My aim is to help keep our elderly and less-abled folk busy and happy! However...many of the crafts and activities will also appeal to all ages and abilities, so do have a browse...Loads of different crafts and quizzes - very easy to find by clicking on category buttons below! Have also introduced some discussion on ACEO Miniature watercolour painting - a new hobby?
Saturday 8 June 2013
Tissue Paper Flower Tutorial - the Easy Way!
Why are Tissue Paper Flowers so satisfying to make...?
Especially now when tissue papers come in so many lovely, fresh colours. Do buy good quality tissue paper for your flowers - a bit of body in the paper will keep your blooms crisp and holding their shape.
The picture above are my own Tissue Paper Flowers. These I made, following the tutorial by "The Craft Patch" - here is the link... Tissue Flower tutorial
Adjust the size of your sheets of tissue paper, if you want to make your flowers a different size or fullness - I ended up with four 8 x 4 inch sheets for each of my flowers.
Using our tissue flowers we (at Mencap Braintree) are going to make a wall display for the Queen's 60th Coronation anniversary - when it is finished I will put it on my blog - should be in the next few weeks...
Until then, have fun making your flowers!
Wednesday 22 May 2013
Three Bookmarks to Print and Colour In
So many of you have asked for more Bookmarks so here they are...
If possible print the Bookmarks straight onto thin card, but if your printer won't take card, then print onto paper and glue the bookmarks onto your card. Better to glue after colouring-in is completed!
Finishing... If you can laminate the bookmark, this will give the Bookmark greater durability. Also a hole punched in the top and a piece of cord or ribbon threaded through, will give your Bookmark added appeal....
If you want more Bookmarks (previously posted on this Blog) just type in BOOKMARKS into the Search box on top, right hand side.
A lovely little gift for family or a friend who enjoys reading!
Sunday 12 May 2013
Twenty Questions - General Knowledge Quiz!
Time for another quiz - Twenty Questions - General Knowledge Quiz
Quizzes are always popular and lead to much reminiscing, as the questions and answers stimulate memories and knowledge.
So get your groups together and start quizzing - have fun!
Wednesday 1 May 2013
Easy Button Felt Flowers - a New Bunch!
I now have the pleasure of a Bigshot die cutting machine, so have been able to make a variety of different flowers with different shapes. If however you don't have access to a die cutter, the tutorial does give a few templates of flower shapes - they are simple shapes, but as they have to be cut by hand...!
So if you want to have a go at making these Easy Button Felt Flowers here is the link... Felt Flower Tutorial
No Sewing or glueing - and so creative - the felt comes in such vibrant colours and there is an endless variety of buttons (metal or plastic, as long as they have a shank with a reasonably large hole) Mine came from eBay and Boot Sales...
We used empty spice bottles in which to display the flowers - but any jar will do!
Enjoy celebrating Spring!
Wednesday 17 April 2013
A Gift from Mariner Park Australia to Mencap Braintree UK !
Art and Craft Group - Mencap Braintree |
Whilst there, I went to Mariner Park Retirement Village in Tura Beach, NSW, with my sister-in-law Anne, who is a volunteer there.
She is invaluable, as not only helps to run the Sewing Groups, but also provides an "alteration and mending" service for the residents.
I was made so welcome and was invited to tell the ladies, in their Sewing Group, about Mencap in Braintree - back here in the UK, where I volunteer, helping with Pottery and Art & Craft groups.
I was given a wall-hanging with an Australian theme (see above photo) to bring back to Braintree Mencap.
We will hang this in our hall, so everyone coming to join in with all our activities, will be able to appreciate this lovely gift.
Thank you Mariner Park!
I was made so welcome and was invited to tell the ladies, in their Sewing Group, about Mencap in Braintree - back here in the UK, where I volunteer, helping with Pottery and Art & Craft groups.
I was given a wall-hanging with an Australian theme (see above photo) to bring back to Braintree Mencap.
We will hang this in our hall, so everyone coming to join in with all our activities, will be able to appreciate this lovely gift.
Thank you Mariner Park!
