I haven't broken out the Hama beads for a while but I've seen the fabulous necklaces on the Chelsea Doll website and, as I don't have time to order and receive one between now and BritMums Live, I thought I'd have a go at making one myself. There seems to be a trend at the moment for using the word Geek, Epic and Dork on things and, as I am going as an award finalist, I figured that the middle term was the most appropriate and at only four … [Read more...]
Bish, bash, Bosch: crafting with Cherry Healey
So last week I went up to London to spend time with the people from Bosch DIY and their primary advocate Cherry Healey for a Drill 'n' Spill evening. I love that blogging has brought me the kind of experience that allows you to sit around in the beautiful rooms at Homemade London and get your craft on with a really interesting blend of bloggers and crafters. That's literally all I did: sit sticking every single bit of pink and purple glittery … [Read more...]
How to make a number 5 door hanging from a cardboard box
In many ways making a number five from a corrugated cardboard box is very simple. It's the decorating that was time-consuming. But you can use this basic model to make either a pinata or a door hanging to celebrate any birthday. 1. chop up your cardboard box. I took off the sides and bottom. With corrugated card you have to think about the grain and how you will use it. 2. Cut two large number 5's from the largest … [Read more...]
Teacher’s Gift plant markers from lollipop sticks
As we head into half-term I have been thinking about the Teacher's Gifts needed for the end of term. Handy then that Maggy at Red Ted Art put down a Coffee Stirrer/Lollipop Stick craft challenge this week, which gave me the idea for my contribution to our Craft Hangout. I made plant markers from the coffee stirrers I have. They are some of the simplest things you can make with lollipop sticks. All you need is either a picture of what you are … [Read more...]
How to make a Chinese Pellet Drum
If you are of my generation you will remember the scene in Karate Kid II where a Chinese Drum is used to great effect in the climax of the story. Actually I've just checked Wikipedia and seen that the one in the movie is a Den-Den Daiko, which is Japanese, but pellet drums exist across vast swathes of Eastern culture, so I'm guessing I can call this a Chinese Drum. Anyway, the Karate Kid inspired my father to make my brothers and I some pellet … [Read more...]
Crafts to make for Fathers Day
The thing that I cherish more than anything on Mother's Day are the cards and handmade gifts that The Girls give me. On the same basis, I work hard with our Girls to make something that DH will cherish for Father's Day. It's an important lesson for them to learn: that a gift that is thoughtful, that comes from the heart, that you put yourself into, is far more special and precious than anything you can buy. A couple of years ago, when they … [Read more...]
Papier-mâché Hen Challenge
A while ago Molly Moo published a picture of the most fabulous Papier-mâché Chicken/Hen that she had made at her Papier-mâché course. This precipitated a Hen Craft Challenge which I agreed to take part in, although frankly I was never going to match up to Her Craftyness's high standards. I used a cereal packet to do most of the work for me. Firstly, I took off the top third, and put to one side for the 'bits' < that's a tchnical term, by … [Read more...]
