Creative Crafting Anniversary Issue 2010

AUTUMN / HALLOWEEN 2010

CREATIVE CRAFTING

Issue 7

By Crafters for Crafters

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www.creative-connections.ning.com

Join our friendly Social Network And make lots of new crafting friends

Creative Connections Crafter’s Network Become part of a wonderful community

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Join in the fun on the forum Upload photos and videos to promote your creations Customise your own profile page Spend time in our chat room and host your own chat events

Editor Anna - The Crystal Lady thecrystallady@creative-crafting.com www.mysticearth.co.uk www.radiancecrystals.co.uk

Senior Features Writer Diane - Peggy’s Knits http://www.folksy.com/shops/crawlin Feature Writers Tina - In the Garden www.tina-in-the-garden.blogspot.com Amy - Amyorangejuice www.amyorangejuice.co.uk Amy - Miss Baclart Designs www.missbaclartdesigns.co.uk Michelle - Socklings www.socklings.com Tracey - Wowthankyou www.wowthankyou.co.uk Lorraine - Lorraine Dowdle Creations www.Lorrainedowdle.com Sarah - Sarah’s Fleeces http://www.sarahsfleeces.co.uk Claire - Elderberry Arts www.elderberryarts.co.uk

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Welcome to our Anniversary Issue! It really doesn’t seem five minutes since we published the first Creative Crafting magazine. It has been a fun year bringing you lots of craft projects and showcasing some of our favourite handcrafted items. We have also seen the launch of our Crafters Directory, which we hope has brought you all some new customers. This issue is extra long and packed full of fun projects sent in by crafters like yourselves.

As we head into that busy time before Christmas, take five minutes to sit with your feet up and have a read about some of the wonderful things that your crafting friends have been doing. Have a go at some of the wonderful tutorials that we have for you in this issue. Jewellery, toys, candles, and lots more. As this is a special issue we also thought that you might like to find out more about the Creative Team, so we completed the very same interviews we give you, ourselves!

Happy Halloween!

Your Creative Team

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Creative Crafting is an Avanna Publication

ON OUR COVER Handmade Spiders

by Peggy’s Knits See page 17

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1st December 2010

Don’t forget that you can advertise your craft business in Creative Crafting magazine from only £2.

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Look out for our Christmas issue on

Diane - Senior Feature Writer

Avril - Technical Editor

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Anna - Editor

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Sam - Fluffosity www.folksy.com/shops/fluffosity

Visit our website for more information or email us for a copy of our media pack.

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afted Handcr ng Weddi l Specia

www.creative-crafting.com/advertise.html For media packs please email thecrystallady@creative-crafting.com

All of our links and adverts are fully clickable!

www.creative-connections.ning.com

Hannah - Surf Jewels www.surfjewels.000space.com Dianne - Heartmade Gifts www.heartmadegifts.wordpress.com

www.creative-crafting.com

Technical Editor Avril - Sprinkles Sparkles sprinks@creative-crafting.com www.sprinklessparkles.co.uk

CREATIVE CRAFTING

In this Issue ......

Regular Features 6

22

Crafters Directory The best place to go when you are looking for that special handcrafted item.

16 Craft Events Craft Fairs and other events that you can go to, along with some of the crafters that you may find there.

20 Online Street .. Best Picks A wonderful selection of handcrafted items handpicked by Sprinkles Sparkles.

22 Weird and Wonderful Crafts Discover unusual and forgotten crafts.

34 Budget & Luxury Sprinkles Sparkles finds more craft items from both ends of the price scale.

36 Tina in the Garden Another visit with our favourite green fingered friend.

36 Special Features

39 Crystal Magic A selection of handcrafted gemstone products selected by our Crystal Lady.

10 Making Handmade Jewellery Surf Jewels tells us how and where she gets the inspiration for her jewellery.

42 Running for Charity Marathon Des Sables.

Discover one mans amazing trial to raise money for Mencap.

58 This Months ...

23 Tea and Cupcakes anyone?

Discover the Cupcake phenomenon with Amy Bartlett.

28 It’s a wrap!

More winners of our Blog and Shop awards and this issue we have ‘men’ not man of the month!!

28

The importance of packaging your items with Tracey Kifford.

46 Try a Christmas Skills Swap Save some pennies this Christmas by trading your craft skill with other crafters.

50 The Joy of Pumpkins

23

Lots of wonderful pumpkin facts and recipes by Heartmade Gifts.

62 50 www.creative-crafting.com

40 58

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35 Make a Beaded Gemstone

17

Pendulum Create your own Gemstone Pendulum with Elderberry Arts.

40 Angel of Reflection A tutorial to make an Angel Bead by Lampwork Artist Lorraine Dowdle.

20

26 An Interview with Peggy’s Knits We talk to our Senior Features Editor.

32

48 An Interview with

54 Fluffosity Dyeing yarn the Fluffosity way.

62 Recycling Learn about Recycling with Surf Jewels.

Interviews 12 An Interview with The Crystal Lady

18 An Interview with Sprinkles Sparkles Get to know the Technical Editor of Creative Crafting.

60

Meet a friendly jewellery creator from the West Midlands.

The second instalment in the Peggy’s Knits Spinning Series.

53 Guide to starting Knitting Part 7 The next instalment of the popular Knitting Series with Peggy’s Knits.

60 Tuna Pasta Bake Projects & Tutorials 14 Vintage Tea Cup Candles

Sarah from Sarah’s Fleeces shares one of her favourite recipes with us.

Learn how to make your own Tea Cup Candles with AmyOrangeJuice.

17 Make a Halloween Spider A fabulous tutorial about making spiders for Halloween by Peggy’s Knits.

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Learn a bit more about the Editor of Creative Crafting and creator of Creative Connections.

Kokokelli

44 Let’s get Spinning Part 2

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31 Halloween Craft Ideas Some more Crafty Halloween Projects with Peggy’s Knits.

32 Create a Sock Skeleton

Creative Crafting is a year old!!!!

A socky Halloween Project from Michelle from Socklings.

www.creative-connections.ning.com

Crafter’s Directory The perfect place to find beautiful gifts

Handcrafted items are becoming a popular alternative to mass produced items.

Lovingly created and often surprisingly inexpensive!

Click on the links to visit a world of beautiful craft shops.

INDIVIDUALLY HAND CREATED WEARABLE ART BY

Jewellery Averilpam Design

Handcrafted one of a kind jewellery and bags.

Folksy

Beadesk

Glass and semi precious beaded jewellery.

Folksy

Chasing Beads

Handmade Fashion Jewellery and Jewellery Supplies.

Folksy

Designs By Isis

Modern unique jewellery - treat yourself.

Website

Elderberry Arts

Hand crafted unique and uncommon silver, gemstone, glass, gay and bisexual jewellery.

Website

Flonightgale Jewellery

Quirky, fun, affordable jewellery.

Folksy

Kokokelli

Gorgeous Handmade Jewellery & Greeting Cards at affordable prices.

Folksy

Just K Jewellery

Unique & affordable handmade resin & beaded jewellery.

Groovycart

Little Red Star

Selling kitsch, colourful and fun retro inspired jewellery.

Website

Lorraine Dowdle

Artisan Glass Beads and Jewellery.

Website

Miss Bohemia

Vintage, Gothic & Fairytale Jewellery.

Website

Mystic Earth

Gemstone Healing Jewellery, personal matching service available.

Website

Niche Handmade

Vintage Illustration Jewellery.

Folksy

Oldskoolretro Kitsch Boutique

Beautiful, Unique, Handmade Jewellery and Upcycled Accessories.

Folksy

Radiance Crystals

Bespoke Bridal and Occasion Jewellery.

Website

Rainbow Rocks

Semi precious gemstone/silver jewellery.

Folksy

If you would like to be featured in our directly please visit our website.

Crafter’s Directory The perfect place to find beautiful gifts

Handcrafted items are becoming a popular alternative to mass produced items.

Lovingly created and often surprisingly inexpensive!

Click on the links to visit a world of beautiful craft shops.

Peggy’s Knits Quality knitted items

Custom made Healing Jewellery ‘Just for you’

Jewellery cont .....

Recycloanalyst

Steampunk Shabby Chic Reclaimed Vintage.

Folksy

Scottish Princess Designs

Unique, stylish, hand made jewellery.

Website

Snow Queen Trinkets

Kiln Fused Dichroic Glass Jewellery.

Folksy

Spiderpixie

Handmade jewellery made with my own artisan lampwork beads.

Commissions taken.

Website

Sprinkles Sparkles

Bespoke,Handmade Jewellery and Accessories.

Website

Stars and Scars

Quirky handmade plastic jewellery.

Folksy

Surf Jewels

Handmade jewellery sourced from organic and recycled materials.

Website

The Beading Lady

Beautiful, unique, handcrafted jewellery.

Website

The Jewellery Angel

Cute, Colourful and Kitsch Jewellery.

Folksy

Knitted & Crocheted Items Joyknitt

Joyknitt Knits.

Misi

NOfkants Curios

Hand Knitted and Crocheted Unique Handbags.

Folksy

Peggy’s Knits

Quality knitted items.

Folksy

Wharfedale Woolworks

Hand painted yarns and custom knits.

Folksy

If you would like to be featured in our directly please visit our website.

Crafter’s Directory The perfect place to find beautiful gifts

Handcrafted items are becoming a popular alternative to mass produced items.

Lovingly created and often surprisingly inexpensive!

Click on the links to visit a world of beautiful craft shops.

Handmade to order

Lemonade and Lamingtons

Gifts Kelso Kreations

Handmade Gifts for that special occasion.

Misi

Little Scruffs, Miniature Mohair Artist

Bears with loads of character. Vintage style, collectable.

Website

Moody Cow Designs

Unique handmade handbags and accessories.

Folksy

Socklings

Handcrafted Creatures made from Socks.

Website

Ugly Be Gone

Handmade gifts & homeware by small UK businesses.

Website

Bath & Beauty Chamorita Essentials

Handcrafted mineral makeup, facial, body care products.

Folksy

Sud’n’Soothe

Juice Bar just got a new meaning.

Website

For the Home AmyOrangeJuice

Stained Glass Artist.

Website

Lemonade and Lamingtons

Homewares & accessories, fresh & exciting!

Folksy

Pretty Goods

Pretty vintage fabric cushions and gifts.

Website

Fashion Sarah’s Fleeces

Quality, ethical, green fleece garments that keep you warm whatever the Website weather.

If you would like to be featured in our directly please visit our website.

Crafter’s Directory The perfect place to find beautiful gifts

Handcrafted items are becoming a popular alternative to mass produced items.

Lovingly created and often surprisingly inexpensive!

Click on the links to visit a world of beautiful craft shops.

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Give someone a beautiful handcrafted card or gift this Christmas.

Look out for more wonderful craft stores in our next issue on 1st December.

Supplies Beads4Breakfast

Artisan lampwork beads made in my kitchen studio. Commissions taken.

Website

Fluffosity

Beautiful hand dyed yarns.

Folksy

The Little Bead Box

Beautiful Beads and Jewellery Supplies.

Folksy

UK Craft Store

Novelty buttons and more.

Website

Art Neate Crafts

Painting, Knitting, Pyrography & lots more.

Misi

Passionate About Photography

An Eclectic range of Photos & Canvases.

Folksy

Baby & Child Puzzlesinwood

Unique hand made hardwood puzzles & Pyrography.

Folksy

Top Cat’s Corner

Decorative items, gifts & cards for children & the young at heart!

Folksy

Cards Clairez Cards

Handmade Cards and Paper-crafted Gifts for all occasions.

Folksy

Miss Baclart Designs

High quality handmade cards, invitations & wedding stationery.

Folksy

Pauline’s Passions

Handmade Cards and Wedding Stationery.

Misi

All advertisements have click through links enabling new customers to visit your site or online store straight from the magazine.

Our back issues also remain online for new readers to find.

You can purchase adverts in our directory from £2 per single issue.Graphic Adverts can also be purchased or received if you submit an article that we publish.

If you would like to be featured in our directly please visit our website.

Making Handmade Jewellery I love to make things and have been doing so since I can remember, I started out with making friendship bracelets and have been on a journey to where I am now.

Somewhere in-between I have made everything from soap to clothes, bags, hats, toys and obviously all kinds of jewellery.

This article is all about how I make my jewellery, as someone once said- to unweave the rainbow doesn’t make it any less beautiful- because to know how a rainbow is formed doesn’t take away from how amazing it still is and hopefully seeing the process I go through will be inspiring to others.

Often the process and way I go about making items inspires me and through the process I often come up with new ideas and designs.

All of my jewellery starts off as inspiration and ideas. I get ideas from all sorts of different places, sometimes just from playing with materials and experimenting. I also get ideas from natural forms such as flowers, from the sea and beach or just things I see in every day life.

I always have a notebook to hand and so ideas always go in there. I write things in there and do scribbles and drawings of any ideas I have in my head.

Mainly so I don’t forget them and they make it into a piece of jewellery.

I make a lot of my jewellery from aluminium sheet. I start off with a thin sheet and draw my design onto it in permanent marker. I then drill out any holes I need (for hanging etc) and then I start cutting.

I learned to saw pierce a few years back now. I started off with simple shapes and ideas, but now can make much more intricate items and designs and with a lot less saw blades breaking while doing it.

Once the shape is cut out, I then start filing it and checking the shape is how I want it. I then sand it to get a nice finish.

With this pendant I cut out two flower shapes from aluminium, but I also cut one out of recycled plastic. I then layered all of these and glued them together with a bead at the centre.

The beads in this piece were a project on their own. I like to make my own beads so that I can make the colours, shapes and sizes I want for each piece. The beads start off as a clay which I then colour and mould into shape and put a hole in the centre.

These are then left to dry.

I also make the findings (the hoop to hang the flower from and the clasp at the back) and make the silver cord. I like the idea of everything made by hand, it is an idea which has always fascinated me. I think that is why I started to get into making things.

There are so many things that you just go out and buy without even thinking about and don’t realise that it is possible to make many of them.

So I think it’s great to be able to make things yourself and appreciate the work that goes into them.

In all of my jewellery I hope to be as ethical as possible, so make things by hand and use recycled materials wherever I can. I hope this has given you an insight into how I work and design my pieces.

Written by Surf Jewels - Handmade Ethical Jewellery http://surfjewels.000space.com

Tell us about yourself It’s hard to know where to start!! My name is Anna-Marie (Anna), I have a wonderful husband and two gorgeous sons and I live in Devon. Since the birth of my youngest son I have been working from home where I have been using my skills as a trained pearl and beadery stringer to build a jewellery business, although my websites, Creative Connections and this magazine tend to take up most of my time these days.

A Special Anniversary Interview with Creative Crafting’s Crystal Lady

When did your crafting begin, and why?

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I have always made things from being a very small child.

I’ve knitted, created hats, made books, you name it I’ve tried it! Blue Peter projects, yep, that was me, never had any double sided sticky tape though. I’m lucky to have a very creative mum. My problem is that I often have too many things on the go at any one time. I think I’m too impulsive, I have to do everything ‘now’!

What was the first item you made to sell online?

As I didn’t have any crystals or gemstones at first I scoured charity shops for reasonable finds. I bought some pearls and a necklace with lampwork beads on it, took them apart and remade them into a new necklace. I sold it on ebay for 99p. Not much I know but I was pleased that someone wanted it. I then splashed out on my first stash of Swarovski Crystal and a few months later some gemstones and the rest is history!

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What is your biggest crafting achievement, and why?

Over the last three years since I started my business I have created hundreds of pieces of jewellery but to be honest every new one I make is still amazing to me. I can be a bit fickle, so I spend a few weeks making lots of wire wrapped pendants, then I’m off making sculptured flower jewellery, then it’s onto beaded projects. I often get orders for some of my more popular styles but I am always most excited when I master a new technique or have discovered something new.

Other than crafting, what else do you like to do?

I really enjoy the work that I do to create this magazine, and also when I build websites, which is probably why I have so many (blush). The rest of my time is spent looking after my family and when I get the chance reading. I do love to read!! I can devour books at quite a rate if I get the opportunity.

Where would you like to be in 5 years?

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Now that is a tricky one! I would like to have a well established, successful jewellery business but also for Creative Crafting to be going strong. Avril and I have been looking into ways to offer a printed copy for those readers that would like one so that would be nice.

Where does your inspiration come from?

Hmmm! Everywhere!! I love to look at pieces of jewellery that other crafters have made, I can often glean some ideas on how I could incorporate some of the ideas into my own pieces. I am also drawn to the jewellery worn by actresses and presenters on TV. I can sometimes miss the entire storyline because I’ve been transfixed on a necklace that the main character is wearing and have been trying to work out how its done.

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What are your favourite materials, and why?

Gemstone and Swarovski Crystal definitely! The gemstones because I have been a rock fanatic since I was a small girl. My family often found this a little odd but it makes more sense these days as a Crystal Healer.

I am totally addicted to them and would have them all if I could. I love Swarovski Crystals as I’ve also had a passion for ‘sparkllies’.

What is favourite shop online, that isn’t yours, and why?

That’s hard as there are so many lovely shops but I think one of my favourites is Village Boutique Silverware. All of the beautiful bracelets are made from spoons!

Has any person helped or supported you more than any other?

My husband has always supported me in everything that I have done and I am forever grateful to him for that. My main support though, has definitely been my mother. She has been the driving force behind my jewellery making and her love of the pieces that I make for her has given me the confidence to create for the public. She is and always has been my biggest fan and hope that she knows how much I love her.

Tell us a random fact about yourself!

I’m into everything ‘vampire’ except Nosferatu, he scares me! http://www.mysticearth.co.uk http://www.facebook.com/mysticearth

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Vintage Tea Cup Candles You will need: - Old tea cups or other heatproof containers - Wax, I use chipped Soya wax brought online, a wide range of Soya and paraffin wax is available on line. I use Soya wax because it is an eco friendly wax, a bi product from the Soya bean industry and it burns for longer and cleaner than paraffin wax. However, you can source old stubs of white paraffin wax from charity shops and car boot sales and grate these up with a cheese grater,it’s the same product; unscented white paraffin candles will work best for this method.

- A system for melting wax, I have a batik pot, but an old saucepan large enough to hold a heatproof jug will do nicely as a double boiler.

- Some pre-tabed wicks, any scents you may wish to use. These and wax are very widely available on the internet or in good craft shops.

- Newspaper - Clothes pegs - Scissors 1. Set up all your equipment and lay a couple of layers of newspapers under your work surface to protect your table from hot wax.

2. Grate up the old stubs of paraffin candles using a cheese grater, do not grate the wicks.

Alternatively, use chipped soya wax, this is a waste bi-product of the soya bean industry and is an excellent wax and is very eco friendly.

3. I have a batik pot, especially for melting wax which is controlled by a thermostat, which I use for candle wax. However, if you don’t have one of these you can easily make a double boiler.

Put a couple of inches of water in the bottom of a saucepan, place the wax in the metal jug and put the jug in the saucepan.

Bring the water to the boil and reduce to a simmer. Keep the water topped up whilst the wax is melting, do not let the pan boil dry and do not leave it unattended. Use a craft thermometer to keep an eye on the temperature which should not exceed 250 degrees f. This is important as if it gets too hot wax can catch fire, like any oil. But if you have brought your wax please follow the manufacturers instructions. This is not a high risk activity, as soon as the wax is melted you pour it anyway, so it shouldn’t get hot enough to burn, just don’t go away and leave it unattended!!

4. As soon as your wax has began to melt holding the tip of the wax dip the metal tab in the melting wax and straight into the centre of the cup. This fixes the wick centrally in the tea cup.

5. Hold the wick in place using a clothes peg balanced on the rim of the cup.

6. As soon as all the wax has melted, wearing an oven glove if necessary, pick up the jug and pour the wax into the cup till nearly full.

7. If you are going to add a scent to the wax, now is the time to do so, always follow manufacturer’s instructions.

8. Leave the candle to set; this will take around 6 hours, depending on the wax used. If your candle has dipped a bit in the middle, you can melt more wax and top up the candle for a nice even finish.

9. Cut the wick to around a quarter of an inch.

10. Light the candle and enjoy! I find this is a craft I come back to time and again, it is a really effective way of making gifts and now the evenings are drawing in it is a great evening activity…….get making those Christmas presents early!

I love to make candles and have made them as presents for friends for sometime. Once you have got the hang of melting wax simple container candles are straight forward to make and very effective.

Any heat proof container can be used as a mold for a candle; old tea cups are particularly effective.

It’s a fantastic way to recycle old crockery and make a lovely table decoration. You can mix and match cups to saucers, add scents or try using empty tins, other ceramic shapes or heat proof glasses, its up to you!

If you would like more information on candle making there are many tutorials and useful websites available online. Here are some useful sites: http://www.candlemakingcraft.com This article was written by http://www.candlemakingexpert.com http://www.candlemaking.uk.com

from AmyOrangeJuice http://www.amyorangejuice.co.uk

CRAFT EVENTS! When

What

Friday 1st (10-5) & Saturday 2nd October (10-4)

Artisan Show Warwickshire Exhibition Centre, near Leamington Spa Methodist Church Hall, Saturday October 2nd Kingsclere, Newbury 10.00am Berkshire.

10th October Hartington Village Hall, 11am – 5pm Hartington, Derbyshire Every third Sunday (in Art & Design-led Market October and November) Winchester 30th (10am – 5pm & Leabrooks Gallery, 36 31(11am– 4pm) October Leabrooks Road, Somercotes, Derbyshire Craft Fair Saturday 13th November St Margerets Academy, 10:30 - 4:30 Livingston Craft Fair Sunday November 14th Stanwick Lakes Visitor Centre from 10-4 Northamptonshire 14th November Hartington Village Hall, 11am – 5pm Hartington, Derbyshire St Thomas’ Church Hall, November 20th 10.00am Woolton Hill, Newbury, Berkshire.

Leabrooks Gallery, 36 20th November (10am – Leabrooks Road, Somercotes, 5pm & 21st (11am – 4pm) Derbyshire Hangar One Saturday 21st & Sunday The Aviator Hotel, Sywell 22nd November (10-4.30) Aerodrome, Nothamptonshire Saturday 27th November, 11am – 4pm Saturday 27th November 9.30am - 5pm

John Henry Newman School’s Christmas Craft Fair, Hitchin Road, Stevenage, Herts Guildhall, Bath

Link

Look out for ...

www.artisanshow.co.uk

Ladyluckjewellery

JAustinJewelleryDesign www.visitpeakdistrict.com

Uniquebeadedgems

www.artdesignmarket.co.uk

MadebyDolly

www.list.co.uk/place/20001764leabrooks-gallery/

Uniquebeadedgems

www.livingstoncrafts.co.uk

ClairezCards

www.appletreecraftairs.co.uk

Ladyluckjewellery

www.visitpeakdistrict.com

Uniquebeadedgems JAustinJewelleryDesign

www.list.co.uk/place/20001764leabrooks-gallery/

Uniquebeadedgems

www.penninefairs.co.uk

Ladyluckjewellery

CarefordCreations www.appletreecraftfairs.com

Sprinkles Sparkles

If you would like to tell us about a Craft Fair or Event that you will be attending, please email us at: Thecrystallady@creative-crafting.com

Event on this page

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Peggy’s Knits

Made with love and care.

Quality knitted items.

This is a great pattern for Halloween, you can be as creative as you like with it too which makes it very versatile.

This is also a lovely item that can be brought out year after year.

You will need:

Abbreviations:

Black DK yarn Size 4mm needles 3 Pipe cleaners 2 googly eyes Fabric Glue

Sts – Stitches Inc – Increase St St – Stocking stitch B & T – break off yarn leaving long end, thread it through the remaining stitches left on needle and gather tightly, then fasten off

Instructions: Cast on 12 sts Purl 1 row Knit into front and back of every stitch – 24 sts Purl 1 row Knit 1, inc K wise into next st – 36 sts Continue in st st for 1 rows K2, K2tog to end – 27 sts Purl 1 row K1, K2tog to end – 18 sts Purl 1 row K2tog to end – 9 sts B & T tightly Join row ends together and sew together leaving a gap to stuff your spider.

You can also add a chain stitch or something for your spider to hang from and attach to the top of him tightly.

Add googly eyes with fabric glue and place pipe cleaners (after cutting them to size) into the gaps of the stitches and using a small amount of fabric glue again.

Written by Peggy’s Knits http://www.folksy.com/shops/crawlin

A Special Anniversary Interview with Creative Crafting’s Sprinks from Sprinkles Sparkles Tell us about yourself.

My name is Avril, or Av, but I am better known as Sprinks! I run Sprinkles Sparkles – Handmade Jewellery, and Sprinkles Sparkles Online. I am the technical editor, and web designer for Creative Crafting, and officer of Creative Connections. I have just started a new job, part time, so I am kept rather busy!

When did your crafting begin, and why?

I started crafting when I was about 7 years old. I learnt how to do cross stitch, but then stopped when it wasn’t the ‘in – thing’ to do amongst my friends. 14 years later I started crafting again when I fell ill, and then unfortunately lost my job. I started making key ring’s and charms for my friends, and then found a beading book in a discount bookstore. From then on I was beading away at home, and the name Sprinkles Sparkles was born in 2007.

In 2008, Sprinkles Sparkles became a business, where I started selling my jewellery and accessories at craft fairs and online. In 2010 I got back into cross stitch, and have recently bought myself a sewing machine to expand Sprinkles Sparkles into home ware.

What was the first item you made to sell online?

I cannot remember the first item I made to sell online, but I do remember the first item I sold online. It was a blue glass necklace I listed on Etsy. 30 minutes after listing it, it sold. That, for me, was a successful start to Sprinkles Sparkles!

What is your biggest crafting achievement, and why?

Being given the gift to be able to design and create my own jewellery, and having wonderful customers interested in my designs is my biggest crafting achievement. Without any of it, Sprinkles Sparkles would not exist, nor would I have many of my fantastic friends I have made through the online crafting network.

Other than crafting, what else do you like to do?

Other than editing Creative Crafting Magazine? There isn’t a lot of time left over to do anything else really! But I do enjoy watching movies, and US shows like Bones, and Lie to Me while working on the two websites and editing the magazine.

Where would you like to be in 5 years?

I would like to be still working with Creative Crafting, along side Anna, for the magazine to be receiving more and more readers, and for it still to be written ‘By Crafter’s, for Crafters’.

I’d also like Sprinkles Sparkles to have a small shop in a village selling beads, jewellery and homeware.

Where does your inspiration come from?

A lot of my inspiration comes from window shopping, books, friends, and magazines, and fantasy.

I love bright colours and anything that sparkles and twinkles in jewellery and accessories. It’s a perfect accessory to clothing if you are like me, and wear a lot of dark colours, like black and purple.

What are your favourite materials, and why?

I love working with Swarovski Crystals, Gemstones, and Glass Pearls.

A lot of my necklaces and bracelets are designed in mind and made from Swarovski Crystals and Gemstones.

My signature jewellery & accessories selection ‘The Petal Collection’ is made using glass pearls, which includes bracelets, watches, bookmarks, and charms.

I enjoy using Swarovski Crystals with Gemstones and Glass Pearls as there is such a variety of colour available for that added sparkle to your outfit, whether you are popping into town or going to a special occasion.

What is your favourite shop online, that isn’t yours, and why?

My favourite shop has to be Looby Crafts. Not only does Louise have an amazing selection of stunning handmade cards, Louise also carries gorgeous gifts in her store, like covered notebooks, which is a perfect gift for someone that has everything! Looby Crafts also offers a bespoke service, so if you cannot find what you are looking for in her store, Louise will always come up 100% of the time with exactly what you are looking for.

Has any person helped or supported you more than any other?

This is a real toughie. I cannot say one person has helped me more than any other, as my family and friends have supported me in their individual ways. But I’ll say my Mum, as she has been there from the beginning and is very proud of what I have achieved – and embarrassingly tells everyone that too!

Tell us a random fact about yourself!

My favourite ‘night in’ munchies are Maltesers and a bottle of Fanta!

Find Sprinkles Sparkles at http://www.sprinklessparkles.co.uk Facebook http://www.facebook.com/sprinklessparklesjewellery

Online Street Favourite finds from around the crafting community This months focus is Halloween!

Click on the images to take you to their store!

MISI

Plump Pumpkins Scrapbook ArtyG £3.99

Halloween Tags, Set of 3

By Hanne B £1.75

Large Autumn Country Pumpkin Patchwork Cottage Crafts £12.00

FOLKSY

Halloween Aliceband Holly Jolly Stockings £3.50

Pumpkins Galore Halloween Pendant Pendant Pixie £4.30

WOW THANKYOU

Scary Spiders Jolyon Yates £17.10 inc p&p

Mini Triangle Hanging shade Rivets n Stitch £195 inc p&p

I Dare You Handmade Vintage Style Halloween Cupcake Toppers Craftypagan Designs £12.20

1 Hole Random Shaped Tealight Slate Shop £6.00 inc p&p

All prices correct at the time of publication

Best Picks Favourite finds from around the crafting community This months focus is Halloween!

Click on the images to take you to their store!

CREATIVE STORES

Red Aventurine & Honey Jade Handmade Spider Pendant - Polly The Black Cat Jewellery Store £9.50

Nightmare Before Christmas Jack and Sally Earrings Beads and More £2.50

Twilight Altered Art Key Chain Candy Jewels £2.99

ETSY

Halloween Candy Bucket - Trick and Treat Kids on Black Baffin Bags £11.87

Halloween Witch Hat Decor / Spider Shanty Gifts £3.95

Primitive Halloween Witch Tea Kettle Candle Light Raggedy Jan £21.43

ARTFIRE

Halloween Dog Collar Furry Twang £10.25

Spooky Halloween Bracelet in Lampwork Beads Daybreak Dawn £12.21

Miniature Wooden Halloween Shelf Lins Top Shelf Creations £17.96

All prices arecorrect correctat atthe thetime timeof ofpublication going to print All prices

There are a lot of different crafts to choose from.

This series of articles will discover some of the more unusual and also some old world crafts that may have been almost forgotten.

Basket Weaving (Basketry) Basket weaving is one of the widest spread crafts in history. It is hard to say just how old the craft is because natural materials like wood, grass, and animal remains decay naturally and constantly. So without proper preservation (which was not available two hundred years ago, much less two thousand years ago) much of the history of basket making has been lost and is simply speculated upon. The oldest known baskets have been carbon dated to between 10,000 and 12,000 years old Basket Weavers can still be found all over the world today, using all kinds of different materials.

This beautiful

has been created by and can be found alongside other lovely items

on Etsy.

This is woven from Seagrass. It has been created by

Clay Whistles The whistle is an ancient folk instrument attached to cultures around the world. According to website, historians believe the small, hollow-pitched sound-making object originated in ancient China around 2500 B.C. when Chinese night watchmen blew into acorns to alert of an approaching enemy. Other early whistles were made from bones and clay. As an early whistle-making material, clay remained a valuable and durable source for whistle makers into modern day.

This lovely

was created by

Join us in our next issue to discover more unusual or forgotten crafts. If you practise a craft that is a little out of the ordinary please let me know. thecrystallady@creative-crafting.com This article was created by

The Crystal Lady http://www.mysticearth.co.uk

Tea and Cupcakes anyone?

Whilst doing my weekly shopping over the past few months I have noticed something, not odd, but interesting. Slowly but surely there has been an ever increasing range of Cupcakes on offer, which got me thinking, are Cupcakes the new fashionable food?

Now, I am aware that this isn’t the newest of trends, I mean if you go to London or any big city in fact, there are many little ‘cupcakeries’ scattered around that sell the most amazing, and somewhat expensive, Cupcakes; The Humming Bird Bakery, Primrose Bakery and Bake-a-Boo, but to name a few. However, I live in a small market town in Suffolk and am amazed that this trend has stretched so far! I mean rarely do food products transcend all generations and actually become a ‘trend’ in their own right.

So what was it that made the Cupcake so ‘trendy’? In reading articles on the Cupcake phenomena, it has been suggested by several individuals, and is my opinion too, that the trend began when the hit TV series ‘Sex and the City’ put the then unknown Magnolia Bakery on the map. Since then, the Cupcake really has become an institution. They are the versatile accessories that complement a number of social events both major, and minor for that matter.

You will find Cupcakes at baby showers, birthday parties, engagement parties, graduations, weddings even. In fact, I went to a wedding recently that had the most fantastic wedding cake, only it wasn’t a wedding cake as we know it! It was a colourful, artistic, beautifully created multi-teared Cupcake display, which really did give a modern twist to an old classic.

But is it all about scoffing cake and drinking tea? Oh no! Cupcakes aren’t just about eating them. ‘Cupcakery’ has become quite the art! Since the birth of this craze, the Cupcake has been extremely well marketed and its popularity has been cleverly utilised. You can now buy a hugely diverse range of Cupcake cases in every colour and pattern you can imagine, you can buy edible glitters and sprinkles, funky display stands; I could go on! Nevertheless, this is more than just cake decoration; the Cupcake image has become popular in many other forms of arts and crafts too. In fact, it is a focal point for my craft business, ‘Miss Baclart Designs’ and I have found that one of my best selling items has been my Cupcake card. This lead me to design my Cupcake Notebook, which has also sold well and a am currently working on a new line of stationery based around the Cupcake, which is due to be released in November 2010.

Visit Amy’s Folksy store to see more of the wonderful items for sale.

Miss Baclart Designs But it’s not just me that loves to use Cupcakes in my designs! On the next page, are some examples of some very talented fellow crafters from Folksy who love a good Cupcake too!

Buy Thi

Buy this

Buy this

Snowdon

http://www.folksy.com/shops/Snowdon

What do you do?

My work is based around printmaking and line drawn illustration. I screen print and block print my bolder, folk art inspired designs onto bags, tee shirts and notebooks.

My illustration work, that I've used on the cupcake designs for example, is a lot finer and allows for more detail. I like to swap between the two styles depending on what it is I'm designing or illustrating. The finer, line drawn style was perfect for the cupcakes as they are such a lovely, light and detailed subject.

What inspired you to use Cupcakes in your designs?

Well, who doesn't love a cupcake? Apart from enjoying eating them of course, I also love to look at them in posh bakeries; some of them are a work of art in themselves and are almost too perfect to eat, but not quite! I love the attention to detail and colour that goes into them and wanted to replicate that in an illustrative form. Cupcakes are something you usually enjoy sharing with friends so I thought it would be kind of nice to put them onto greetings cards, so you could send your friends a lovely cupcake, without the calories!

What is your favorite flavour Cupcake?

Chocolate, without a doubt!

Dottery Pottery

http://www.folksy.com/shops/thedotterypotter What do you do?

I am a potter and I specialise in making items with colourful surface decoration.

What inspired you to use a cupcake design?

Cupcakes are so in vogue at the moment and recipes are everywhere, it was something that was on my mind all the time when I was sketching new ideas. They are so bright and delicious looking - they just invite you to want to re-create them.

What is your favourite cupcake flavour?

Well, it has to be a classic chocolate base but with maybe big chunks of chocolate, pecans and a frosted cheese topping!

PopUpZoo

http://www.popupzoo.folksy.com What do you do?

I design, make and sell my own greetings cards, specialising in pop-up cards. 100% of the overall profit is donated to the Sands charity (registration number 299679) of which I am a registered fundraiser.

What inspired you to use a cupcake design?

It was a custom request from a customer. I always try to produce cards that are different from the norm so rather than produce a relatively simple single pop up cupcake I was inspired to create 3 tiers with depth as well as height to the pop-up.

What is your favourite cupcake flavour?

Lemon, with lemon flavoured fondant icing. Yum!

Nickynackynoo http://www.folksy.com/shops/nickyp What do you do?

I fit my children's accessory design business around being a full-time mother to three boys and part-time pig-farmer (on a very small scale!)

What inspired you to use a cupcake design?

Cupcakes remind me of the parties of my childhood, when the focus was the tea table and the fairy cakes decorated with hundreds-and-thousands, smarties and glacĂŠ cherries reigned supreme.

What is your favourite cupcake flavour?

Who cares which flavour - it's all about the icing and the decorations!

cupcakejojo http://www.folksy.com/shops/cupcakejojo What do you do?

I’m a happily married Mum of two girls. I’m taking a year out of Counselling training to concentrate on being a Mum & trying to get Cupcakejojo Designs going. Training to be a counsellor means you have to have counselling yourself and what I’ve discovered having personal counselling is that than being creative is the very core of me. It’s what makes me tick and what makes my soul smile & sing!.

What inspired you to use a cupcake design?

I have loved cupcakes for many years. It must be 12 years or so now. 12 years ago I used to make appliquéd pictures of cupcakes or flowers to give friends and family as cards.

My dearest friends know me as and call me Cupcake. I love them! They make me smile.

But what I realise now is that cupcakes represent to me a very wholesome motherly innocent image. My mother passed away 12 years ago and I guess cupcakes represent that motherly love, of spending time with your mum in the kitchen being creative. Cupcakes seem to be looking back at a time when they represented fun, parties, love and most of all time spent with Mum. Cupcakes just make me smile. I love the fact they are girly and pretty. Some might think knitted cupcakes are pointless but nobody says that about a china donkey! They are pretty and I never tire of them!

What is your favourite cupcake flavour?

My absolute favourite flavour is Delia Smith’s Lemon Curd Butterfly Cupcakes! Made with homemade lemon curd which is so easy to make but so delightfully delicious! They are hard to beat!

bespokecards http://www.folksy.com/shops/bespokecards What do you do?

I am currently working full time and i have recently started my company called bespoke cards and crafts. I mainly make cards but i have just started creating the cupcake wraps after purchasing the craft robo.

What inspired you to use a cupcake design?

I love cupcakes and I recently attended a wedding with a cake made fully from cupcake, and I explained to my partner how i could do them and he agreed and said give it a go then.

What is your favourite cupcake flavour?

It has to be CHOCOLATE!

Clearly it’s not just the taste that attracts people to these somewhat iconic cakes. They are pretty, girly (perhaps it is fair to say that the boys just like them because they can eat them!) and they are all so varying in design. The Cupcake not only sells because it is edible, but because it is an aesthetically pleasing, simplistic design to look at.

Go on; grab yourself a Cupcake and a nice cup of tea!

This article was written by Amy Bartlett From Miss Baclart Designs http://www.missbaclartdesigns.co.uk

A Special Anniversary Interview with Creative Crafting’s Diane

Tell us about yourself Hi my name is Diane and I created Peggy’s Knits approximately a year ago. I was inspired by my late grandmother called Peggy. I live in Norfolk with my three beautiful children and fiancé.

When did your crafting begin, and why?

I started knitting when I was a little girl taught by my grandmother Peggy and I am sure she would be proud to know that I have kept up the craft in honour of her. I also taught her to crochet so we both taught each other something.

What was the first item you made to sell online?

One of the first things I sold was on Misi and it was a long scarf, I was absolutely thrilled to bits. It then gave me the incentive to open up a shop on Folksy and Etsy where I continued to do well and sold other items.

What is your biggest crafting achievement, and why?

I have lots of crafting achievements as with knitting you can increase your skills every day. I have learnt how to make socks which is not an easy task and once you have made one pair you will be addicted! Also I have started making more lacy shawls which are also an achievement for me too.

Other than crafting, what else do you like to do?

I love listening to music, watching films and my little Chihuahua Teddy also takes up a lot of my time.

Where would you like to be in 5 years?

I would love to expand Peggy’s Knits and hopefully one day open up a boutique to stock the items I make but also include yarn and needles to sell too so I could encourage others to take up the craft. I am also starting to design so I would like to take that further too.

Where does your inspiration come from?

Inspiration is mainly from my late grandmother Peggy. But also from the designers such as Ysolda Teague and Johan Ku. What are your favourite materials, and why?

I love working with sock yarn, it is my favourite yarn at the moment as you can do so much with it.

What is favourite shop online, that isn’t yours, and why?

I love this shop http://www.folksy.com/shops/Annabelladesigns she has such great items and she is a lovely lady too.

Has any person helped or supported you more than any other?

My fiancé, Steve has been a great support to me and of course my children. Also I would like to say since working within the craft industry I have made a lot of good friends so they have helped me also.

Tell us a random fact about yourself!

I have lots of tattoos J

Diane has been writing articles and knitting projects for Creative Crafting since our very first issue in October 2009.

Catch up with her popular ‘How to Knit’ Series as well as her projects and recipes in our back issues and on our website.

You can also become Dianes friend on the Crafters Social Network Creative Connections.

You can purchase Peggy’s Knits creations from Folksy at: http://www.folksy.com/shops/crawlin

It’s a wrap!

Do you remember the film Love Actually?

The part where Alan Rickman is trying to buy his lover a necklace while his wife is Christmas shopping in the same store ... the agonising effort made by Rowan Atkinson, the shop assistant, to wrap the necklace to within an inch of its life? It was so incredibly over the top – but where do you stop?

How important is packaging – let’s face it, you are buying the contents not the wrapper, isn’t that right? But is it that simple; as a customer don’t we love to see something wrapped perfectly with tissues, ribbons and gorgeous tags? Or is packaging just a waste of paper and effort? I posed this conundrum with the sellers on WowThankYou and received some fascinating insights into the lengths some people go to present their products, while others think that the product speaks for itself and doesn’t require any embellishment.

Selling at craft fairs can be a rewarding experience. But on those occasions where you are run off your feet and have more customers than you know what to do with there may not be time for special gift wrapping. In these cases what do you do?

Kate Murray (http://www.wowthankyou.co.uk/store/supplier.php?secondary=65) sells toys at craft fairs and uses recycled highly coloured branded paper bags for packaging, which are very much appreciated by the customer and actually enhance her toy brand.

But personalised recycled paper bags can be expensive to print. In this instance Louise Jackson of Felted House (http://www.wowthankyou.co.uk/store/supplier.php?secondary=51) had a really good idea; she buys plain recycled paper bags in various sizes and then glues on her own shop logo and contact details with paper glue. This way, at busy times, she can quickly provide personalised packaging. Louise has also printed her own personalised sticky labels which she can use to secure product packaging such as tissue paper instead of sticky tape.

Rowan of KitschenSink (http://www.wowthankyou.co.uk/store/supplier.php?secondary=178) has taken packaging a step further and incorporates it into her product image. She uses origami boxes made from old comics; her theme at fairs is 50’s comics and she’s noticed that the pieces she presents on her stall displayed in their boxes get noticed and bought quicker – most of the time they are bought as a gift for someone else. Her origami boxes take a couple of minutes to make, and she often does them while sitting at her craft stall. The costs for this are minimal as the comics are collected from charity shops and car boot sales. Rowan also makes little paper bags out of old Grazia magazine pages; a simple paper folded in half with a line of glue up either side – the customers love the eco-friendly touch and the fashion photography.

Moniek (http://www.wowthankyou.co.uk/store/supplier.php?secondary=276) wraps her products in a brown paper bag, which is closed with a pipecleaner (that is curled with a pencil) and threaded with a gift tag bearing a sticker with her contact details. Customers often look worried when they see her get out a brown paper bag to wrap the items, but when they see the end result they are always happy!

It’s a wrap!

Many crafters appear to favour their own branded, recycled paper bags with a label attached bearing full contact details. In this way the product is adequately protected and there is some after sales marketing potential. I have even come across some more motivated sellers that produce their own paper bags from recycled newsprint and even wallpaper and in these instances the bags themselves have suddenly gained value and become in-demand products.

For online sales, particularly jewellery, the consensus of opinion is that some extra effort should be made in packaging. With an on-line sale there is more time to take some extra care to gift wrap and present the product.

Charlie of Handmadecharlie (http://www.wowthankyou.co.uk/store/supplier.php?secondary=261) is a good example, telling me “I want my customers to feel like they have received a present in the post”. Charlie personally ties each box with a ribbon bow and then packs the box in multi-layers of tissue paper for a good rummage factor. The vintage style parcel is then tied up with string and the address label typed on an old 1960’s school typewriter for extra retro authenticity. This all sounds fantastic and think it would make me want buy something from Charlie anyhow!

Christine of Blossom Crafts (http://www.wowthankyou.co.uk/store/supplier.php?secondary=153) also has a good idea which is attractive and equally applicable to craft fairs or Internet sales; she produces her own little cloth drawstring bags which cost about 5p to make but never fail to impress. I think in this case there is an added longevity to the packaging as it can be used to store the item when not being used and the customer perceives an added quality.

But how much trouble should one go to? Some crafters think the product should not be detracted from and others believe that sophisticated packaging is too expensive and just pushes the costs up, especially when profit margins are narrow. Creating a good impression is invaluable and to leave a compliment slip or sticker with your branding and contact details will invite repeat orders from customers. Louisa of Felted House always packs a branded bookmark with larger Internet purchases.

She has a no nonsense approach to the packaging relying on tissue paper, raffia and strong parcel paper.

Hayley of Just Sentiments (http://www.wowthankyou.co.uk/store/supplier.php?secondary=62) doesn’t have a lot of time at craft fairs for fancy packaging but still uses green and white crushed tissue paper and thank you cards and stickers as her brand reinforcement (she has a green and white logo). However, when packaging for the Internet customer she has time to make a lot more effort, “Personally I think presentation is part and parcel of buying a handcrafted item, to me it’s important. I would like to think my customers realise that if a lot of effort goes into the packaging and presentation then the same effort and care has been taken to make the item in the first place. Like I said before, a small effort can go a long way; a token gift can be made to look a million dollars!”

It’s a wrap!

Clare Witz of Painted with Love (http://www.wowthankyou.co.uk/store/supplier.php?secondary=84) believes “the packaging should be appropriate to the product you are selling... and should complement the item, not overpower it.”

She adds, “If I were spending £500 on a necklace I might expect a few sparkles in the box!”

But what is the overall secret of attractive and practical packaging?

I think we must go back to basic principles and ask what do we want from the packaging? · It needs to protect the item inside either on the journey home or through the rough and tumble of the postal system. · The packaging should be inexpensive and not time consuming to produce. · The overall impression of the packaged product should be positive and help to radiate the feeling of quality. · There should be branding on the packaging, if possible, to encourage repeat or even new custom. · Recycled materials are popular for packaging in these ‘green’ times and will help to give a favourable impression to those who care about the planet. For those who don’t care about green issues the innovative recycled packaging might just make them take notice. · Talk to the customer and find out what they like for packaging their purchases – the answers might surprise you!

Of course, size of the item is an important factor - Simon Wolfers of The Rocking Sheep Company (http://www.wowthankyou.co.uk/store/supplier.php?secondary=24) packages his product with the sole intent that they arrive with the customer safe and sound. The rocking sheep are way too large for homemade packaging but he wants to have cardboard boxes printed up with his logo for future sales.

Overall the customer expects an item to be protected by packaging and in face-to-face selling or Internet sales a well packaged product will always be appreciated. Taking some extra time and trouble to enhance the product will give a customer confidence in your brand and will hopefully lead to repeat custom.

This article was written by from

http://www.wowthankyou.co.uk

Peggy’s Knits

Made with love and care.

Quality knitted items.

Halloween Craft Ideas Here are a couple of great fun Halloween craft ideas and you should be able to make these with ease and it is great fun for the children to join in too.

First of all spooky gravestones are great fun to make and very simple.

We made ours with chipboard but you can use cardboard too.

Cut out your piece, paint black and decorate in any way you wish.

Stand either in your house or outside of the house for a graveyard effect for Halloween night!

Next we have a black wreath which you can be as creative as you wish with this one.

First take a piece of cardboard and cut out a circle (I used a dinner plate to draw around), then take a smaller side plate and draw around that too. Next cut out the circle in the middle and all around it so you have your wreath shape cardboard.

Then take anything you wish to decorate it, I used black netting, but you can use wool, material anything you wish.

I then secured the top of it and added a cute little knitted spider to it (which you will find in this edition of the magazine too!) You can add anything you wish to it and make it as spooky as you wish.

Hang on your door for Halloween!!

Written by Peggy’s Knits http://www.folksy.com/shops/crawlin

Create your own handmade Sock Skeleton for Halloween What you will need: - 1 pair white socks - Soft toy stuffing - Coloured felt - Needle, scissors - Threads to match you socks and felt - Black Wool Instructions: 1. Cut socks as in the picture.

Lay the first sock with heel upwards and cut up the middle stopping below the heel. This will form the body and legs.

Lay the second sock on it's side and cut straight across below the heel.

Discard the toe end of the sock and cut the piece that is left up the middle. These will be the arms.

2. Turn the arms inside out and sew the edges closed leaving the top open for stuffing.

Turn the body inside out and sew the legs up both sides but leave an area between the legs open in order to stuff the body.

3. Turn arms right way, fill with stuffing and sew ends closed.

Turn body right way. Stuff legs first and then the body and sew opening closed.

4. Decide how big you want the head to be and wrap a piece of black wool around 2 or 3 times to define the neckline. Tie a knot and cut off excess wool.

5. Using white thread, sew through where the elbows and knees would be, to look like jointed limbs.

Create your own handmade Sock Skeleton for Halloween

6. Using black wool, insert the needle through the back of the torso to the front where the first rib will be. Form the rib by wrapping the floss around the skeleton's side, reinserting the needle and drawing it through the front at the same point, pull gently to define ribs. Tie the ends of the wool to make a knot at the back. Repeat this step to create each of the six ribs.

7. Create the Skeletons mouth in a similar way to the ribs by inserting the needle with black wool into the side of the head at a point where the end of the mouth will be. Draw the needle out of the opposite side. Wrap the floss around the face, reinserting the needle and drawing it through at the same points, a couple of times. Pull tightly enough to form a wrinkled smile and then do some stitches over this line. Tie off with double knot and trim excess. Sew on some black felt circles for the eyes.

8. Decorate you skeleton how you want.

I have sewn on a red felt heart.

This article was written by fom Socklings http://www.etsy.com/shop/socklings

Budget & Luxury Click on the images to take you to their store!

Handcrafted Halloween Orange Fairy Door Witch & Bat Bobless Arts £1.99

OOAK Pumpkin Pie Charm Bracelet £15.00 Jelly Belly Jewellery

Halloween Pumpkin Pin Cushion!

Juicy Fig £4.00

Happy Halloween Bunting Silver Birch Crafts £23.49

Wibbly Wobbly Jellies candles Cherry Blossom Candles £6.50 inc p&p

Twilight/New Moon Jacob charm bracelet £14.25 inc p&p All Things Nice

Lava Stone & Red Aventurine Earrings The Black Cat Jewellery Store £7.50

Halloween Hopping Frog Handmade Card Cards By Elizabeth £2.29

Iron On Applique Friendly Frankie Big Black Dog Designs £2.25

Nightmare Before Christmas Handpainted Set £69.99 Laurie Hill Designs

Victorian Vampire Bustle Dress Red Threaded £638.03

Autumn Blue Hedge Witch Hat Wicked Unique Chic Mermaiden Creations £60.79

By Sprinkles Sparkles http://www.sprinklessparkles.co.uk All prices are correct at the time of publication

Make a Beaded Gemstone Pendulum By

Elderberry Arts

I've chosen Rose Quartz and Hematite for this project as they are two of my favourite stones and I think they go well together especially with silver. You can chose any stones you like or already have or even use another material such as glass or crystal. The stones can all be the same or in complimenting colours and types and you could use sterling or gold plated findings if you prefer.

You will need: 1 x 1 inch headpin 1 x gemstone pendant approx 3 cm long 1 x 8 or 10 mm gemstone bead 3 x 4 mm gemstone oval beads 4 x 4 mm silver plated round beads 2 x silver plated side opening calottes (necklace ends) 3 x 4 mm silver plated jump rings 16 cm of 2 mm silver plated ball chain 1 x 2 inch piece of 0.8 mm silver plated wire 1. Make a small loop in one end of the 0.8 mm wire 2. Thread on beads in this order - 4 mm silver bead, gemstone oval and continue until you have three gemstone ovals and four silver beads on the wire.

3. Trim any excess wire and make a small loop in the wire end yo created the beaded section for your pendulum.

2.

3.

4. Attach a calotte to one end of the ball chain. Use a jump ring to attach the beaded section to the calotte.

5. Use a second jump ring to attach the gemstone pendant to the other end of the beaded section.

6. Attach the second calotte to the other end of the ball chain.

7. Thread the gemstone bead on to the 1 inch headpin.

4.

5.

Trim of any excess wire and make a loop in the end to create a charm.

8. Use the remaining jump ring to attach the charm to the calotte.

The finished Pendulum Pendulums can be used for dowsing or just as a window decoration.

7.

This project was written by Claire from Elderberry Arts.

www.elderberryarts.co.uk Folksy shop

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in the Garden Hi I’m Tina!

You have picked a beautiful day today to visit The Garden.

Shall we go and sit under the pergola, the sweet peas have almost reached the top and the smell is wonderful. The sun is filtering through, just the perfect place to relax. I have made the tea so sit down and make yourselves comfortable. I will fetch the biscuits, they are special, my friend and neighbour brought them back from holiday for me and they really are very habit forming, but remember we must not over indulge.

First of all, the magazine will be one year old with this issue. My how time flies when you are having fun. I would like to thank our two very hard working lady editors as without them there would never have been a magazine, and all of the talented crafters who have taken time to share their wonderful ideas with us.

You may remember last time we visited together, I shared with you all a photo of a very sporty caterpillar which I found in The Garden. Well, it was The Mullein Shargacucullia Verbasci, my goodness what a mouthful, and I would like to thank you Michelle (from Socklings) for taking the time to research this for us, it is very much appreciated.

tool? y Toads r e t s y M

Do you k

now wha t these ar e?

Well, there is no stopping me now! Here is not one, but two photos which fit in rather well as it will soon be Halloween.

They may well be toadstools I am not sure, perhaps someone could enlighten me. One of them has a piece bitten out but I guess that will remain a mystery, who knows what creatures abound in the wood.

We have had a wonderful summer in The Garden, it was a little dry and I had to do a little more watering, but we got to sit and enjoy the beauty of the hot sun on the patio with the bright summer bedding and the cool shade under the trees with the soft greens and pastel colours of the woodland plants.

It has also proved a bountiful harvest, if I try to show you photos of everything The Garden has produced there would be no room for my writing, well yes it may be a better idea, I do go on a bit sometimes.

Cool Shade

The apples and pears and crab apple trees are full, as you see they do their own thing in the borders and seem to enjoy the companionship of the other plants. The mulberry too is full of fruit it is a beautiful old tree, how old I do not know as it was here when we arrived. The leaves are such a lovely shape, it is just so graceful. I do not get to all of the mulberries as Mr Blackbird can reach them better than I can, but I do not mind as he has produced two families this year so I think he deserves them.

Apples

Pears

Crab Apples

Some of the raspberries have already produced this year but the autumn ones will be ripe soon, the grapes also have really done well. On the patio we had tomatoes, courgettes, cucumbers, peppers and lots of salad greens.

Although we have a large garden salad crops do not do well, because of the slugs and snails. Well, I know they have to live somewhere so I leave them to it and grow my salad crops in pots on the patio. That also is their hunting ground but I put used coffee grounds around the soil in the pot and around the base on the patio. It does work, maybe they object to it under their feet, I do not know, coffee grounds for the patio I can manage but for the main garden no thanks.

Mulberries

Grapes

Blackberrie s

Hawthorn

Hops

with Charlie helping t es rv the ha

The wild plants are producing their berries, the Hawthorn, the wild rose, and of course the blackberry, I do love blackberry and apple pie don’t you?

Another fascinating plant to me is the wild hop, with those delicate green flowers it just clambers over everything, and then turns to a rich russet brown which is the real colour of the Autumn.

Well we have finished our tea, and left some of the biscuits, we have been good, so I will thank you again for your time and look forward to your next visit with me in The Garden.

Your green fingered friend, Tina

www.tina-in-the-garden.blogspot.com

MYSTIC EARTH Have you ever through of having a piece of Gemstone and Crystal Healing Jewellery created ‘just for you’ Each stone matched to your needs!

The Crystal Lady at Mystic Earth can offer you this service.

These pieces of unique jewellery make the perfect gift for a loved one or a much needed treat for yourself.

Beautiful Jewellery to help you through life!

http://www.mysticearth.co.uk

Quality Knitted Items

Made with love and care.

Peggy’s Knits http://www.folksy.com/shops/crawlin

Mother Nature has provided us with wonderful Healing Gemstones and Minerals.

For this Issue, discover the beauty of

Bloodstone SiO2+Al,Fe,Mg,OH,Si

Heliotrope is Greek and means ‘solstice’ which is thought to refer to its powerful healing properties. In medieval texts it is referred to as Blood Jasper.

Mentally - Calming in cases or irritability and aggression. Revitalizing in cases of exhaustion and tiredness.

Physically - works with: the immune system. Stimulates the flow of lymph fluid.

Chakra - Higher Heart, cleanses and realigns lower chakras.

Bloodstone Stone Circle Pendant Necklace

$62

$45

£30 Steampunk Ring

Sterling Spider Ring

If you would like more information about Crystal Healing Jewellery, you can contact The Crystal Lady at: thecrystallady@mysticearth.co.uk or visit http://www.mysticearth.co.uk

$40 Luck/Protection Charm Bracelet

£25.95 Bloodstone & Prehnite Necklace

£20 Beaded Cabochon Necklace

Angel of Reflection This is an exciting sculptural bead, with endless creative possibilities in the flame and after.

The tutorial is written to show you how the Angel shape is formed. The decoration is up to you. Have fun with it! It is written for the intermediate to advanced lamp-worker offering more of a visual experience in learning than a detailed written step by step instructional tutorial. I use a pair of small tweezers, a rake, a pair of scissors and a magic wand tool from Corina Tettinger to create these magnificent Angels of Reflection.

Each Angel Measures: +- 40 - 50mm wing span, 28 - 35mm in length, 15 - 20mm thick with a 2.5mm hole size and can take anything from 50 minutes and onwards to create depending on your skill level and decoration process. I use a mini CC with one oxycon. This can also be done on a Hothead I am sure, however you may need to work on a smaller scale.

Follow me ... Stage A Step 1 - 7 Step 1. Create and decorate your cone shaped base bead, to form the body of your Angel. Wind your first layer of glass onto the mandrel creating a barrel bead +- 1.5cm long, this is your footprint and will determine the finished cone length.

Step 2, 3 and 4. Add a spacer bead on the narrow end of the cone to form the Angel’s head.

Create your first small spacer bead by winding your glass slowly, in this step. Feel free to decorate on the first layer before you add your transparent layer. Melt each layer in.

Step 5, 6 and 7. Start creating your wings Place a large dot of clear on opposite sides of each other and press flat. Continue this step 5 or more times as desired. Make sure it is nice and thick so that your wings are strong and don’t break off later.

Follow me... Stage B Step 8 - 13 What you do to the one wing, you need to repeat on the other wing.

Use tweezers to flatten the glass out nicely.

Cut a slit in the one wing with your scissors and repeat this step on the other wing.

Use your rake tip and wand to separate your glass and to define the lines of your wings.

Mash, pull, shape, and define wings on both sides until they are balanced and glorious looking!

Written By Lorraine Dowdle Creations http:// www.Lorrainedowdle.com

In April 2011 Phil Newton will be running 154 miles across the Sahara Desert in 100 degree heat in the space of five days. On one of these days he will actually run 54 miles. During this time Phil will carry all of his own equipment and food and even an anti-venom pump in case of snake bites - Phil is petrified of snakes!

The event, the Marathon des Sables, is known as the toughest footrace on earth.

As you can appreciate you have to be amazingly fit to take part in the event, and about 1000 people from all over the world take part.

James Cracknell did the event last year and there are talks that Madonna may do the 2012 race.

Phil is in training for this now and is constantly attending races to build up his fitness and stamina. It has been known that runners prepare for the heat by running inside a sauna! During the Marathon des Sables, Phil will burn off 6000 calories a day!

We have chosen Mencap as our nominated charity due to the amazing work that they do. Ÿ Mencap is the voice of learning disability. Everything they do is about valuing and supporting people with a learning disability, and their families and carers. Ÿ Mencap work with people with learning disabilities to change laws and services, challenge prejudice and directly support thousands of people to live their lives as they choose.

We are aiming to raise just over ÂŁ13,000 for Mencap and are planning a variety of events to help us reach this target, the first being a Charity Ball on October 2nd 2010 at the Ramada Hotel, Bewdley.

We have persuaded Rosie Swale Pope to come and talk to us. Rosie is known for running around the world. A task completed on foot taking over five years.

We are also having a Fashion Exchange Party, which is planned on October 20th 2010, along with many more fundraising ideas to help us hit this target.

Our main objective is to raise as much money for Mencap as possible and raise awareness of the fantastic work they do.

We are also looking for sponsorship and any donations or auction prizes for our ball and upcoming events.

We would really welcome your support, and this is where all you lovely crafter’s come in!

Just Giving We would love it if you would be kind enough to send us an item handmade by yourself for our auction to raise as much money as we can for Mencap.

We already have one wonderful donation from Diane, from Peggy’s Knits, as well as from: Brix Smith Start Iwan Thomas MBE Rosie Swale Pope MBE Peggy's Knits Lauren Luke (you tube Makeup Guru), and Carol Vorderman As you can see its an ultra challenge and we have a huge fundraising target to hit. Any way in which you think you can help would be great!

Phil will have a rucksack with him at all times. If you would like your website details to appear on the bag, we can organise sponsorship.

For contact details in where to send your donation, and more information about the Marathon Des Sables please visit the Sahara Runner website at http://www.sahararunner.co.uk Mencap event website http://www.mencap.org.uk/event.asp?id=3632 Mencap website http://www.mencap.org.uk

Phil after completing "race the train" 14 miles of fell running in wales. Sadly the train beat Phil by 2 mins!

Let’s get spinning with

Peggy’s Knits

Spinning - Part Two Following on from the last issue, here is how to finish off your newly spun yarn. Once you have spun two or more balls of singles, it’s time to ply your yarn. I refer to two-ply yarn, but if you want to do three or more plies, simply add them to this process.

Put each ball of yarn into a mug—this will keep them from rolling all over the place. Pull out the end from each ball (it sometimes helps to thread the end through the handle of the mug).

Put the ends through the loop in the end of your leader, just like you did with the fibre, in the last issue, folding it back onto itself and gently holding the ends back onto the two singles in between the thumb and index finger of your fibre hand.

Your fibre hand will do all the pinching this time and your drafting hand will do nothing but spin the spindle and occasionally run up the length of the yarn making sure that the two threads are fed evenly into the yarn you are making.

Give the spindle a spin to the left for a S-twist (make sure you are going in the opposite direction that you used to spin the threads), until the ends are firmly twisted in with the singles.

Now just pull out lengths of the two threads and spin the spindle until it looks like it’s nicely twisted together. Try and feed the two threads evenly.

Test the yarn by holding the spindle and letting the yarn go slack—it should not curl back on itself at all. If it does not it’s called a well-balanced yarn. If it does curl back on itself, pull some more of the un plied singles out of your fibre hand and let the twist run up into it and test again.

If you have a well-balanced yarn but it has wide gaps between the places where the two singles twist together so it will be difficult to use the yarn later, there are two things you must do.

Your thread did not have enough twist in it to counter balance the untwisting done when plying. Make a note now to put more twist in the next singles. To correct this yarn, put more spin in the plied yarn.

If you are not satisfied with the tightness of the plied yarn until it’s over-twisted, go ahead and over twist some. You will fix this problem in the finishing. When you have plied your threads to arm’s length and checked it all, wind the plied yarn underneath the whorl for storage and as before, wrap the end around the hook and ply the next length until you have plied all the singles in both balls.

Let’s get spinning with

Peggy’s Knits Finishing you yarn

Finishing your yarn means setting the twist and, sometimes, blocking the yarn.

To set the twist you need to wrap your yarn into a hank. You can do this easily by wrapping the yarn across your palm down around your elbow (which is bent) and up around your palm until you have used up all the yarn.

Tie ends loosely around the hank, you also may wish to tie pieces of yarn around the hank.

To set the twist, you need to soak the yarn in hot soapy water. You can do this in the kitchen sink or in bowls, with very hot water!

Put a good squirt of dish soap in one sink and a small amount of vinegar in the bowl. Gently lay the hank of yarn on top of the water in the soapy sink and gently push it down. It is important not to swish the hank or add any movement to it at all that is not necessary. Wool will felt if given a lot of agitation in hot water.

Let it soak for 10-20 minutes then remove the hank and gently do the same in the vinegar water to rinse. Let it soak a few minutes. The water should be cooling by now. Test the vinegar water and refill the first sink with water that is the same temperature for any further rinses. Some spinners add a squirt of hair conditioner to the last rinse to soften the wool.

Remove the hank from it’s final rinse and remove excess water by either wrapping it in a towel and stomping on it or patting it. The hank should be hung to dry—hang it over a hook in the shower or the showerhead. The hank should hang straight and not twist on itself, if it does it is over twisted, you can fix this by blocking the yarn. Put a can of soup or a weight to drag it down until it is dry.

I hope you have had fun and have found this information helpful. I am still learning to drop spin myself and I have learnt so much through it.

The next thing on my list is a spinning wheel! So watch out for an article in the near future on that too!

Written by Peggy’s Knits http://www.folksy.com/shops/crawlin

Beat the Credit Crunch this Christmas!!!

Try a Christmas Skills Swap!

A lot of us are going to find the coming Christmas very difficult in the financial department!

I don’t think I am alone in saying that 2010 has not been a good year for sales from a Crafter’s point of view. In fact I am aware of quite a few seasoned Crafters who have actually given up and closed their shops.

If you have a skill and are looking for presents for family or friends this year, why not get in touch with other crafters and see if you can trade your skill for theirs. For instance, you may want to give a nice scarf to Auntie Jean. Why not make a necklace for a knitter to give as a gift in exchange for one. There are lots of lovely, friendly people out there who would love to help you out.

I recently mentioned this subject on a forum on Folksy and on our Facebook page and found a number of people that would be very interested in this idea.

I have profivided some of their details below and I am sure that they would love to hear from you.

Name

Store

Email

Skills Offered

Diane

Peggy's Knits

Peggysknits@hotmail.co.uk

Knitting

Apryl

Blue Daisy Glass

apryl.brincklow@btinternet.com

Fused glass jewellery

Rachel

Chulscharms

Sarah

Wrapped up with String

contact@chulscharms.co.uk

Handmade Jewellery

Paper and crochet wrappedupwithstring@googlemai decorations, l.com Christmas card sets

Claire

Elderberry Arts

elderberryarts@ymail.com

Silver, glass, crystal, hemp and gemstone jewellery. photography prints and gifts

Toni

Tonart Photography

tonartphotography@yahoo.co.uk

Christmas Cards, images

Debby

Debbyleaper

Cross stitch

This is just a very small selection of people who would be willing to swap a skill this Christmas so why not get in touch with your favourite crafter and ask, you never know! Please contact crafters directly for skills swapping and not Creative Crafting as all transactions will be between yourself and the crafter of your choice.

This article was created by

The Crystal Lady http://www.mysticearth.co.uk

Autumn Dreams It’s Autumn in the garden now.

The days of brown and gold.

But still the sun is shining down.

There are many wonders to behold.

The toadstools hiding in the wood.

All the trees with fruit are full.

Yes summer now is over but, Autumn too is good.

Tina ‘In the Garden’

Would you like to be interviewed for our magazine?

It is a wonderful way for people to get to know you and your work. It can be great publicity too as we always include lots of pictures of your products with clickable links.

Don’t worry, its not like this!

We will email you a list of questions for you to reply to. You will also be able to attach photographs of items that you would like us to include, along with any links to your websites, online shops, Facebook pages etc.

We cannot guarantee which issue you will be in but if you are interested please email: thecrystallady@creative-crafting.com

Tell us about yourself My name is Kelly Johnson (aka Womble) I'm 29 years old and I'm from Oldbury in the West Midlands (near Birmingham) I specialise in gorgeous handmade jewellery and greeting cards at affordable prices. I also do custom orders so please get in touch if you like what you see lol ;o) When did your crafting begin, and why?

I started crafting in January 2010 as a hobby. I saw some handmade jewellery that a friend of mine had made and thought "Wow! That looks good I bet I could do summet like that!" So I bought a little starter kit and some beads and it kinda went from there really. lol What was the first item you made to sell online?

