Claire's Crafts - Designed for you

Newspaper Column


Here you will find many tips and tricks of crafting including some projects that Claire has written for several local Newspapers.

Here you will find many tips and tricks of crafting including some projects that Claire has written for several local Newspapers.

Recycling Denim
Have you ever wondered what to do with that tatty old pair of much loved jeans? Why not rework them into another item and give them a new lease of life? You could make them into a handbag by cutting the legs off at the very top, stitching across each leg opening and using some remaining denim to make a strap. A pocket purse could be made by cutting out the pocket, still attached to the back fabric, with maybe tassels or fringe attached around the edge. Make a strap and stitch on. With the legs that have been cut off the jeans you could make a pencil or knitting needle case – stitch open ends together and unpick one of the leg seams and insert a zip. A leg could also be used as a carrier bag store – stitch elastic around the top and the bottom openings and make a loop for hanging up. Place mats, table runners and table napkins can be made from the legs – unpick all seams, lay flat, and work out the best use of the fabric – cut out the table runner from one leg in a continuous piece if the fabric allows, if not patchwork one together – lots of different shaped pieces adds interest, and makes the item unique. Keep the pockets to sew onto the placemats, these are ideal for keeping cutlery in. These table items can be personalised by each member of the family or designed to match your dinner room décor. Keep pieces that are several inches in size for making up into patchwork items such as cushions or shopping bags – if you are feeling ambitious you could even make a bedspread for a childs bedroom. Scraps of remaining denim could be used to make a rag rug, woven together to make pot holders & coasters, or even made into thin strips and knitted with! Items can be decorated with left over buttons stitched on, sequins, piping, ric rac, ribbons or beads glued on (use a hot glue gun with fabric bonding glue), or stitched on. Fabric or puff paints could also be used for decoration.

Recycling Denim

Have you ever wondered what to do with that tatty old pair of much loved jeans? Why not rework them into another item and give them a new lease of life?
You could make them into a handbag by cutting the legs off at the very top, stitching across each leg opening and using some remaining denim to make a strap. A pocket purse could be made by cutting out the pocket, still attached to the back fabric, with maybe tassels or fringe attached around the edge. Make a strap and stitch on. With the legs that have been cut off the jeans you could make a pencil or knitting needle case – stitch open ends together and unpick one of the leg seams and insert a zip. A leg could also be used as a carrier bag store – stitch elastic around the top and the bottom openings and make a loop for hanging up.
Place mats, table runners and table napkins can be made from the legs – unpick all seams, lay flat, and work out the best use of the fabric – cut out the table runner from one leg in a continuous piece if the fabric allows, if not patchwork one together – lots of different shaped pieces adds interest, and makes the item unique. Keep the pockets to sew onto the placemats, these are ideal for keeping cutlery in. These table items can be personalised by each member of the family or designed to match your dinner room décor.
Keep pieces that are several inches in size for making up into patchwork items such as cushions or shopping bags – if you are feeling ambitious you could even make a bedspread for a childs bedroom. Scraps of remaining denim could be used to make a rag rug, woven together to make pot holders & coasters, or even made into thin strips and knitted with!
Items can be decorated with left over buttons stitched on, sequins, piping, ric rac, ribbons or beads glued on (use a hot glue gun with fabric bonding glue), or stitched on. Fabric or puff paints could also be used for decoration.

Craft School
This week I thought I would share with you the creative day I spent with my children yesterday. We had a fun homeschool day! I am not a teacher but I am sure the secret is to make learning fun otherwise children will be so reluctant to join in. We structured the day, with the children insisting time was allocated for lunch and breaktimes! The first lesson was Art. I placed a bowl of fruit on our kitchen table and sat the children in two different positions. I got them to feel the texture of the fruit, explore the shapes and run their hands over the textured bowl. They arranged the fruit in different combination to explore how this changes the balance of the display. I explained how the sunlight coming through the window lit up different areas of the fruit and moved my sons into different positions around the circular table to demonstrate this. I left them sketching – they were so absorbed in the task! When they finished, we discussed their drawings – my eldest son concentrated on the detail of the bowl, whereas my youngest tried to draw the texture of the fruit – speckled oranges! After this lesson was gardening – we planted some plants grown from seed earlier in the year. I explained every stage of planting and a rough description of how plants grow. Then came the fun bit – we made a nature bracelet. Even two boys thought this was fun! I put a strip of parcel tape loosely around their wrist with the sticky side facing out. Then they explored the garden, collected flowers, leaves, twigs, very small stones, seed heads etc and stuck them on the tape, creating a decorative bracelet. Young children need to be supervised doing this, but older ones will love the freedom of picking the flowers and leaves themselves. At the end of the day, carefully snip the bracelet off. Breaktime (football!) was next for the boys (cup of tea and a bit of peace for me!). After break we had a PE lesson, they spent twenty minutes in our gym on various equipment. By now they were ready for lunch. I have never seen the kids this eager to eat lunch and get on with more tasks. Home Economics was next. “Great Mum, that’s cookery”, my eldest said. I explained that Home Economics was looking after a house too. Cleaning, tidying etc. They quickly disappeared! We agreed to spend the time cooking! I explained the importance of food safety to them and described why each stage of cooking was important to the final result. First was flapjacks, followed by banana cake. While these were cooking in the oven, it was time for crafty cooking. We were going to make playdough. The playdough recipe is available on my website. When this was ready and cooled, it was “hometime”. They took the dough home and I told them to make a model of themselves and bring it back to school tomorrow! Have fun with your children this summer break. I will include as many crafty ideas over the following weeks as I can. Play Dough Recipe Link

Craft School

This week I thought I would share with you the creative day I spent with my children yesterday. We had a fun homeschool day! I am not a teacher but I am sure the secret is to make learning fun otherwise children will be so reluctant to join in. We structured the day, with the children insisting time was allocated for lunch and breaktimes! The first lesson was Art. I placed a bowl of fruit on our kitchen table and sat the children in two different positions. I got them to feel the texture of the fruit, explore the shapes and run their hands over the textured bowl. They arranged the fruit in different combination to explore how this changes the balance of the display. I explained how the sunlight coming through the window lit up different areas of the fruit and moved my sons into different positions around the circular table to demonstrate this. I left them sketching – they were so absorbed in the task! When they finished, we discussed their drawings – my eldest son concentrated on the detail of the bowl, whereas my youngest tried to draw the texture of the fruit – speckled oranges!
After this lesson was gardening – we planted some plants grown from seed earlier in the year. I explained every stage of planting and a rough description of how plants grow. Then came the fun bit – we made a nature bracelet. Even two boys thought this was fun! I put a strip of parcel tape loosely around their wrist with the sticky side facing out. Then they explored the garden, collected flowers, leaves, twigs, very small stones, seed heads etc and stuck them on the tape, creating a decorative bracelet. Young children need to be supervised doing this, but older ones will love the freedom of picking the flowers and leaves themselves. At the end of the day, carefully snip the bracelet off.
Breaktime (football!) was next for the boys (cup of tea and a bit of peace for me!). After break we had a PE lesson, they spent twenty minutes in our gym on various equipment. By now they were ready for lunch. I have never seen the kids this eager to eat lunch and get on with more tasks. Home Economics was next. “Great Mum, that’s cookery”, my eldest said. I explained that Home Economics was looking after a house too. Cleaning, tidying etc. They quickly disappeared! We agreed to spend the time cooking! I explained the importance of food safety to them and described why each stage of cooking was important to the final result. First was flapjacks, followed by banana cake. While these were cooking in the oven, it was time for crafty cooking. We were going to make playdough. The playdough recipe is available on my website. When this was ready and cooled, it was “hometime”. They took the dough home and I told them to make a model of themselves and bring it back to school tomorrow!
Have fun with your children this summer break. I will include as many crafty ideas over the following weeks as I can.

Play Dough Recipe Link

Make Your Own Potpourri
I have started to make my own potpourri blends, as after the initial investment of oils and spices, the only items required are available from your own garden. You can control the type and intensity of the fragrance and make different blends for each part of your house. To make your potpourri, you need four types of ingredients. The first is a base mix of petals, dried seed pods, leaves, or dried fruit. The second is a fragrance such as essential oils or fragrance oils (such as potpourri refresher oils). The third item is a fixative such as orris root powder. This makes the fragrance last longer. It is easily available via the internet or health food shops. If you are using fragranced oils instead of essential oils, the fixative is not required. Finally the fourth items are the decorative features such as shells or cinnamon sticks that are mixed into the blend. Mix your base ingredients together in a plastic container (like a clean ice cream tub) and sprinkle over a few drops of essential oil (you can use one type or more than one) and a small amount of fixative. Seal the container and shake thoroughly to mix. Leave it sealed up for around six weeks for the fragrance to develop. Leave it in a darkish place and shake weekly. An even easier, quicker way is to use fragrance oils. These have been designed to release fragrance over a longer period of time. No fixative or developing time is required, so you simply gather your base items together in a plastic bag, add a few drops of the fragrance oil and shake and it is ready to use in a few hours. Try mixing some dried lavender with rose buds and petals, and a few drops of rose or lavender oil. This mix works well in the bedroom. For the kitchen I would use a base of dried orange slice, lemon peel, cardamom pods, mixed with a lemon or citrus oil and topped with cinnamon sticks. You could also add in some herb leaves such as mint or sage. Display the potpourri in a decorative bowl or on a plate, out of the reach of young children. Have fun experimenting with different mixes. Children will enjoy this too under your supervision.

