Making Soap

After a happy trip to Hobbycraft I came home with a soap kit

Comprising of Soap, botanicals for decoration, colouring, scent and moulds

I must admit I was a bit disappointed that to make soap you literally melt soap but I had the kit so thought I'd give it a go

So first you buy soap...

Then like maelting chocolate, you cut it into small blocks

Then melt it over hot water

until its liquid

Next you add a few drops of scent and a few drops of colour (I added a bit too much) then you pour it into the moulds

I made pink soap

The instructions said to leave it to cool for a little bit before adding the dried flowers

I did this but alot of the flowers didn't stick, so I tried again without the colouring

It's not so easy to pour though...

 and I did end up scraping some off the work surface but here is the finished product still in moulds

I'll definately make some more & I will play around with colours. Its a good thing to do with the children on a rainy weekend, although mine all got a bit bored after the first one. I will be making some for Christmas presents I think.

where have I been?

Hello hello, sorry its been a while. I have been very busy but couldn't tell you about it as it was all for my brothers wedding. But as the wedding was lst weekend I can show you what I have been up to. 

I have been making lots and lots of butterflys for table confetti

The cutter was easy to use and I only had to cut the body out to seperate it from the Ivory card

I made about 200 in the end

I also can finally show you the design the Bride chose for the name cards

Sorry, still haven't worked out how to turn these pictures.

I made over 70. The design was very simple and just involved me tying a bow but they worked really well and the colours matched the bridesmaids. Bride & Groom were very happy with them and my children insisted on bringing their name cards home.

I also made myself a little shrug to wear although I didn't end up wearing it. I shall however be wearing it to another wedding on the 16th

The pattern called for an Aran 10 ply and kidisilk. I used a rough cotton but when I knitted with the cotton and kidislik you couldn't see the silk yarn so I changed it to a irridescent 8 ply which really stood out

It was very easy to make as you basically knitted with both yarns together a ribbed scarf, crocheting along one edge

then when it was long enough you folded the ends over to meet at the back

I have a projects page on www.ravelry.com if you want to check the pattern or yarns, name of MrsWife

I have done a few other little things as well including finding a great Italian blogger and crocheter who publishes free patterns. This is her necklace

her website is well worth a visit

http://creativeyarn.blogspot.co.uk

Lastly I have been hanging out with my kids and dogs. We have been out in the sunshine and the rain enjoying the gorgeous countryside on our doorstep. Spring is a really gorgeous time and we have seen many nests and new life.

Recently we went to Basildon park with some friends and I managed to take a photo on my phone that I am very proud of 

I was able to enlarge it and I now have it framed in the hall for all to see

So I may have been quiet but I am still busy.

Next time I will be making soap after a fab trip to Hobbycraft. How I left with only 2 bags shows considerable self control. This was just the paper eisle

My kind of shop :o)

I did indulge my love of organisation though

and now everything has its place!!

However I must away and wash these grubby children (hence the need to make soap!)

See you soon

Sharon

First grading

Well done boys, they had their first grading and got their Orange belts.

So while they were graded I was busy knitting 2 orange belts....

Fun fur haircut

The fun fur arrived in the post so I sat down to try and work out how to make the hair. It's really not the easiest wool to work with as you can't really see what you are doing but after looking at the forums on Ravelry I gave it a go

 The result was wild! So a haircut was definately in order

A bit better but I ended up giving him one more trim then I sewed on his eyes and mouth with embroidery thread and gave him a nose with the wool

He looks a bit wild still, might have to trim him again.

With the 2nd doll I decided to do the face first this time

I just need to do his hair now as I have already knitted the 2nd suit. I am currently 'blocking' this so the edges don't curl up then I will sew it together and have 2 finished karate figurines just in time for their 1st grading on friday

Other News

Meanwhile the decoupage has run aground as after the Marvel comics arrived (sourced from ebay, 5 mags for £2) my lovely kids fell on them and made me promise not to cut them up until after they had all read them.

The paper roll bowl is progressing but at a very slow rate. I am finding it a bit tedious so am doing it in small bursts. I try to make at least 5 a day so it could take a while but it is growing...

Also the card for the wedding name cards have arrived so I can make a start on them now.

I do have more time at the moment as my contract has ended but I still need to train the puppy and empty the loft. Whilst emptying yesterday I rediscovered all my old patchwork templates and some fabrics including fabric I bought in Australia over a decade ago to make Chris a great beer label shirt so I think my next project may already be found. I just need to get the sewing machine serviced first but for now back to making hair.

Happy Crafting!

Back to papercrafting

So I know papercrafting was in March but I didn't get to show you anything or really do much as the table settings are very beautiful but simple. I bought a new magazine yesterday called 'Making' 

 (http://www.makingmagazine.com/page.asp) 

which had a really lovely idea for making a bowl from old magazines so I thought I would have a go. This is the sort of thing that I really like as it is recycling and making something original. Here is how I have got on so far

I rummaged through the recycling bin and found a catalogue and magazine which I cut into 5cm wide strips

I used 2 different sized magazines so the rolls would vary in size

Using a small knitting needle I then rolled the paper around the needle at an angle

to make a tube which I then flattened

Then made into spirals.
I then lined a bowl of desired size with cling film and started to glue the spirals to each other.

The bowl will be made up of these spirals and should look really fantastic, however I have to make about 200 spirals so could be a while.

I will keep you posted

Stuffing

Time to stuff the dolls.

So I followed the instructions and started to stuff.

 First the feet..

Doesn't look much like a foot. My husband reckons it was the heart especially when compared to the photo in the book...

Remember I have 4 feet to do as I am making two dolls at the same time (I have twins who don't wait)

Next was the body which proved interesting especially as the first doll had one leg longer than the other...opps!

Then you add the head

which you can't over stuff or the clothes won't fit

Next was the arms which you attached from the neck and sewed a line across for the wrist definition

Finally the other arm as well and you have * drum roll*

With a very pleased Noah in the back ground. He still has a leg that is slightly too long but they are very pleased. But what does he look like clothed

Ta Dah!!

However he still needs hair and a face so still a work in progress. The kids are delighted with them and are desperate to get their hands on them so back to work.

April

Its the 10th April and I am still knitting. I have stuffed the knitted doll and will post pictures later but wanted to tell you all that April is Decoupage month and I will be covering Jacobs bed side table in Marvel comics. Hope it works as I haven't told him yet and I'm planning to do it over the next couple of days whilst he's away at his Grandparents. Fingers crossed it works