Creative Crafting June 2013 by Creative Crafting

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CREATIVE

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Do you write a blog? Would you like more followers? How about taking part in the first Creative Crafting Blog Tour? This Summer we will be boarding our Crafty Bus and taking our readers on a magical mystery tour of everything creative!

A bus tour needs stops! And we don’t just have bus stops, we have BLOG STOPS! Join us as a stop for this event and lay on something special for your guests when they arrive. You will know which day we are all coming so don’t worry we won’t turn up and catch you in your pj’s! If you are super keen you can even schedule your post ready to welcome everyone without you even having to be there. It is up to you what you do, ● A giveaway ● A competition ● A project ● An interesting feature ● A funny story Don’t forget that the more interesting your item is, the more likely the visitors are to return to your blog over and over again. So have a think and look out for more information on how to grab your

THE TEAM Editor and Ad Sales - Anna (The Crystal Lady) thecrystallady@creative-crafting.com

CREATIVE

Technical Editor - Avril (Sprinkles Sparkles) sprinks@creative-crafting.com Proof Reading- Huw (WowThankYou)

FEATURE WRITERS Tina - In the Garden Tracey - Wowthankyou Claire - Elderberry Arts Sally - The Bead Bounty Gill - Personal Space Interiors Katie - Oldskoolretro Kitsch Boutique Tina - Shinyies

Welcome to another June issue of Creative Crafting! It doesn’t really feel much like June does it? What is happening with this weather? So, it’s not very warm, raining a fair bit and that does give us more time to be indoors crafting. So here we are again with lots of projects for you to make and interesting articles to read with your feet up and hands wrapped round a nice warm drink. Exciting things are afoot at Creative Crafting HQ so make sure you keep your eyes peeled on our networking pages so that you don’t miss out.

Jane - Jane Cameron Carrie - Streutertech Leanne - Smallsurprisesboutique

Those amongst you that blog, we hope you will join us for our Blog Tours, they should be lots of fun and we are really looking forward to them.

Samantha - OKCreations Janice - Jangil Designs Doug Miles

Don’t forget that you too can be published in one of our issues so get in touch and see how we can help you to promote yourself. Well, enough from us. We will let you turn the pages and enjoy this Father’s Day issue. The Creative Crafting Team Purchase a printed copy of Creative Crafting from our site www.creative-crafting.com/buy_your-copy.html

Don’t forget to grab our mobile apps! www.creative-crafting.com www.creative-connections.ning.com

AvAnna

Publications

Raising the profile of the crafting community Your Creative Team

Anna - Editor Avril - Technical Editor 3

Visit our site using your mobile QR APP!

Get in touch! We always love to hear of your crafting experiences and read your feedback for Creative Crafting. Email us at: articles@creative-crafting.com

CREATIVE 6

Get it hot and hit it! Creative Crafting review a local Blacksmithing Course.

An Interview with … Chris Parry Discover the man behind the beautiful silver jewellery.

12 Millie-Mae and Mummy makes… A plaque for Grandad’s Pond This issue Millie-Mae makes a fabulous Fathers Day gift for Grandad.

15 The Honesty Shop – A concept in trust The first of our review articles. Would you like us to review your products or services?

16 Make a Marbled Tie (On Shaving Foam)

A fantastic Fathers Day gift idea from Jane Cameron.

All Buttoned Up Our favourite lamp work artist Sally tells us about her new obsession.

20 Create a photo mosaic coaster

A fascinating project by Carrie from Streutertech.

23 Kitchen Capers with Gill – Something outta nothing. A fabulous feast for free! Gill has more of her wonderful recipes for us.

25 As Seen by Creative Crafting

This issue we look at an item from Designs by JoJo

26 Tina in the Garden

Tina is back with us for more garden fun.

30 Meet Mick Brown – Artist Find out more about Mick and his skill at tutoring local people.

32 The Craft Box â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Make a notebook cover

Tina from Shinyies is back with another crafty make.

Little Crafters

35 Our newest feature showcasing the work of the next generation of crafters.

36 Competitions from both sides of the fence Tracey from WowThankYou tells us about the hobby of competition entry.

38 Gluten and Dairy free chocolate Cheesecake

So many of us are having to go wheat free these days. Great recipes from Claire from Elderberry Arts. Make a Fathers Day memo board with Katie from Oldskoolretro Kitsch Boutique.

42 Helpful hints with Jane 44

Jane Cameron tells us more about Tax and Tax Returns Crafting on a Budget The next instalment with Leanne from Small Surprises Boutique.

46 Kit or Miss â&#x20AC;&#x201C; We try before you buy

Janice from Jangill Designs tests out craft kits.

48 Create labradorite Cufflinks Another Fathers Day gift idea with Samantha from One of a Kind Creations.

16 20

46 5

GET IT

AND HIT IT!

I had already arranged a day off from work and found myself getting out of bed with a spring in my step because today would be the first day of a three day Blacksmithing course.

I admit that the primary reason for me going on a three Day Introduction to Blacksmithing Course is so I can write this review, but that doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy it! While it would be fair to say I am looking forward to the course, I still have some concerns; Will I be able to make something useful? What if I don’t like it, the review could be a tough one to write, then! So, taking my sandwiches, Westpoint Forge Premises, just outside Exeter coffee and brand new leather apron, I head off to Westpoint Forge, just on the A3052 outside Exeter, to find out. I arrived at the specially fitted Westpoint Forge just before 9am on a cold February morning. Not knowing exactly what to expect, I walked into the warehouse style building to discover a room filled with blacksmithing tools, hammers, tongues and row of hearths with anvils. Around the building were tables covered with various demonstration pieces. This place was clearly serious about what it did, it was a workshop and it would be my classroom for the next three days. Introductions are completed and the relevant Health and Safety warnings are issued, then we got down to business. There are seven of us and John, the teacher. John is descriptive and instructive, but there is no teacher that can replace practical experience, so before long we get busy actually making something. Our skillful and experienced teacher describes a basic principal of Blacksmithing, drawing down, the art of hammering out a solid to a point. We use this new skill on our first piece, to make a spiked end for our beer glass holder. After we have all tackled this, the lesson continues with John demonstrating how to form a scroll end, a circle and a 90 degree bend. We all head back to our hearths and try to replicate what we have been shown. The day continues in this format, instruction and demonstration followed by practical and we proceed to make our own versions of a toasting fork and a picture hook. John is always on hand to guide us with as much (or as little) help as we ask for. By the end of Day One I am tired, but quite surprised that I have been able to create three pieces of work to an acceptable standard. I have learnt drawing down, hot cutting, forming a twist and punching a hole. Above all, I am relieved that I was able to make something and I liked doing it. On my way home I realise I can’t wait to come back tomorrow. 6

Day Two starts colder than the first, but that won’t worry us. Working a few feet from a hot hearth takes the chill off! Our project for the following two days will be a hanging basket bracket, this will be a much more complex task and will teach us more skills, such as ‘Jumping Up’ or ‘Upsetting’, ‘Tenon Joints’, ‘Riveting’ and my favourite, ‘Leaf Making’. The bracket comprises a ‘Flat back’, a ‘Support Bar’, with ‘Hook End’, a ‘Curved Brace’ and a ‘Collar’. This is an excellent way to experience many of the skills required to make a wide range of ironwork. The work is hard and a key point I learnt today was that I had to hit the metal much harder, while still being accurate. It is much easier to get it right the first time than to have to correct a mistake that is made due to rushing. My mistake (lesson), today was the one about not allowing beautifully curled thin ends of a Fleur-de-Lis to get too hot in the fire and burn off! By the end of the third day we have all made the component parts for our brackets, mine includes a fish-tail scroll and a decorative leaf.

Now John shows us the final step, shaping and fitting a collar. This (along with the tenon joint and the rivet) pulls the disparate metal shapes into one completed piece and with it I suddenly feel an overwhelming sense of achievement. We are all comparing work as we have throughout the course, picking up pointers from each other and wishing our work was as good as the next persons.

My back bracket and support bar, before assembly 7

The truth is, we have all learned a lot. I am intensely proud of the skills this course has taught me and I think the other students are too. I am aware that there is much more to it and that my paltry four items are just the tip of the iceberg, however this course has not just given me some new skills, it has provided me with a new ambition. I want to keep doing this, I want to embrace the idea that almost any bit of scrap metal can be re-worked into something useful, I want to create using metal. I am already planning a small hearth in my back garden, I won’t be spending a lot of money on it, I hope I can get it working for nearly no financial outlay, this will give me a chance to practice and hopefully improve the techniques I have been shown. Perhaps one day I will move up to a bigger hearth and may even make some money doing this?

“…Blacksmithing is not just get it hot and hit it…” FROM LEFT TO RIGHT:

I can wholeheartedly Barry, Steve, Sue, Anthony, John, recommend this course to Andrew and Chris anyone who has an interest in working with metal. If you choose this, or one of the many courses offered by the Blacksmiths Guild, you will definitely learn something that you can use, but there’s more to it than that. Maybe you will find a new joy in your life, maybe you will open your eyes to a craft that has played a part in the formation of our culture, because Blacksmithing is not just “get it hot and hit it”, it is a way of thinking. Planning, designing, accuracy, skill and experience, but above all enjoyment, are the core components that make any craft. I am determined now to make blacksmithing part of my life and in that way, this course has changed my life and maybe the lives of the other students too. Article written and created by Doug Miles Go on, give it a try.

For Creative Crafting Magazine 8

If you feel like having a go at this, why not visit www.blacksmitsguild.com You will find course availability and prices with a brief guide to what each course entails.

Creative

meets the man behind the silver!

My name is Chris Parry and I am a hubby, father and bespoke jeweller. I changed career when I was 30 and have been making bespoke pieces of jewellery for the last 13 years. When did you begin and why? I fell into my first job, and kept getting promoted. Ten years later at the age of 30, I was good at what I was doing. Well paid for it, but bored to death and didn’t want to carry on in that sector. So I resigned, sold my car and used my savings to put myself through a degree in silversmithing and jewellery design. Whilst at university, you start to look at a way to make a living from the craft. The Internet back in 1999 was very fresh and I happened upon a website www.inspirals.co.uk and thought that I needed my own website to sell my jewellery. I couldn’t afford to employ a website designer, so I bought three books. I read them on the train whilst I commuted to university, and taught myself website design. In 2000, I had my first sale to a guy in Northampton. I started on a homemade jewellers bench in my basement with the spiders. I have since opened two small shops and I just bought my own workshop/shop in the village of South Darenth, Kent. What is it that you enjoy about your work? I don’t work. It doesn’t feel like work at all. I go to my workshop and make things for people, the day fly’s by and suddenly it’s time to go home.

The best way to describe what I do is this :

www.chris-parry.co.uk

“For no other…” 9

What is your biggest achievement? I don’t measure success by the big commissions, the value, the corporate order or the celebrity. I measure success by the small things. I got a stunning e-mail form a woman in USA thanking me for making the simplest of rings for her partner 5 years ago. They are still so pleased with them that she felt inclined to drop me an e-mail all these years later. Another lady from Australia lost her brother in a car crash and wanted a ring making with his signature inside. Making commissions like that and hearing what that object means to them is better than any award or big boy order. Other than crafting, what do you enjoy? The small things. Like the ten minute walk to school holding my daughters hand or having a latte with my wife in peace and quiet or telling my 17 year old boy “I love him” in front of his mates. Opening a pack of bourbon biscuits and laughing out loud, that will make sense later. If you had to choose your favourite from your creations? I am approached by parents who have lost a child. Either in birth or later years. Also by clients who have lost a sibling or a parent. Making something with a hand print, fingerprint or their hand writing is exceptionally rewarding. I can’t pick a favourite, as each story is deeply moving. I suppose the most memorable was the first time, when I made a footprint piece for a lovely lady to remember Frankie. What advice would you offer someone starting out? Don’t chase galleries and shops to sell your wares. Ten years ago, the only way to make a crafting living was to provide multiple retails outlets. Now, with the Internet you can sell as easily to Alaska as you can to Cornwall. It doesn’t suit all crafts as some sell easier online than others. You should however have at least a WowThankYou and Etsy shop, a personal website and a Facebook business page. The Internet has changed how we shop and your location is not a barrier to success. If you could change one thing about what you do what would it be? Facebook is the nightmare. People see a picture and just put in the comment box “OMG that is lovely how much please.” You answer their question, then the next person puts the same question. A lot of my comment threads on facebook, are from people asking the same question. Ahhhhhhhhh.

What has helped your business the most? Without doubt the Internet. Within that context, my own website www.chris-parry.co.uk Within the last year, my Facebook page. www.Facebook.com/Chris.Parry.Jewellery

Has any person helped you more than any other? More than any person, my supportive and beautiful wife, without whom none of what I have achieved would be possible. She has been the rock. I also have another wonderful woman in my life. Eva approached me five years ago for a job. She had done a night school course and was hooked. She has now worked for me for five years and is my right hand girl. She is very skilled and I wouldn’t swap her for all the tea in China. Tell us a random fact about yourself. When people ask me at a party what I do for a living, I tell them “I’m a biscuit designer, you know the bourbon, that’s one of mine and also the ginger snap.” It amuses me that hundreds of people have told their friends that they met the guy who designed the bourbon.

Congratulations Chris!

South Darenth, Kent

Written By WowThankYou

Millie-Mae

& Mummy Makes â&#x20AC;Ś

Wood (for plaque and stake) Wooden letters Paints (various colours) Lots of brushes PVA glue Clear varnish Decoration (stickers and stick on figures)

Step 1. Because our piece of wood wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t 100% suitable for living outdoors, we started by painting it all over (twice) with some white ceiling paint.

Step 2. Once totally dry, paint the plaque with your chosen background colours â&#x20AC;&#x201C; we chose mainly yellow with a blue section at the bottom (the pond).

Step 3. While the plaque is drying, carefully paint the wooden letters. Leave to dry, then repeat.

Step 4. Once totally dry, use the PVA glue to stick the letters onto the plaque.

Step 5. While the letters are drying, carefully add your decorations (stickers, etc.) Leave overnight to dry.

Step 6. Attach the stake at the back (drill a hole, and use screws), paint it white all over. Leave to dry.As this is for outdoor use, once all the decorations have dried, we gave the plaque two coats of clear varnish.

Step 7. Leave a good 24-48 hours for the varnish to set hard, then wrap it up and present as a gift to granddad, who promptly put it in place behind his garden fishpond!

Millie-Mae (6) is the daughter of Tracey Kifford, founder and owner of the online marketplace WowThankYou. www.wowthankyou.co.uk

The Honesty Shop, a concept in Trust TheHonestyShop.com is a unique High Street / Online Retailer for British Crafts and Handmade Gifts. Unique, because we focus and promote a responsible retailing by donating 10 % of the profit from every purchase to a charity of customers choice. An electronic â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Thank you Certificateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; is provided from a selected Charity and a Customer can either print it or request a hard copy in the post. Housed in a classic double-decker bus is the world's first honesty shop in a city, where you can find a wide selection of British handmade crafts and gifts. We trust our customers to self administer their payments in Honesty Envelopes posted in our red GPO box on the bus (there is a 'Bus Conductor' in an office on the top deck if needed). This gives The Honesty Shop an unusual and controversial high street presence that creates both visibility and publicity.

