Lets make some flowers

The one thing I had seen on the many hours if create and craft channel that I wanted was the "My Craft Studio click, print and go" flower CD Rom with four tonic punches. When it was on I never had the money to buy it or it sold out before I had chance to.

The reason I liked this set was:

1. The price. Four punches would cost £21; the price of the kit was £19.99 so you’re basically getting the CD Rom for free.
2. The punched flowers all interlocking with each other so you can make a huge variety if styles.
3. The CD Rom lets you print off lots of flower styles in lots of colours so you can get a really good variety of options.

Found out that My Craft Studio had a stand at the Hobbycrafts show so after booking my make and takes this was the first stand I went to. Was glad that I did because there was not many of the kit left.

When I got home I told Christopher I had bought it and he could give it to me as part of my Christmas present. He has kind of agreed so I can not play with it until Christmas day. I do however need to get some paper which will not soak up my printer ink - Colemans seems to be the best bet.

(Photo of kit)

Making Felt

I had seen this briefly on create and craft and a class advertised on Big Picture Classes so was really interested in learning some more. I liked the idea of being able to make my own felt embellishments for both my scrapbooking pages and for use in home decor so visiting the Japan Crafts stand at Hobbycrafts for a make and take on Needle Felting.

I was amazed at how quick and relatively easy it was. You place the wool on a sponge within a cutter and a special needle was used to make a "stabbing" action to the wool, knitting the fibres together and resulting in felt being made.

The stabbing of the needle into the sponge is a definite stress relief - pretend its someone or something that is annoying you and its bound to make you feel better! But it is not a “watch the TV at the same time” crafting activity. You have to concentrate otherwise you end up stabbing yourself with the felt needle and that hurts!

So impressed with finished results and how easy and satisfying it was that when I found out I could get the starter kit and enough wool to keep me going for a while for £10 it was a no brainer. I would only have to make a few flowers or other shapes to quickly get my money back.

I have already had a play-a-round since I got home with making them different thickness and playing about with mixing the different colour wool. Still more experimenting to come but am enjoying the time out it gives me.

(Photos to follow - make and take flowers, kit and wool, at home samples.)

Key Ring or Handbag Charm

This was the second make and take I had identified as something that I could give mum for Christmas.

It involved some jewellery making but the beads were much bigger so my eyesight could cope!

This teacher spent time explaining the different techniques involved and alternative ways they can be used. The key ring was designed to cover the maximum. It gave everyone an insight into the craft, and those who wanted to get into the hobby a good foundation.

(Photo of key chain)

First try at making jewellery

Went to Birmingham to find out that the company who was doing the make and take was located where I live!

Also found out that my eye sight is just not good enough for jewellery making. Had real trouble actually seeing the holes in the beads to let me thread them onto the beads "chain" - making jewellery making a bit difficult!

But I did manage to make the necklace and matching earrings in the allotted hour the make and take was meant to last.

Am really pleased with the end results and when I got home everyone I showed them to thought they look good.

I know they are only costume jewellery and by no means in the price bracket of mums normal jewellery but I think will she wear the necklace. No to sure about the earrings as mum doesn't normally wear this style so will have to see about that one.

(Photo to follow)

Hobbycrafts Show, NEC Birmingham

Christopher kindly paid for me to go to the Hobbycrafts show at the NEC. I had looked on the website at the free make and takes they offered and fancied doing some, I could see some of them making great Christmas presents for mum. Plus I had not seen scrapbooking items in real life for years (the few items stocked at Colemans doesn't count!).

I was amazed that there was a massive que of people already waiting to get in. Not only was it very long but 10+ people already wide, and this a good 45 minutes before the doors actually opened!

First item on my agenda was to look on the map to identify where the stands were which were doing make and takes and book my place (more on what I did in future posts).

I spent most of my time doing the make and takes I had managed to get booked on. Was really pleased as I was not excited by what I saw at the show. A lot of jewellery stands - obviously the latest thing. Only 12x12 paper I saw was in packs/pads and mainly Papermania papers so nothing really to get excited about. Basically not much to write home about.