Make do, Mend and Minimise in 2015

babyblooz

If you buy baskets from charity shops they can often be a rather unispiring shade of brown, but, it is really easy to sponge paint them with white emulsion and it makes such a difference, they look really up to date and the white seems to show things off to much better advantage.

It can be a bit of a faff and a bit messy but if you are time-rich and money-poor it can be well worth it! Just dab it with a barely-damp sponge, too much paint means it weeps through the gaps and runs, not a good look really

janb5

Could you use tea to darken them or even rooibos? Or spray paint.

meritaten

Ive used gold or silver spray paint on baskets - do not expect 'perfection' due to the weave - but one very light spray of gold or silver gives a VERY pleasing effect. Like its been dusted with gold or silver.
If you try to spray it heavily and have it ALL gold/silver - it may be just me but - you end up with a mess!

misstara

Thanks all for the great ideas for presents. I will definitely have a look in some craft books for some more ideas, I'm pretty sure I've seen some in a bookcase at work so will have a look there when I'm back in on Monday.

Nursemaggie I love the idea of matching scarves, hats and gloves, however, my knitting is definitely not good enough yet. I'll keep practising and maybe attempt a scarf at some point.

nursemaggie

You will find lots of craft ideas in your local library too they all have a section on crafts.

One thing no one has mentioned is sweets and chocolates there are hundreds of different home made sweets. I have a feeling there is a list of recipes on the Christmas and other celebrations thread. You will also need nice boxes. something to line them such as paper doilies, sheets of cellophane and ribbons to tie up the cellophane.

You can't make the sweets too soon but you can save the boxes, ribbons etc. I have saved some clear plastic boxes from last years Christmas cards. You could make boxes using things like cereal boxes and decorate them with pretty paper. With a little care and imagination you can make them look as good as any very expensive hand made chocolates. Have fun.

vulpix

At the school I used to work at we made little boxes from christmas cards.Easy to do and we just bought 25 cards for 99p.They are great with a homemade selection of sweets.Of course even better if you have saved last years cards.For a lid just make the same box slightly larger.pinterest and yoootube would show you how.
Forgot to say yesterday,whilst looking through cupboards I found my collection of burned out candles.GQ gave me the idea a long time ago,melt down and remake in a crisp tube.To fit a wick tie cotton string to a tab from a drinks can and stick down with a little melted wax.Fashion an arrangement of a cross over the top to keep the string straight.Very quick and easy.Wipe the pan with kitchen towel whilst its still hot and just wash as normal.The old wicks and gunk sink so with careful pouring you are left with it in the bottom of the pan.I bought some fancy glass bowls/bonbon dishes from the charity shop to use these for gifts.Any container would do really.
Pinterest is full of ideas,I can loose hours on there.Last year I made my daughter a pegbag with some vinyl I had and put rabbit ears on it and a pompom tail on the back.I have done a couple of little embroideries for the girls and put them in little charity shop frames.I also did a christmas one I had seen on there.The idea of framing a fancy doily came from there.I have been inspired to use up a lot of craft stuff,would have to be something exceptional to make me go and buy supplies!Vx

vhalla1478

Morning Folks,

Still a miserable, grey day here, although I understand we can look for better weather tomorrow - we may look but will we find it?:D

I totally agree with vulpix, use up the things you have and don't be seduced by all the shiny and normally expensive tat in craft shops. It amazes me how some of them get away with charging exorbitant prices for very little. My bugbear is 'fat quarters' - if you work out how much that makes the fabric per square metre, it's a total rip off. Consider early American patchwork quilts, made out of leftovers and worn clothes, sometimes stuffed with leaves as the early settlers apparently didn't know that New England was perishing in the winter, and yet they are wonderful works of art. If anyone is considering having a go at making one, do try and take a look at the enormous collection the American Museum at Claverton Manor in Bath - truly inspiring, truly make do and mend.

Talking of making do, I'm hoping to go to a small general store today where I've heard that they have a plant hospital and are selling shrubs off for 50p each - I'm quite happy to nurse them back to health. It just depends on DDil - she has to deliver the older ones to their father today for the weekly supervised visit so I'll see if she has enough time.

Have a splendid day, Everyone.

Recipe later.

Viv xx

cheerfulness4

I love B&Q on a Monday for 'poorly' plants to nurse back. If you get in early there sometimes is only one or two in a multi pack that need TLC.
We got a pack of mini shrubs for £1 from £8 just because one had wind burn. We pruned out the damagedparts and its fine. The other 5 shrubs in the pack were perfect.

We also got 2 trays of pansies @ 50p each and a tray of mixed Lobelia @ 50p that is now lush and thriving. Those just needed a bit of dead heading and watering.

Got to pick Grandkiddies up in less than 2 hours so babyproofing the downstairs and trying to get some planting done before they arrive. Its suddenly looking very overcast after a sunny start, though.

Hard_Up_Hester

When I make quilts I make them from old clothes & scraps & I back them with charity shop bedding, they aren't works of art, but they are loved by the recipients. My tag line when I make anything is 'Made with love, not a ruler'
Hester

vhalla1478

What a splendid phrase, Hester, I like that a lot!:beer:

Viv xx