Our online store www.thehonestyshop.com continues to build a brand name to do with 'trust'. We only choose carefully selected quality products that are responsibly produced in the UK. This innovative approach to honesty, trust and charity in the retail environment has been picked up by both Mary Portas and GFK the international industry analysts, both of whom have praised The Honesty Shop's initiative. GFK's Edith Hornick concluded her article with "I think it would be wise for companies in all sectors to consider taking a leaf from The Honesty Shop's book in 2013". For a full range of gifts please visit our online shop at TheHonestyShop.com or visit The Honesty Shop Bus - Trusty at Merton Abbey Mills, Wimbledon London SW19 2RD If you are interested in showcasing your work with The Honesty Shop please email info@thehonestyshop.com or call +44 (0) 207 622 2332

Written by Jane from Jane Cameron

(on shaving foam!) You will need â&#x20AC;Ś 1 plain white silk tie Iron fix silk paint in your choice of colours Pipettes or droppers 1 can economy shaving foam 1 bin bag Cocktail sticks / kebab sticks / marbling comb A plastic ruler or similar An old credit card

Step 1. Cut your bin bag down the sides and open it up so you have one long piece of plastic. This should be as long as your tie. Tape it to the table.

Step 2. Spray the shaving foam on to the plastic in about the same shape as your tie. Smooth it down with the ruler so itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nice and flat.

Step 3. Use the pipette to drop the paint on to the shaving foam

Use the cocktail sticks or marbling comb to make patterns in your shaving foam. Try drawing stripes or spirals in the foam. Step 4. Lay your tie face down on top of the foam and pat it down. Leave it for half a minute so the paint can soak into your tie.

Step 5. Peel the tie off the foam quickly, starting at one end â&#x20AC;&#x201C; most of the foam should stay on the binbag.

Step 6. Put your tie face up on the bin bag and scrape off the excess shaving foam with the credit card. Then repeat the process for the back of the tie.

Leave your tie to dry naturally. Iron your silk (as per instructions on the bottle) to fix the paint into the silk, then gently hand wash to remove any shaving foam residue. Iron while damp to ensure a nice smooth finish. Your item can also be dry-cleaned. Why not do a matching handkerchief, or a piece of fabric to cover a notebook? To find stockists, and more about the fabulous art of silk painting, visit Jane Cameron at www.janecameron.co.uk and the Guild of Silk Painters at www.silkpainters-guild.co.uk.

New Membership Options! Standard and Premium Professional Crafter memberships

Standard and Premium Supplier memberships Visit our website for more details and join hundreds of crafters and suppliers who have helped us to make the PCG what it is today! www.procraftersguild.com

Professional Crafters Guild 18

PCG

s a Lamp work bead artist, I like to keep my product innovative and fresh and was recently giving a lot of thought to new designs and products.

I was chatting with ‘Creative Crafting’ editor Anna one day and she suggested ‘Buttons’. I wasn’t sure at first because there was more to them than just using a mandrel (the metal rod you use to wind beads). This was going to take some thinking about. Well, I did think about it and after only a couple of attempts came up with the best way of doing them. Who would have guessed that Glass Bead making would lead me into the wonderful world of Buttons? I never would have, not in a million years, but now, glass buttons have me hooked. Oh, was I excited! These buttons were going to be one off original works of wearable art that would finish off the best of handcrafted projects. I started with some simple domed buttons with raised flower patterns. I did these in pairs and although they were similar, they were in fact quite different from each other.

I then moved on to multi-layered buttons, some with encased flowers and some with raised flower design. Delving further still, I made some open petal flowers, making the flower itself the button. Last but not least and these have me, hook, line and sinker, I started to make ‘Fish’. Fun and Funky Fish buttons, with a character all of their own. Each one has a name and the quirkiest face you have ever seen. So I will continue on my quest to come up with interesting and varied button designs to delight my customers with and hope you have enjoyed seeing some of them too. We know that there are many, many button lovers out there. Why not pop along to see Sally, she can create something ‘Especially for you!’ 19

Written by Carrie from Streutertech www.streuter.com

Looking for a quick gift idea for Father's Day? What dad doesn't love receiving homemade gifts from their children? Here's a great project that's both quick and easy, finishing in 1 to 2 hours, depending upon your style.

Materials: Photograph or artwork 4" coaster tile 2" x 2" clear glass Package of 3/8" tiles (1/2" or 1" tiles will work, as well) No Days Mosaic Adhesive film Scissors or razor Standard heat gun or embossing heat tool Long pair of tweezers (or other heat proof tool) Black sanded grout Latex gloves Dust mask Container for mixing water and grout Cork backing HoneyDoo Powerbond Glue

Step 1. To create a custom photo coaster, the first thing you need is a photograph cut to 2" x 2". (You can also use a piece of artwork, just re-size it to 2" x 2".)

Step 2. Cut the No Days Mosaic Adhesive to fit the coaster surface and another piece that is slightly larger than the photo. Find the center of the coaster and place the photo between the two pieces of No Days Mosaic Adhesive. Put the glass over the top of the photo and adhesive. So, now you've got the coaster substrate in front of you with a layer of No Days Mosaic Adhesive film on it. On top of that, you've got your photograph in the center of the coaster with a piece of No Days Mosaic Adhesive that covers it. Then, you place the clear glass on top of that. So this is what you've got so far.

Step 3. Now, you'll need to fill in all the empty space. Cover the coaster with the rest of the tiles, remembering to leave little gaps (1/16" to 1/8") for the grout lines. It's not important that your lines are straight. In fact, it adds a bit of interest if they're not that straight! Also, you don't need to worry that all the tiles are in the exact spot they're supposed to be, as you can move them into position while you're heating.

Step 4. After you've covered your coaster, it's time to heat set the tiles in place with a standard heat gun or embossing heat tool. Begin by holding the heat gun about 6"-8" above your coaster and turn it on low. As the tiles begin to heat, you can begin to move the heat gun closer. You don't want to start too close, though, or else you'll end up blowing the tiles off the substrate with the force of the hot air! As the adhesive heats up, you will see it start to turn glossy and liquefy. You need to make sure to heat the tiles enough so that the adhesive underneath them also liquefies.

Step 5. Using a pair of long tweezers or other heat proof tool, push gently on the tiles to see if they move. If the tiles skid or stick, then the adhesive under them is not fully heated. If the tiles glide as you push on them, they have heated the adhesive underneath. When the tiles are heated thoroughly, you can easily move the tiles around and position them into place. While heating, you'll need to press down on the clear glass in the middle of the coaster to push out any air bubbles that get trapped under the glass and on top of the photo.

Step 6. After the tiles have cooled down (5-7 minutes), you're ready to grout. Before beginning to grout, check that all the tiles are fully adhered. The tiles along the edges of the coaster will be the ones that may not have been heated enough. If you push and pull on them and they pop off, you need to heat longer. If you begin grouting and still have pieces that pop off, clean the area free of grout, place another small piece of adhesive under it and re-heat the tile to activate the adhesive. Wearing a dust mask, mix a small amount of black sanded grout (a handful) in a cup with just a bit of water (maybe a teaspoon). Stir the grout around with your fingers until it is thoroughly mixed and about the consistency of peanut butter. Spread the grout on top of your coaster, rubbing the grout across the tiles to force the grout down into the gaps. Don't try to push the grout into the gaps vertically, it won't pack it in there tightly. After you've got the grout in all of the spaces, stain the edges and underside of the coaster by rubbing the grout against them. (Alternatively, you can paint the edges and back after you're finished with the coaster.)

