Mencap celebrates 60th Coronation Anniversary!

Queen Elizabeth 11 - 60th Coronation Anniversary

We spent the last few Thursdays, at Mencap Braintree, putting together a wall-hanging, to celebrate 60 years since our Queen was crowned!

We started with a piece of wooden garden trellis and Shaun, our Art and Craft teacher, cut out a large paper crown. The crown was layered with pieces of kitchen foil, glued onto the paper with PVA glue. 

We attached the crown to the trellis with large "drawing pins" and left it to dry out.

We then sprayed the crown with a can of gold paint and while still wet, we sprinkled a bit of gold glitter over the surface. Gems were then stuck on and the "ermine cuff" made using toy stuffing - again glued on with PVA glue.

A photograph of the Queen and a gold "60" (also sprayed and glittered) was attached.

Lastly we wound the tissue flowers we made a few weeks ago onto the trellis around the crown...

Using wooden trellis as your "frame" why not make your own wall-hanging to celebrate something happening in your country, or even to celebrate a family or group occasion... Have fun!

Printable Quiz - Anagrams of Countries and Cities of the World - Printable

  As always, I see quizzes are one of the most popular, sought-after posts on my Blog - so have put together a mixture of Anagrams of Countries and Cities of the World for you all to puzzle over! Not over simple, but all the countries and cities are well known.

Quiz - Anagrams of Countries and Cities

Let me know by posting a comment if there is any particular craft and activity you would like to see more of...helps me to decide what to post for you next!

Meanwhile enjoy the Anagrams Quiz...

Simple Garden Flowers

Petunias

Just wanted to share some shots of flowers that my other half, Billy, has grown in our small Essex (UK) garden. All simple, common flowers, but the colours are bold and beautiful... 

So enjoy them with us!

Oriental Poppies and Oxeye Daisies

Oxeye Daisies

 

Viola

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!

Three Bookmarks to Print and Colour In

 

So many of you have asked for more Bookmarks so here they are...

Three Bookmarks Template

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!

 

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!

If you want more quizzes have a look at my Quiz eBook...

eBook - 41 EASY QUIZZES with Answers




 

Easy Button Felt Flowers - a New Bunch!

  

A few years back, I posted a tutorial on "An Easy Felt Flower to Make" and last week I decided to get our group at Mencap to make some fresh bunches!

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!

A Gift from Mariner Park Australia to Mencap Braintree UK !

Art and Craft Group - Mencap Braintree

As you know from my last post, I have just returned from a trip to Australia - aren't I the lucky one??

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!