A Book Review – Make Hey! While The Sun Shines by Pip Lincolne

ISBN 978-1742701131-8 – hardie grant books
Disclaimer: Occasionally I do receive free products to review from companies. However I do not allow this to influence my opinion; I will always share my honest opinion.

A while back I had an e-mail from Helena from hardie grant books, a company, to be honest, I had not come across before, she offered me the opportunity to review two of their craft books (one in November and the other in December)…..  well it would have been most rude not to have a little gander wouldn’t it?

Rather than put all the blurb about the book in my own words it’s easier to just cut and paste and then I won’t miss anything out ……. and then I’ll tell you what I think!

“The crafty Pip Lincolne is back with her third book of sweet and whimsical projects. In Make Hey While the Sun Shines, she shows you 20 gorgeous things to make for the summertime, holiday time, or any time! There are bike seat covers made from vintage fabric, crocheted baubles to decorate your house (or car!), hand-printed gift bags and pretty hand illustrated plates to customise your own ceramics. More adventurous crafters might like to try the Chatty Tote or the handy bottle tote to store your drinks when you head out for the day. Making hey isn't just about sewing and craft though - there are also 5 pull-out recipe cards with delicious goodies to take on a picnic or just enjoy at home. All of the projects have step-by-step instructions and illustrations to guide you through, and with comprehensive sections on sewing, crochet and knitting basics, Make Hey While the Sun Shines is perfect for anyone who is interested in handmaking their own beautiful things.”

I love it, it’s a sturdy book with a hard cover but is ring bound inside. In the front cover is a pocket containing five recipe cards, with room to add a few more of your own.  It’s quirky, but my sort of quirky, and will be a constant source of inspiration for years to come, not only because of the projects it contains, but also the because of the composition of photographs and pages, there is so much to look at, I find them fascinating and a further source of inspiration,  in away it reminds me of a sort of smash book.

The book is divided into four parts, Projects, Crafty How-Tos, Extra Good Ideas and the Recipe Cards, all of which are detailed but easy to read and follow, using the simple illustrations and above all interesting.
The book is available from Amazon priced at £12.09 http://www.amazon.co.uk/Make-Hey-While-Sun-Shines/dp/1742701310/

The project I most wanted to try was “Mix Tape A La Pip”, such a simple idea …. ideas/instructions on how to make your own sticky tapes, something that I had never thought of before, but now I am hooked. 

Pip says this idea can be used on print or plain fabric scraps, which can be embroidered or drawn on, ….. using the principles of the idea, this is what I came up with A La Fiddle Fart …

In Publisher I created a series of tapes using fonts from Two Peas in  Bucket (2Peas DW Meow font size 36, 2Peas Tis The Season font size 14 and 2Peas DW Bow Wow)  http://www.twopeasinabucket.com/shop/fonts/ . The snowmen are from a digi set called Little Joys by Zoe Pearn which I printed on an A4 sheet of canvas paper in Landscape.  When printed, to use up all the canvas,  I added two of my own doodled designs using Promarker pens. ……. and then simply cut them out and put double sided tape on the back ….. voila!

I used one of the tapes on this Sizzix gift card holder …..

To sum up, an inspiring book, that I will refer to and read often and with a great deal of pleasure, however please can I stress that this is only my opinion of the book.
http://www.facebook.com/HardieGrantBooksLondon
http://twitter.com/#!/HardieGrantUK

Snowmen Keyrings

As soon as December starts out come all my little Christmassy things …. to use through 'till New Years Eve, and this will be my festive keyring of choice!

The blank is part of a pack of twelve oblong keyrings from Hobbycraft from the “Make It!” Create and Play range (£2.99) that I got when they were on a 3 for 2 offer in the summer.

I created a sheet images in Publisher (above) using a digi set from Sweet Shoppe Designs called Little Joys by Zoe Pearn (which unfortunately seems to have been deleted now).  It’s a set I have used over and over again for the past three years. I have a thing about the perfect snowman and this design ticks all the boxes for me.

Once printed, I cut out the images and glittered them using Stampin’Up Dazzling Diamonds and a Sakura Quickie Glue Pen.

I then put two of the designs back to back in a keyring and added three small jingle bells on a jump ring to finish the whole thing off (I’m not sure how long the bells will last though!).

For keyring blanks and a lot of other stuff as well: http://stores.ebay.co.uk/PC3721?_trksid=p4340.l2563

A Weekend Away From It All

I’ve just got back from a weekend near Christchurch in Dorset …. and my current object of desire is …..

…… a beach hut at Hengistbury Head ….. soooooo beautiful and peaceful …… making work and real life just melt away and seem a million miles away.

…… Later on in the day, fancying a coffee, we popped into a lovely Coffeehouse and Smoothie Bar called Blend, (74 High St, Christchurch, BH23 1BN) …….

…… where on a table, I found a ball of wool attached to a huge length of knitting and the invitation to knit a few rows ……

……. how could I resist? And so, between sips of my posh coffee, I added about another three inches. The scarf is being knitted to raise funds for a local hospice, so if you are passing by why not add a few more rows!