Step 7. After you've finished grouting, wait about 10 minutes for the grout to become hazy on top of the tiles. Then, you can polish the tiles lightly with a paper towel. You can call the coaster finished now, or you can add some rubber pads to the bottom to protect surfaces that the coaster will lay on. Otherwise, you can continue with the instructions below to attach a cork backing. The HoneyDoo Powerbond will take a bit longer to cure, but the end result looks very professional.

Step 8. While waiting for the grout to set up, cut the cork backing (you can find this at craft stores) by cutting it slightly smaller than your coaster (3-7/8"). After polishing your coaster, flip it over to the back side. Smear the HoneyDoo Powerbond glue in a thin layer around the entire surface of the cork backing, BUT stay at least 1/4" from the edges. While the glue is drying, it will expand slightly and fill in the gap.

Step 9. After gluing, flip the coaster over to press the cork backing flat and let the glue dry (2-3 hours). You may want to add a grout sealer to protect the grout, and prevent the black edges from smudging. Now, you've got a gift that dad can take to work with him to remind him of the littles while he's away!

KITCHEN CAPERS

In the interests of scrimping (and making sure nothing lurks in the fridge, freezer or store cupboard for too long) I like to have a good kitchen clear out every couple of months. It saves money, gives me the opportunity to clean without having to rearrange the entire kitchen and allows my inventive side to come to the fore. That despondent cry “There’s nothing to eat!” just isn’t allowed in my house. There’s something; it just takes a little time and imagination…

with Gill

An Indian Feast; perfect for a Saturday night in My Indian feast was made entirely from the store cupboard, plus a few everyday essential ingredients like potatoes, onions, eggs and butter. This is a vegetarian meal; you could add prawns or chicken to the main curry dish for meat eaters, or remove the eggs and butter/ghee to make the meal suitable for vegans. Serves 4-6 · Potato and egg curry · Sweet and sour lentil dhal · Mushroom bhaji · Almond pilau rice · Fresh chapati Potato and egg curry This is perfect for using up bits and pieces from the fridge. I’ve made this curry with some left over new potatoes, some eggs and green beans but you could pretty much use anything you like. Aubergine, cauliflower and broad beans work brilliantly. It’ll work well with chicken or prawns if you prefer a meat based dish.

· · · · ·

New potatoes – approx. 500g 4 eggs 1 large onion finely chopped 1 tbsp olive oil and a knob of butter or ghee 2 cloves garlic crushed Thumb sized piece of ginger peeled and grated, or ½ tsp ground ginger 1tsp each of ground coriander, cumin and garam masala 1 tin coconut milk 400ml chicken or vegetable stock Vegetables – green beans, peas, broad beans, aubergine, cauliflower etc. cut into even sized pieces around 2cm Salt, pepper and if you have it, fresh coriander roughly chopped

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Cut the potatoes into chunks, parboil for 5 minutes if raw and roast in a little olive oil until golden. Boil the eggs for 7 minutes, run under cold water then drain, peel and cut into quarters. Cook the onion gently in a large lidded sauté pan with a drizzle of oil and a knob of butter until golden and soft. Add the spices, garlic and ginger to the onions and fry for a minute to form a paste. Add the rest of the ingredients and simmer gently for 20 minutes. Season to taste and add the fresh herbs.

· · · · · ·

Sweet and sour lentil dhal You can use red or yellow lentils for this. I prefer yellow for the fabulous colour with the turmeric. If you have too many yellow lentils you can make a pot of pease pudding too. Simply take 4 tbsp cooked lentils from the pan after step 1, season well and blitz to a smooth puree. Keep in a covered pot in the fridge. It will set to a smooth paste. Delicious with ham. · · · · · ·

250g dried lentils 500ml chicken or vegetable stock 2 bay leaves 1 tsp turmeric 2 tbsp cider vinegar or tamarind paste if you have it 2 tbsp brown sugar

1. Rinse the lentils in cold water and place in a saucepan. Cover with stock, add the bay leaves and turmeric and simmer until tender – around 25 minutes. 2. Add the cider vinegar (or tamarind paste) and sugar and mix thoroughly until the sugar has dissolved. The lentils will break up as you mix to form a rough puree. 3. Season to taste. Mushroom Bhaji This is a great way to use up mushrooms that are starting to look a little sad. A breathable mushroom bag will keep your mushrooms dry and fresh in the fridge for longer. · Sliced mushrooms – any closed cup variety will do · 1 tsp each olive oil and butter or ghee · 1 clove garlic crushed · 1 tsp each coriander and cumin · Juice of half a lemon · 1 tsp corn flour slaked with a little water to a smooth paste · 100ml white wine · 200ml chicken or vegetable stock 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

In a small saucepan, fry the mushrooms in the oil and butter until golden. Add the garlic, spices and lemon juice and simmer for a minute. Add the wine and stock and simmer until reduced by half. Stir the corn flour through until thickened and let it simmer for a couple of minutes. Season to taste.

Almond pilau rice · · · · · ·

1 large onion, finely chopped 2 cloves garlic, crushed 300g basmati rice rinsed in cold water 600ml cold water Knob of butter or ghee 100g flaked almonds

1. Fry the onion in a little olive oil until golden, then add the garlic to soften for a minute. 2. Stir the rice through to make sure each grain is coated then add the water, cover and bring to the boil. Turn down the heat and let the rice simmer for 5 minutes. Turn off the heat and leave the rice covered to continue to steam. Don’t be tempted to stir the rice – the lid needs to stay on for the cooking to finish. 3. Toast the almonds in a small pan until lightly golden. 4. Add the butter and almonds to the rice and fork through gently. Season to taste.

Fresh chapati The quickest easiest bread in the world! They take 5 minutes to make and 2 minutes each to cook, and they’re great for getting the kids involved too. This mix will make around 10 chapatis. · · · ·

450g plain flour 1 tbsp olive oil Warm water Melted butter or ghee, or olive oil

1. Place the flour in a large mixing bowl and drizzle in the oil. 2. Add enough warm water to form a soft and pliable dough. Knead on a lightly floured surface until smooth – around 5 minutes. 3. Place a wide shallow frying pan over a medium/high heat 4. Divide the dough into 10 pieces. Roll each piece into a ball then roll out to 3mm thickness. 5. Place the chapatti in the hot dry pan and cook until it puffs up on top and begins to brown underneath. Turn over and cook until this side is browned. 6. Place the cooked chapati on a warmed plate and brush with melted butter or ghee. Cover with foil to keep warm, then carry on with the rest of the dough until you have a lovely stack of fresh chapatis. 7. Perfect with pickles – hot lime is my favourite. I hope you enjoy my recipes. Why not follow my blog for other foodie treats www.personal-space-interiors.blogspot.co.uk

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Crafting

Followers of our Facebook page and Twitter Account may have seen that we now offer product reviews. This can either be your creations, your service or your course/workshop etc. If you would like us to conduct a review for you further information can be found on our website. www.creative-crafting.com/product_reviews.html Depending on how many products we get submitted we may offer single or multiple reviews per issue. Our next review is of:

The item sent to us by Designs by JoJo is an Ivory Heart Flock Handmade Serviette Ring. Retailing at £1.85 each this dainty little item could be just what you need to add The napkin rings are lined with textured paper with ivory organza ribbon bow and pearl diamante clasp finished inside with small round brads - approximate size width 4.5 cms x diameter 4.5 cms and can be made smaller/ larger if required. Although they don’t seem much on their own we can see that a table full would look very elegant and we just LOVED the fact that it came in a little beribboned box! Certainly worth a look when planning your happy event! 25

www.designsbyjojo.co.uk

Tina in the Garden

Hi! I'm Tina, Yes I am back in the garden and very pleased to welcome you all on this beautiful spring day. We will have our tea in the conservatory where we can see the garden and enjoy the sunshine, as the wind is a still little cold. It is the May Bank Holiday and I don't believe this weather. We never get this on a Bank Holiday do we? Spring has really arrived! So shall see what has been appearing in â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;The Gardenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; since your last visit. We had the early daffodils but it was still so cold, now everything is coming out so fast the bluebells are only just going to come out before the trees have their leaves. They are also spreading all over the garden I just keep finding them everywhere, what a bonus. The forsythia has been absolutely gorgeous and so many primroses just everywhere, the tulips also such bold colours.

There is some blossom on one of the crab apples but the other two have been in the path of the cold winds, the pears and apple trees have blossom but not as much as in other years. But just look at the delicate pink and white blossoms, and the fresh young leaves.

Above - Forsythia Left - Apple Blosson Right - Tulips Below - Crab Apple Blossom

So many shades of green and so fresh and vibrant, the trees don't need blossom they are beautiful with just the leaves. There is the cow parsley it looks wonderful in the summer with its lacey white blooms, but now what a wonderful shade of green. Also the water mint which is wild, not to be confused with cultivated mint, smells the same but is not edible. It is very pretty and shows more shades of green. Of course we have our resident crow, same tree, same nest it just keeps getting bigger each year, it is so special to see them bring up a new family every year. I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t help saying yet again nature really is wonderful.

Cow Parsley

Water Mint 27

Resident Crow

The Bog has dried out a lot and the water iris are coming up so fast you can almost see them growing. The marsh marigolds are just finishing now but have been like a patch of golden sunlight. The clematis in the hidden garden is in bud and the grapevine, if this sunshine keeps up the will be out in all their glory very soon. The skimmia grew so big last year it is huge now and is flowering and smells just wonderful.

The parsley came through the winter well but I lost the thyme and sage.I will have to restock the herb pots this year. Also I was so pleased and surprised to find that some cuttings which I had taken of roses and shrubs have survived , I just left them in a sheltered spot in the hidden garden. Also the roses are all getting their new leaves and I have been trimming the dead wood from them where it was killed by the cold winter winds,just tidying them up a bit. Also the passion flower was damaged by the winter and I had to cut it well back, I will keep you informed of its progress. At the moment I am sure you can almost see the leaves coming out and the plants coming up. After the cold winter this sunshine is wonderful long may it last, not just for the plants but for us to. 28

The rain last year was good for the garden and some of the plants need pruning back a bit but with the cold weather lasting so long it has to be done quickly or it will be to late. The Russian vine over the seat being just one. Did I say over the seat you could hardly see the seat at all, I had to get my better half to attack that and he came through as usual. In some of the wild parts of the garden we have brambles, (well my better half does love blackberry and apple pie) and they are a lovely free fruit. But boy did they love the rain last year and the fact that it was so wet we could not get out to deal with them and they have spread like mad so we are on the offensive but they do fight back. Of course I am not going to show you a photo of brambles I will leave that to your imagination . Well I think I have talked enough so I will show you some random photos. The garden really is so special at the moment so new and exciting, I am snapping photos all the time. Oh! I guess we drank the tea and ate the biscuits, so who's for a walk in the sunshine this beautiful Spring day? Thank you all for taking the time to visit with me, and I look forward to seeing you all again in the next issue when I will again be in â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;The Gardenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. Your green fingered friend,

Tina

Meet Mick Brown

've always drawn and painted (even before I could walk) and at school I was involved in painting all the back-drops for two large stages every time plays were performed. I also ended up painting murals all over our common rooms and corridors during holiday times! So I learnt how to scale work up to a large size very early on. This changed my perception as I realised what appeared to be large daubs coalesced the further you stepped back ! (This was obviously stored away for later use). Since then I have worked as a graphic designer (before p.c.) where I learned my craft properly after that I used my skills and talent to work as a mural painter and I also worked with Interior designers creating specialist paint effects for new builds. My customers would either want their children's bedrooms and nurseries painted top to bottom or they would want a sky painted right across a huge ceiling. During this time I was invited to open a studio near where I lived in a local community centre the only proviso was would I be prepared to tutor community members one night a week? Looking back I think this was the turning point in my painting career as I've met so many artists who are obsessed with getting their work seen and sold I actually started to realise this wasn't the way forward. The more people who started coming through the doors the more I realised I was helping them not only to draw and paint but also to build their confidence and I actually started modifying my technique in tutoring and painting so much so that my whole approach to painting completely turned itself on its head. 30

The Tanfield community studio has been running for over 10 years now and is entirely voluntary I take a nominal fee for heat and light. We occasionally obtain funding for equipment but I teach students to make their own stuff and recycle and re-use everything. Over the last 15 years I have had various features in local newspapers either for jobs I've been working on or pieces of work I've donated to local charities for fund-raising. This has helped them out a great deal and they've always written back and thanked me, some of these letters are on my website. One painting in particular I donated to a diamond charity event raised around ÂŁ400 or so but more importantly the guest of honour was H.R.H. the Countess of Wessex and she saw my work. So sometimes its not about grubbing about to sell the work. I give about 4/5 pieces away every year to charities and I find this more rewarding. I have also exhibited in quite a few local galleries and have been lucky enough to sell on those occasions, however the galleries take such a large proportion it is not cost effective to use them and I rely on the public visiting my studio direct. This also helps because I don't believe in framing the work as I like the customer to make their own choice, they seem happier with that choice. My second studio runs out of Glenroyd House in Consett, County Durham. One day I walked into my local D.C.V.S. office and told them what I could do and would they like to make use of me as a volunteer. It didn't take them long to fit my skills and talents to 'local art classes' and we now have nearly 30 people on our books. From the beginning I think we knew this was going to be the start of something new as Consett is a depressed area and there are a lot of people existng on the fringes of the community who have challenges and it was very much a case of "if you build it they will come". By word of mouth more and more people started coming to the class with all different abilities and life experience. The role of coach or tutor has changed as I've had to learn to take on people with varying challenges in their own lives and they are truly inspirational to work with. This has had a dramatic effect/affect on my own work as my painting and drawing has become so paired down and de-constructed I am able to paint without any preplanning. It is completely spontaneous! I try to pass on this method to my students as in my own personal life I've had challenges too! Over the past few years I have been forming a social enterprise which is a largely non-profit organisation and diverts any funding into sourcing resources to keep moving art forward. I am not interested in personal greed and I cannot have anything as superficial as money clouding the production of my work. I have had to learn to balance my tutoring and my own painting but this is half the fun, I'm lucky to be able to paint for myself and not allow the aquisition of material objects control my art. To see more of Mick you can check out his website www.redpoppyart.co.uk Also on Facebook here www.facebook.com/mick.brownartist.3 and here www.facebook.com/MickBrownArtist

Written by Tina from Shinyes

The Craft Box Notebook Cover I love stationary, and I’m always picking up items when I’m out shopping. With my particular fondness for notebooks, I now have a collection to rival most stationers stock cupboards. I never use notebooks, I always find the bound one's too nice to use (but that doesn't stop me buying them) and I don't like the look of the cheap notebooks. So I decided to make myself a re-usable notebook cover, making cheap notebooks look a bit ‘posher’.

This is what I did... I rummaged through my craft box and gathered : Very thick card (saved from a package delivery), White card, PVA glue, Paintbrush, Button, Ribbon, Clear nail varnish, Pencil, Ruler, Scissors, Decorative papers, Silver coloured letter stickers Notebook.

