now comes the fun part! start twist...

my geeky little habit and I are coming out of the closet. I am OBSESSED with writing lists, I can't sleep until I've written down everything thats bobbing about in my little brain. I'm also rather OCD about keeping all of my ideas and blog related scribbles organised so I've been keeping blog books since I started burkatron.   if I'm stressed the only things that straighten me out are a cup of tea and half an hour writing an action plan! I decided to make writing my endless 'to do' lists a little more fun and this strange scrap booking/crafting habit developed about 6 months ago.  I love buying notebooks; my favourite ones for blog books are the plain kraft  books from paperchase, a mix of blank and brown craft paper they're perfect for writing lists and come in lots of different sizes.  I stick in postcards, scrap paper or sketches. I store secret lists in envelopes stuck inside my books and generally collect lots of little memories and ideas which just...