Saturday 17 December 2016

New Quiz - Our world... the Highest, the Longest, the Smallest etc ....See how many you know!



Take a break and try our quiz with your group, with a cup of tea of course - and a mince pie, being that time of the year!

Here it is - with all the answers in case you get stuck...! 

Highest Longest Quiz



 If you would like more quizzes, do have a look at my ebook...


Monday 3 October 2016

Memory Wire and Bead Bracelets


Memory Wire and Bead Bracelet Kits
We found these Memory Wire and Bead Bracelet Kits on eBay (they come in a range of colours) - what a great afternoon we had making them up in our Craft Group at Mencap. 

We placed the beads on white poly plates to make them easy to see and to pick up and then threaded them onto the memory wire coil. The best thing is, they fit any size wrist and are just so pretty...  

You do need "jewellery tools" however to make a loop at each end of the wire as it is not possible to bend by hand (this loop stops the beads from falling off, so is essential!)

Here are a couple the girls made...

Kavita  
 
Jenna

Saturday 17 September 2016

An Autumn Wall Mural at Mencap

Autumn Mural

 We put together an Autumn Wall Mural at Mencap this week - with temperatures in Essex topping 30C it still felt like Summer, but now a few days later and after some very welcome, steady rainfall, we are back to normal weather - Autumn - "a season of mists and mellow fruitfulness"


 Our centre piece (Autumn Wreath) was made using an excellent tutorial from this website In the New House 

We added the wording in the centre wreath.


 Stacy insisted on the Pink Tail - as was a girl squirrel...! And why not?? Even squirrels can have fashion tints!


Thursday 1 September 2016

A Simple Little Felt Purse - Tutorial

Here is a very simple little felt purse - we will be making these at Mencap when we start the new term in September - so more photos to follow when we see what they come up with - always delights me to see their ideas and creations!

What you will need...

Felt

Embroidery thread

Charm (optional) Can use buttons or anything else as an embellishment

Magnetic clasps (we got ours on eBay)

How to make...

Cut out  your two pattern pieces and your heart (or any other shape such as a flower or something geometrical)

Felt Purse Pattern

Attach you magnetic clasps positioned as below (instructions will be with clasps)



 Stitch your charm or button to your heart shape.

Sew your heart over the back of the magnetic clasp, on the outside of the flap as below, using blanket stitch.

Join the two purse pattern pieces - again, I used blanket stitch.

 Easy to make and useful for coins, lipstick or a spare tissue!


Here is Jenna with her felt heart purse - and wearing such a pretty floral dress - Jenna is such a pleasure to sit and do craft with - always has a big smile for everyone and tackles everything with such enthusiasm...!