Monday 1 April 2013
Thank you Australia...!
We have just returned from a wonderful holiday in Australia, with our family over there and I want to share a few photos with you all...
The first two are about endurance and survival against all the odds...one is a soldier sitting with his head in his hands, in the mud, in the trenches in the First World War, depicted here at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.
The second is a gum tree (Eucalyptus) which was blow over in a storm at Port Stephens, New South Wales. Again, against the odds of survival, the tree has hung in there and lying on its side, continues to flourish and grow...
Australians tend to have this same resilience - they complain loudly and tell it like it is, but they hang in there - through adverse weather, bush fires and heated politics, but nevertheless get on with life with great energy and are so very proud of their country...
The first two are about endurance and survival against all the odds...one is a soldier sitting with his head in his hands, in the mud, in the trenches in the First World War, depicted here at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.
The second is a gum tree (Eucalyptus) which was blow over in a storm at Port Stephens, New South Wales. Again, against the odds of survival, the tree has hung in there and lying on its side, continues to flourish and grow...
Australians tend to have this same resilience - they complain loudly and tell it like it is, but they hang in there - through adverse weather, bush fires and heated politics, but nevertheless get on with life with great energy and are so very proud of their country...
Tura Beach NSW |
And here is just one of their fine beaches...
Thank you Australia for having us...
Tuesday 26 February 2013
A Quiz - All About the USA
As I have so many visitors to my Blog from America, I decided to put together a quiz - which is All About the USA...
As always, it is fairly easy (probably very easy for our American groups!)
I am sure much reminiscing will take place, as the quiz runs its course.
Enjoy the journey and have fun delving into the "facts and figures" of that great country - the USA!
Click on the link below to get the quiz and also, on a separate page, the answers...
A Quiz - All About the USA
Love to get your comments (and feel free to tell me if I have got anything wrong!!)
Wednesday 9 January 2013
Quiz - Anagrams of First Names!
I have put together 20 Anagrams of girl's and boy's first names - try them out with your groups.
They are great fun and all the names I've chosen will be familiar to you - no "Apple" or "Blue" included!
Just click here for the Anagrams (and answers!)
Hope 2013 will be kind to us all...!
Just click here for the Anagrams (and answers!)
Hope 2013 will be kind to us all...!
Saturday 15 December 2012
Two Christmas Placemats - Printable!
The Excitement is just TOO MUCH for me...!
Oh well, maybe not - so while you do what must be done, keep the kids happy and occupied with a couple of new Christmas Placemats - ready to print and be coloured-in to help decorate your Christmas table.
Tuesday 27 November 2012
Nativity - Christmas Craft at Mencap
You don't need a lot of materials to make a Nativity Scene...
At Mencap, we made this charming little group with just bits of fabric, a few toilet roll cores, buttons and trimmings.
So get going and create your own little figures - a seasonal activity that will appeal to all ages...
Use the Christmas button above to find other Christmas craft ideas on this Blog.
Sunday 11 November 2012
A General Knowledge Quiz - Printable!
General Knowledge
Quiz
Everyone enjoys a quiz!
Here is a General Knowledge Quiz - 15 questions altogether - some really easy and a few a bit more challenging!
Do have a go at it with your groups and enjoy the reminiscing and chat that it will stimulate...
Here is a taster .............
"Who was the actress who played "Pretty Woman" in the movie of the same name?
If you want more quizzes - have a look at my
Quiz eBook (41 Easy Quizzes with Answers) which are printable and will keep you groups stimulated and entertained in the coming Winter months...
Friday 26 October 2012
Fishy Fun! We Made a Fish Mural at Mencap!
This Fish Mural was put together over two afternoons...
Firstly we printed out fish shapes (search in Google Images for "Fish Templates" - lots to choose from there!) and after these were painted and decorated, with stripes and dots (from sponge shapes) we left them to dry and started sticking blue tissue paper right across our surface as "water".
Some pebble-printed decorative paper was used for the "rocks" and strips of green tissue stuck on as "seaweed".
When the fish were dry, we cut them out and glued them into position.
