crafty for christmas 2008

rainmac

noggin wrote: »

rainmac, those pots of gold are fab. :T
I hope you don't mind if I copy you and do a few myself I think I'll do one for DS's teacher and also for a few family members that I've got a few quid left to spend on.

Well done rainmac :T

xx

Don't mind at all, I stole the idea from someone else on this board cos I thought it was great

hobbesy_2

jamtart6 wrote: »

So...anyone got any ideas on how to make ceramic (or something similar) hearts and stars?

Salt dough. Probably the cheapest option, but I'm never 100% on how well it keeps.

Or air-dry clay. Not bought any for years, but was in ELC when I last did.

If not, then yes I think fimo might give you the smoothest finish


Anyone other bauble decorators got tips on transferring onto the baubles? Can it even be done? I bought some single big matt cream baubles for pence in the January sales last year (B&Q). I have 5 to do (no spares, how daft!), and want them to come out more professional looking than my handwriting.

Do you think the traditional technique of printing it out, then pencil on one side to transfer would work on something round? And then be ok to write over? I have one of those pebeo pens (no idea when I bought it!) which is meant to give a nice enamel effect, but not too sure I should be sticking baubles in the oven! These are for my children and my god children so I want them to come out well!

xkymx

arrgghh i said this was gona be a house work day and loads of bits just came from ebay i want to get making things now

BigMummaF

Could you use the cutters Xkymx talked about & pour plaster of paris into them to make the danglies? I know they say using pva glue as a varnish gives a really good, hardwearing finish on programmes like Art Attack
If I recall from my Blue Peter watching days, you put a line of plasticine around the outside of the chosen mould to prevent leaks, so if you had a piece of thickish cardboard, you could line up your cookie moulds & do a whole range of styles in one go. Not sure if metal cutters might rust though, but I'm pretty certain the cheapie stores will have plastic ones.

There I go...thinking out loud again

BigMummaF

hobbesy wrote: »

Salt dough. Probably the cheapest option, but I'm never 100% on how well it keeps.

Or air-dry clay. Not bought any for years, but was in ELC when I last did.

If not, then yes I think fimo might give you the smoothest finish


Anyone other bauble decorators got tips on transferring onto the baubles? Can it even be done? I bought some single big matt cream baubles for pence in the January sales last year (B&Q). I have 5 to do (no spares, how daft!), and want them to come out more professional looking than my handwriting.

Do you think the traditional technique of printing it out, then pencil on one side to transfer would work on something round? And then be ok to write over? I have one of those pebeo pens (no idea when I bought it!) which is meant to give a nice enamel effect, but not too sure I should be sticking baubles in the oven! These are for my children and my god children so I want them to come out well!

PVA glue would help preserve these too, but probably not forever unless they were re-done every so often :rolleyes:
As for your transfer ideas, I saw--yes! another kid's programme!--someone do it with wax crayon on the back of the paper...thought it would show up & make a better line than just lead pencil. Or could you cut out a stencil by writing the name on the poota & printing it out that way? You could draw around the letters first, positioning them as you want them as you go?
...Big Mumma F.... cut out the letters & stick them on to the bauble OR use the 'holes' they leave behind IYKWIM....ooohhh! Could you perhaps use pretty paper to print onto, or else literally use the printed letters & decoupage the names?

brookeslay

Calling all crafters - I've seen a lovely idea where instead of giftags, you use a ceramic heart/star etc. in festive colours and write the receivers name on it, then they can hang it on the xmas tree as a decoration afterwards. However they were £8 for 3 shapes....and I need about 12

http://www.potclays-ceramic-cafe.co.uk/Mayco_bisque/Mayco_Bisque.htm
twelve hearts are £9.37 you need to glaze them the star ones are also the same price.

Also thanks for cookie cutter tip i will be going 2 morrow to get some. Anyone seen little tins suitable for sweets. ? with hearts or plain red or gingham

rainmac lovely to see what i need to inspire to with my pots of gold.:T

jamtart6

Thanks for the ideas! How could I have forgotten about plaster of paris and air dry clay!! I will give them a go and get back to you with some pics!

mary43

rainmac - love the pots of gold :T Makes mine look a bit cheapskate........lol gravy granule tub filled with choc.money..............lol :rotfl:
Love the poem too...............hadn't thought of doing a poem with mine as I've only done one and just stuck a label on it saying Pot of Gold...........umm.....that sounds boring now so think I just might have to nick your verse..........................lol

Well, been down town, got what I needed and now have five reindeers all finished and five yule logs...............cake shop had actually got some christmas stuff in so I got some plastic holly and stuck on them.

Ex foster girls door hangers done now as well so I'm getting there...........oh and did my sons retro sweet box as well...........and had enough white jelly beans to fill a joke 'Chill Pill' bottle..................2 more of those to do.

Even got the letters I wanted from the craft shop - surprisingly she'd got some out in her back room -why they weren't on show I don't know.

So, making progress and well chuffed with myself...................:T

rainmac

Sounds like you are getting really sorted Mary, I get to a stage where I think I am and then think of another thing to do and go 3 steps backwards. Good fun though

bunbun2

for anyone making 'balls of life' our argos had packs of 6 tennis balls for £2. they were in the special offer baskets by the tills. I forgot to buy any and I bet they won't have any in the other argos which is more convenient to get to :rotfl: