ISSUE 292 MAY 2016
50+ CARD DESIGNS in simple steps
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Every issue... craft, chat & campaigns Issue 292 May 2016
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This lovely May issue Turn to p36 for your is packed full of vibrant FREE X-Cut Foral creative ideas, as well as a wealth of exciting new bundle worth £21. products and techniques that we’ve spotted on our crafty radar. So, whether you enjoy making cards, relaxing with a little stitching, or have a special occasion to craft for, our hand picked projects should do the trick. On the following pages we show you how to add colour with zesty neon pigment inks, build a fun scenescape using dies, and if you fancy learning a new skill, then try quilling - but be warned it is addictive! Planning a wedding is an expensive business, so why not use your creative skills to help keep the cost down? Carolyn’s feature offers inspiration and savvy ways to save a penny or two, including tips from celeb crafter and bride, Marianne Mercer (p52). Plus, those clever folk at Sizzix, have made some invites and favour boxes that will add effortless style to your day (p49). We’ve set our designers the challenge to make a whopping batch of cards using this issue’s free gift – turn to page 7 to see their handiwork. Send us a photo of your own creations too, we’d love to hear from you. From me and the team, enjoy! Happy crafting,
Sarah
p99
Sarah Crosland, Editor
p17 p43 MEET OUR EXPERTS... CAMILLA WESTERGAARD advises on how to turn crafts into cash
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LAURA BRADLEY Hunkydory Crafts’ star maker on what inspires her
Twitter @craftsbeautiful
CLARE SPENDER WI adviser, talks crafts at the Women’s Institute
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Leader May16.indd 2
18/03/2016 14:11
People & Places
Crafting
FRIENDS Mandy and Amanda both sell handmade items on Facebook and became friends through their shared interests I’m Mandy, a textile artist who sells handmade items through my Facebook page, Lady Lillypot, which is where I met Amanda. Through ‘liking’ her page I could see that she, like me, shared a love of all things vintage. One thing that really caught my eye was seeing how she used her grandma’s old holey embroidered table cloth to create beautiful pieces of art with. We immediately hit it off and became good friends. Around this time I lost my dog Zeus to cancer and I was devastated to say the least. I could tell that Amanda was a kind soul when a little something popped through my letterbox right when I needed it most. She made me a pair of little hanging Angel wings with a ‘Zeus’ stitched in the middle. This little act of kindness became the most beautiful and meaningful gift I had ever received, and I will treasure it forever. I made an angel doll and sent it to her as a thank you. Giving someone a personal gift when they are going through a trying time can make such a difference. Since then, Amanda and myself send each other gifts. My parcel always comes crammed full of goodies! Although we have still yet to meet up in person, I am sure our acts of kindness will continue for years to come.
Mandy
Hello, my name is Amanda from Amanda Jayne Handmade Designs on Facebook. I’m a mixed media artist and I upcycle vintage textiles and other trinkets to create hand-stitched keepsakes and gifts. Mandy found my page around two years ago when I first started. I was intrigued by Mandy’s profile photo, which was one of her dolls. I was overwhelmed by her attention to detail. It was obvious from the start that we had a lot in common – our love of treasure hunting, lace, buttons and passion for crafting and instantly struck up a friendship. Sadly, Mandy’s beloved dog Zeus passed away during this time and I knew how devastated she was. I sent Mandy a little gift to let her know I was thinking of her. This little act of kindness triggered a much larger one as Mandy made me a beautiful angel in return. She is now fondly known as the Angel of Kindness. I can genuinely say she is the most beautiful and special gift I have ever received. We now send each other bits and bobs, including things which we can be used in our creations. I really value Mandy’s friendship and hope that we will meet one day. I would love to go treasure hunting together followed by some cake and good old natter.
Amanda
“A little act of kindness became the most beautiful and meaningful gift I had ever received”
Want to find your own crafty friend?
Turn to page 120 to fill in our form or page 13 to see who’s on our meet a mate column this month! CRAFTS-BEAUTIFUL.COM 29
crafting friends.indd 3
17/03/2016 15:47
h t i w e m o h at
JULIE & WENDY
Crafty Beggars presenters Julie Peasgood and Wendy Turner-Webster make quick wedding gifts and upcycle old boots into plant pots! The Crafty Beggars team is going to be quite busy in May as the second series of Crafty Beggars In The House! will finish at the end of the month. The good news, however, is that Julie and Wendy are already plotting and planning for series three! And everything is happening at home too – Julie is looking forward to the imminent arrival of her first grandchild and Wendy is endeavoring to keep her son Jack calm and confident as he takes his GCSEs. With so much going on it can be hard to squeeze in a bit of crafting, but these ladies know how to spot a good opportunity to get creative!
WENDY SAYS... I know two people who are getting married this year and I’ve been inspired to make them things that can’t be bought in the shops – which, after all, is part of the magic of crafting. Because I’ve been so busy with the Crafty Beggars stuff, I went for the quick yet highly
effective medium of decoupage. I decided to decorate a candle holder and I love how it has turned out, but I now find myself making one for every table at the wedding reception. Thank goodness it’s a small ceremony! I also made a patchwork plate
for another friend who is getting married too – she’s a big patchwork fan and never far away from a scrap of material and a needle and thread. I also think it’s a really
32 CRAFTS-BEAUTIFUL.COM
great way of turning a plain old plate into an eye-catching piece of art. It’s cheap as chips too, as the plate cost just 50p from my local charity shop!
In the Spotlight
JULIE SAYS... lucky enough to do regularly as I live close by and I always marvel at the trees there, especially the huge, ancient ones. After a few unsuccessful attempts to paint a few pictures of them, I decided that my old button tin might provide the solution to the leaves I was struggling with, and that’s how my ‘button tree’ was born. I love these little embellishments and now they’re up on my wall where I can enjoy looking at them on a daily basis. I wonder what I’ll be inspired by next time!
“I’VE BEEN INSPIRED TO MAKE WEDDING ITEMS THAT CAN’T BE BOUGHT IN THE SHOPS – WHICH, AFTER ALL, IS PART OF THE MAGIC OF CRAFTING!”
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My crafting inspiration for this month came from a walk in Richmond Park and a pair of old boots tied to the back of my goddaughter’s wedding car. The latter I retrieved and have planted with pansies, and they now have pride of place on top of our bike shed! It’s a really fun thing to do with old boots (or even shoes?) that are past their sell-by date, but you can’t bear to chuck out for sentimental reasons. I’ve had loads of people compliment them too, which is always nice. The Richmond Park walk is something I’m
Here comes the bride…
Planning for a wedding? You’ll certainly say ‘I Do’ to our selection of gorgeous items!
Liberty print mixed bunting, £8.50, berryred.co.uk
Join us!
Wedding photo booth props, £7.50, gingerray.co.uk
Natural twig heart, £7.95, livelaughlove.co.uk
Floral guest book, £9.95, luckandluck.co.uk
Crafty Beggars In The House! is available on the Community Channel (Freeview HD 63, Sky 539 and Virgin Media 269). For all the latest news, visit CraftyBeggars.tv @CraftyBeggarsTV Craftybeggarstv CRAFTS-BEAUTIFUL.COM 33
Learn & Create
5 top tips before you start showed me a different way I could hang it than I had originally imagined. We ended up creating over 900 feet, but it really pulled the theme together. I kept it all to reuse at parties. What do you wish you'd had more time to plan or create? The cake was a challenge. I forgot to measure my oven (always do this) to see if the tin would fit, and it was renamed 'monster cake' after it only just fit inside! I should have planned more carefully. What was it like writing the book? The book started out as a bit of a joke! People would pass me at my desk making flowers and say 'there's a book in that' and I laughed along. But after the wedding I was commissioned and the hard work really started! Putting together the photography of the day and creating step shots for all the projects was quite tricky, but I am so happy with how it turned out. It's like a very special wedding album and it perfectly captures all the hard work that went into making the day so fantastic.
Reader details
Need more ideas? Look no further than My Handmade Wedding by Marrianne Mercer (ÂŁ12.99, Search Press). It's jam-packed with projects and advice for creative bride and grooms-to-be.
1 MAKE A PLAN Ensure your guest list is finalised before you start crafting individual invites. This way you know how simple or complex you can go in the time frame you have available.
2 CREATE A COLLAGE Use bridal magazines or Pinterest to gather images that inspire you. Find designs you think you can achieve or improve on to get the creative juices flowing.
3 INVOLVE YOUR FRIENDS Gather your bridal party together for a crafternoon! Give each person a separate task to make sure everyone gets to add their own special touch. It will make the finished product even more personal. 4 MAKE AN INVESTMENT Consider the materials you might need to get the most out of your creative streak. Invest in quality to ensure you get a professional finish. 5 HAVE FUN DIY and crafts should not feel like a chore! Make sure you set aside time for the project so you can enjoy yourself and be proud of your designs.
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Cards & Paper
Milestone birthday Create a wonderfully ornate card to celebrate an extra special birthday fit for a queen
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Before
Upcycling Challenge
Motor show
Corinne Bradd turns old toy cars into eye-catching pincushions for your stash My sister and I had an old ice cream tub full of toy cars and buses when we were kids. Well played with; buried in mock landslides and unearthed, driven into the birdbath and suspended from handkerchief parachutes, I’d assumed they’d disappeared into the mists of time. It was only while foraging through a box of model cars in a junk shop that
Sta rt wi t h ... b Old toy cars; trucks, vans, open top cars b Hobby enamel paint, Rustoleum b Fabric, cotton print b Fibre filling b Ricrac braid b Flatbaked gemstones See our shopping list opposite
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1 any dust or flaking
Clean the cars and remove
paintwork. Re-glue any loose pieces and check the body is well fixed to the chassis. Use a small soft brush to coat the vehicle with thin layers of hobby enamel paint. Avoid painting the windows, grills and wheelbase and add more thin applications to build up a smooth, even colour. Leave the paint to dry completely.
my dad reminded me that he still had them, in the same ice cream tub, in his garage. I draw the line at doing anything to my beloved Rolls Royce Silver Ghost, despite it losing it’s upholstery and a headlamp years ago, but the old Model A Ford and a handful of newer lorries are perfect for adding a plump pincushion to.
2 a truck with a squarish
Cut a circle of fabric for
aperture. Gather the edges of the circle up with running stitch and stuff to make a pincushion, tightening the gathers before fastening off. Push the pincushion into the aperture, gathered end first or tie the stuffed fabric to the roof of a car with narrow gingham ribbon. For a flatbed lorry, cut a rectangle of fabric, fold and
3
stitch the corners right sides together to create a tray. Stuff and gather up the raw edge to make a more structured pincushion. Stitch a length of ricrac braid around the cushion before gluing the base of it to the flatbed. Use flatbacked gemstones and tiny punched paper shapes to add decoration to the vehicles and as replacement head and tail lights. CB
4
Garden party
Stitching
Add a handmade touch to your spring soiree with embroidery hoop place settings
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Don’t Miss YOUR JUNE ISSUE ON SALE 29TH APRIL 2016
lots of ideas to get you crafting! e v a h e W Meet Next Month’s Makers Our very own Corinne Bradd takes on an upcycling challenge
Get all the latest gossip from the WI
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Sara Nauman shows us how to use Spectrum Noir markers with stamps
Crochet Gracy ballerina!
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CREATE HELEN FITZJOHN’S BEAUTIFUL WEDDING SET
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Cute designs for your crafts! CRAFTS-BEAUTIFUL.COM 113