#craftblogclub

#CraftBlogClub Spring Clean 2017

We have decided to make this years #CraftBlogClub Spring Clean a little bit different. This year we will be hosting the #CraftBlogClub Spring Clean during our chat on Tuesday 25th April. During the chat we want you to post a pic of any unwanted/unused crafty materials that you want to get rid of. Make sure you use the two hashtags #CraftBlogClub and #SpringClean. Then if someone thinks they could make use of whats in the photo, they tweet you back. Privately you then share contact details and post the item. You get to have a clear out and someone else can make something fabulous with your unwanted materials.

Previously you have signed up for #CraftBlogClub Spring Clean challenge and we have arranged for you to receive a surprise package in the post, but we thought we would give this a go. It might work, it might not, but either way it will be a bit of fun. It might be that someone suggests a great use for something that you hadn’t thought of before and you decide to longer Spring Clean it! All we ask is that you don’t charge for the items. We suggest that the person sending the items covers the postal cost unless it is overseas or for large items, in which case you can agree who will cover this between you*.

This is NOT an opportunity to sell items but to encourage us to look at our unused stock, have a spring clean and encourage one another to reuse and recycle. What might have been gathering dust in your stock might be just what another crafter is looking for. All just a bit of Spring Cleaning fun!

Hope to see you all for #CraftBlogClub 2017 Spring Clean on Tuesday 25th April from 7pm.

Love Katie and Fi xxx

craftblogclub-badge-291x300*Disclaimer – #CraftBlogClub accepts no responsibility for lost items or for the cost of posting items. You take part in this Swap Shop Spring Clean at your own risk. When sharing personal contact details you do so at your own risk.

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#craftblogclub

#craftblogclub Secret Santa 2016!

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It’s that time of year again and we are SO excited here at @craftblogclub! This year marks our fourth Secret Santa, can you believe it?! I think it’s safe to say it’s our favourite #craftblogclub challenge of the year and we hope it is yours too. Here is how it works:

If you want to take part please email us at:

craftblogclub@gmail.com

Please include your name, twitter name, email address and postal address.

Please email us by 8pm on Tuesday 1st November. We will then email everyone back by Tuesday 8th November with the name and address of the person you are making a gift for.

You then make that person a Christmas gift – this can be anything you like and made from any craft. It would be lovely for everyone to receive their gift in time for Christmas, therefore we have set a deadline for posting the gift by Tuesday 20th December. Make sure you include a note revealing who you are.

Who you make for won’t necessarily be the person that makes for you. Sadly, last year a few people were never sent a gift, so please only sign up if you can make and send a gift by the deadline. As crafters we all know how much time and love goes into making something handmade so let’s make sure no one misses out this year please.

The real excitement then begins as we all receive a special handmade Christmas gift from our Secret Santa! We ask that you write a blog post about the wonderful gift you receive and about the gift you made. We suggest you do this after Christmas (so not to spoil any surprises) and by Tuesday 3rd Jan, which is our first #craftblogclub of 2017. It will make for a great first chat of the year to discuss our makes and gifts.

We hope you are all as excited about this challenge as we are. We love seeing all the amazing gifts you lovely lot make for one another.

Enjoy making and receiving your special #craftblogclub gift.

Love Katie and Fi x

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#craftblogclub, Inspiration, Sewing

#craftblogclub Upcycle Reveal

I have taken part in the latest #craftblogclub challenge and I am excited to reveal my make. For this upcycle challenge I decided to revamp a sad looking stool for the lounge. I enjoyed cutting off the old grey discoloured fabric and I picked a vibrant orange to recover it in. I used the grey fabric as a template and was able to make the perfect fit. I also got out the glue gun as the foam seat wasn’t secured and would move, so the glue sorted this out.

I am so pleased with the result and I feel I have saved an old but of furniture from going to the tip/charity shop. Do you have anything that is on its way out that you could give a little love to and upcycle? Do share your projects with us.

I look forward to #craftblogclub chat on Tuesday 2nd August from 7pm as everyone reveals their upcycle makes! Hope you can join us :)

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#craftblogclub

#CraftBlogClub Upcycle Summer Project

We are pleased to welcome back an upcycle challenge to #craftblogclub. This summer why not take part in the challenge and complete an upcycle project of your choice. This could be turning a jumper into a hat, revamping a pair of jeans or turning that sad looking plant pot into fab crafty storage container.