Make Your Own Potpourri

I have started to make my own potpourri blends, as after the initial investment of oils and spices, the only items required are available from your own garden. You can control the type and intensity of the fragrance and make different blends for each part of your house.
To make your potpourri, you need four types of ingredients. The first is a base mix of petals, dried seed pods, leaves, or dried fruit. The second is a fragrance such as essential oils or fragrance oils (such as potpourri refresher oils). The third item is a fixative such as orris root powder. This makes the fragrance last longer. It is easily available via the internet or health food shops. If you are using fragranced oils instead of essential oils, the fixative is not required. Finally the fourth items are the decorative features such as shells or cinnamon sticks that are mixed into the blend.
Mix your base ingredients together in a plastic container (like a clean ice cream tub) and sprinkle over a few drops of essential oil (you can use one type or more than one) and a small amount of fixative. Seal the container and shake thoroughly to mix. Leave it sealed up for around six weeks for the fragrance to develop. Leave it in a darkish place and shake weekly.
An even easier, quicker way is to use fragrance oils. These have been designed to release fragrance over a longer period of time. No fixative or developing time is required, so you simply gather your base items together in a plastic bag, add a few drops of the fragrance oil and shake and it is ready to use in a few hours.
Try mixing some dried lavender with rose buds and petals, and a few drops of rose or lavender oil. This mix works well in the bedroom. For the kitchen I would use a base of dried orange slice, lemon peel, cardamom pods, mixed with a lemon or citrus oil and topped with cinnamon sticks. You could also add in some herb leaves such as mint or sage. Display the potpourri in a decorative bowl or on a plate, out of the reach of young children. Have fun experimenting with different mixes. Children will enjoy this too under your supervision.

Make Your Own Dried Flowers
To air dry flowers, you will need somewhere to hang them out of direct sunlight and damp environments. One of the old style laundry airers that hangs from the ceiling is suitable or you could hang hooks from the ceilings, walls or backs of doors. You will also need rubber bands and small lengths of wire. Now comes the fun bit, the collecting of the flowers. The best time for this is late morning, on a dry day, when the morning dew has passed. Walk around your garden with a wicker basket and a pair of secateurs or scissors and choose flowers that are just beginning to open. If the petals have been open too long, they may fall off as they dry. Some flowers develop a seed head, such as cornflowers – these seed heads dry well, cut off for drying when the plant reaches this stage. Have fun experimenting with different flowers – some that dry well are yarrow (achillea), poppy seed heads, roses, marjoram, delphiniums, larkspur, lavender, African marigolds, strawflowers, cornflowers (seed heads and flowers), gypsophilia and statice. Once the flowers have been collected, bundle together eight to ten stems with the rubber band at the cut end of the flowers, rubber bands work well as when the flowers dry, the stems shrink and the rubber band shrinks along with it. Use the wire to form a hook, insert through the band and hang onto the drying hook, with the flowers hanging upside down. Depending on the variety of flowers and the weather, flowers will take between one to three weeks to dry out completely. They will be crispy to the touch when the drying process is complete and the flowers ready to be used in vases and arrangements. Collect together some wickers baskets and dried flower oasis (from florist shops), and you could make some dried flower arrangements as gifts for friends and family. Dried lavender and herbs can also be used to make fragrant sachets. Herbs that are used in cooking can be dried in the same way.

Make Your Own Dried Flowers

To air dry flowers, you will need somewhere to hang them out of direct sunlight and damp environments. One of the old style laundry airers that hangs from the ceiling is suitable or you could hang hooks from the ceilings, walls or backs of doors. You will also need rubber bands and small lengths of wire.
Now comes the fun bit, the collecting of the flowers. The best time for this is late morning, on a dry day, when the morning dew has passed. Walk around your garden with a wicker basket and a pair of secateurs or scissors and choose flowers that are just beginning to open. If the petals have been open too long, they may fall off as they dry. Some flowers develop a seed head, such as cornflowers – these seed heads dry well, cut off for drying when the plant reaches this stage.
Have fun experimenting with different flowers – some that dry well are yarrow (achillea), poppy seed heads, roses, marjoram, delphiniums, larkspur, lavender, African marigolds, strawflowers, cornflowers (seed heads and flowers), gypsophilia and statice.
Once the flowers have been collected, bundle together eight to ten stems with the rubber band at the cut end of the flowers, rubber bands work well as when the flowers dry, the stems shrink and the rubber band shrinks along with it. Use the wire to form a hook, insert through the band and hang onto the drying hook, with the flowers hanging upside down. Depending on the variety of flowers and the weather, flowers will take between one to three weeks to dry out completely. They will be crispy to the touch when the drying process is complete and the flowers ready to be used in vases and arrangements. Collect together some wickers baskets and dried flower oasis (from florist shops), and you could make some dried flower arrangements as gifts for friends and family. Dried lavender and herbs can also be used to make fragrant sachets. Herbs that are used in cooking can be dried in the same way.

Crafty Storage Ideas
Crafters always seem to have lots of ‘stuff’, such as rubber stamps, card, knitting needles, well you get the idea! This week I am going to share some storage ideas with you using junk and items that you have around the house. Egg box compartments are great for keeping beads, eyelets, brads and other small items in whilst you are working with them. You could also use your cake and buns tins for this, but don’t use metal and non-stick together. Cardboard crisp tubes are ideal storage for knitting and crochet needles also paintbrushes. Store paintbrushes upside down to avoid damaging the bristles. Shoe boxes can store photographs for scrapbooking – be sure to label any boxes so you know what is in them. Any size boxes can be used for craft storage – you can cover unsightly ones with wrapping paper or decoupage them. Teabag boxes and the kind with washing powder tablets in are particularly suitable and sturdy. Matchboxes and jewellery gift boxes are good storage for beads and jewellery findings. Tissue boxes and cereal boxes laid flat, with the tops removed are ideal for storing paper and card items, small scraps of fabric, sticker sheets and the like. Also cereal boxes cut diagonally down the sides make good storage for all those craft magazines we accumulate! Ready meal containers and clean takeaway foil trays are handy for holding small items together whilst you work, and the plate style trays can be used as a paint palette, for mixing colours together, or for holding glue dispensed from a larger container. These are great for children to use and makes the clean up easier. Fizzy pop bottles and milk containers can be cut down to be used as brush or pen holders. Trouser style coat hangers are good for looping odd bits of ribbon or wool around. Tie or belt organisers are good for this too. Before you dispose of items such as glass jars, sweet tins, ice cream containers and bottles, take a good look at them and see if you can think of any craft storage uses for them. Old clear plastic food storage boxes and unused freezer bags are useful, as are clean plant pots. Any thing can be decorated or covered, and can be used as a way of displaying your creative talents.

Crafty Storage Ideas

Crafters always seem to have lots of ‘stuff’, such as rubber stamps, card, knitting needles, well you get the idea! This week I am going to share some storage ideas with you using junk and items that you have around the house.
Egg box compartments are great for keeping beads, eyelets, brads and other small items in whilst you are working with them. You could also use your cake and buns tins for this, but don’t use metal and non-stick together.
Cardboard crisp tubes are ideal storage for knitting and crochet needles also paintbrushes. Store paintbrushes upside down to avoid damaging the bristles. Shoe boxes can store photographs for scrapbooking – be sure to label any boxes so you know what is in them. Any size boxes can be used for craft storage – you can cover unsightly ones with wrapping paper or decoupage them. Teabag boxes and the kind with washing powder tablets in are particularly suitable and sturdy. Matchboxes and jewellery gift boxes are good storage for beads and jewellery findings. Tissue boxes and cereal boxes laid flat, with the tops removed are ideal for storing paper and card items, small scraps of fabric, sticker sheets and the like. Also cereal boxes cut diagonally down the sides make good storage for all those craft magazines we accumulate!
Ready meal containers and clean takeaway foil trays are handy for holding small items together whilst you work, and the plate style trays can be used as a paint palette, for mixing colours together, or for holding glue dispensed from a larger container. These are great for children to use and makes the clean up easier. Fizzy pop bottles and milk containers can be cut down to be used as brush or pen holders. Trouser style coat hangers are good for looping odd bits of ribbon or wool around. Tie or belt organisers are good for this too.
Before you dispose of items such as glass jars, sweet tins, ice cream containers and bottles, take a good look at them and see if you can think of any craft storage uses for them. Old clear plastic food storage boxes and unused freezer bags are useful, as are clean plant pots. Any thing can be decorated or covered, and can be used as a way of displaying your creative talents.

Ideas for old jewellery
Do you have mismatched pieces of precious jewellery left to you by an elderly aunt? How about odd board game pieces or small trinkets and toys? If they hold precious memories for you and you don’t know what to do with them, how about the following ideas? Buy a cheap mirror or picture frame (or even better, recycle an old one) and using a hot glue gun, glue the items onto the frame, randomly placed all around. You can now look at the precious pieces every day rather than having them stuck in a drawer. A display box frame is also good for putting items on display - a printers type style box has lots of compartments and is especially good for little items. Brooches and earrings can be attached to large ribbons or plain fabric pieces and used to make glitzy curtain tiebacks. Long necklaces may be suitable too. Small items can be attached to premade fabric napkins rings, or beads can be removed from old jewellery pieces and rethreaded to make beaded napkin rings. Old board game pieces can be securely glued to drawer and cupboard handles in older childrens rooms and brooches, earrings and other sparkly gems work well on handles and drawers in adults rooms and teenage girls bedrooms. Items can be glued to candlesticks, votive tealight holders, vases etc, just be sure to use the right glue. Windchimes and suncatchers are other ideas, using the largest sparkliest pieces. Blank canvasses, the kind ready stretched over wooden frames are ideal for 3D colleges, using items that tell a story, such as games played as a child, or nans favourite jewellery pieces. If you can’t bear to glue or stick jewellery items, you could make a ‘touchy feely’ memory box. Fill a trinket or jewellery box with items and leave on your coffee table or dressing table and pull out and hold for moments of nostalgia. Another idea is the glass lidded coffee tables with a display shelf underneath. Now you can see these lovely items many times a day and they are not stuck in a drawer out of sight. Remember with all the above ideas to keep small items out of the reach of toddlers and babies..

Ideas for old jewellery

Do you have mismatched pieces of precious jewellery left to you by an elderly aunt? How about odd board game pieces or small trinkets and toys? If they hold precious memories for you and you don’t know what to do with them, how about the following ideas?