While in the New Forest I spotted this beautiful mushroom, …. mushrooms always make me feel all magical and mystical, goodness knows why….

……. and I got a picture of the Duke amongst the ponies.  The weather was glorious…. the weekend was perfect ….. bliss!

Ingredients Lists …..

Sorry, I’ve been away for the weekend and was unable to reply to a couple of questions left in the “chatbox” until now. My answers are a little long for the “chatbox”, so I’ve answered them here.

I have never sold my “stuff” at a public event/school fayre etc., so my experience on labelling is limited. Knowing that it can be a contentious issue,  if I did, I think I might steer clear of selling anything that I thought might cause problems re: listing ingredients etc. purely for the reasons that Diane encountered.

However, think about this …. when I buy my quarter (100 gms)  of sweets from my local Olde Sweete Shoppe in town, as often is my want,  the sweets are weighed out and put in a plain paper bag,  the same applies for when I indulge myself with a mahoooosive bag of Pick n Mix, again I have no clue to the ingredients ………

I have found this PDF which may be of use http://www.cibsouthandwest.org.uk/uploads/publications/60.pdf ….. but there are a lot of other sites from which you can get information.

If you really want to “cover” yourself, it wouldn’t hurt to type up the ingredients of whatever you are using onto a self adhesive label and put it on the back of your packets.  As I have said I have a limited knowledge on the subject but I am sure there may be others here who may be able to add to what I have suggested.

Lest We Forget

Snowflake Jar Lantern

I was a bit disappointed with my first attempt at a Christmas jar lantern a while back so I’ve had another go.

I’ve used white tissue paper,  which proved to be quite delicate and fiddle farty to use.  I applied one layer as evenly as I could, and then, when it was dry,  put a packet of Anita’s Snowflake Glitterations on top.  This may seem a bit of an extravagance, but I bought them last year and was never inspired to use them. Next followed another layer of tissue and then several coats of Ronseal Quick Drying Clear glossy varnish.

Doodled Patchwork Christmas Card

This card measures 5ins x 5ins and is made using white linen effect card.
 

I did all of this,  I doodled it all!  I made myself a grid and then bit the bullet with my best black outliner pen in hand and doodled something of a festive nature in each square.

The nerve wracking bit was the colouring in, I was so worried after getting it all drawn out I would ruin it …. but it’s turned out pretty alright. I’ve used a little Stampin’Up Dazzling Diamonds on all the bits I left white.

Silicone Gingerbread Man Mould

I’ve had tons of requests to know where the delectable Marc got my gingerbread man mould (£2.99)  from so I’ve asked him for the link …… it’s a long one ….

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GINGERBREAD-MAN-MEN-Chocolate-Candy-Gumpaste-Silicone-Bakeware-Mould-Mold-Tray-/180726655915?pt=UK_HomeGarden_Kitchen_Cookware_GL&hash=item2a1425ebab

I’ve just treated myself to this button mould ….. so I can make real chocolate buttons!!!!!!   £2.99

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BUTTONS-Chocolate-Candy-Topper-Silicone-Bakeware-Mould-/400255177885?pt=Uk_Crafts_Cake_Decorating_MJ&hash=item5d3111549d

But I really wish I hadn’t looked because there is too much to be tempted by ….!
http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Natural-Heating?_trksid=p4340.l2563

Sarah Jayne from the above company has also sent me these two links : www.siliconemoulds.blogspot.com & www.siliconemoulds.com

Elizabeth Mint Shaw Mints Revisited

Hope you don’t mind another post from Christmas past, but I still get questions about them from MSE and newbies here.

It wasn’t my idea, I originally saw them at a Stampin’ Up demonstration at the NEC and just though what a brilliant idea and have been making them every Christmas since.

The punches I use are from Stampin’ Up (the plain one measures 1 3/8ins), however there are a lot of other nesting punches out there, including these (below), but I can’t advise you on which ones you need as I haven’t got any actual experience of them.

http://theglitterpot.co.uk/scripts/prodList.asp?idCategory=809 

This year I’ve used these flat stickers (Hobbycraft 99p) I’d have preferred something with a bit more definition but  so far I haven’t found any “new” puffy, 3D stickers … but I am still looking.

  I make a front and a back ….

…. and sometimes I use a little bit of sellotape on the foil  to stop it ripping, if I make a mistake an have to  reposition the mint etc. I use double sided tape to stick everything together.  Then I pop four mints in alternating colours in a pretzel bag and tie with a ribbon.

The pretzel bags measure 2ins x 9ins and I always get them from this e-bay seller.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/50-x-2-x-9-CLEAR-Cello-Cakepop-Lolly-Pretzel-Bags-/250905742448?pt=Uk_Crafts_Cake_Decorating_MJ&hash=item3a6b25cc70

STOP PRESS STOP PRESS STOP PRESS ....... AND HEADS UP TO POUNDWORLD

............ Nipped into Poundworld in my lunchbreak and they have Christmas laser stickers (almost identical to the "Anita's" ones I used on my Elizabeth Shaw mints last year) priced at 2 for £1, Poundworld-bargain-tastic .....  (designs inc. penguins, santas, snowmen etc.) .... so I stocked up!  They also had "pop up" bubble stickers at the same price ..... quite large ...... in the same ilk as the ones I used on my Halloween sweetie bags and lots of choice. I went for the snowman ones to put with bon bons .... to make bags of snowballs! But I suspect I may be going back for more!!