As a finishing touch we added a treasure chest, crab, skeleton, diver and submarine!
Our mural is quite large, but you can make it any size or shape you want. If everyone in your group wants to make their own "fish tank" you can size it right down to an A4 - just reduce the size of the fish accordingly...
Fish are such fun to paint - enjoy creating your patterns and choosing your fishy colours!
Monday 8 October 2012
Decorate a Ceramic Tile!
We had a lovely afternoon at Mencap, Braintree (UK) decorating creamic tiles.
We used white tiles (left over after bathroom tiling!), but any colour is fine, as long as it has a smooth surface.
As you can see from the pictures, there are many bits and pieces that can be stuck onto a tile - easy, creative and such fun to do.
We used felt flowers and leaves, self- adhesive foil, buttons, flat-bottomed beads, wool, lace, other sewing trimmings, self-adhesive stickers, and bows.
We used tacky glue, glue spots and double-sided sticky pads to stick it all together!
There is this tutorial and more in my eBook - click here to have a look!
Completed tiles can be displayed, by standing on a plate holder or attaching to a tiled wall, with double-sided adhesive pads.
We used felt flowers and leaves, self- adhesive foil, buttons, flat-bottomed beads, wool, lace, other sewing trimmings, self-adhesive stickers, and bows.
We used tacky glue, glue spots and double-sided sticky pads to stick it all together!
There is this tutorial and more in my eBook - click here to have a look!
Completed tiles can be displayed, by standing on a plate holder or attaching to a tiled wall, with double-sided adhesive pads.
Sunday 30 September 2012
A Fun Quiz - Songs with Colours in the Title - printable!
I have compiled an easy quiz, for you to have fun with your groups. The songs are mostly from around the 50's and 60's, so should be familiar.
Singing along with the tunes, is all part of the quiz, so enjoy...!
Click here for the Songs with Colours in the Title Quiz
Have listed the answers on a separate page, just in case you get stuck!
If you would like more quizzes aimed at the senior generation have a look at my
eBook - 41 Easy Quiz Questions and Answers
Nothing like a quiz and a cuppa!
Thursday 30 August 2012
Bird Collage Tutorial - with Printable Templates!
You can make a collage out of bits of coloured card or paper - even pieces of felt or lace, buttons etc.... Just make a picture or a design and have fun with your group!
For my Bird Collage you will need....
A3 card for background. (any size will do - just adapt it)
Coloured card for the birds, flowers hearts and leaves
Dark paper or card for the fence
One smallish doily for the bird wings - mine was 16cm diameter
Small shiny flat bottomed beads for the eyes and flower centres (or use buttons or contrasting card)
Piece of cotton lace (43cm) or any kind of trim will do
Self adhesive butterfly stickers (optional)
Glue stick
Double sided adhesive pads
Cello tape
How to make...
Using the templates cut out the birds, flowers, leaves and hearts. (I used my Big Shot die-cutter for the flowers and hearts, but have given you templates to use instead)
Cut your doily in half and fold each piece into three, making a cone, with the join at the back.
Stick the join with a bit of cello tape.
Cut a slit in the bird, on the line marked on the side of the bird and slip the point of the folded doily into this slit.
Fix into position with a small piece of cello tape at the back of the bird.
Bird Template
Flower templates
Heart templates
Cut out your fence and posts - mine are 15cms high and each post about 2cms wide.
Bird Template
Flower templates
Heart templates
Cut out your fence and posts - mine are 15cms high and each post about 2cms wide.
The centre piece or "gate" is cut in one piece and shaped along the top. (easy if you fold it concertina style and cut the curved tops all at once)
Using your glue stick, stick on the fence, birds, flowers, hearts and leaves. Stick on your beads or buttons.
Using double-sided sticky pads, attach the length of lace trim along the bottom edge.
Finish off your collage with some butterfly stickers...
Have fun!
Using your glue stick, stick on the fence, birds, flowers, hearts and leaves. Stick on your beads or buttons.
Using double-sided sticky pads, attach the length of lace trim along the bottom edge.
Finish off your collage with some butterfly stickers...
Have fun!
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