Buy a cheap mirror or picture frame (or even better, recycle an old one) and using a hot glue gun, glue the items onto the frame, randomly placed all around. You can now look at the precious pieces every day rather than having them stuck in a drawer. A display box frame is also good for putting items on display - a printers type style box has lots of compartments and is especially good for little items.

Brooches and earrings can be attached to large ribbons or plain fabric pieces and used to make glitzy curtain tiebacks. Long necklaces may be suitable too.

Small items can be attached to premade fabric napkins rings, or beads can be removed from old jewellery pieces and rethreaded to make beaded napkin rings.

Old board game pieces can be securely glued to drawer and cupboard handles in older childrens rooms and brooches, earrings and other sparkly gems work well on handles and drawers in adults rooms and teenage girls bedrooms.

Items can be glued to candlesticks, votive tealight holders, vases etc, just be sure to use the right glue. Windchimes and suncatchers are other ideas, using the largest sparkliest pieces.

Blank canvasses, the kind ready stretched over wooden frames are ideal for 3D colleges, using items that tell a story, such as games played as a child, or nans favourite jewellery pieces.

If you can’t bear to glue or stick jewellery items, you could make a ‘touchy feely’ memory box. Fill a trinket or jewellery box with items and leave on your coffee table or dressing table and pull out and hold for moments of nostalgia. Another idea is the glass lidded coffee tables with a display shelf underneath. Now you can see these lovely items many times a day and they are not stuck in a drawer out of sight.

Remember with all the above ideas to keep small items out of the reach of toddlers and babies..

Card Projects
This week I am going to share two card projects with you, using a variety of techniques. Card one – Silver anniversary card You will need Oval lace printed card (or plain card with lace backing paper glued on) Lace greeting insert (or plain insert) Pieces of both silver and white card Suitable size rubber stamp, silver ink pad, coloured pencils White silk flowers, silver ribbon, greeting plaque Scissors, glue, tracing paper & pencil Fold insert in half and glue into central spine inside card. Using tracing paper, make a template to fit inside oval lace aperture. Use to cut out silver card and glue into position. Using silver ink pad, rubber stamp the image onto the white card. When dry, you can lightly colour in areas with the coloured pencils. Cut this down to an oval, slightly smaller than the last oval, and glue on top of the silver card. Glue the silk flowers (all but a small one, keep this for later) at the left top of the oval – if you have a glue gun, this is best, otherwise a good dollop of silicone glue. Make a bow with the silver ribbon and glue onto the silk stems. Cut out greeting plaque and glue at the bottom of the oval. Mount remaining silk flower at the top right of the greeting. Card two – Green birthday card You will need Circle lace printed card Lace greeting insert Decoupage image Ribbon Greeting plaque Scissors, foam pads, glue & glitter glue Fold insert in half and glue along central spine of card. Cut out decoupage image, glue bottom image onto centre of blank aperture. Using foam pads, build up layers of image. Use the ribbon to make a bow and glue to bottom of the circle. Cut out greeting plaque and mount onto bottom area of card using foam pads. Highlight centres of lace flowers with the glitter glue and leave to dry before putting in the envelope. Feel free to use your imagination and make adjustments to the cards – I would love to see your versions. You can send me pictures at my email address – sales@clairescrafts.co.uk. All printed items used are part of my original, new design range.

Card Projects

This week I am going to share two card projects with you, using a variety of techniques.

Card one – Silver anniversary card

You will need
Oval lace printed card (or plain card with lace backing paper glued on)
Lace greeting insert (or plain insert)
Pieces of both silver and white card
Suitable size rubber stamp, silver ink pad, coloured pencils
White silk flowers, silver ribbon, greeting plaque
Scissors, glue, tracing paper & pencil

Fold insert in half and glue into central spine inside card. Using tracing paper, make a template to fit inside oval lace aperture. Use to cut out silver card and glue into position. Using silver ink pad, rubber stamp the image onto the white card. When dry, you can lightly colour in areas with the coloured pencils. Cut this down to an oval, slightly smaller than the last oval, and glue on top of the silver card. Glue the silk flowers (all but a small one, keep this for later) at the left top of the oval – if you have a glue gun, this is best, otherwise a good dollop of silicone glue. Make a bow with the silver ribbon and glue onto the silk stems. Cut out greeting plaque and glue at the bottom of the oval. Mount remaining silk flower at the top right of the greeting.

Card two – Green birthday card

You will need
Circle lace printed card
Lace greeting insert
Decoupage image
Ribbon
Greeting plaque
Scissors, foam pads, glue & glitter glue

Fold insert in half and glue along central spine of card. Cut out decoupage image, glue bottom image onto centre of blank aperture. Using foam pads, build up layers of image. Use the ribbon to make a bow and glue to bottom of the circle. Cut out greeting plaque and mount onto bottom area of card using foam pads. Highlight centres of lace flowers with the glitter glue and leave to dry before putting in the envelope.
Feel free to use your imagination and make adjustments to the cards – I would love to see your versions. You can send me pictures at my email address – sales@clairescrafts.co.uk. All printed items used are part of my original, new design range.

Easter Tips (20th March 08)
Hello, I’m Claire and this week I am going to give you lots of quick ideas for Easter crafts. Egg decoration – Hard boil eggs, make sure they are thoroughly dry, and decorate with child friendly paints, sponge printing, stencils or even blo pens. Alternatively, decorate styrofoam/polysterene eggs (from craft shops) with glued on decorations such as ribbons, sequins, glitter. You could make them into chicks or bunnies with mini pompoms and goggly eyes. Older children or adults could use short pins pushed into the polysterene eggs which have beads and/or sequins on the pins to decorate the entire surface. Flowerpot decoration – Use clean, plastic flowerpots (houseplant size). Paint, sponge or stencil (acrylic paint is best) Easter designs such as eggs, or words around the pot. Use them to collect eggs on an Egg Hunt. Alternatively, fill the pots with straw, shredded paper, put a bow around the outside and fill with eggs and give as a gift. The recipient also has a nice plant pot too. If the pot is going to be used for outdoor plants, make sure you decorate with weather resistant paint. Chocolate egg holders – Recycle tea bag boxes, the square, top opening ones are the best. Cover with Easter gift wrap (or make your own). Fill with straw and chocolate eggs. Tall crisp tubes and glass painted jars are good egg holders too. Easter chocolate moulds are a good investment along with Easter cookies cutters. Along with the usual cookery uses, the cutters and moulds can be used with salt dough, modelling clay, air drying clay, and play dough. The moulded designs can be painted, glazed, decorated according to what medium is used. Fridge magnets can be made by pushing the magnet into the reverse of the clay before drying. Bunny ears – Cut a band of pink or grey card long enough to go around a childs head. Staple the card ends together. Cut out large ears in the pink or grey card and small ones out of white card. Glue these layers together and stick onto card band. Bunny windsock – Get an adult to cut the top and bottom off a 2litre plastic pop bottle. Either paint a bunny face straight onto the bottle, or make a card band to fit, decorate this and glue on. Cut long strips of crepe paper and attach (glue, staple or tape) evenly around the bottom edge of bottle. Cut out card bunny ears and staple to top. Attach a cord to hang it up with. Happy Easter from all at Claires Crafts, 107 Penarth Road, Cardiff. Tel 02920 232377.

Easter Tips (20th March 08)

Hello, I’m Claire and this week I am going to give you lots of quick ideas for Easter crafts.
Egg decoration – Hard boil eggs, make sure they are thoroughly dry, and decorate with child friendly paints, sponge printing, stencils or even blo pens. Alternatively, decorate styrofoam/polysterene eggs (from craft shops) with glued on decorations such as ribbons, sequins, glitter. You could make them into chicks or bunnies with mini pompoms and goggly eyes. Older children or adults could use short pins pushed into the polysterene eggs which have beads and/or sequins on the pins to decorate the entire surface.
Flowerpot decoration – Use clean, plastic flowerpots (houseplant size). Paint, sponge or stencil (acrylic paint is best) Easter designs such as eggs, or words around the pot. Use them to collect eggs on an Egg Hunt. Alternatively, fill the pots with straw, shredded paper, put a bow around the outside and fill with eggs and give as a gift. The recipient also has a nice plant pot too. If the pot is going to be used for outdoor plants, make sure you decorate with weather resistant paint.
Chocolate egg holders – Recycle tea bag boxes, the square, top opening ones are the best. Cover with Easter gift wrap (or make your own). Fill with straw and chocolate eggs. Tall crisp tubes and glass painted jars are good egg holders too.
Easter chocolate moulds are a good investment along with Easter cookies cutters. Along with the usual cookery uses, the cutters and moulds can be used with salt dough, modelling clay, air drying clay, and play dough. The moulded designs can be painted, glazed, decorated according to what medium is used. Fridge magnets can be made by pushing the magnet into the reverse of the clay before drying.
Bunny ears – Cut a band of pink or grey card long enough to go around a childs head. Staple the card ends together. Cut out large ears in the pink or grey card and small ones out of white card. Glue these layers together and stick onto card band.
Bunny windsock – Get an adult to cut the top and bottom off a 2litre plastic pop bottle. Either paint a bunny face straight onto the bottle, or make a card band to fit, decorate this and glue on. Cut long strips of crepe paper and attach (glue, staple or tape) evenly around the bottom edge of bottle. Cut out card bunny ears and staple to top. Attach a cord to hang it up with.
Happy Easter from all at Claires Crafts, 107 Penarth Road, Cardiff. Tel 02920 232377.

