Belated Christmas Post and my love of Glastonbury Village

Okay so this post is about a little make and do related christmas present I recieved... Check out these kits my sister's boyfriend got me from a shop in Glastonbury.

There are two reasons why these were a good present for me, the first is that I absolutely love Glastonbury and they even had that faint incensy (totally just made up a word) smell that glastonbury shops all seem to have. It made me go all weak at the knees with longing for a trawl around all the little shops, have nice vegetarian food in rainbows end cafe and a good stomp up the Tor! Just talking about it is making me want to go there now, I cant explain the feeling that place gives me but I know theres something very special about it. The second reason is obviously because I love a good crafty kit or just really any excuse to make something.

They are so simple and probably cost him about 50p each but yet were probably one of my favourite presents as I really had fun with them, it just shows that it really is the thought that counts. I love the idea of making simple little kits similar to this to sell. (the proceeds went to charity.) Fun, fun, fun!

Let me know if you got at all crafty over christmas.

Sweet tooth

Okay so I went a little crazy, but it was SO worth it....

break up all the sweets and cookies into small chunks and spread them into a tin lined with grease-proof paper.

Melt the chocolate in a bowl over boiling water and pour over your 'chunks', refridgerate until you get....doorstop slabs of scrummy rocky road! (don't tell my dentist.)

Turn your chocolate craving into a make and do, and no, you don't need an excuse!

Magazine Coaster

Hi Hi, and a Happy Monday to you! I thought I'd share something I made to go on my desk to stop me making mug rings all over my naaice uni books! Yeah, right; more like a procrastination technique to stop me having to do any actual uni WORK.

I know we all love scrap-crafts, so dig out an old magazine and flick through til you find a page which catches your eye.

I used an existing coaster as a template, but of course you can just measure it to the size and shape you want. Pick another piece of paper from your magazine and cut it slightly larger so it acts as a border or mounting paper if you like. Then mount the whole thing again on plain coloured card (I used black.)And then of course, my favourite bit; LAMINATE! Hey Presto! Your own scrap magazine coaster. Now to get back to WORK, safe in the knowledge that I'm not making rings all over it!

Folder Holder and 'How to make a bow'

I made this to go on my desk to hold some of my uni bits, because, organisation is the answer, and I'm not good at organisation...so I find injecting a bit of pretty into something you're not good at always helps!

Heres how I did it;

Mark a line along the edge of a washing powder or cereal box. Then from this line up to each opposite top corner.

Before cutting using a craft knife.

Then paint the whole thing with a nice thick acrylic - obviously I felt bad painting over Snap, Crackle and Pop's excited little faces, but I quickly got over it.

Cut out a short length and a long length of material, I used the very scientific method of placing the edge I wanted to cover against the material and drawing round it! Always iron it first and stick on using good old craft mount.

Now for the bow attachment;

Take a piece of the same material, I didn't measure it but it was probably about 30cm by 40cm for those that need specifics - this doesn't really matter though as it can be any size you like. Iron it out.

fold inwards, like doors. Lengthways first...and iron again.

Then fold the short ends in. Iron.

Turn the fabric over and fold like this; make sure it goes so that there's an up fold at the centre and down folds at the top and bottom of the bow, I used a kirby grip to hold these folds in place.

Wind some white cotton round and knot before removing the kirby.

To make the centre strut just take a small strip of the same fabric and fold in lengthways and (yes, you've guessed it.) Iron...I'm sure this is this most ironing I've done in years!Wrap it round and make a few stitches before cutting away the excess and sewing round the exposed edge (don't worry you won't see this bit.)
Et voila...

To attach it to your folder holder use a hot glue gun or some strong glue. You could also use these bows to attach to hair clips or Alice bands if you want to use them to jazz up something a bit dull or give it a new lease of life.

Love canvas

It was mine and John's anniversary on September the 16th, and he bought me, a canvas. When I say canvas I mean a blank one, the artist shop kind, sealed in its packet, on it's own. Last of the true romantics...as you can imagine I was a little confused, perhaps it was some kind of profound statement? "Our love is a blank canvas...?" "Yes that's it! that's what I meant!" John hastily agreed.

"So our love is a blank canvas? which I alone need to inject all the colour and life and passion into?"

