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CRAFTS BEAUTIFUL ISSUE 273 NOVEMBER 2014
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FESTIVE UP-DATES
ISSUE 273 NOVEMBER 2014
125
Handmade Ideas BEST-EVER CHRISTMAS to Make it Special CARDS COME TO US FOR THE GIFTING SEASON BRITAIN’S BEST-SELLING CRAFT MAGAZINE
20+ ALL-NEW
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TRICKS & TIPS
SIMPLE DIE-CUT SHAPES
with paper and card
STOCKING FILLERS
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Quick-Stitch Softie
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Plus LINO CUTTING FOR NEWBIES H CLASSIC DECOUPAGE
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HOW TO SELL ON ETSY H CROCHET BABY BLANKET
ContentsNov14qx_Crafts Project Template 03/10/2014 14:20 Page 2
Contents NOVEMBER 2014
72
26 REGULARS 7
CARDS & PAPER
FIRST STEPS
11 5 WAYS WITH... NORDIC COLOURS
Raid your workbox bits and bobs and rustle up a festive ribbon card
19 MAKE ME QUICK
Enjoy our pick of seasonal ideas to do, see and buy
24 SHADOW BOX
Tricks, tips and handy know-how from our team of top craft designers
31 SNOW FUN LAYOUT
Share makes and stories with fellow CB readers
Display your photos using Spellbinders dies and Marielle Le Blanc's guides
35 WEB WATCH
Combine playful, bright papers with bold die-cuts to create your very own designs
54 OUR PAPERCRAFT HERO
We take a look at the integral role that crafting played in the First World War
74 MAKE & SELL Stitch unique matryoshka-inspired felt creatures to sell, and find out how you can craft for charity
STITCH
64 POT HOLDER Give your kitchen style with our cherry-themed cross-stitch and patchwork projects
82 RUSTIC WRAPPING A food enthusiast will love these festive stitched makes
46 HOT CHOCOLATE SET
Add sparkle to your celebrations and create Katie Skilton's nature-inspired ideas
CB readers offer their crafty advice
56 CRAFTING ON THE HOME FRONT
32 NOEL WISHES
Explore the wonders of the creative web with our top picks
122 BEHIND THE CAMERA
Craft entrepreneur Stacey Caron tells us her story
Make up seasonal motifs from paper and decorate your home with our project
28 YOUR SPACE
108 REALLY USEFUL CRAFT TIPS
34 A DAY IN THE LIFE
Team charming images and pretty papers to create perfect wintry scenes
22 ASK THE EXPERTS
Craft legend Corinne Bradd talks all things yarn this month
PEOPLE & PLACES
Experiment with Scandi themes and bright colours for gorgeous results
14 INSPIRATION FOR NOVEMBER
68 MY CRAFT SPACE
100
Give a loved one the gift of comfort and warmth this season with a tasty treat or two
94 MADE BY YOU: FELT WREATH Create our decorative show-stopper in time for the festivities
60 DELICATE GREETINGS Ribbon and lace work wonders with natural colours to create a set of cards
100 LOG CABIN QUILT As winter draws in, cosy up with Corinne Bradd's comfy blanket
66 SEASONAL SHAPES Use paper piecing and colouring to create perfectly cute characters
103 POPPY JOURNAL Gather together your memorabilia and make Carolyn Letten's enchanting notebook
Stephanie Weightman shares her current crafty favourites
Share it!with the rest of the CB community via 4 CRAFTS-BEAUTIFUL.COM
ContentsNov14qx_Crafts Project Template 03/10/2014 14:20 Page 3
In This Issue
54 FIND FREE TEMPLATES FOR THIS ISSUE AND MORE ON OUR WEBSITE
crafts-beautiful.com
103
32
46 LEARN & MAKE
26 DIE-CUTTING MASTERCLASS Get creative with digital die-cutting and make cards for Christmas
38 DIANE BODEN QUILLS Decorate gifts for the festive season with our tiny quilled winter blooms
42 SARA NAUMANN’S MASTERCLASS Design bright and easy cards with a combination of festive washi tapes
BROWSE & BUY 17 CRAFT CRUSH
Gingerbread is big news for Christmas 2014: we take a look at our fave buys
86 WE LOVE: SCANDI Find out how you can incorporate this popular trend with our handy guide
MIXED MEDIA 40 BUTTONED UP
78 TEALIGHT HOLDERS Add a new lease of life to a mantelpiece or coffee table with colourful candles
106 CANDLE SCONCE Paint and punch away to create Jill Alblas' decorated home décor
KNITTING
84 BABY BLANKET Blue hues and warm colours team together to create a stunning crochet throw
JEWELLERY
53 BEADED SNOWFLAKE Add sparkle to your Christmas tree with a beautiful decoration
BAKE & CRAFT 98 ROYAL COOKIES
98 Freebies & Prizes 8
Learn how to make your own papercraft Christmas decs with our quilling and embossing kit
Brighten up your festive baking by adding a majestic sugarcraft spin
80 FREEBIES & OFFERS
Have fun with polymer clay and paper to create a fun gift bundle for kids
There's over £1,460 worth of prizes on offer this month: enter now!