Easter Chick in a Basket
This week I would like to share an Easter project with you. This is a great idea for the children to make over the Easter holidays. Easter Chick in a Basket. You will need for the basket– a vellum basket (see website for details), or small wicker basket. A pair of scissors, vellum glue, decoration for the basket such as gems, peel offs or ribbon. For the chick – yellow wool (any weight is fine), pompom template (see website for download), light cardboard such as cereal box, orange felt, googly eyes or black beads, scissors, PVA or fabric glue & a wool needle. Cut out vellum basket. Decorate with peel offs, stick on gems, egg decorations whilst still flat. Assemble basket as per instructions provided with kit. Print out the pompom, chick beak & feet template from website. Transfer onto light weight card board. You will need to cut out two pompom templates for the body and two for the head. Cut out the middle of the pompom templates. Put two of the same size together. Wind several small balls of wool – they will need to be small enough to go through the ever decreasing centre of the template. Wrap wool around template, up through centre around outside until the hole in the centre is completely filled. The last few wraps may need to be done with the wool threaded on a needle. Cut all along the outside edge, right through all the wool, until you reach the cardboard. Then pull the two cardboard templates apart slightly, enough to wrap a length of wool (about 8-10”) around the centre several times. Tie. Break template and remove. Trim the pompom neatly into the shape of a ball, but do not trim the wool you just tied around the centre. Repeat the instructions again using the head template. The two balls can either be glued together (one on top of the other), or use the wool left from the centre of the pompom to tie the two balls together. Trim this wool. Use the feet template to cut out two felt feet and glue them to the front of the bottom ball. Cut out a felt beak, fold in half and glue along the centre line and stick on to the head. Finish off by sticking on the googly eyes or black beads on. Small mini eggs can be put in the basket with the chick. Other ideas – use grey or white wool and make an Easter bunny instead. Fill the basket with some straw or shredding and put one of the creamy or truffle type eggs in it. Most of all have fun and have a Happy Easter! Easter Chick Template (55kb)

Easter Chick in a Basket

This week I would like to share an Easter project with you. This is a great idea for the children to make over the Easter holidays.
Easter Chick in a Basket.
You will need for the basket– a vellum basket (see website for details), or small wicker basket. A pair of scissors, vellum glue, decoration for the basket such as gems, peel offs or ribbon.
For the chick – yellow wool (any weight is fine), pompom template (see website for download), light cardboard such as cereal box, orange felt, googly eyes or black beads, scissors, PVA or fabric glue & a wool needle.
Cut out vellum basket. Decorate with peel offs, stick on gems, egg decorations whilst still flat. Assemble basket as per instructions provided with kit.
Print out the pompom, chick beak & feet template from website. Transfer onto light weight card board. You will need to cut out two pompom templates for the body and two for the head. Cut out the middle of the pompom templates. Put two of the same size together. Wind several small balls of wool – they will need to be small enough to go through the ever decreasing centre of the template. Wrap wool around template, up through centre around outside until the hole in the centre is completely filled. The last few wraps may need to be done with the wool threaded on a needle. Cut all along the outside edge, right through all the wool, until you reach the cardboard. Then pull the two cardboard templates apart slightly, enough to wrap a length of wool (about 8-10”) around the centre several times. Tie. Break template and remove. Trim the pompom neatly into the shape of a ball, but do not trim the wool you just tied around the centre. Repeat the instructions again using the head template.
The two balls can either be glued together (one on top of the other), or use the wool left from the centre of the pompom to tie the two balls together. Trim this wool. Use the feet template to cut out two felt feet and glue them to the front of the bottom ball. Cut out a felt beak, fold in half and glue along the centre line and stick on to the head. Finish off by sticking on the googly eyes or black beads on. Small mini eggs can be put in the basket with the chick.
Other ideas – use grey or white wool and make an Easter bunny instead. Fill the basket with some straw or shredding and put one of the creamy or truffle type eggs in it. Most of all have fun and have a Happy Easter!

Easter Chick Template (55kb)

Mothers Day (21 Jan 08)
Today I am going to share two projects for the children to make for Mothers Day (Sunday 2nd March). Kids, please ask your dad or grandparents to help you with these. Project 1 – Daffodil Treat Holder. You will need - a piece of yellow card, a cardboard egg box, yellow or orange paint, a paintbrush, scissors, a pencil, glue, tape or a paper fastener. Printout the daffodil template from my website (details below), cut it out and use the pencil to draw around it onto the yellow card. Cut out and put aside. Cut out one of the segments of the egg box. Trim the top to give the ruffled effect of a daffodil trumpet. Paint it either yellow or orange. Put aside to dry. When it is dry, attach it to the centre of the yellow card. Depending on the egg box used, you may need to try either sticky tape or glue to join them together. If you have a paper fastener (brad), ask an adult to make a hole in the centre of both the trumpet and flower, push brad through and open out ends to secure. Fill with small sweets and give to your mother. Eat any sweets that are left!! Project 2 – Painted Rock Paperweight You will need – a rock, a pencil, acrylic paints, a paintbrush, (permanent marker pens, glitter glue, varnish - not essential) Select a smooth rounded or oval rock, that comfortably fits into your hand. Wash carefully making sure there is no dirt left behind. Make sure that it is thoroughly dry as the paint may not set properly and will bubble. Leave it overnight to dry if possible. Use the pencil to draw your design – it could be a butterfly, flower, or the word ‘mum’. Then carefully paint your design. Permanent markers, metallic markers or glitter glue can be used to provide highlights on the design. Leave it to dry. Varnish if required. Don’t forget to write your name and date on the bottom of the rock. This makes it extra special. Daffodil Template (41kb)

Mothers Day (21 Jan 08)

Today I am going to share two projects for the children to make for Mothers Day (Sunday 2nd March). Kids, please ask your dad or grandparents to help you with these.
Project 1 – Daffodil Treat Holder.
You will need - a piece of yellow card, a cardboard egg box, yellow or orange paint, a paintbrush, scissors, a pencil, glue, tape or a paper fastener.
Printout the daffodil template from my website (details below), cut it out and use the pencil to draw around it onto the yellow card. Cut out and put aside. Cut out one of the segments of the egg box. Trim the top to give the ruffled effect of a daffodil trumpet. Paint it either yellow or orange. Put aside to dry. When it is dry, attach it to the centre of the yellow card. Depending on the egg box used, you may need to try either sticky tape or glue to join them together. If you have a paper fastener (brad), ask an adult to make a hole in the centre of both the trumpet and flower, push brad through and open out ends to secure. Fill with small sweets and give to your mother. Eat any sweets that are left!!
Project 2 – Painted Rock Paperweight
You will need – a rock, a pencil, acrylic paints, a paintbrush, (permanent marker pens, glitter glue, varnish - not essential)
Select a smooth rounded or oval rock, that comfortably fits into your hand. Wash carefully making sure there is no dirt left behind. Make sure that it is thoroughly dry as the paint may not set properly and will bubble. Leave it overnight to dry if possible.
Use the pencil to draw your design – it could be a butterfly, flower, or the word ‘mum’. Then carefully paint your design. Permanent markers, metallic markers or glitter glue can be used to provide highlights on the design. Leave it to dry. Varnish if required. Don’t forget to write your name and date on the bottom of the rock. This makes it extra special.

Daffodil Template (41kb)

Valentine Craft Ideas (7th Feb 08)
As the day of love is approaching I thought I would share some romantic themed craft inspiration. Make heart shape card tags out of red card, plain, metallic or glittered is fine. Punch a hole in the top and thread though some ribbon. On the plain side of the card write messages such as Be Mine, I’m Yours, just like those sweets we all know and love. Tie them in different places all around the house for your loved one to find. Instead of the ‘sweet style’ messages, you could use text style, like you use on mobile phones, or I Love You in different languages (the translations are easily available on the internet). If the children want to become involved, give them a clean jam jar and some glass paints and let them draw heart style designs all over the glass. The lid could be painted red or pink with a heart or message on it, or use a scrap of heart, gingham, red, pink or other suitable fabric to make a jar cover Cut an oversized circle with pincking shears (zig zag scissors) to stop fraying. Place over lid and secure with ribbon or an elastic band. The jar could be filled with heart shaped sweets, red sweets or pink. If you are going to be cooking a romantic meal think about decorating the table. Use a red tablecloth or table runner. If you have some red fabric available, cut out 2 large hearts (big enough for a place mat). Use a thin layer of wadding or padding and stitch the layers together. You could paint love hearts on to your wine glasses with glass paint but if you did not want to do this, fill the glass with gold wrapped heart shaped truffles or if using a tall glass, stand a sweet sugar lollipop (the kind with messages on) in the glass. You could make napkins rings from red paper or fabric covered kitchen rolls decorated with heart sequins. Make a centre piece with the roses your loved one gives you (heres hoping!!), or stand a branch in a vase and let the children tie heart or flower shaped pieces of card on it. Finish off with some candles and heart shaped metallic confetti sprinkles.

Valentine Craft Ideas (7th Feb 08)

As the day of love is approaching I thought I would share some romantic themed craft inspiration.
Make heart shape card tags out of red card, plain, metallic or glittered is fine. Punch a hole in the top and thread though some ribbon. On the plain side of the card write messages such as Be Mine, I’m Yours, just like those sweets we all know and love. Tie them in different places all around the house for your loved one to find. Instead of the ‘sweet style’ messages, you could use text style, like you use on mobile phones, or I Love You in different languages (the translations are easily available on the internet).
If the children want to become involved, give them a clean jam jar and some glass paints and let them draw heart style designs all over the glass. The lid could be painted red or pink with a heart or message on it, or use a scrap of heart, gingham, red, pink or other suitable fabric to make a jar cover Cut an oversized circle with pincking shears (zig zag scissors) to stop fraying. Place over lid and secure with ribbon or an elastic band. The jar could be filled with heart shaped sweets, red sweets or pink.
If you are going to be cooking a romantic meal think about decorating the table. Use a red tablecloth or table runner. If you have some red fabric available, cut out 2 large hearts (big enough for a place mat). Use a thin layer of wadding or padding and stitch the layers together. You could paint love hearts on to your wine glasses with glass paint but if you did not want to do this, fill the glass with gold wrapped heart shaped truffles or if using a tall glass, stand a sweet sugar lollipop (the kind with messages on) in the glass.
You could make napkins rings from red paper or fabric covered kitchen rolls decorated with heart sequins. Make a centre piece with the roses your loved one gives you (heres hoping!!), or stand a branch in a vase and let the children tie heart or flower shaped pieces of card on it. Finish off with some candles and heart shaped metallic confetti sprinkles.