The first item I ever made was for my friends birthday. I made her a gorgeous black necklace, bracelet and earring set with a lovely black and white card which she absolutely loved! The first item I made to sell hmmmm, I think it was 'The Vintage Bride' Necklace and Earring Set made from an old vintage Aurora Borealis broken necklace my Nan gave me. It's still looking for a new home and is available in my shop on Folksy.

What is your biggest crafting achievement, and why?

My biggest crafting achievement would have to be when a celebrity Buy this! bought some of my jewellery!! Yes the lovely Kelli Ali (aka Kelly Dayton ex Sneaker Pimps) bought my gorgeous 'Vintage Gold Cross' Necklace & Earring Set from Folksy after a shared a link to my page with her and she also said some lovely words about my jewellery in general. It was such a big shock when I found out that she had bought it but it was such a great feeling at the same time to think that someone famous was gonna be wearing summet that you've made with your own hands. I also designed a diary page for the 'Diary 2011 Project' which is gonna be published in a crafters diary along with a whole load of other crafters from different backgrounds, you can read more about it here http://www.fantazya.ca/diary2011.html Other than crafting, what else do you like to do?

I love spending time with my boyfriend (my gorgeous 'Dr') as we don't get much quality time together, I also enjoy doing yoga and playing on my Wii. I read the odd book occasionally and enjoy attempting to make music on my computer. I've always been very creative in everything I do so you'll usually find me drawing or doodling or summet like that lol. I recently designed and made my own business cards and some pillow gift boxes.

SHOP : http://www.folksy.com/shops/Kokokelli http://www.facebook.com/Kokokelli

http://twitter.com/KokokelliWomble http://kokokelli.blogspot.com

Where would you like to be in 5 years?

I would love nothing more than to have Kokokelli as my main business and main source of income so I could do it from home.

I'm getting to that age now where I'd like to be starting a family soon so at least I'd still be able to work as well as look after the kids.

Where does your inspiration come from?

My inspiration comes from many things, like everyday life and things that I've grown up with. I always try to go with my gut instinct too so if I'm working on a design I wont finish it until I'm totally happy with it. I'm a dreamer and always have been so sometimes things just randomly pop into my head and then I''ll think "yeh I'll make one of those" lol. Sometimes I'm inspired by my custom orders too as it can be a challenge a lot of the time, the biggest being a custom wedding card I made for my boyfriends sister to send to her friends and she wanted it to match the colour scheme of the wedding which was silver & pink with diamantĂŠs. Plus she only told me two weeks before the wedding was due and I had to search high and low for materials to make the card with. Luckily I got it done in time and I was really pleased with the outcome as was she (another happy customer lol).

What are your favourite materials, and why?

I love unusual looking beads and have started working with some bead frames which has been fun and interesting. I fell in love with my 'Hamsa Hands' Bracelet & Earring Sets.

What is favourite shop online, that isn’t yours, and why?

I recently got the lovely 'DiomoGlass' from Folksy to custom make me some gorgeous coasters for a Christmas gift for my boyfriends sister to Buy this! match her new living room and she really delivered! I emailed her some pics of her living room to show her the colour scheme and then she got back to me with an example of the design and they were perfect!! I'm really pleased with the finished products and the service in a whole!! Go check out her shop! http://www.folksy.com/shops/DiomoGlass Has any person helped or supported you more than any other?

A few of my friends have been really supportive (and kept me busy lol) if it wasn't for them I probably would never of thought to start selling my Kokokelli items online. So many thanks to them!! I've also had a lot of support from my fellow friends at Folksy a few of which have had custom order's from me (I made Waldo the Worm badge bracelets for the nosuch disco and a custom 'Hello Kitty' style personalised bracelet for AdienCrafts) Tell us a random fact about yourself!

My nickname is Womble due to the fact that when I was at college I bought a huge grey fluffy coat from TopShop which I loved (and still have lol) and when I walked into my local pub the barman said he thought I was a womble lol plus there were a few incidents of peeps shouting "WOMBLE!" at me when I'd be walking down the street lol so it kinda came from there and then stuck over the years lol.

Heartmade Gifts The Joy of Pumpkins Plump pumpkins in rich orange skins ... the embodiment of Autumn. So evocative of this time of year in colour and shape, they remind me of wood-smoke, dark evenings and crispy mornings. And of Halloween!

Pumpkins have been around for thousands of years (seeds from 7000BC were found in Mexico), growing on six of our seven continents, and are used in a variety of ways in many different cultures.

In Haiti, for example, they are a symbol of independence (freedom from the French colonists, who forbade Haitians the luxury of pumpkins) during New Year celebrations. In the West, they have become associated with Thanksgiving and Halloween. The traditional Jack O'Lantern developed from the Celtic tradition of carving turnips and gourds, making lanterns to welcome their dead on All Hallows Eve. They are also often carved as a symbol of harvest.

They are easy to grow and can grow to truly enormous sizes. Why not try growing your own next year, if you have the room. Or perhaps you could borrow an unused corner of a friend or neighbour's garden.

Collecting your own seeds: Keep the seeds from your pumpkins this year, gently wash them in cool water, pat dry with a kitchen towel, then leave them on a windowsill for the rest of the day. When they are thoroughly dry to the touch, put them in a brown paper bag and keep in a cool, dark place until Spring.

Nurturing pumpkin plants: Deter aphids by growing orange nasturtiums as companion plants and grow lots of bee-friendly plants to attract pollinating bees.

Harvesting pumpkins: Whether you grow your own or buy one from your local market, they are fun to use, delicious to eat and very versatile. You can find lots of recipes online for pumpkin, from starter to dessert, side dish to tasty, filling snack. Pumpkins are scrumptious both hot and cold, in both sweet and savoury dishes: roasted, grilled or baked, curried or creamed, as a thin broth or thick, hearty soup ... You can make pumpkin beer, pumpkin bread, pumpkin muffins, sweet pumpkin pie, even pumpkin cheesecake.

But my favourite is pumpkin soup. It's hard to make pumpkin soup that's not tasty – rich, sweet, earthy – and it's so nutritious. Nutritional benefits include ...

The best bit, though, is how endlessly adaptable it is! Use the basic, very simple recipe below as a base. Lovely enough as it is, you can then have a little fun playing around with it. You can add all kinds of things, for either a sweet or savoury dish.

Heartmade Gifts Basic Pumpkin Soup Recipe Scoop out the flesh from a pumpkin and add it to some gently sweated onions in a large pan. Cover with stock, adding some salt, pepper and your choice of herbs. Bring to the boil and simmer until the pumpkin flesh is soft. Remover from the heat and allow to cool slightly before pushing through a sieve. Return to the heat and warm gently, adding some cream, if you like. Serve hot, perhaps with a sprinkle of your favourite ground spice on top (you could use ginger, cinnamon or nutmeg.)

Sweet Additions: fruit, sweet spices such as cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg, honey, cream, coconut milk.

Savoury Additions: garlic, onions, potatoes, your favourite herbs, hot spices such as paprika, cajun or piri piri (be very sparing with this hot spice mixture or it will overwhelm rather than enhance the gorgeous rich pumpkin flavour), cheese.

Serve your soup in the hollowed out pumpkin to make it extra special.

Unless you decide to carve your pumpkin of course! (You could always serve soup in small, hollowed out squash, although the truth is, it's perfectly delish from a paper cup!)

Carving your pumpkin: Method: Cut a lid for your pumpkin, angling the cut slightly, so that the outer edge is wider than the inner, to prevent the lid from falling in when you have removed the flesh. Scoop out the flesh and seeds using a large metal spoon or ice cream scoop. Draw your design onto the outside of your pumpkin using a soft, water soluble marker. Then carefully carve your masterpiece.

Tips: Use a short, sharp knife Always cut away from yourself Start in the middle of your design, working outwards Gently push cut out shapes into the pumpkin If you cut a bit by mistake, pin it back in place with a cocktail stick Alternatively, if you grow your own pumpkins, you can try carving pictures or words while they are growing. Using a blunt instrument, perhaps an old pen, press firmly into the skin and draw out your design, making sure you break the skin evenly. Wipe the pumpkin with a soft cloth for a couple of days, until the broken skin begins to dry. This kind of carving, or inscribing, isn't intended for lanterns, but makes a fantastic bowl to serve your soup in.

You can of course carve any squash (and roast or make soup from the flesh.) I left buying a pumpkin too late one year and ended up with cute little butternut squash lanterns instead. If you choose butternut squash, be warned: the flesh is much harder and difficult to carve, it's not a job to do with the kids.

Heartmade Gifts When you have finished using your lantern, it can still be useful … just put it on the compost heap!

Meanwhile, you can use every part of the pumpkin, another reason to love it so much. To use the seeds, try roasting them for a very simple but very tasty treat.

Recipe: Wash and dry your pumpkin seeds.

Toss in a little oil of your choice and salt Recipe: Wash and dry your pumpkin seeds.

Toss in a little oil of your choice and salt Add spices, if you wish Spread in a thin layer on a baking tray Roast in a fairly hot oven for about 30 minutes Toss the seeds often as they cook Remove from oven when golden brown and allow to cool If you can resist eating them, the seeds are wonderful in all kinds of crafting projects. Leave them to air dry on a windowsill for a few days then use them as they are or paint them, or maybe cover them in glitter. They make great beads or scrapbook decorations. Pumpkin crafting is one of my favourite things to do as the evenings draw in, in preparation for our traditional Halloween party.

Two Quick Ideas: Pumpkin Candle Jar – wrap an empty jar in green tissue or celophane and add a layer of orange on top, with a face or other shape (or a word, perhaps) either painted or drawn on, or cut out.

Pumpkin Strings – string your dried pumpkin seeds (you can paint them if you like) onto thread with a needle and use to decorate your house at Halloween (or your tree at Christmas), or to make a bracelet or necklace. Or (if you can get enough seeds) a curtain for an inner doorway or window, a seeded curtain rather than a beaded curtain!

This article was written by Dianne from Heartmade Gifts Join Heartmade Gifts on Facebook www.heartmadegifts.wordpress.com

Guide to starting knitting Part 7 Cables Cabling requires a double-pointed needle to hold the first stitches out of the way until they are needed. The cable needle should be about the same size or smaller than the working needles, not larger.

Cables can differ in the number of stitches used, the number of rows and the direction that the cables cross over from. Cables can give such good effects though and make knitting 3 dimensional.

Cables are normally worked in stocking stitch on a background of reverse stocking stitch.

Next I will give you some directions on how to make a front cross cable over 4 stitches which will make a left twist cable and how to create a back cross cable over 4 stitches.

There are lots of different variations and that is some of the fun of cables.

Making a front cross cable over 4 stitches (C4F) This will make a left twist cable.

1. Working in stocking stitch on a ground of reverse stocking stitch, place the first 2 stitches on a cable needle and leave them at the front of the knitting 2. Knit the next 2 stitches from the left hand needle 3. Knit the 2 stitches from the cable needle, knitting them in the same order as they came off the needle Making a back cross cable over 4 stitches (C4B) This will make a right twist cable.

1. Place the first 2 stitches on a cable needle and leave them at the back of the knitting 2. Knit the next 2 stitches from the left hand needle, followed by the 2 stitches on the cable needle in the same way as before.

Written by Peggy’s Knits http://www.folksy.com/shops/crawlin

Dyeing the Fluffosity Way! Yarn comes from a variety of sources, not just sheep, such as llama, alpaca, goat, rabbit and man made fibres. Each source is different ­ merino feels very different from Blue Faced Leicester, even though they are both sheep!

Fleece comes in a wide variety of colours too ranging from white through browns and greys to black and quite often this fleece is cleaned, combed and dyed before selling. Dyeing fibre or yarn is a fun process and can be quite cheap to do. I'm going to use yarn as an example but the method can be used on fibre too.