51 LINO PRINTING Fancy jazzing up plain fabric? You should try your hand at this fab technique
72 STAR BURSTS Use Posca pens to create a gift set featuring beautifully drawn motifs
www.crafts-beautiful.com
HOW TO USE YOUR FREE GIFT
SUBSCRIBE TODAY! …TO RECEIVE A SENSATIONAL KAISERCRAFT ADVENT CALENDAR! FOR DETAILS TURN TO PAGE 36
CRAFTS-BEAUTIFUL.COM 5
PapercraftHero Nov_Layout 1 02/10/2014 11:41 Page 1
Our Papercraft Hero ADD SPARKLE TO YOUR CHRISTMAS CELEBRATIONS AND CREATE KATIE SKILTON'S NATURE-INSPIRED IDEAS Craft tip To cut out the aperture, secure the die with a Post-it note whilst running it through the machine
WHAT YOU NEED Stamps: Stampin' Up, Letterpress Winter Set; Nature's Peace Set; Xcut Stamp Set, A5, Leaves Papers, Stampin' Up, Speciality Designer Series, All Is Calm Dies, Stampin’ Up, Framelits Label Collection Card: grey, white Inks: pigment, clear; distress, turquoise; dye, grey Embossing powder, silver Punches: flower, circle Embellishments
Winter Wishes
Add some shimmer to your cards with embossed glitter Create a top-fold card blank and cover the front with patterned paper. Create an aperture by die-cutting the card with a large label shape die. Fix co-ordinating paper behind the aperture using 3-D foam pads Stamp, heat emboss and die-cut the large sentiment from Nature's Peace, ink the edges and adhere the label to the centre of the card. Wrap ribbon and twine around the base, then add die-cut leaves and a punched flower to the corner. Punch out small circles, stamp and emboss the sentiment and birds, then adhere to the card. Embellish with adhesive stones.
54 CRAFTS-BEAUTIFUL.COM
Sweet Treats ALTER THE BOX DÉCOR TO MAKE IT SUITABLE FOR OTHER OCCASIONS AND SEASONS
Present handmade chocolates in this little gift box Using the template from our website, cut out a box from card and piece it together. Matt and layer patterned papers onto each side. Decorate the sides of the lid with patterned paper and a strip of ribbon. Die-cut the smallest label from white card, ink the edges, then adhere a round stamped sentiment. Die-cut leaves and flowers from contrasting paper and add to the side of the sentiment.
PapercraftHero Nov_Layout 1 02/10/2014 11:41 Page 2
Papercraft
“I LOVE THE FROSTY TONES OF THIS PAPER COLLECTION; THEY REMIND BE OF WINTER WALKS IN THE COUNTRYSIDE WITH MY FAMILY” Katie Skilton, Designer
Made to Display YOU CAN CHANGE THE SIZE OF THE TAG DEPENDING ON THE GIFT BY USING DIFFERENTSIZED DIES
Give a stylish finishing touch to plain packing
Die-cut a label from patterned paper. Punch a hole in the top. Stamp and emboss the frame onto white card, then die-cut using a smaller label. Ink the edges. Stamp and heat emboss 'For You' and die-cut with a smaller frame. Ink the edges and adhere side on. Die-cut leaves and flowers and fix to the side. Press the circular sentiment and attach. Embellish with adhesive stones and add ribbon to the top of the tag.
Magic Moment TO REALLY CUSTOMISE THE CUBE, ADD A FAMILY PHOTO ONTO EACH SIDE
Tuck this pretty box under the tree for a special surprise Using the online template, cut out the cube from white card and piece it together. Add a panel of patterned paper to each side. Decorate the top with die-cut leaves and flowers, then add silver beads. Stamp the sentiment and trim to a pennant shape and adhere. Add a strip of patterned paper and ribbon to the front of the box. Stamp and heat emboss the sentiment and die-cut the label. Fix small labels to each side and a punched flower. CB
SOURCE IT... Stampin' Up products from stampinup.co.uk Xcut stamp range, docrafts.com CRAFTS-BEAUTIFUL.COM 55
Make&Sell qx_Layout 1 02/10/2014 11:04 Page 2
MAKE & SELL:
BABUSHKA ANIMALS Stitch unique matryoshka-inspired felt creatures to sell, and ďŹ nd out how you can craft for charity
WHAT YOU NEED Wool felt Fabric scraps, patterned Thread, embroidery Ricrac, narrow
Buttons, small Card, thin Toy filling Pen, ballpoint
Trace our templates from the pattern pages onto thin card and cut out. Draw around the card pieces onto felt with a ballpoint pen and trim inside the line with sharp scissors. You will need two body pieces, a headscarf, apron, face pieces, four ears and two ear inners.