Rubber Stamping Part 2 (31st Jan 08)
Hello fellow crafters. This week as promised, I am going to cover rubber stamping techniques. Gather together your stamps and ink pads and card or paper to stamp onto. Lay your stamp rubber face up on a table, then apply ink pad on to stamp, gently tapping. Make sure it is well inked, but not over inked as this will cause the image to be flooded. If there are areas that appear dry, you will need to ink the stamp more thoroughly. If you are using ink pens or daubers to colour in areas of the stamp, you could gently ‘breathe’ over the stamp to put back any ink moisture that has dried off. Stamp onto a flat, smooth surface with firm even pressure to all parts of the stamp using your fingertips. You may find it easier to apply even pressure whilst standing. Do not rock the stamp, slam it down hard or allow it to move as this will cause blurring. Small stamps and fine line designs require less ink and less pressure. To heat emboss, lay a piece of scrap paper down to catch excess powder, then ink stamp using either an emboss pad or slow drying pigment ink. Stamp the image onto paper then sprinkle embossing powder over wet ink quickly, ensuring all areas are covered. Remove excess powder from around image by lightly tapping over scrap paper or carefully use a clean paintbrush (be sure not to touch image or it will be ruined). Pour excess powder back into pot. Use a craft heat tool to make the powder melt and give a raised emboss effect. I know some magazines and publications suggest toasters, irons, hairdryers for this job, but its too dangerous and the results are never very good. The heat tool gets extremely hot so adults only please. Don’t hold it too close to the image as it may scorch. Work evenly across the image – I call this chasing the image, so you can see it start to transform. It is ready when the image looks shiny and raised, but don’t over emboss once it has raised as it will gradually start to sink back down. When cutting out the embossed image try not to cut into the embossed lines as this will cause the powder to flake off.

Rubber Stamping Part 2 (31st Jan 08)

Hello fellow crafters. This week as promised, I am going to cover rubber stamping techniques. Gather together your stamps and ink pads and card or paper to stamp onto.
Lay your stamp rubber face up on a table, then apply ink pad on to stamp, gently tapping. Make sure it is well inked, but not over inked as this will cause the image to be flooded. If there are areas that appear dry, you will need to ink the stamp more thoroughly. If you are using ink pens or daubers to colour in areas of the stamp, you could gently ‘breathe’ over the stamp to put back any ink moisture that has dried off.
Stamp onto a flat, smooth surface with firm even pressure to all parts of the stamp using your fingertips. You may find it easier to apply even pressure whilst standing. Do not rock the stamp, slam it down hard or allow it to move as this will cause blurring. Small stamps and fine line designs require less ink and less pressure.
To heat emboss, lay a piece of scrap paper down to catch excess powder, then ink stamp using either an emboss pad or slow drying pigment ink. Stamp the image onto paper then sprinkle embossing powder over wet ink quickly, ensuring all areas are covered. Remove excess powder from around image by lightly tapping over scrap paper or carefully use a clean paintbrush (be sure not to touch image or it will be ruined). Pour excess powder back into pot. Use a craft heat tool to make the powder melt and give a raised emboss effect. I know some magazines and publications suggest toasters, irons, hairdryers for this job, but its too dangerous and the results are never very good. The heat tool gets extremely hot so adults only please. Don’t hold it too close to the image as it may scorch. Work evenly across the image – I call this chasing the image, so you can see it start to transform. It is ready when the image looks shiny and raised, but don’t over emboss once it has raised as it will gradually start to sink back down.
When cutting out the embossed image try not to cut into the embossed lines as this will cause the powder to flake off.

Rubber Stamping Part 1 (17th Jan 08)
Having been asked many times to explain the craft of rubber stamping, I am going to take the opportunity this week to explain the different types of equipment required. Next time I will cover the techniques. There are several types of rubber stamps available. You can choose from wood mounted, foam mounted (cheap, good for children), magnetic mounted and acrylic mounted. The acrylic mounted stamps come in two types, clear and rubber. They are usually sold in sheet form, either ready to cut and mount or ready cut and just peel and cling. These are easier to store as they stack easily and take up less space. The clear stamps are easy to use as you can see exactly where you are going to stamp, making lining up borders and multiple designs more accurate. As for ink pads, dye based pads tend to give richer, more saturated colour, while pigment inks are lighter and thicker. Dye based inks will dry quicker and are great for use on glossy paper. Pigment ink dries more slowly, so it is the ink of choice if you’re going to be embossing. Emboss ink pads are also available, usually clear or tinted pink which are designed specifically for embossing and work well with coloured emboss powders. Rainbow effect pads can be used as individual colours with small stamps or to give a rainbow effect with a larger stamp. Brush markers can be used to colour in different areas of a stamp before stamping to give a full coloured effect, much in the same way as double ended dauber ink pads allow you to highlight certain areas. Emboss pens allow you to write or draw small areas for embossing. Emboss powders give a raised look and are available in many colourways including, clear, glitter and metallics. They are sprinkled over the wet ink. Heat tools are used to set the embossing powder. Stamps should always be put away clean after use. Do not wash as this destabilises the rubber. There are stamp cleaners available for the task, either spray bottles, or my favourite a scrubber mat, much like microfibre, for wiping the stamp on. For more advanced techniques, brayers and rollers may also be required. If you really enjoy rubber stamps, machines are available, albeit rather expensive, for you to produce your. own designs. My next live show on Ideal World TV is Thursday 17th January at 2pm. All current stock on my website is half price throughout the month of January (it’s SALE time). Claire Pingel,

Rubber Stamping Part 1 (17th Jan 08)

Having been asked many times to explain the craft of rubber stamping, I am going to take the opportunity this week to explain the different types of equipment required. Next time I will cover the techniques.
There are several types of rubber stamps available. You can choose from wood mounted, foam mounted (cheap, good for children), magnetic mounted and acrylic mounted. The acrylic mounted stamps come in two types, clear and rubber. They are usually sold in sheet form, either ready to cut and mount or ready cut and just peel and cling. These are easier to store as they stack easily and take up less space. The clear stamps are easy to use as you can see exactly where you are going to stamp, making lining up borders and multiple designs more accurate.
As for ink pads, dye based pads tend to give richer, more saturated colour, while pigment inks are lighter and thicker. Dye based inks will dry quicker and are great for use on glossy paper. Pigment ink dries more slowly, so it is the ink of choice if you’re going to be embossing. Emboss ink pads are also available, usually clear or tinted pink which are designed specifically for embossing and work well with coloured emboss powders. Rainbow effect pads can be used as individual colours with small stamps or to give a rainbow effect with a larger stamp. Brush markers can be used to colour in different areas of a stamp before stamping to give a full coloured effect, much in the same way as double ended dauber ink pads allow you to highlight certain areas. Emboss pens allow you to write or draw small areas for embossing.
Emboss powders give a raised look and are available in many colourways including, clear, glitter and metallics. They are sprinkled over the wet ink. Heat tools are used to set the embossing powder.
Stamps should always be put away clean after use. Do not wash as this destabilises the rubber. There are stamp cleaners available for the task, either spray bottles, or my favourite a scrubber mat, much like microfibre, for wiping the stamp on. For more advanced techniques, brayers and rollers may also be required.
If you really enjoy rubber stamps, machines are available, albeit rather expensive, for you to produce your. own designs.
My next live show on Ideal World TV is Thursday 17th January at 2pm. All current stock on my website is half price throughout the month of January (it’s SALE time).
Claire Pingel,

New Year (3rd Jan 08)
At the start of 2008, why not make a time capsule containing memories of 2007? You could use a coffee jar or something larger like a sweet or biscuit tin. Cover or paint 2007 all over the object. Fill with items such as family photographs, a dvd, cd or tape recording, diaries, children’s artwork etc. Store the capsule in your attic. If you make one of these each year you will be making treasured memories for years to come. Now is the time for New Years Resolutions. If like me, you make many each year, why not make a resolution to try a new craft? Maybe you have always wanted to learn to knit or crochet or try some thing more unusual such as lucetting. There are magazine available, which explain all the basic knitting stitches - try ‘Simply Knitting’, that is good for beginners and the more advanced. Ask a family member who enjoys knitting to teach you (my aunt taught me, many years ago). There are even knitting clubs (known affectionately as Stitch n Bitch). They are listed in the back of knitting magazines or do an internet search. As for lucetting, four years ago when I first started appearing on Ideal World shopping channel, my first ever show was shared with a lovely gentleman called Ziggy. He has revived this Viking craft and over the past fifteen years or so updated the lucet tool. It is basically a cord making craft, which he has adapted and altered the tool so decorative borders and braids can also be made. To learn more about this ancient craft, visit his website www.thelucet.co.uk. The New Year is also a good time to clear out your craft box, workstation or if you are really lucky, your craft room. Finish off those half done projects, donate to charity any unused, unwanted supplies. Start the new year free of craft clutter! If you have no craft storage, hit those sales, treat yourself to some plastic storage tubs and sort your supplies out and make some space for the new craft ideas I am going to share with you in 2008! Claire

New Year (3rd Jan 08)

At the start of 2008, why not make a time capsule containing memories of 2007? You could use a coffee jar or something larger like a sweet or biscuit tin. Cover or paint 2007 all over the object. Fill with items such as family photographs, a dvd, cd or tape recording, diaries, children’s artwork etc. Store the capsule in your attic. If you make one of these each year you will be making treasured memories for years to come.
Now is the time for New Years Resolutions. If like me, you make many each year, why not make a resolution to try a new craft? Maybe you have always wanted to learn to knit or crochet or try some thing more unusual such as lucetting. There are magazine available, which explain all the basic knitting stitches - try ‘Simply Knitting’, that is good for beginners and the more advanced. Ask a family member who enjoys knitting to teach you (my aunt taught me, many years ago). There are even knitting clubs (known affectionately as Stitch n Bitch). They are listed in the back of knitting magazines or do an internet search.
As for lucetting, four years ago when I first started appearing on Ideal World shopping channel, my first ever show was shared with a lovely gentleman called Ziggy. He has revived this Viking craft and over the past fifteen years or so updated the lucet tool. It is basically a cord making craft, which he has adapted and altered the tool so decorative borders and braids can also be made. To learn more about this ancient craft, visit his website www.thelucet.co.uk.
The New Year is also a good time to clear out your craft box, workstation or if you are really lucky, your craft room. Finish off those half done projects, donate to charity any unused, unwanted supplies. Start the new year free of craft clutter! If you have no craft storage, hit those sales, treat yourself to some plastic storage tubs and sort your supplies out and make some space for the new craft ideas I am going to share with you in 2008!
Claire