Who better to host this challange than the wonderful Jenniffer Taylor – queen of the #sewingrevolution Jenniffer is launching the challenge at our #craftblogclub chat on Tuesday 7th June from 7pm. This will be your chance to share ideas, thoughts and tips. Jenniffer will then join us again on Tuesday 2nd August as we all reveal our upcycle projects.

As with all #craftblogclub challenge please do tweet about your project using #craftblogclub and then please do write a blog post revealing the final result. We really do love to read all about your challenge experiences.

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#craftblogclub

#craftblogclub Spring Clean Challenge 2016

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The daffodils are out and there’s the smell of fresh cut grass, this can only mean one thing Spring. This also often means a Spring clean! We thought we would incorporate this theme for our next #craftblogclub challenge. We all are guilty for hanging onto crafty materials that we think we will use but never do. So to help you with your Spring Clean we are going to host a spring clean stash swap. Its simple, parcel up that fat quarter, ribbon, craft paper etc. that you have been hanging onto for far too long and parcel it off to a fellow #craftblogclubber. Hopefully the recipient will see this stash with a fresh pair of eyes and make something wonderful! In return you will receive a spring clean stash swap and be inspired to create something. Its that simple. So if you want to take part here is what you do:

Email us on craftblogclub@gmail.com include your name, twitter name, email address and postal address. Please also let us know your craft preference (e.g paper-craft, knitting, sewing). Please email us by 8pm on Tuesday 5th April. We will then email everyone back by Tuesday 12th April with the name and address of the person you are sending your spring clean stash too. Who you are sending the stash too won’t necessarily be the person you are receiving a stash from. Names are drawn at random out of a hat (online version of a hat).

Once you have received an email from us detailing who you are to send your stash too you then parcel it up and make sure you get it in the post by 26th April. Please ensure that you cover the cost of the postage. It is up to you how much you send as you will be covering the cost of the postage. Make sure you include a note revealing who you are (maybe even an explanation of what’s in the stash and what you once intended to make with it). Once you have received your stash please write and share a blog post detailing what you sent and what you received. It is then up to you what you make with your stash. There is no deadline on making something, we just ask that when you do please write and share a blog post as we would love to see what you make.

If after you have sent off your #craftblogclub spring clean stash you still have lots more, maybe you could consider donating your unused materials, paper, wool etc to charity? There are plenty of wonderful uses and ways your unused craft supplies could help others.

Happy Spring Cleaning!

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#craftblogclub, Inspiration, Sewing

#craftblogclub New Year Crafty Resolution

CBC set its first challenge of the year back in January. With the New Year came the idea of a new craft. We were all set the challenge of trying our hand at a new craft. Now, at first I was reluctant as I had promised myself I would focus purely on sewing this year. As often is the case I’m too busy trying so many different things I am not growing my skills in one particular area. However, I did have a thought that I would try my hand at cross stitch. Strictly speaking this wouldn’t be my first time. I have completed 2 or 3 very basic and small cross stitch projects before. But for this challenge I wanted to set the bar high and decided I would complete a special cross stitch to mark my parents Ruby wedding anniversary.

I found this challenge a challenge before I had even started stitching! The trouble was there were just so many lovely samplers and packs online I couldn’t decide. In the end I opted for a simple yet effective design from eBay. The pack arrived promptly and had everything I needed. I was really surprised that it took me just 4 evenings to complete. It grew quickly which helped with my confidence. I am thrilled with the outcome and hope my parents will be too! 

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#craftblogclub, Inspiration, Knitting & Crochet, Sewing

Spring Show Fun

If you are a regular reader of my blog you will know I am a big fan of the @twistedthread Knitting and Stitching shows. Earlier this month was the Spring show at Kensington Olympia and I went along with my friend and co-host of #craftblogclub @fizzijayne. We had a wonderful time :) The stall holders were pretty much the same as those I had seen at the Harrogate show last November. The show is so vast so I was pleased to have the opportunity to take in all these fabulous stalls again.

I fell in love with this foxy quilt! Being a Leicester girl (and with our current football success) foxes always catch my eye and I will certainly be making one of these for our home.

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Another high of the show was having the chance to catch up with @JenniBobTaylor. Jenniffer is a wonderful supporter of #craftblogclub and so it was nice to finally meet in person. It gave us a chance to talk about a guest host slot with Jenniffer and an exciting up cycle challenge – more details to follow!

