crafty for christmas 2008

rainmac

Angie, that heart is gorgeous! I too would like to know how to dry lavender please.

Melon78

rainmac wrote: »

Angie, that heart is gorgeous! I too would like to know how to dry lavender please.

Just googled and found this:

Drying lavender

1. Pick the Lavender heads when they are closed and the top florets have just burst. This gives you the strongest perfume because it contains the highest concentration of oils.
2. Spread the complete flower head on a tray to dry either in an airing cupboard or under the bed. Turn the flowers often to make sure that all parts of properly dry.
3. You can use either the complete flower heads, or strip the separate flower heads from the stems.

Use them in pot-pourris or small bags made from cotton material

Angie100

Thanks!!!! I just pick it and dry it in the greenhouse. I just cut some more today and I have put an elastic band around the stalks and hung them upside down in the greenhouse. I'll leave them for about a week or until the buds fall off easily when you pull your fingers down the flowerhead. Make sure you are in a well ventilated room when you do this as the fragrance can be very overpowering!!!! Wouldn't want you all falling to sleep!!!


I always remove the flower buds rather than use the whole stalk when using them for stuffing as the stalks get very brittle and pointy when dried!!!

Angie100

There are some nice heart templates here : http://www.activityvillage.co.uk/Heart_templates.pdf

cookiedough38

that heart is gorgeous, I think I could possibly give that a go!

maria_and_the_imps

i have been looking trought the thread and have seen lots of mentions of sweet boxes and journal in a jar, can anybody explain what these are to me and maybe post some pics i did spend ages looking to see if i could find out but i couldnt i'm having a blonde day!!!!!
maria
xxxx

:beer: :beer: :beer: :beer:

mary43

maria......'gifts in a jar'................if you go on to 'allfreecrafts' site or 'craftybits' (sorry - don't have the link to hand but if you put them in your search engine they'll come up. There's loads of ideas and recipes for things you can put in a jar as a christmas or birthday pressie.

sweetboxes - the ones I've used have been tool box inserts from woolworths -99p - fill the different sections with all sorts of sweets, tie a ribbon round the top and you have a 'retro sweet box'. I think there might be something at the top of this board about them somewhere.

Hope that helps:j

sammy_kaye18

Hi All

Its me..........remember me??? Ive been shamefully hiding on the OS board a bit too much lately but wanted to nip back and say hello

Well my daddies hamper is done.

So far in it he has
a jamie oliver flavour shaker - given to me free
a book on making sauces - used a amazon gift certificate
a book on making dressing - again used a gift certificate
and 6 packs of various herb seeds - BOGOF in wilkos.

just need a few more things to fill it out with now i think but cant really decide - i got him an apron and oven mit for fathers day/birthday so i know he doesnt need these - any other ideas?

Also have made a start on a few other presents but im loving the little heart stuffed with lavender and cotton wool - think this might be nice for my mother in law if i can find some purple material for her as shes a purple freak.

Also got my little bags which im startign to fill with freebies for my sister and eldest cousin which is going well. Also picked up a dvd for bf, a book for my nephew on how to draw pokemon and a book for youngest nieces birthday with what i had left in amazon vouchers.

still have yet to make the pyjama bags for nieces but think they will be easy to do as they are jsut simple drawstring bags

altough have changed eldest nephews present form a reading hamper to a drawing basket - he has the 'how to draw pokemon' book and i was thinking sketch pad, colouring pens, pencils, pencil sharpener, eraser, mug with hot choccie sachets and a few sweeties (maybe a sweetie box) and he'll be good to go

Dopey_Dora_42

Rainmac-those door plaques are brilliant-your boys will love them. Ive just treated myself to a scroll saw so will have to try and make some. I have a cd with lots of patterns on for scroll saws which will be ideal for door plaques.
well done
Dora xx

Dopey_Dora_42

whoops sorry wrong thread doh