Prepare your dyes - there are an amazing array of products you can use for dyeing; acid dyes are quite common, but a lot of people use natural products to dye - berries, nettles, onion skins, nuts, grasses; it's all about experimentation!

Kool-aid (an American drink comes in powdered form which you mix with water) is also very popular for first­time dyers.

Application can be done in a few ways: you can paint your yarn; literally get a paintbrush and paint the colours onto the yarn. 'Kettle Dyeing' you immerse your yarn in the dye solution and leave over heat until the dye sets or the squirty bottle method - get some sauce bottles, put your dye in there and squirt your yarn.

I use acid dyes and the squirty bottle method, so I shall tell you that one.

First off: any products used with acid dyes MUST NOT be then used for any items which will be consumed.

DO NOT rinse out your sauce bottles and put sauce in them DO NOT clean your steamer and then cook food in it.

Acid dye is toxic and can be very nasty if ingested! Ideally, you should wear a face mask while preparing the dye too.

To prepare your dye, boil the kettle and allow it to cool a bit. In an old (clean) jar, put up to a teaspoon of dye (the amount of dye will affect the depth and shade of colour), add a bit of the hot water and mix to dissolve all the dye.

Fill your jar up with the rest of the hot water and a good of amount white vinegar (a couple of tablespoons worth will do).

Give it a good stir and leave it to cool down. You want it cool enough so that when it's in your plastic sauce bottle; it won't burn your fingers!

Now, soak your yarn in some warm water while you prepare your dyeing space.

Lay out a strip of clingfilm ­ this will be used to place the wet yarn on while you dye - you may want to put newspaper underneath, just in case!

Your strip of clingfilm needs to be quite long as you will roll it along the skein - I usually use 3-4 feet!

Squeeze the excess water from your skein of yarn (don't wring it, you don't want to felt it) and lay the skein down on the clingfilm. Spread the strands of yarn out a bit so the skein is quite flat.

Put your dye in your squeezy bottle and squirt it on the yarn. You may need to gently massage the yarn to get the dye to 'take hold', but don't be too vigorous or you'll felt your skein. Turn the skein over and check that the dye has penetrated all the way through, if not squirt that side too!

Now, move the skein to the edge of the clingfilm and roll it ­ sausage­like ­ in the clingfilm. Fold one edge over and now roll the skein over and over down it's length (did you ever eat jam roly-poly as a kid? Like that!) - this bit gets messy as excess dye and water will squirt out the other end as you roll it up; I tend to move to the sink at this point!

Once it's all rolled up you can either microwave or steam set t he dye.

Microwave is good for one skein, a steamer is good for multiple skeins ­ I find I can get two rolled up skeins per shelf on my steamer and it has three shelves so that's six skeins per dyeing session.

Microwave Set If you wish to MICROWAVE SET you need a bowl to microwave it in (remember the bowl will be unusable for food if you used acid dyes). Place your rolled up skein in the bowl, put it in the microwave and heat on full power for 2 or 3 minutes. When it DINGs, open the door and wait 2 or 3 minutes.

While wearing gloves - it'll be HOT - turn the skein over in the bowl and put it back in the microwave for another 2 or 3 minutes.

Take the bowl out of the microwave - protect your hands, this will all be very very hot! Put the skein in the sink or somewhere safe to cool - unroll the length of the skein, it's not necessary to remove the cling film yet.

Steam Set To STEAM SET, place your rolled up skein in the steamer (again, if using acid dyes; your steamer will be unusable for food). Turn your steamer on and go and do something else for a half hour or an hour. If you're good; you'll vacuum or something.

If you're me, you'll sit down with a cuppa!

Once it's steamed for a while, turn your steamer off and upend the skein into the sink or somewhere safe so it can cool down, unroll the length but don't remove from the clingfilm yet.

Wait for the yarn to cool down!

This can be anything upward of half an hour!

Then move onto rinsing.

I prepare several buckets with hot tap water (hot from the tap, not kettle hot). In all but the last bucket; I add salt to help set the dye and stop colour bleed.

Unwrap your first skein from the clingfilm (dispose of clingfilm safely) and give it a squeeze to get any excess out. Dump it in your first bucket. Now wait a few minutes or unwrap another skein. Work a production line; move your first skein into the next bucket and place another skein in the first bucket/ dispose of first bucket.

Rinse each skein for a couple of minutes in a bucket, give it a squeeze before dumping it in the next bucket. Rinse in the non salted bucket last. I use a sink and two or three buckets of salted water and one bucket of non salted water to rinse.

I don't change the rinse water in the buckets unless one of the skeins REALLY bleeds colour!

Now, give your skein a really good squeeze and go and hang it on the line to dry!

If you want an idea of what your new yarn will look like knitted up, leave it until it’s dry then re-skein it or wind it into a ball.

Get knitting/ crocheting and show off your work to anyone who will stay still long enough!

Different yarns will take colour in different ways. The photos I have shown you here are all with SuperWash Blue Faced Leicester 4 ply sock yarn.

I also dyed some laceweight 2 ply yarn at the same time, using the same dye lots and steamed it for the same amount of time and look at the difference in the yarn!

The skein on the left is 70% Baby Alpaca, 20% Silk and 10% Cashmere (it’s so soft!).

The skein on the right is 80% Extra Fine Merino and 20% Silk. They are both laceweight, both 100g and 1200m in length, but they look different!

Written By Fluffosity http://www.folksy.com/shops/fluffosity

This Months...

It is that time of year again! Halloween. The lovely Lipstattoo is organising a giveaway on her blog.

This will contain items from crafter's of all areas and then they will be given away on Halloween.

Her website is http://lipstattoo.horror-extreme.com Lipstattoo has a great shop on etsy. Take a look for any of your Halloween items you may need http://www.etsy.com/shop/lipstattoo Lipstattoo is also known for selling these bracelets which were inspired by the film “The Human Centepe”

So please all check out the blog and enter your details for a chance to win some of the great Halloween items that will be up for grabs!

There are a lot of great crafter’s entering some items for you all to win!

This Months...

Victorian Vampire Bustle Dress Red Threaded £638.03

Get ready for Halloween! Red Threaded specialises in high quality costumes, dresses, gowns, and menswear with an historical bent, having experience in many areas of theatrical costuming, costume recreation, tailoring, and dressmaking. Red Threaded would be happy to take on your custom order! http://www.etsy.com/shop/redthreaded?ref=seller_info

Man of the Month

http://media.photobucket.com/image/antonio%20banderas /oovenka/antonio_banderas_01.jpg?o=163l

The Crystal Lady has chosen Antonio Banderas 10

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Sprinkles Sparkles has chosen Billie Joe Armstrong from Green Day.

http://community.livejournal.com/ohnotheydidnt/27175624.html? thread=3427864264

Peggy’s Knits has chosen Gerard Way from My Chemical Romance.

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Tuna Pasta Bake INGREDIENTS

8 oz pasta 2 small tins of tuna Cup full of peas 1 oz cheese Rice crispies 3 tsp parsley SAUCE

1 oz flour ½ pint milk 1 oz margarine 1 tsp mustard

This recipe was provided by Sarah from Sarah’s Fleeces http://www.sarahsfleeces.co.uk

INSTRUCTIONS 1. Bring some water to the boil in a saucepan, enough to well cover the pasta.

2. Once the water is boiling add the pasta and stir well for a couple of minutes to make sure the pasta doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pan.

3. Simmer the pasta for about 12 minutes or until tender.

4. Once the pasta has been simmering for about 7 minutes add the peas.

To make the sauce: 5. In another saucepan melt the margarine and honey together.

6. Then stir in the flour well.

7. Cook this mix for 1 min over a low heat and then take it off the heat.

8. Add about a tablespoon of milk and the mustard and mix it well.

9. Keep adding little amounts of milk and stirring it in well until about half the milk is used, then add the rest of the milk and the parsley and stir it well.

10. Now put it back over a low heat and heat it well, stirring almost constantly otherwise it will stick to the bottom, go thick and burn.

11. Keep heating and stirring until the mix begins to thicken up. Its stays thin for quite a while and often suddenly goes thick so you need to watch it carefully.

12. Once you have your sauce you can combine it with the pasta, peas and then mix in the tuna.

13. Finally add this all to a greased dish, sprinkle some rice crispies over the top of it all. Now grate some cheese on and pop it in the oven, 200 degrees for 20 mins or until the cheese has begun to turn brown.

The beauty of this recipe is that it is SO flexible. You can remove the mustard and honey if you’re not keen on it. You can swap the tuna for corned beef, sausages, ham or spam. You can swap the rice crispies for croutons, corn flakes or bread crumbs. If you don’t want the white sauce you can swap it and the peas for baked beans. Once you’ve mastered the white sauce you can use it for all sorts of other recipes and can add cheese, garlic or onion to it too – all sorts!

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If you have a favourite recipe that you would like to share, please send it to: thecrystallady@creative-crafting.com

Recycling Recycling is good for the environment and saves money and means the item has a story that comes with it. I love to reuse things to make something new. The things you recycle have a past and a story from the life they had before.

A bear made from recycled fabrics could be made from a treasured dress that someone has grown out of or from old curtains that hung for a long time in a room you remember. Instead of throwing them away, you get to keep a little piece of that item and it lives on in a new item.

I love the idea of making the most of something before throwing it away and so many things can be reused. I often make items from fabric which was once something else. I am such a hoarder, so this does definitely help. I have a huge basket full of old fabrics that would have been thrown out and every time I go to make something, I have a rummage through and see if I can find something to suit the project.

I have recently made a lot of items from my stash, from bears, to a bag, some bunting, lots of little birds and I am sometimes to be found making new clothes from old. It is amazing what you can do with a little creativity.

It is not just fabric that you can recycle, there are so many things that normally get thrown away that can be reused. At this time of year I start to make some jams and chutneys from the fruit and vegetables I collect and pick. So all year round I keep suitable jars and use these rather than buying new ones.

I also collect things when beach combing, and use these in my jewellery, things that could have travelled further than I have. Pieces of sea washed glass are often beautiful. I also find plastics, which not only clears them from the beach and stops animals ingesting them, but adds another diminution and colour to the piece of jewellery. I find it really interesting to think about where the plastic could have come from and where it could have travelled (and if it had eyes, what it would have seen!).

I am always on the lookout for something that may come in handy later that would otherwise be thrown away. So it proves that hoarding isn’t always a bad thing. When I am making something new I can have a search through all the things I have collected and find something just right for what I am doing.

So what should you keep? I keep lots of different fabrics and old clothes, I cut off buttons and zips from things that cannot be rescued. I keep old jars, pieces of coloured plastics, ribbons from clothes and pressies. All these things can come in handy and saves you buying new ones.

I just love the idea that it saves me money and lets me hoard as much as I like. It’s a great excuse!

Written by Surf Jewels - Handmade Ethical Jewellery http://surfjewels.000space.com

CREATIVE CRAFTING

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If you have missed any of our issues you can find them to read on our website www.creative-crafting.com

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And also on our Social Network Creative Connections. www.creative-connections.ning.com

AUTUMN / HALLOWEEN 2010

CREATIVE CRAFTING

Issue 7

AUGUST/SUMMER 2010

CREATIVE CRAFTING

By Crafters for Crafters

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1st December 2010

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Issue no. 1 Autumn 2009

Valentines/Mothers Day 2010 Issue 3

By Crafters for Crafters

Don’t forget!

Happy Halloween

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To advertise in Creative Crafting or to submit an article please contact Anna at thecrystallady@creative-crafting.com

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