crafty for christmas 2008

rainmac

mary43 wrote: »

rainmac................love the boxes and what value and couldn't believe they came from Rushden ! That's where I was born and Mums in a care home about 5 miles away...............have to see if I can't slip over there next time I visit her.

Wow mary, small world! I know Rushden is such a strange place to have such a fab craft shop . I haven't found anything that comes close to the selection they stock and they are really helpful and will try and get you something if not in the shop at the time.

mary43

Must admit I haven't been to Rushden for about three years now since Mum had her stroke. Can you pm me the address of where it is and do they have a website ? If they do, I might be able to order something and get my Mums friend to pick it up for me and leave it at the Care home next time I visit.

Siren137

Hi!
Just read through this post and I've got so many ideas from you all! However, the other half has just got a job down in Hampshire and so within the next few weeks we will be moving so any Christmas projects will have to be put on hold until we are settled down there.

We have decided to make hampers for our grandparents so that 3 hampers to make. I think they will mostly contain food and my Nan's will be jigsaw themed.
I'm going to make my mum a meerkat themed hamper as she loves meerkats. I will include the meerkat manor dvds, a meerkat book, cuddly toy and some other bits and pieces meerkat related.

I really want to make those home spun Christmas trees that someone put a link to so going to make three of those as I always think under the tree looks bare once the pressies have gone. Also last year was our first Christmas living together so we had our own tree etc, the tree colours are browns and golds and I wanted gold stocking to match and couldn't find any anywhere so thinking of making some this year.

I'm planning on experimenting and making my own candles and soaps this year to give to all the ladies in little baskets. I'm hoping these will be really nice especially for my boyfriends sister who will be 8 months pregnant at Christmas!

I'm also going to do the mass Christmas baking day where I will be making biscuits for people, reindeer cakes and chocolate slabs (an idea from a post on MSE somewhere) with people's favourite fillings and their names!

I also make my own Christmas cards so will have that to organise as well. After the massive house move from Lincolnshire to Hampshire that is!! :eek:

I would love to be able to knit scarves and blankets but I think that is a bit beyond me! You are all so creative and have really inspired me, the piccies I've seen so far are fab!! :T

sethsgran

shaz_mum_of__2 wrote: »

Our local hospice shop has a books only store it has loads of cross stitch books with charts in even the biggest Good houskeeping ones are only a couple of quid

Too fiddly for me anyone here do stichery i have some nice patterns i got off the web but not sure what cloth to use or how many strands of thread

bit like this


Shaz

I love stitchery. I usually use calico fabric about £1.50 mtr then I also usea very light weight batting/wadding. Usually 2 strands of thread are enough for stitchery. If you look back a few pages in this thread I think I have posted a few sites there that I like. One of my favourites is Plum Creek collectibles I have the away in a manger pattern. Enjoy

sethsgran

Also check this out for ideas..........

stitchery...............

http://www.livewellstitches.com/

Davgirl1

Rainmac - the craft warehouse sounds great. I live in Daventry so I will definately have to go when OH gets back from China - will need to go without the kids.

melissa75_2

Siren137 - You do sound like you will have a lot to do. I bought loads of ingredients months ago to make candles, bath bombs, soaps, bath creamers and lip balms. Most of it is still in the cupboard. My attempt at bath bombs was a complete disaster but I keep meaning to have another go.
The only thing I had any real success at was making candles. I didn't make the normal ones, but the little wickless ones that you put in the top of an oil burner called wax melts. They were quite easy to make as I used soya wax that can be melted in the microwave. It can be expensive as you pay a lot of postage because of the weight of the wax, the same with soap making and bath product ingredients. I spent quite a bit on the candle making stuff - moulds, the scents and the colourings. Ebay have a lot of kits to get you started. They don't tend to contain a lot of wax, but they may be worth getting because you get all the bits you need to get you started plus instructions. Plus if you don't like it then you haven't spent a fortune. If you want to know anything else - just ask!

Siren137

Hi All!

Melissa - thanks for the info! I've never made bath smellies before but saw some recipes on a site and would love to give it a try. I made candles when I was younger with my mum after I got a candle making set for my birthday. My mum has kept most of my childhood stuff so I'm hoping to find it stashed away at hers. I'm going to try a practise run once I'm at the new house (which we don't even have yet!!) and will no doubt have some questions for you when I do!

sethsgran - those stitched creations are beautiful I would love to give this a go (why not add another thing to my ever growing list hehe) how do you go about doing it! Do you follow a set pattern or do it as you go? How do they put them in those frames?

Good luck with your crafts everyone! Would love to see more piccies of your work!!

sethsgran

The stitchery is called primitive stitchery and thats what it is, primitive
Check out this free pattern for starters.
http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.northpolechristmas.com/NorthPole.data/Components/Mulberrystr/friends_and_flakes.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.northpolechristmas.com/mulberrystr.html&h=400&w=351&sz=29&hl=en&start=24&um=1&tbnid=ZkulkIlxVUQe7M:&tbnh=124&tbnw=109&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dfree%2Bstitchery%2Bpattern%26start%3D20%26ndsp%3D20%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN
You get your pattern free or printed and using a pen, erasable by washing from good craft stores, you transfer the pattern on to your calico. My daughter tapes her pattern and fabric to a window, during daylight, and transfers the pattern as it shows through, pattern behind fabric. Then you cut a piece of wadding the same size as fabric, make sure you cut fabrics larger than pattern to frame your work when finished. I like to backstitch, through both layers, all in dark brown and add colour when finished. When finished I add black beads for eyes when needed. Then place your finished sewn work in a strong soloution of tea or coffee for about 30 in. Wring the fabric, don't rinse it and then I like to iron it dry this way you get scorch marks which create the primitive look. You can then add colour to the details using either acrylics, wax crayons fabric crayons etc. This work will be framed and hence will not be washed so crayons will be fine. use a dry brush method with paints and the colours are usually very subtle. Also it is good to let the colour go over the lines as it all adds to the prim look. I usually like to add a button somewhere, star/flower/heart to add a bit of dimension. I have bought ikea frames which I will paint in homespun colours, eg dark red/blue/green, You can also sand the paint off a little to create the look.
Go to the following site and click on the holiday patterns then scroll down to Away in a Manger and you will get the prim look. I am making this for a friend, MIL and ME
http://www.plumcreekcollectibles.com/index2.html

kbl

Hiya, got a real bargain in a charity shop yesterday, a giant cup and saucer for 20c, in perfect condition, in fact I got a binbag full of clothes for €5! Really pleased. also got a gorgeous giant rag doll also in perfect condition, unfortunately my little girl was with me and spied it, so can't wash it and give it from santa (my original plan). Anyway, my question is, I want to plant a flower in the cup for Mammy for christmas, but no idea what or when would be the best time (so not green fingered, once killed a cactus by overwatering it :eek: ). Help ??