Step 1. I cut and trimmed the very thick card, both the same size but making sure that they were comfortably bigger than my notebook. These were to become the front and back cover of the re-usable notebook cover. Step 2. I began covering my front and back cover with the decorative papers, beginning with the corners. I made sure that there was plenty of excess paper which could be folded over the edge of the covers, hiding the unsightly edges. Using the PVA glue and paintbrush, I continued to cover all eight corners. Step 3. I covered the rest in decorative papers, again folding over the excess to hide the edges of the very thick card.

Step 4. I turned over one of the boards and cutting some decorative paper, I covered the back, hiding all the excess papers that had been folded over when covering the edges. I only did this to one of the boards to start with. The other would come a bit later.

Step 5. I then cut a small rectangle of ribbon and sealed the edges with clear nail varnish to prevent fraying, and sewed a button onto the centre, this was to become part of the fastening for the notebook cover. I then measured a length of ribbon to go round the other board, giving plenty of wiggle room to allow for the extra thickness that the cheap notebook would make. Then I again sealed the edges with clear nail varnish, and cut a hole for the button to go through. After the button hole had been stitched, I had my notebook cover fastening.

Step 6. Again using PVA glue I attached the button to the front board and the button hole ribbon to the back board, folding the excess ribbon round it's edge. Then I was able to cover the board in my decorative paper, covering the excess paper and the ribbon.

Step 8. Then I began drawing out the parts that the front and back cover of the notebook would slot into to keep them in place. I made them slightly bigger than the covers and added tabs that would be used to glue them to the inside of the boards.

Step 7. Then it was time to attach the two boards together. I cut a piece of ribbon (you need thick ribbon for this, I would recommend two inches wide) making sure it didn't quite reach the length of the boards. Again I used clear nail varnish to prevent fraying, and glued the ribbon to both boards, leaving a gap between that was wide enough for the thickness of the notebook.

When I came to putting the notebook covers inside, I found that the notebook covers were getting caught on the tabs I had made to glue the housing into place, so I cut the notebook covers down about an inch and they went in without a problem.

After it was dry, I held my breath and tested that it worked. It did!

Step 9. My final finishing touch to my completed notebook cover was to use the silver coloured stickers and name my finished item â&#x20AC;&#x153;Notebookâ&#x20AC;? All done. I was very pleased with the result and am contemplating making more of them as gifts for family and friends.

The end result - a beautiful notebook, a heap load of fun and an eagerness to start my next project. Visit Tina at www.shinyies.co.uk

Little

Let us see what the next generation of crafters are up to! Would you like to show off your creative offspring? Email us at articles@creative-crafting.com

Crafters

This beautiful jewellery was created by Sarah-Mae who is the 9 year old Grand daughter of Paulines Passions

Here is Daniel (age 3) painting with his toy cars, after we had a car wash! www.lebabybakery.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/painting-withcars-car-wash_8.html

This is Baba's Sucker Machine! It picks up dirt and bugs. Aged 4 years and 8 months. www.scrapbookerry.com

These fabulous elephants were posted on our Facebook timeline. Created by a clever young man who is 7 years old.

Competitions from both sides of the fence By Tracey Kifford from WowThankYou.co.uk Can you remember where you were on Thursday 15 June 2006? I can. At approximately 12:20 I was getting ready to drive to an acupuncture appointment in midWales, about a 40 minute car ride from my home on the coast in West Wales. The phone rang – I didn’t really want to take it as I didn’t want to be late – but I’m SO glad that I did. It was the Daily Express calling to inform me that I’d won a £30,000 convertible car … wow! I had entered the competition the previous weekend by text, having seen it while visiting my parents. I was 30 weeks pregnant with my first child at the time, and I had been an avid ‘comper’ for about two years. It was the pinnacle win of my hobby, and alas my commitment to it fell along the wayside when my daughter was born and I ran out of spare time! The hobby of competitions becomes addictive. I remember entering 200 postcard competitions in a single evening (golly, think of the cost of doing that now!) – and when I posted them all, I felt a huge wave of achievement … and the excitement and anticipation kicked in that I could be sent a winning letter with some wonderful goodies. Over the two years I won more than a car – prizes ranged from a £1200 Currys voucher, 2 x coffee machines, a crate of wine, a range oven, a weekend at Gleneagles in Scotland, a toaster, kettle, Kenwood food mixer, a camera, a camcorder, lots of

baby goodies, hair care items (brushes, shampoo, straighteners) … I loved awaiting the postman each day! Why am I telling you all this? Well, I wanted to explain what it’s like when you spot a competition on a website or in a magazine, when you are a comper … I’ve lost count of the number of competitions I’ve ripped out of magazines at the hairdressers, or items I’ve needed to buy in order to enter a prize draw – as I said, it’s an addictive pastime, and you want to enter everything you can find. My hobby introduced me to brands I’d never heard of before, took me to websites I’d never visited before, read product descriptions in order to answer a question … and I was never alone in doing this… A typical competition on the internet gets over 6,000 entries. 6,000 people who, like me, want to win the item on offer. And if we need to find an answer before we can enter, we look for it – carefully, in order to ensure it is correct. There are thousands of people in the UK scanning websites every day looking for competitions to enter – and there are online competition portals and forums that pretty much tell you where to go. OK, people may not hang around on the site for very long post-entering, as when you’re in the ‘competition zone’ you are pretty much looking to enter as many as you can in the time available. But you do get to know these websites and you remember them and revisit them when you need to purchase something specific. I remember being introduced to the website Firebox.com this way – I 36

visited their site every month to enter their competitions – and that following Christmas I purchased some presents from them and have done ever since. As I mentioned, since the birth of Millie-Mae and then Toby I’ve not been as active a comper as I’d like to be. And now the children are in school and nursery I am looking to free up a few hours here and there to get into it again … but for now I’m putting my experience to good use on the flipside of the coin… I believe I have good knowledge of how a comper ‘works’, and I use this information on WowThankYou by regularly offering competition prizes. I also list the competitions on the competition forums I mentioned earlier – I WANT compers to flock to the page to enter because I know that this is a sure-fire way of introducing them to the WowThankYou brand, and they WILL come back and purchase from us at some point. We average between 2,000 and 2,500 entries per competition over the month that it runs. The numbers are slowly climbing, which I put down to persistence and continuity - When you place an order on the WowThankYou website during the checkout process you are asked where you heard of us and we’re starting to see ‘entering a competition’ given as their answer. With our competitions, you need to answer a question that is hidden somewhere within the seller’s store (who has donated the prize). I make sure it isn’t too easy as I want them to really see the items they are looking at. We can attribute a huge rise in sales to some sellers who have either currently or previously offered a prize – and this prize could cost as little as £8-10. There’s not many opportunities where this amount of money will get you 2,500-3,000 visitors …

www.bestcuppaintown.com

Win a months supply of ‘Smugglers Brew’ Tea! From the Cornish Tea Company

Win a ‘Blooming Tea’ Gift box for 2 From Netpune Tea

Win a Katie Alice Travel Mug and Book Bag

And that’s the joy of competitions – compers don’t care what the value of the prize is as they enter everything, because they know there’s a higher chance that they’ll win the ‘smaller’ items rather than the cars, campervans, exotic holidays etc. To a comper, a win is a win, it’s as simple as that. But yes I know what you’re thinking – “why encourage these people to enter?” Simple answer – because they are also online shoppers! Trust me – as a comper online, you are pretty nifty with a computer as you spend so much time on one entering prize draws, and quite honestly you simply don’t have time to go out shopping so buy online instead. It’s a winning formula, it really is. So if you are looking for ways to get noticed, think about offering a competition prize on your blog, FB or twitter page. Don’t just run the one – when it ends, start another … keep doing it and people will slowly start to remember you and your brand. And then when they need to buy something, they’ll return not as a comper but as a customer, which is what we all want to see!

Win a Tin of Honeybuns Mini Cakes

Written by Claire from Elderberry Arts

a n n e d t u D l air G y

Fr e e

This is a very forgiving, quick and easy recipe for a creamy chocolate cheesecake free from gluten and dairy products. Ingredients 170g Gluten and dairy free digestive biscuits 225g Dairy and gluten free cheese 2 tbsp. sugar 9 tbsp. coco powder (must be coca and not a hot chocolate as these contain milk) 5 tbsp. dairy free spread such as Vitalite or Pure.

Step 1. Put biscuits into a food processor and blend into fine crumbs.

Step 3. Melt the spread and mix it into the biscuit crumbs using a spoon until it is beginning to stick together.

Step 2. Add 2 tablespoons of the coco powder and mix briefly to combine. 38

Step 4. Pour the biscuit mix into a container and press down firmly to form the cheesecake base.

Cover and chill for several hours or preferably overnight. The cheesecake can also be placed in the freezer for a few hours to speed up setting.

Step 5. Wipe out the food processor bowl. Put all the cheese into the bowl the remaining coco powder and sugar. Mix well to combine. You can add more sugar or coco to taste if you wish.

Step 6. Spoon the chocolate filling on top of the base and spread with the back of a spoon to cover the biscuit base.

Gluten and dairy free biscuits can be bought in Tesco, Sainsburyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and many health food stores. Any biscuit will work so you could try chocolate chip cookies for the base (Sainsburyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sell dairy free chocolate chip cookie) or if you are only avoiding gluten, chocolate digestives. The base can be made with a combination of biscuits and nuts. Process the nuts before adding the biscuits as they will take longer to break up. Tesco sell several varieties of dairy and gluten free cheese. The original creamy version is perfect for this recipe. Other varieties can also be bought in health and alternative food shops or online. Sheese is another often seen brand. A plain cheesecake can be created by leaving out the coco powder. This can be eaten plain or topped with a fruit sauce, fruit pieces, dairy free chocolate buttons or shavings or even chopped gluten and dairy free brownie pieces. The possibilities are endless. 39

Written by Katie from Oldskoolretro Kitsch Boutique

Fatherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day Memo Board

Canvas, any size (I use 30cm by 40cm) Fabric of your choice Wadding (I use Medium) Ribbon at least four metres for this size Staple Gun Staples Scissors

Step 1. First take the canvas that you want to use and lay it face down on the wadding, cut the wadding with at least three inches extra all the way round.

Step 2. Choose one side of the canvas, fold the wadding over and staple it down, leaving the corners till last, then do the same on the opposite side, then do the same for both remaining sides. Fold the corners of the wadding flat and secure them in place.

Step 3. Next, lay the fabric out and place the canvas with the wadding on face down on top and cut the fabric out with at least three inches extra all the way round. Staple down in the same way that you have done with the wadding.

Step 4. Once the fabric is secured, then we need to tidy up the edges at the back, so fold the fabric over the wooden frame of the canvas and tuck it behind all the way around. Then staple just on the inside of the frame, all the way around to tidy it.

Step 5. Now is the time to add the ribbons, staple the first edge of the ribbon on the back, then put across the board in a diagonal direction and staple down at the back. Continue till you have finished putting them in the one direction. Step 6. Now do the same with the ribbons from the opposite direction making sure you weave the ribbon over and under the one that is already secured. You now need to staple down some ribbon on the back in order for you to hang it; I always use five staples on each end of the ribbon to secure it. You are now finished, hang it up and decorate as you wish!

Helpful Hints by

www.janecameron.co.uk

Tax and tax returns!

es, it’s the annual horror, those sleepless nights coming up to 31st January when your Tax Return is due! How can you make it easier? How do you know you’ve got it right? What resources are out there to help you?

How often should you do your accounts? Well, the HMRC require you to do your self employed return once a year. Normally your return is due in January for the year which ended the previous April, so you have about 9 months to get it done. However, it’s a really good idea to do your sums every month (set aside some time on the first Monday of the month, or something similar) as that way you know how your business is doing. What information do I need? · · · · ·

What you’ve earned (income), and what you’ve spent (expenditure). Having all your information in one place is a wonderful thing. Get yourself something to keep your receipts in (even if it’s a bucket!). Set up a folder in your emails where you can keep all your online shopping receipts, and another one for your sales. Keep a little notebook in the car (or write your mileage in your diary).

Helpful hints: · ·

Don’t try and do it all at once! Some credit cards only keep the information online for three months, so download your statement every month (the .csv file format is good for reading in Excel or other spreadsheet programmes). Do I need fancy technology? · It’s a good idea to have some sort of spreadsheet to add everything up. Basically it can have “In / Out / Date / Who to or from / What for” and that will cover most of it. · If you’re scared of spreadsheets, go on a course or look at some online tutorials. There’s Excel by Microsoft (as part of the “Office” suite), and also OpenOffice’s spreadsheet program, called Calc, which is good and free! · If you want to be fancy you can get programs like Quickbooks, which you can add all your information to and it will calculate your tax. However, these aren’t necessary at first.

What can I claim for? Can I claim a proportion of my household bills? ·

· · ·

Equipment and supplies you use for making your lovely items (if the equipment is expensive then you may need to claim back the cost of it over several years) Courses you go on to maintain (not improve) your standard – e.g. an annual refresher is fine but going to learn a new skill (which would subsequently increase your income) is not. You may be able to claim a proportion of your household bills if you work from home Here’s a link to what you can claim for: http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/manuals/bimmanual/bim47820.htm You can’t claim for food unless associated with an overnight stay, nor can you claim for clothes unless they are really specific to your job (e.g. Kevlar gloves)

Do I need an accountant? · ·

Not necessarily. When you’re just starting out with a small craft business your tax return should be fairly straightforward. If you do want an accountant, shop around. Some places accountants do a monthly payment (which can be good as you know where you stand).

Online tax return Yes, you are expected to do your tax return online. When you register for the first time your username / password may take some time to come through, so please register early enough that it will be with you in time. Keep your password somewhere safe. Might I get money back? If your business is making a loss and you are also working (employed) then you may get a rebate. Can I be employed and self employed? Yes you can. If you are doing a lot of self employed work you may have a duty to tell your employer. I need help! You can ring the HMRC and ask them questions. Be prepared to be on hold for a while as they can be quite busy. A useful telephone number for them is 01355 359022. The HMRC have webinars and e-learning packages to help you, and also run courses on how to get started and fill in your tax return This is a very useful link. http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/startingup/helpsupport.htm Jane Cameron. Please note: This introduction is no substitute for specialist advice.

Written by Leanne from Small Surprise Boutique

o, last time I discussed the art of upcycling as a way of reducing your craft expenditure, but there are only so many times you can raid your loft or garden shed when on the hunt for supplies. We will revisit recycling more throughout this series, but for now there is something else I would like to consider. Upcycling is an everlasting adventure, but it is useful to have a set stock rather than relying on uncovering recycled materials. I’m sure most of us have battled with the thought “I have so many ideas in my head, but where can I get my hands on cheap materials to bring my creations to life?” I know I have. orchidflowers.wordpress.com

Obviously my own personal experiences come into play a lot here, but perhaps some of you out there have had similar encounters. When I took my first steps into my local craft superstore I was amazed by what was right in front of me. I couldn’t believe it had taken me so long to venture inside, but once I did I didn’t want to leave. After a few visits I started to realise I was on a strict budget, a budget that wouldn’t match the store, and although there were many things I needed in order to progress forward in my craft work, I would spend more time wandering back and forth through the isles and whittling down my decisions to fit in with my budget than actually crafting. I soon started to research the world of crafting, and after being amazed by the sheer magnitude of this new world I had embarked upon, I found cheaper alternatives for what I needed. Don’t get me wrong, I still love to visit my local craft superstores, I would live there if I could, and I recommend you keep them on your shopping route. I have learnt the importance of buyer’s research and it is something I would encourage you to do. Quite often we get lucky when our favourite stores have sales, but sales don’t last forever. In order to protect my bank balance I have taken on a new way of craft shopping. With notebook in hand a trip to my local craft superstore soon gives me my next shopping list, to see if I can find cheaper alternatives elsewhere. We’re all familiar with shopping around to find the best price, and I have found it to be just as useful when shopping for craft supplies.

www.freeimageslive.co.uk

Fortunately, living in Leeds I am blessed with a spectacular market, filled with a wide variety of stalls and goodies. My needle craft seems to benefit most from my trips to the market, with material, wool, ribbons and buttons on offer in abundance. Buttons are always a useful addition to any craft box, and the market is a good place to start your collection. Also, I have discovered once you become ‘a regular’ customer there is often the opportunity to collect some enviable bargains. Just recently, for example, I was able to pick up a large amount of lovely material, which was discounted thanks to being familiar with the seller. It doesn’t hurt to ask. www.northleedslifegroup.com

Building a network specific to your craft work is also a good way of keeping your craft budget to a limit. The more you network with others in the industry, the more likely you are to find out about the best places to stock up your craft cupboard. As your network develops, so will your knowledge, and in turn you can help others. I have found this particular method very useful, especially in recent weeks. I have signed up for my first craft fair, due to take part in July, and I am constantly extending my ‘what I need’ list. By networking with experts in this area I am gradually finding everything I need, such as packaging materials, and they come at reasonable price. There are many ways to protect our bank balances whilst still producing high quality creations, and shopping around for the best options is very beneficial, but it doesn’t have to be time consuming. My first port of call now is often my local market, and I recommend anyone in need of supplies has a wander around their local market too; it is surprising what you will find. And if you can’t find exactly what you are looking for, have a chat with the stallholders, they’ll often advise you on the best place to go. Bracelets made using equipment from a trip to the market – ribbon, elastic etc.

A selection of my bargain material from a market shop, soon to be used towards many upcoming projects.

Kit or Miss? Kits are reviewed on behalf of Creative Crafting by Janice Ayers of Jangill Designs. www.jangilldesigns.blogspot.co.uk and www.jangill-jewellery.co.uk

Amethyst Stained Glass Batik Wall Hanging KIT This kit is supplied by Perfect Patchwork (www.perfectpatchwork.co.uk) who have both and a presence on WowThankYou (www.wowthankyou.co.uk).

I saw this kit advertised at Craftfest (www.craftfest-events.com) and must admit to falling in love with it straight away. It’s just the colours I love and I have a soft spot for stained glass, which I thought this replicated really well. I ordered on a Thursday lunch time, hoping to have it with me at the weekend. Sadly, it wasn’t posted out till Monday and arrived the following day. On opening, I was impressed with the quality of the fabrics, neatly cut to size. Backing fabric, wadding and binding were all provided, as well as embroidery thread, beads and charms for embellishing. I was not quite so convinced with the instructions which had poor photography and were printed single sided on a sheaf of A4 paper.

If you are happy using a sewing machine, then as a first quilting/patchwork project this would be a beginner level. As a general sewing project, it requires some knowledge and is therefore intermediate.

Amethyst Stained Glass Batik Wall Hanging KIT

The main panel of the project is made up in a quick and easy method with no need to sew the pieces together. The shapes are traced off the provided pattern onto bondaweb which is then ironed onto the provided fabrics. The fabric provided was just enough, so care needs to be taken to make sure you complete this stage correctly. The pattern pieces are ironed on to a calico panel, then bias binding used to cover the joins and giving the stained glass appearance. Again, there was just enough binding. The next stage is to baste the panel to the wadding and embellish. For me, this was the scary bit, because the only instruction was embellish as desired. The photographs were to poor to see any examples. However, once I got over the “fear factor”, I rather enjoyed doing exactly what I wanted.

The next stage was to add borders, first a black one then a wider toning fabric. Both these stages were very straight forward. To finish a calico backing is added and the quilt bound at the edges with black fabric. This was the only time I had cause for concern with the fabric provided, as the pre cut pieces varied in width along the length, sometimes to less than the 2” required. A piece of calico was added while binding to provide for hanging. 46

Although I managed to complete the piece, I found the instructions a disappointment. A set of numbered stages would have been helpful as I found it easy to lose where I was up to, especially as the pictures were in pairs and not numbered for easy reference. The quality of the pictures means that you can’t see the detail which would have helped to clarify the instructions. For instance when sewing on the bias binding, should one row down the middle be enough, or should it be stitched close to both edges?

As I have never made a quilt before, or done any patchwork, this was always going to provide some learning opportunities. I was hoping to do some sewn together patchwork but this project uses a simpler method with the bondaweb. This is quite a common method for decorative items and saves a lot of time. The project does, however, introduce you to putting a quilt project together, including binding. The methods used are not the most advanced (no mitred corners for instance) which makes this a great beginner project. This is slightly at odds with the lack of instructions or examples for embellishing.

This kit cost £14.95 plus postage. I was impressed with the quality of the contents and considering how well the finished item turns out, this is great value for money. You could obviously get all the components together yourself for less, but care has been taken here to provide beautifully compatible colours and designs of fabric. You also get the design and instructions.

I am quietly pleased with my first quilting attempt and I’m eager to do more, especially with some proper patchwork. The hanging looks great on my wall. Because the components were of good quality, the piece looks eyecatching and bears up under inspection.

Complete in a weekend without too much trouble.

Good points: Great quality components, good value for money. Bad Points: Not informed that would not be posted for 3 days, instructions Overall I really enjoyed this project and am keen to do more. If you don’t fancy having a go yourself, Perfect Patchwork sell completed hangings for a very reasonable sum. Find them at www.perfectpatchwork.co.uk or on WowThankYou www.wowthankyou.co.uk/perfect-patchwork We have heard back from Perfect Patchworks Flick who says..

Written by Samantha Tookey from One Of A Kind Creations

Labradorite Cufflinks Tutorial

4mm and 6mm plain round Labradorite beads Silver plated Chain links Silver plated ball head pins A basic tool kit; including wire cutters, round nose pliers and two pairs of flat nose pliers.

Step 1. Start by picking out two larger and two smaller beads; one by one thread onto a ball head pin and make a wrapped loop.

Step 2. Once you have finished making the wrapped loops for each bead, unfasten two links from a length of chain.

Step 3. Thread a large bead onto one link and close securely (always open and close links back to front like opening a door so as not to weaken the link); open the opposite link and add the smaller bead, close this securely. Copy the process with the second set of beads and your cufflinks are finished.

Step 1. Begin with a headpin and a drilled bead. Step 2. Insert headpin into the bead and hold firmly close to the top of the bead with round nose pliers.

Step 3. Bend the headpin to a 45◦ angle. Step 4. Move the pliers so that one half is below the angle and the other above.

Step 5. Carefully bend the headpin around the top part of the pliers, forming the first part of the loop. Step 6. Move the pliers again so that the top of the loop is sandwiched between the top and bottom parts of the pliers and continue to wrap the headpin until it completes the loop.

Step 7. Holding the loop with the round nose pliers, use a pair of flat nose pliers to hold the end of the head pin and slowly wrap around the neck of the headpin directly under the loop; continue until the headpin meets the bead and there is no longer a gap. Snip off excess with wire cutters and using the flat nose pliers gently squeeze to conceal the end of the headpin. Step 8. The finished wrapped loops ready for use.

Tutorial written by Samantha Tookey from One Of A Kind Creations

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