Creative Christmas Dining (20th Dec 07)
With Christmas just days away, now is the time to think about the presentation of the Christmas dinner. Christmas fabric is now available in stores, if you enjoy sewing why not make a tablecloth with matching napkins? Just make sure the fabric is washable – one less thing to worry about! An alternative is a plain fabric cotton sheet cut to size, hemmed and painted with a basic Christmas design such as holly or bells. Use a washable fabric paint and follow ironing and setting instructions on the bottle. Plain white plates can be painted with ceramic paints. Use a Christmas stencil or template (easily downloadable off the internet). Make sure the paint is suitable for use on items which food will be eaten from. I always handwash these items after use. Plain wine glasses and tumblers can be given the same crafty touch, just use a glass outliner to draw the design and fill in with glass paints. There are even some ‘gems’ available that can be stuck on the glasses. Again handwash them. Wired ribbon could be used to tie bows around the stems of the glasses, just use a bit of tape to stop it moving around. You can fully co-ordinate your Christmas table with just a little thought. A simple place marker would be a passport size photo held in a small wire crocodile clipped photo holder. A more creative way would be to paint a name with glass outliner paint onto a plain metallic bauble, tie a bow through the ring at the top and put on the plate or stand it on the wine glass. You could make your own crackers, using a kit or buy cheap ones and push an extra gift in one end. Instead of crackers this year, I am going to make mini gift bags (from my website), put small gifts in them and use them as place markers. If you are good at flower arranging you may like to make a centrepiece from the flowers and foliage of the season, otherwise a bowl with floating candles, and poinsettia vellum flowers (from our website www.clairescrafts.co.uk) makes a lovely decoration (remove flowers before lighting the candles). Christmas confetti sprinkled over the table is the final touch. Have a wonderful Christmas and I will be back in the New Year with more craft ideas. Claire

Creative Christmas Dining (20th Dec 07)

With Christmas just days away, now is the time to think about the presentation of the Christmas dinner. Christmas fabric is now available in stores, if you enjoy sewing why not make a tablecloth with matching napkins? Just make sure the fabric is washable – one less thing to worry about! An alternative is a plain fabric cotton sheet cut to size, hemmed and painted with a basic Christmas design such as holly or bells. Use a washable fabric paint and follow ironing and setting instructions on the bottle.
Plain white plates can be painted with ceramic paints. Use a Christmas stencil or template (easily downloadable off the internet). Make sure the paint is suitable for use on items which food will be eaten from. I always handwash these items after use. Plain wine glasses and tumblers can be given the same crafty touch, just use a glass outliner to draw the design and fill in with glass paints. There are even some ‘gems’ available that can be stuck on the glasses. Again handwash them. Wired ribbon could be used to tie bows around the stems of the glasses, just use a bit of tape to stop it moving around. You can fully co-ordinate your Christmas table with just a little thought.
A simple place marker would be a passport size photo held in a small wire crocodile clipped photo holder. A more creative way would be to paint a name with glass outliner paint onto a plain metallic bauble, tie a bow through the ring at the top and put on the plate or stand it on the wine glass. You could make your own crackers, using a kit or buy cheap ones and push an extra gift in one end. Instead of crackers this year, I am going to make mini gift bags (from my website), put small gifts in them and use them as place markers.
If you are good at flower arranging you may like to make a centrepiece from the flowers and foliage of the season, otherwise a bowl with floating candles, and poinsettia vellum flowers (from our website www.clairescrafts.co.uk) makes a lovely decoration (remove flowers before lighting the candles).
Christmas confetti sprinkled over the table is the final touch.
Have a wonderful Christmas and I will be back in the New Year with more craft ideas.
Claire

Christmas Wrapping (6th Dec 07)
As Christmas draws ever closer, it is time to think about how to wrap the presents for our loved ones. So much thought is put into choosing the gift, and not so much into the wrapping and presentation. I am going to share some of my favourite craft ideas with you. Cover an old shoebox with good quality wrapping paper and stick a photo of the recipient on top. You could cut out a Santa hat from card or a magazine and stick it on them! Or you could tie ribbon around the box and make a tag with a photo of the lucky gift receiver. Children enjoying getting involved with craft at Christmas time (well anytime really!). This one is for them. Adults, cut a large potato in half and carve out a simple Christmas shape such as a star out of the flat inner part of the potato. Use a plate of poster paint and print the design onto a large piece of plain or craft paper. Sprinkle on some glitter and you have homemade gift wrap. A shaped sponge could be used instead of the potato. If you can sew or knit, why not start a family tradition and make reusable gift sacks? Just cut out or knit a long rectangle, sew up the two long sides, turn inside out, put the gift in and secure with a ribbon. They could be personalised, Santa for dad, angel for daughter etc. Place small gifts in the centre of gold dollies and tie with ribbon. Instead of the manufactured bows why not put a sprig of plastic holly or mistletoe as decoration or use raffia instead of ribbon. Purchased wrapping paper can be glittered to make it extra special and tags could be made out of the front of last years Christmas cards. Cut out with fancy edged scissors, punch a hole and thread through ribbon. I have a new range of Christmas mini vellum gift boxes, which are perfect for holding small gifts. This year I am going to use them as place setting gifts instead of crackers. By Claire Pingel, as seen on Ideal World and Create and Craft tv. Next live show December 14th at 11am. New recording for Craft and Craft tv coming soon – Baby mini vellums and more.

Christmas Wrapping (6th Dec 07)

As Christmas draws ever closer, it is time to think about how to wrap the presents for our loved ones. So much thought is put into choosing the gift, and not so much into the wrapping and presentation. I am going to share some of my favourite craft ideas with you.
Cover an old shoebox with good quality wrapping paper and stick a photo of the recipient on top. You could cut out a Santa hat from card or a magazine and stick it on them! Or you could tie ribbon around the box and make a tag with a photo of the lucky gift receiver.
Children enjoying getting involved with craft at Christmas time (well anytime really!). This one is for them. Adults, cut a large potato in half and carve out a simple Christmas shape such as a star out of the flat inner part of the potato. Use a plate of poster paint and print the design onto a large piece of plain or craft paper. Sprinkle on some glitter and you have homemade gift wrap. A shaped sponge could be used instead of the potato.
If you can sew or knit, why not start a family tradition and make reusable gift sacks? Just cut out or knit a long rectangle, sew up the two long sides, turn inside out, put the gift in and secure with a ribbon. They could be personalised, Santa for dad, angel for daughter etc.
Place small gifts in the centre of gold dollies and tie with ribbon. Instead of the manufactured bows why not put a sprig of plastic holly or mistletoe as decoration or use raffia instead of ribbon. Purchased wrapping paper can be glittered to make it extra special and tags could be made out of the front of last years Christmas cards. Cut out with fancy edged scissors, punch a hole and thread through ribbon.
I have a new range of Christmas mini vellum gift boxes, which are perfect for holding small gifts. This year I am going to use them as place setting gifts instead of crackers.
By Claire Pingel, as seen on Ideal World and Create and Craft tv. Next live show December 14th at 11am. New recording for Craft and Craft tv coming soon – Baby mini vellums and more.

Christmas Cards (22nd Nov 07)
Hello, my name is Claire Pingel and I appear regularly on Ideal World and Create and Craft TV. I would like you to think about Christmas cards today. Did you recycle last years cards? If not, give them to your children (or have fun and do it yourself!) to embellish with glitter, peel off stickers or stick on gems, then cut out with decorative edged scissors (adults do this for young children please). You can mount the decorated area on to blank cardstock. If you have scraps of wrapping paper left from last year you can use them on the card as a background paper, especially if it is of the holographic or metallic type. There are some beautiful wooden flat sided Christmas decorations available in the shops that can be mounted on cards, which the recipient can remove and use to decorate their tree. Thread a decorative ribbon through the hanger and tie a bow and glue the bow onto the card (don’t stick the decoration as it may damage). If you hand deliver cards, you could use decorative postage stamps on the front of envelopes and as seals on the back. Decorative stamps are available from our website. We also supply mini gift bags and mini envelopes to stick on your card to put little gifts or money in, again for hand delivery only. If you haven’t made Christmas cards before, why not book a place at a Christmas card making workshop? Here you can learn and share ideas with other novices and the more advanced crafter. If you are looking to start making cards, products to begin with are blank card stock, Christmas backing papers, some craft punches, decorative edged scissors, rubber stamps, ink pads and some peel offs. This will give you a starting point and as you become more accomplished you can try other products such as eyelet tools and setters and maybe even a small die cutting machine. Another way to make a start with Christmas cards is to purchase complete card making kits with full instructions and everything included to complete a number of cards. We have many kits like this on this website. Christmas could be just the excuse you need to learn a new technique such as decoupage, paper perforating or teabag folding.

Christmas Cards (22nd Nov 07)

Hello, my name is Claire Pingel and I appear regularly on Ideal World and Create and Craft TV. I would like you to think about Christmas cards today. Did you recycle last years cards? If not, give them to your children (or have fun and do it yourself!) to embellish with glitter, peel off stickers or stick on gems, then cut out with decorative edged scissors (adults do this for young children please). You can mount the decorated area on to blank cardstock. If you have scraps of wrapping paper left from last year you can use them on the card as a background paper, especially if it is of the holographic or metallic type. There are some beautiful wooden flat sided Christmas decorations available in the shops that can be mounted on cards, which the recipient can remove and use to decorate their tree. Thread a decorative ribbon through the hanger and tie a bow and glue the bow onto the card (don’t stick the decoration as it may damage). If you hand deliver cards, you could use decorative postage stamps on the front of envelopes and as seals on the back. Decorative stamps are available from our website. We also supply mini gift bags and mini envelopes to stick on your card to put little gifts or money in, again for hand delivery only.