Use two strands of toning embroidery thread to stitch the ear inners to the centres of two ear shapes. Sew the remaining ears to the back in small running stitch and lightly stuff through the base. Set aside. Oversew the face to the centre of the headscarf. Lightly mark the position of the eyes, nose and mouth with a pencil and embroider the details. Pin the headscarf to one body piece, matching up the curves, and stitch in place along the bottom edge only, incorporating ricrac braid as you do so. Add a small button to the bottom of the headscarf.
Embroider a oral design in the centre of the apron. Alternatively, cut patterned fabric larger than the felt piece and tack the sides over the edges to cover it. Stitch the apron to the body below the headscarf and add braid to the bottom edge. Remove the tacking stitches if using fabric. Lightly tack the ears to the back of the head in the desired position. Pin the remaining body piece to the reverse of the animal and oversew all the way round, incorporating the ears as you do so. Leave an opening at the bottom. Lightly stuff the animal and close up the gap. CB
MONEY SPINNER People don't want to see the same handmade creations again and again, so these animals are the perfect way to intrigue potential customers. You can make an entire felt menagerie, giving each one unique characteristics.
74 CRAFTS-BEAUTIFUL.COM
Make&Sell qx_Layout 1 02/10/2014 11:04 Page 3
COPYRIGHT-FREE
Shop Talk
MAKE FOR £1 / SELL for £8
GENEROUS CRAFTING We hear from three ladies who share their top tips on crafting for charity “I have recently started sewing for Be Child Cancer Aware (bechildcanceraware.org) and my biggest bit of advice is to make sure you contact the charity to find out exactly what it is they need. For example, the charity I sew for are using the bags I make for children to collect their Beads of Courage, so they have come up with a specific design. I also have a friend who knits for NICU departments, and she has to check with the individual hospitals as they require different things – only cotton, set colours, certain sizes etc. So it's really important that your time and effort results in something your chosen charity can use.” Miriam Faulkner, Crafts Beautiful reader “If you'd like to knit for charity, visit knitforpeace.org.uk. My top tip is to make sure the charity you give your creation to gives it to those in need. If they are selling it through, for example, their charity shops, not all of it gets sold and it could be sent to the rag merchants. Make sure your knitting doesn't go to waste!” Dame Hilary Blume, Founder and Director of the Charities Advisory Trust “My top tip is to keep it fresh and exciting. There are a lot of people trying to raise money for charity, so do something a little different. For example, a set of greeting cards with matching tags can be very popular, rather than just one card – package them professionally and always label them with your contact details for future orders. And don't forget to enjoy it! It shows and people get caught up in your enthusiasm. See my work at charitycrafter.blogspot.com” Leigh Jones, Charitycrafter
CHARITY DIRECTORY
“SPEND A LITTLE BIT EXTRA ON GOOD QUALITY FELT WITH A HIGH PERCENTAGE OF WOOL – CHEAPER VARIETIES WILL TEAR EASILY WHEN STITCHING” Corinne Bradd, Designer
bliss.org.uk Knit tiny clothes and blankets for premature babies helpforheroes.org.uk Host a bake sale to raise money for our men cancerresearchuk.org Set up a crafty fundraiser in aid of Cancer Research savethechildren.org.uk Make whimsical knitwear for Christmas Jumper Day
CRAFTS-BEAUTIFUL.COM 75
Made by you_Layout 1 02/10/2014 11:51 Page 1
Made by You:
FELT WREATH
IT JUST WOULDN’T BE CHRISTMAS WITHOUT A WREATH, SO CREATE OUR DECORATIVE SHOW-STOPPER IN TIME FOR THE FESTIVITIES
WHAT YOU NEED Felt: white, 25cm square; green, 25cm square; red, 1m x 2m Styrofoam ring, 30cm Ribbon, gingham, 1.5cm
wide, 1.25m Dressmaker's pins Needle and thread Pen, fabric marker Scissors, sharp
94 CRAFTS-BEAUTIFUL.COM
SOURCE IT... Felt, ribbon & buttons:
Bead & head pins:
Styrofoam wreath:
Cool Crafting 01539 561928 coolcrafting.co.uk
Spellbound Bead Co 01543 417650, spellboundbead.co.uk
Craftmill 01614 845888, craftmill.co.uk
Made by you_Layout 1 02/10/2014 11:52 Page 2
WORKSHOP
Stitch
Craft tip When cutting your ruffled circles, fit them closely together to avoid wasting any felt