More Wooden Christmas Tree Tags

I think that making these tags has been my favourite thing to do this Christmas.  I think it’s the challenge of working on such a small scale.

Carboot Sales seem to have been replaced here by markets now that the summer has gone and so my source of really cheap dominoes sets has dried up, so I’ve got my last couple of boxes from e-bay, which including P & P has still worked out a lot cheaper than buying them in town.

I’ve had these wooden Christmas trees for at least three years and at last I have finally used them all up. 

I am now on the lookout for large wooden jigsaw pieces that I can make some more tags with. It’s half term next week so I am going to trawl all the charity shops in Wolverhampton to see what I can find!

Heart Shaped Tag – Let It Snow

It’s going to be a using up stuff sort of Christmas!

I’ve had these wooden hearts for years and am slowly working my way through them, the same goes for the snowman buttons, which are the very last of a huge bag I got from US a few years ago too.

I’ve covered the heart with a blue and glitter paper, then added a handwritten sentiment, the snowman, a few stars and a bit of faux stitching.

I’ve used my Aldi Craft drill to make the holes for the cord and have just faux stitched round the edges of the back to leave room for a message.

THANK YOU,THANK YOU,THANK YOU

I always say it, but I am constantly amazed by the kindness of the people who read this blog.  Last week I was bemoaning the fact that my usual shopping haunts were bereft of mini marshmallows ….. and then what happens?  I get an e-mail from Louise telling me that there are marshmallows a-plenty in Asda …. and not only that, there was a pack on the way in the post for me!

I was soooooo touched!

Not only that, but there was an exquisite note with them from Louise …. it is so delicate. I love it and it is now kept safe forever in my Smashbook.  THANK YOU LOUISE, you are so kind xxxx

Remembrance Poppies

There are so many beautiful poppies this year

The Buckley Poppy has really taken off this year and is stunning with funds going to the British Legion http://www.legionshop.co.uk/shop/jewellery/poppy-jewellery/the-buckley-poppy-brooch.aspx - but I think they are awaiting new stock at the moment and I am not sure how much they cost.

But look what came in the post for me yesterday from Marc.  They are equally as stunning …. he has taken  ordinary Remberance poppies and then sprinkled them with ultra fine glitter using PVA glue. They really are beautiful and what a brilliant idea! Very showbiz! He also gave me another idea for using embossing powders to give a poppy a sort of porcelain look which I was desperate to try. 

 

On the first one I just used an iridescent powder with several layers of clear powder on top.

And on the second I used several layers of red and green powders and just love the effect.

 

Also in my envelope from Marc was  a note with this stamp on the back …. knowing Marc it made me howl!!!!  I really think I need to persuade him to do a "celebrity" guest spot for us once a month ..... we should start a petition!!!

Have You Seen These?

My mum found them in Aldi  ….. Butterscotch Crisp flavour, nom, nom,nom!!  Think they were about £2.69

Stampin’ Up Season of Joy Stamp

Bit of a Stampin’ Up fest going on today!

This card measures 5ins x 5ins and is made using ribbed effect  Kraft card.

This was the first Stampin Up stamp I ever saw.  It was at the NEC a couple of years back and I was gutted when I discovered I couldn’t buy it there and then but had to find a demonstrator to obtain it!

However, even after I got it, about two years ago, it has remained unused until now!  It was fiddly to stamp with as I wanted to use several colours of ink,  (I used my Stampin’ Up pens), so this was probably my tenth attempt at getting it right.  I’ve embellished it with a few tiny clear flat backed gems and a resin snowflake.  The green background paper is also from Stampin’ Up, but I can’t remember it’s name.

SMIRK Christmas Card

This card measures 16cms x 11cms and is made using a ribbed Kraft card.

Perhaps not to everyone’s taste, but I am hoping this will appeal to one of my teenage nieces this year. I got a SMIRK decoupage book in a sale for about £2.50 so I’ve sort of  challenged myself to see how many cards I can get out of it.  I’ve used my really old Dymo label maker to make the sentiments which, I think, goes with the modern feel of the card. Tiny ric rac braid and flat backed gems go to complete the card.

Purple Gingham Christmas Tree Card

This card measures 5 x 5 ins and is made using white linen effect card.

Why do some cards just come so easily and others seem to take forever to match papers etc and look right.  This is one that took ages, how silly is that?  Anyway, it’s hard to see, but the tree I’ve used is actually purple and glittery, hence the purple gingham layers, and comes from a pack of Smirk Christmas chipboard shapes. I’ve doodles a faux running stitch round the white layer, and on the outer gingham layer I have done a tiny cross stitch pattern, which is just about visible.