If you haven’t made Christmas cards before, why not book a place at a Christmas card making workshop? Here you can learn and share ideas with other novices and the more advanced crafter. If you are looking to start making cards, products to begin with are blank card stock, Christmas backing papers, some craft punches, decorative edged scissors, rubber stamps, ink pads and some peel offs. This will give you a starting point and as you become more accomplished you can try other products such as eyelet tools and setters and maybe even a small die cutting machine.

Another way to make a start with Christmas cards is to purchase complete card making kits with full instructions and everything included to complete a number of cards. We have many kits like this on this website. Christmas could be just the excuse you need to learn a new technique such as decoupage, paper perforating or teabag folding.

Gifts (8th Nov 07)
Hello I’m Claire from Claires Crafts and I regularly appear on Create & Craft and Ideal World TV. As it is never too early to start Christmas preparations, I thought I would share with you some ideas for gifts you can start to make now. Salt dough handprints – children can make these keepsakes for adoring grandparents! Salt dough recipes vary slightly , but here is one you can try – 1 cup salt, 2 cups flour and 3/4 to 1 cup lukewarm water. Mix to form a dough ball, flatten, press child’s handprint firmly into the dough, make a hole for a hanging ribbon, then bake at 200f/100c for around 2-3 hours depending on thickness (keep an eye on it). Leave to cool then paint and varnish. Rather than making salt dough, you could use air drying clay. Plaster of Paris can also be used but be sure to follow the safety instructions on the packaging. Sachets – Cut a rectangle of fabric, hem it all around then sew two sides together to form a pocket. Fill with lavender, rose petals or herbs and spices. Tie with ribbon. If you prefer you could make an inner pocket to contain the scented goodies together. An alternative would be to make the pocket out of muslin, fill with oatmeal, rose petals and rosemary leaves and you have a bath sachet which is hung by a ribbon below a tap allowing water to run through it. It can be used several times if left to dry out. Decorated plates – Buy a plain white plate, use ceramic paints to do your design and then varnish it. You could do birth announcements, anniversary dates or copy a design you like on to the plate to match your interior. Use the plate as a decoration only and don’t put in the dishwasher! You could also paint a mug for each member of the family and personalize it to them, favourite football team, hobbies or Worlds Best….. There are commercial kits available for soap making, candle making and bath goodies such as salts and oils that are also a good way for making presents for family and friends.

Gifts (8th Nov 07)

Hello I’m Claire from Claires Crafts and I regularly appear on Create & Craft and Ideal World TV. As it is never too early to start Christmas preparations, I thought I would share with you some ideas for gifts you can start to make now.
Salt dough handprints – children can make these keepsakes for adoring grandparents! Salt dough recipes vary slightly , but here is one you can try – 1 cup salt, 2 cups flour and 3/4 to 1 cup lukewarm water. Mix to form a dough ball, flatten, press child’s handprint firmly into the dough, make a hole for a hanging ribbon, then bake at 200f/100c for around 2-3 hours depending on thickness (keep an eye on it). Leave to cool then paint and varnish. Rather than making salt dough, you could use air drying clay. Plaster of Paris can also be used but be sure to follow the safety instructions on the packaging.
Sachets – Cut a rectangle of fabric, hem it all around then sew two sides together to form a pocket. Fill with lavender, rose petals or herbs and spices. Tie with ribbon. If you prefer you could make an inner pocket to contain the scented goodies together. An alternative would be to make the pocket out of muslin, fill with oatmeal, rose petals and rosemary leaves and you have a bath sachet which is hung by a ribbon below a tap allowing water to run through it. It can be used several times if left to dry out.
Decorated plates – Buy a plain white plate, use ceramic paints to do your design and then varnish it. You could do birth announcements, anniversary dates or copy a design you like on to the plate to match your interior. Use the plate as a decoration only and don’t put in the dishwasher! You could also paint a mug for each member of the family and personalize it to them, favourite football team, hobbies or Worlds Best…..
There are commercial kits available for soap making, candle making and bath goodies such as salts and oils that are also a good way for making presents for family and friends.

The Mummy Jar (24th Oct 07)
Hello I’m Claire from Claires Crafts, your local craft expert and you may have seen me on Ideal World and Create and Craft TV. Following the popularity of the Halloween masks in my last column, I thought I would share another Halloween project with you. These spooky mummy jars can be made by children with a little adult help. You will need 1 clean pasta sauce size jar 1 bandage 1 small piece black card or paper 1 small piece orange card or paper 1 pencil or silver gel pen scissors, glue and sticky tape Wash and soak the label off the jar. On black card draw a pair of mummys eyes. Leave them joined together on a strip. Colour in the outer part of the eye with a pencil or gel pen. Ask your mummy (sorry, I couldn’t resist that one) or another adult to cut the centre of the eyes out for you and tape a strip of orange card behind so it shows through the cut out area. Tape the eye strip onto the outside of the jar near the top. Now for the fun bit. Tape the bandage at the bottom back of the jar and wrap around, criss crossing between the eyes and taping occasionally to secure. When the jar is covered, cut and secure the bandage. If you are going to use the mummy jar for trick or treat collections, please use a plastic container, such as a cut down pop bottle. Adults do this please and allow the bandage to cover any sharp edges at the top. The jar can also be used as a lantern, preferably with a disposable light stick, but if you choose to use a tealight, please keep on a firm surface (do not hold), preferably outdoors, and adults only to light the candle. Another safety tip – if you do use the bandage out of your first aid kit, please remember to replace it, you never know when you might need it! Have a fun, safe Halloween.

The Mummy Jar (24th Oct 07)

Hello I’m Claire from Claires Crafts, your local craft expert and you may have seen me on Ideal World and Create and Craft TV. Following the popularity of the Halloween masks in my last column, I thought I would share another Halloween project with you. These spooky mummy jars can be made by children with a little adult help.
You will need
1 clean pasta sauce size jar
1 bandage
1 small piece black card or paper
1 small piece orange card or paper
1 pencil or silver gel pen
scissors, glue and sticky tape
Wash and soak the label off the jar. On black card draw a pair of mummys eyes. Leave them joined together on a strip. Colour in the outer part of the eye with a pencil or gel pen. Ask your mummy (sorry, I couldn’t resist that one) or another adult to cut the centre of the eyes out for you and tape a strip of orange card behind so it shows through the cut out area. Tape the eye strip onto the outside of the jar near the top. Now for the fun bit. Tape the bandage at the bottom back of the jar and wrap around, criss crossing between the eyes and taping occasionally to secure. When the jar is covered, cut and secure the bandage.
If you are going to use the mummy jar for trick or treat collections, please use a plastic container, such as a cut down pop bottle. Adults do this please and allow the bandage to cover any sharp edges at the top. The jar can also be used as a lantern, preferably with a disposable light stick, but if you choose to use a tealight, please keep on a firm surface (do not hold), preferably outdoors, and adults only to light the candle. Another safety tip – if you do use the bandage out of your first aid kit, please remember to replace it, you never know when you might need it! Have a fun, safe Halloween.

Halloween Masks (10th Oct 07)
Hello I’m Claire from Claires Crafts, your local craft expert and you may have seen me on Ideal World and Create and Craft TV. This week I want to share with you the pleasure of spending time crafting with your children. With Halloween on it’s way, now is the time to think of costumes and masks for trick or treating. Mask making is a perfect activity for children of all ages. Here are the instructions for two of my favorite opera style masks. The pumpkin and bat masks are made the same way, with the same materials just with different colour combinations. You will need (per mask) 1 sheet of A4 card, orange or black around 300g or recycle a cereal box and paint it 1 stick of required length – get your child to hold it ‘mask style’ to check size 1 length of wide ribbon – length will vary according to size of stick 1 length of narrow ribbon A selection of beads (pony style are good), feathers and glitters Cut out and enlarge paper template using photocopier or graph paper and size to fit your child. Draw around it onto card and cut out. With a craft knife (adults do this please) cut out eyes on bat or all facial features on pumpkin. Glitter around edges and put aside to dry. Glue or tape the wide ribbon to stick and wrap diagonally around, overlapping all the way down and secure at the bottom. Repeat with the narrow ribbon, but this time wrap the opposite way around and leave a length at the bottom. Thread assortment of beads on and finish with a glued on feather. Cut and knot the ribbon and glue a bead to the bottom of the stick. Make another beaded strip and glue to top of stick, put a bead on to end of stick and glue three feathers into the bead. Finish off mask by glueing or taping onto stick about 2-3” from the top. Full sized colour printouts of the masks are available to download from the 2 links below. My next live TV show is on Friday 19^th October at 11am on Ideal World TV with ideas for Christmas cards and gift boxes. Pumpkin Template (192kb) Bat Template (161kb)

Halloween Masks (10th Oct 07)

Hello I’m Claire from Claires Crafts, your local craft expert and you may have seen me on Ideal World and Create and Craft TV. This week I want to share with you the pleasure of spending time crafting with your children. With Halloween on it’s way, now is the time to think of costumes and masks for trick or treating. Mask making is a perfect activity for children of all ages. Here are the instructions for two of my favorite opera style masks. The pumpkin and bat masks are made the same way, with the same materials just with different colour combinations.