“FOR A BRIGHT AND MODERN LOOK, USE JEWEL-TONED FELT SUCH AS FUCHSIA, EMERALD AND AMETHYST”
Design detail
Helen Newton, Designer
Using sharp dressmaker’s scissors to cut the felt gives a clean, neat edge to the ruffles, leaves and petals
Coming next time... We’ve got a Christmas stocking how-to for you to enjoy
Using the template on our pattern pages, trace 250 circles onto red felt and cut out. Fold one in half, then in half again, to make a quarter of a circle. Push a pin through the point and press into a Styrofoam ring. Continue in this way until the ring is covered. Pin a gingham ribbon loop to the reverse of the wreath for hanging. Make a bow out of the remaining ribbon – fold one end over onto itself by 10cm, and
continue until the whole length is layered. Sew a couple of small stitches in the centre to secure. Push the bow into the wreath between the ruffles with a pin and arrange the loops. Trim five small and five large petals from red felt. Fold each one in half lengthways and sew a few running stitches from the bottom of the petal, two-thirds of the way to the top. Cut white felt, 1cm x 6cm, to make stamens. Create
small snips all the way along one long edge to create a fringe. Roll it up and secure with tacking stitches. Trim five green leaves and attach to the wreath, then pin the large red petals, small red petals, and white stamens. Cut out a white felt spiral shape. Roll from the outside to the centre, then secure with tacking stitches to stop it unravelling. Repeat to make a total of three roses. Trim four
rose leaves from green felt. Decide on the position of the main poinsettia and push a pin through the stem of all five large green leaves – spread them out in a fan shape and push into the wreath. Next, pin a large pink petal in the centre. Add the five smaller petals in the same way, then secure the white stamen in the middle. Pin the rose leaves either side of the poinsettia and attach the white roses. CB CRAFTS-BEAUTIFUL.COM 95
Craft CrushNEW_Layout 1 02/10/2014 14:57 Page 1
Mince pie sticks are all the rage, so we couldn't resist sharing these adorable designs. Priced £2.99 per pack, 0845 680 2975, gingerray.co.uk
Browse & Buy
Craft
Read The Gingerbread Man by Lesley Sims (Usborne Children's Books, £4.99) to little ones this Christmas. Visit usborne.com for more children's classics.
Crush
WE SAY THAT GINGERBREAD IS BIG NEWS FOR CHRISTMAS 2014
Mixing two tasty motifs in one, these paper straws will add a whimsical touch to a festive get-together – alternatively, use them in your papercrafting! Priced £2.99 for 25, 0845 643 1550,
easyfloristsupplies.co.uk
tch.net
Lay freshly baked gingerbread men in a stitched fabric basket made from this wonderfully fun print. Visit spoonflower.com for more.
Stitch your own gingerbread decorations from felt with this marvellous how-to kit. Priced £2.69, 01908 227001, onestopcraftshop.com
Isn't this vintage-inspired ribbon beautiful? Use it to wrap presents, or let it add a flourish to your Christmas crafting. Priced £1 per metre, 01258 455889, craftyribbons.com Paint or decoupage these festive blanks, then hang them proudly from your Christmas tree this year. Priced £4.29 for ten, 01342 843843, artcuts.co.uk
Bake American-inspired gingerbread whoopie pies with this fab kit. The packaging even features mini felt gingerbread men – our crafty fingertips are tingling! Priced £4.99, 01252 342999, americansweets.co.uk
CRAFTS-BEAUTIFUL.COM 17
Out Now!
Projects Stitch alphabet blocks to celebrate a baby's first Christmas Create bunting from paper with darling cat motifs Make Christmas cards with concertina folds for your loved ones this year Mould pretty tealight holders from air dry clay Knit mittens to keep toasty warm this chilly season Use washi tape to create bright, festive cards with our masterclass
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NOVEMBER Issue
ON SALE 17th October 2014
STAY TUNED FOR OUR NOVEMBER ISSUE, WHICH IS BURSTING WITH SEASONAL INSPIRATION!
Features
Projects subject to change
We talk crafting through the First World War to commemorate the centenary and Remembrance Day Discover one of this season's biggest Christmas trends: Scandi Top Etsy sellers share their success stories Enjoy top crafting products with a gingerbread theme
Don’t miss out! Our November issue comes with a FREE kit featuring two techniques: quilling and embossing! There'll be a board for each, as well as pretty papers and a double-ended tool.