"Oh actually no...", he says, I didn't mean that"

Basically, he forgot, and his workplace is situated conveniently close to a Gardiner Haskins, which he ran into after work, the night before, and followed this exact thought process;

'Something she'd like.....

Not too expensive....

Tools?....no......

quick,quick.

DIY....no....

Kitchenware....no.

Art!

Oh this'll do, time to go.'

But I had to forgive him in the end, as he did have a BEAUTIFUL big bunch of flowers delivered to my workplace, and I also got champagne (well sparkling wine...) and a lovely meal out.

My flowers:
My 'love' canvas:

I used texture paste to build up the initial heart border (it takes a while to dry).
I then used pearlescent liquid acrylic as an all over wash, using various orange coloured standard acrylics and gold ink to highlight on top.

By any other name, would smell as sweet?

Remember those flowers I made? well I FINALLY managed to get round to putting them onto a necklace. et voila;

Here's how I did it
Have you ever seen those chain cutting stations in B and Q? Well the chain is from one of them - which by the way is a lot of fun to use (not that i'm advocating playing with it of course!) and only a couple of quid a metre depending on your choice of chain.

First I clipped six strands of chain of equal length and grouped them into two piles of three.

Unclip the last link on one strand and use it to connect the other two on before bending the link back together. Repeat this for the second pile except for adding a jewellery clip aswell as the other two strands.

I then cut a long ribbon of fabric from the leftovers of the shirt I made the flowers from and wound this in and out of the middle strand of chain securing it at either end with a knot.



The other end of each set of three strands can now be stitched onto the end of the flower decoration, do this either side linking the three strands together using your stitches.

I made two of these, one for myself (naturellement) and one I gave as a gift for a friends birthday.

Be inspired

Alice

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Oooooh Love to Laminate baby

Okay, I totally admit it, I'm ADDICTED to laminating. I work in childcare, so yes its a useful addiction to have but an addiction all the same. I bought my laminator quite cheaply about 6 months ago and its been really useful, I have actually used it A LOT.

So anyway, my point, if you're forgetful and unorganised as I am (and I believe all you artistic minded people are) why not make yourself a wipe-clean message board! I literally just cut out lettering from my junk mail and rubbish (only felt a teeny bit like a stalker) stuck it onto plain A4 and laminated it. Hey presto!



I made one for my room at work ;





Loved it so much I made one for home too!







Seriously they're great - and I'm not just trying to find stuff to laminate...and did you know, you have to be over 17 to buy a laminator? Yes I got ID'ed - oh the shame.




Be inspired,

Alice

Fun with Fimo

Fimo, or as I tend to term it, to those who ask me what it is; ‘adult’s plasticine’, I remember using it when I was really quite young though. My dad used to make all sorts of amazing little knick knacks which I would of course attempt to imitate (I have always been in awe of his artistic talents).

Anyway, six months ago, when I got promoted to room leader at my nursery, I made a few changes to the way things were done (I’ll spare you the gory details) but basically this involved us having a clipboard each.

Now whenever I need to buy something out of necessity, regardless of what it may be, I want it to be unique and niche (therefore usually expensive) and very pretty. I find internet shopping a great tool to achieve this and so set to work to find the prettiest clipboards out there – only I didn’t really have much luck with this apart from coming across a few scrapbook clipboards people had made.

So that’s where Fimo comes in, it just suddenly popped into my head when I imagined what a clipboard with a decorative plaque on it would look like.

Fimo is so easy to use, sometimes you have to work it with your hands for a while to make it suitably malleable but they’ve brought out a ‘soft’ version since my childhood days of modelling with my dad so there’s really not that much effort involved – only pure artistic flair!

When you’ve finished your masterpiece just pop it in the oven for around half an hour at just over 100 ◦C .


After my plaques were complete I used the power of araldite to adhere them to plain plastic clipboards (I also found it helped to rough up the surface a little first using sandpaper, or if you don’t have any, a nail file!)

The clipboards went down a storm and I have since made more for new members of staff, and staff who have left take them with them when they go.

There are many beautiful (and complex) beads to be created using fimo. However, you can make really cool marble effect beads quickly and easily by simply squishing two colours together – and using a knitting needle to create the thread hole.

Let me know if you try any Fimo creations, I’d love to see pictures!

Be inspired,

Alice
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