You will need (per mask)

1 sheet of A4 card, orange or black around 300g or recycle a cereal box and paint it

1 stick of required length – get your child to hold it ‘mask style’ to check size

1 length of wide ribbon – length will vary according to size of stick

1 length of narrow ribbon

A selection of beads (pony style are good), feathers and glitters

Cut out and enlarge paper template using photocopier or graph paper and size to fit your child. Draw around it onto card and cut out. With a craft knife (adults do this please) cut out eyes on bat or all facial features on pumpkin. Glitter around edges and put aside to dry. Glue or tape the wide ribbon to stick and wrap diagonally around, overlapping all the way down and secure at the bottom. Repeat with the narrow ribbon, but this time wrap the opposite way around and leave a length at the bottom. Thread assortment of beads on and finish with a glued on feather. Cut and knot the ribbon and glue a bead to the bottom of the stick. Make another beaded strip and glue to top of stick, put a bead on to end of stick and glue three feathers into the bead. Finish off mask by glueing or taping onto stick about 2-3” from the top.

Full sized colour printouts of the masks are available to download from the 2 links below. My next live TV show is on Friday 19^th October at 11am on Ideal World TV with ideas for Christmas cards and gift boxes.

Pumpkin Template (192kb)
Bat Template (161kb)

Questions & Answers (26th Sept 07)
Hello I’m Claire, your local craft expert as seen on Ideal World and Create & Craft TV. This week I am going to answer some craft questions that I am frequently asked. What is an ATC? An Artist Trading Card is an individually designed mini piece of art, typically created on a piece of cardstock, showcasing a variety of craft techniques. The craft originated in Zurich, Switzerland in 1997. The only rule is the size card – 2.5 x 3.5 inches (64 x 89 mm). The front of the card is decorated and the reverse is generally signed and dated with a title and contact information. Cards can be traded with other crafters at trading sessions or by mail. What is Parchment Craft? Also known by it’s brand name of Pergamano, parchment craft is a decorative paper craft resembling paper lace. It has its roots in holy art works by nuns and monks centuries ago. Heavy vellum-like parchment paper is used and transformed into intricate works of art. Patterns are traced onto the parchment using a mapping pen and white ink, embossing and perforating tools used to embellish, and paint or wax like crayons used to colour the finished work. I would like to learn how to cross stitch, can you help? Cross stitch is a counted thread embroidery technique where X shaped stitches are used to form pictures. Aida or evenweave fabrics are usually used, with threads per inch counts of 14 or 18 being a good place to start or try children with 11 count binca fabric. Skeins of embroidery threads are available in hundreds of different shades and you can purchase a kit with all materials in, or if you prefer, just a chart and select your own threads. The stitches can also be printed directly onto the fabric, this is known as stamped cross stitch. The are many good monthly cross stitch magazines available, I would suggest these as a good starting point with techniques generally covered in each issue. If you have any questions that you would like me to answer in future articles, please email them to me – sales@clairescrafts.co.uk. I run workshops on many different crafts.

Questions & Answers (26th Sept 07)

Hello I’m Claire, your local craft expert as seen on Ideal World and Create & Craft TV. This week I am going to answer some craft questions that I am frequently asked.

What is an ATC?

An Artist Trading Card is an individually designed mini piece of art, typically created on a piece of cardstock, showcasing a variety of craft techniques. The craft originated in Zurich, Switzerland in 1997. The only rule is the size card – 2.5 x 3.5 inches (64 x 89 mm). The front of the card is decorated and the reverse is generally signed and dated with a title and contact information. Cards can be traded with other crafters at trading sessions or by mail.

What is Parchment Craft?

Also known by it’s brand name of Pergamano, parchment craft is a decorative paper craft resembling paper lace. It has its roots in holy art works by nuns and monks centuries ago. Heavy vellum-like parchment paper is used and transformed into intricate works of art. Patterns are traced onto the parchment using a mapping pen and white ink, embossing and perforating tools used to embellish, and paint or wax like crayons used to colour the finished work.

I would like to learn how to cross stitch, can you help?

Cross stitch is a counted thread embroidery technique where X shaped stitches are used to form pictures. Aida or evenweave fabrics are usually used, with threads per inch counts of 14 or 18 being a good place to start or try children with 11 count binca fabric. Skeins of embroidery threads are available in hundreds of different shades and you can purchase a kit with all materials in, or if you prefer, just a chart and select your own threads. The stitches can also be printed directly onto the fabric, this is known as stamped cross stitch. The are many good monthly cross stitch magazines available, I would suggest these as a good starting point with techniques generally covered in each issue.

If you have any questions that you would like me to answer in future articles, please email them to me – sales@clairescrafts.co.uk. I run workshops on many different crafts.

Green Crafting (12th Sept 07)
Hello I’m Claire, of Claire’s Crafts, you may have seen me on Ideal World or Create & Craft Shopping Channels, demonstrating craft ideas. Over the weeks, I’m hoping to share craft inspirations with you, I will present the latest trends in crafting, simple craft projects for you and your children and answer some of your crafty questions. This week I’m going to inspire crafters to “think green”. A lot of the rubbish we throw away has craft value. Beads from jewellery or hair decorations can be used on greeting cards, made into new jewellery, mobile phone charms, napkin rings or Christmas decorations. They can be left in their settings, or carefully removed with tweezers and remounted on to firm card using a strong glue. I would recommend a hot glue gun for this. Before old clothes go into the recycling bag, look at the buttons, the backs can be removed with a button back remover (available from your local craft shop) and used on greeting cards. Check the fabric out too – never throw out lace or ribbon, you can use them to spruce up plain cushions, customise your old clothing, even use as layers on your birthday cards. Aged or vintage items are in vogue at the moment on the craft scene. Maps can be “aged” using dilute tea (no milk!), or using walnut ink (from craft or art stores) washed or sponged over. Then use the antique effect maps as book covers, backing papers on your cards or scrapbook pages. You can recover old trays and coasters using the maps in a collage effect, using a decoupage medium, and varnishing over the completed work to protect it. Wallpaper scraps could be used in the same way too. Teenagers could collect photos of their favourite celebrities from magazines and montage them collage style in a picture frame. When you have finished reading this paper it could become a vase, bowl or even a piñata! Tear the newspaper into strips, dip into either a bowl of wallpaper paste ( or use PVA glue – 2 parts glue to 1 part water) and place over a mould, layer by layer. The mould could be an old mixing bowl, a twig frame, or the old favourite a balloon. It is best to use a mould with no texture to it as this may transfer to your finished creation. Allow 24 hours between each layer. When dry, remove from the mould or pop the balloon. Decorate as necessary and then varnish. Some items of food packaging could be given a new lease of life. Most people as a child used egg boxes and foil cake cups to make Christmas decorations, but didn’t realise that net from fruit bags, cardboard from cereal boxes, foil sweet wrappers and yoghurt cartons can all be used, supervised, by children to make collage creations and dressing up masks. The craft of Iris folding originally was developed in Europe and the inside and backs of envelopes were cut into strips, then placed layer by layer into an aperture card giving the effect of the Iris or lens of a camera. The history of teabag folding is similar. It was developed in Holland, using the decorative teabag envelopes that herbal teas come in. They can be folded, much like a form of origami, into beautiful rosettes to go on greeting cards or as Christmas tree decorations. There are many books available on these subjects if you would like to discover more of these popular crafts. These new crafts have developed from our waste, our rubbish, from the need to reuse rather than throw away. I challenge you to find innovate craft uses for our trash. Any ideas or questions you would like answered please email me on sales@clairescrafts.co.uk.

Green Crafting (12th Sept 07)

Hello I’m Claire, of Claire’s Crafts, you may have seen me on Ideal World or Create & Craft Shopping Channels, demonstrating craft ideas. Over the weeks, I’m hoping to share craft inspirations with you, I will present the latest trends in crafting, simple craft projects for you and your children and answer some of your crafty questions. This week I’m going to inspire crafters to “think green”. A lot of the rubbish we throw away has craft value. Beads from jewellery or hair decorations can be used on greeting cards, made into new jewellery, mobile phone charms, napkin rings or Christmas decorations. They can be left in their settings, or carefully removed with tweezers and remounted on to firm card using a strong glue. I would recommend a hot glue gun for this.

Before old clothes go into the recycling bag, look at the buttons, the backs can be removed with a button back remover (available from your local craft shop) and used on greeting cards. Check the fabric out too – never throw out lace or ribbon, you can use them to spruce up plain cushions, customise your old clothing, even use as layers on your birthday cards. Aged or vintage items are in vogue at the moment on the craft scene. Maps can be “aged” using dilute tea (no milk!), or using walnut ink (from craft or art stores) washed or sponged over. Then use the antique effect maps as book covers, backing papers on your cards or scrapbook pages. You can recover old trays and coasters using the maps in a collage effect, using a decoupage medium, and varnishing over the completed work to protect it. Wallpaper scraps could be used in the same way too. Teenagers could collect photos of their favourite celebrities from magazines and montage them collage style in a picture frame.

When you have finished reading this paper it could become a vase, bowl or even a piñata! Tear the newspaper into strips, dip into either a bowl of wallpaper paste ( or use PVA glue – 2 parts glue to 1 part water) and place over a mould, layer by layer. The mould could be an old mixing bowl, a twig frame, or the old favourite a balloon. It is best to use a mould with no texture to it as this may transfer to your finished creation. Allow 24 hours between each layer. When dry, remove from the mould or pop the balloon. Decorate as necessary and then varnish.

Some items of food packaging could be given a new lease of life. Most people as a child used egg boxes and foil cake cups to make Christmas decorations, but didn’t realise that net from fruit bags, cardboard from cereal boxes, foil sweet wrappers and yoghurt cartons can all be used, supervised, by children to make collage creations and dressing up masks.

The craft of Iris folding originally was developed in Europe and the inside and backs of envelopes were cut into strips, then placed layer by layer into an aperture card giving the effect of the Iris or lens of a camera. The history of teabag folding is similar. It was developed in Holland, using the decorative teabag envelopes that herbal teas come in. They can be folded, much like a form of origami, into beautiful rosettes to go on greeting cards or as Christmas tree decorations. There are many books available on these subjects if you would like to discover more of these popular crafts. These new crafts have developed from our waste, our rubbish, from the need to reuse rather than throw away. I challenge you to find innovate craft uses for our trash. Any ideas or questions you would like answered please email me on sales@clairescrafts.co.uk.