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All in all, these shows are fabulous for being inspired and meeting likeminded people. So get out there and visit a show near you and be inspired!

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Inspiration, Knitting & Crochet

Looking forward to Spring!

I don’t know about you but I am really looking forward to Spring. I’m already on my second bunch of Daffodils and I am looking forward to the smell of fresh cut grass and of course the Spring Knitting and Stitching Show. I am really excited to have been invited to attend the show at Olympia London at the beginning of March.

The Knitting and Stitching Show ‘offers over 200 exhibitors selling essential supplies and craft materials. Whether you want knitting yarn and accessories, fabric, sewing machines or embroidery threads you’ll find all the knitting supplies and craft products you can think of at the best knitting show in London!’ The show is hosting a new element this Spring with an exciting competition. The Knitted Feast invites you to showcase your knitted item of food. You can find out more about the competition, knitted patterns and enter here.

Make sure you also follow @twistedthread to check out all of the knitted makes and news leading up to the show.

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#craftblogclub, Inspiration

#CraftBlogClub Ticket Giveaway

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We are SUPER excited to be able to offer a special ticket giveaway. We have 3 pairs of tickets for the Knitting and Stitching Spring Show at Olympia London. The tickets are valid to the show on Thursday 3rd, Friday 4th or Sunday 6th March 2016. This years show is described as ‘The definitive event for anyone with a love of stitch and crafts’.

There are two ways you can enter the Knitting & Stitching Spring Show ticket giveaway. Each of the below will be counted as one entry so do both and you will be entered twice!

  1. Tell us why you want to win by tweeting us. Please use the hashtag #CBCGiveaway and tag us @CraftBlogClub
  2. Give the Craft Blog Club Facebook page a like and leave a comment on why you’d love to win
​Terms and Conditions The giveaway is open to UK entrants only. The tickets are NOT valid for entry to the show on Saturday 5th March, but are valid for Thursday 3rd, Friday 4th and Sunday 5th March.  Deadline for entries is 2nd Feb at 8pm. The 3 lucky winners will be picked at random using random.org and announced at 9pm on 2nd Feb 2016. We will make contact with the lucky winners via Twitter and Facebook. This competition is for 2 pairs of tickets ONLY.
Good Luck!
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Sewing

Simple Fabric Basket

Last week my fab sewing teacher introduced us to a Great British Sewing Bee ‘Sew Your Own Sewing Basket’ kit. The kit included 2 fat quarters, interfacing, fusible wadding and instructions. The whole class loved the look of the completed basket and we could see its potential for so many different uses – craft tidy, fat quarter tidy, bedside table tidy, cutlery holder, perfect for christmas and birthday gifts, especially toiletries. I had been looking for ideas for fat quarter projects and so I decided to give it a go. The instructions are really simple and the project is made in no time – seriously 45 mins max. Needless to say this really is my kind of project, quick and simple!

I didn’t have any fusible wadding so for one of the baskets I used fleece and for the other I used an adhesive spray and this worked perfectly with the wadding that I had. I had never used a glue spray before but it worked just fine and although it was £7 I can see myself using this a lot in future projects.

Everything you need - plus a sewing machine!

Everything you need – plus a sewing machine!

Cutting out - 2 fat quarters, interfacing and wadding all at the same time

Cutting out – 2 fat quarters, interfacing and wadding all at the same time

All cut out and ready

All cut out and ready

Ironing the interfacing to the outer fabric

Ironing the interfacing to the outer fabric

Adhesive spray - wadding to fabric

Adhesive spray – wadding to fabric

Pinning short sides together

Pinning short sides together

With shorter sides sewn together I placed them inside one another with the right sides of the fabric touching

With shorter sides sewn together I placed them inside one another with the right sides of the fabric touching. Then I sewed around the top – leaving an 8cm gap.

Ta-dah!

Pull the fabric through the gap, sew it up and Ta-dah!

I really enjoyed how quick this project is and the result is brilliant! I can see myself making lots of these. I am even planning on altering the size of the basket to make it longer and slightly deeper to fit perfectly on my sewing shelf. You really could pimp up these baskets with small pockets on the outside and maybe even handles? I have searched and searched the internet to find a link to the Great British Sewing Bee Kit and I can’t find it anywhere – so I assume it has been discontinued. This kit was picked up from a charity shop for just £1 – so keep your eyes open for them. Should you come across this kit (or another, as there are several in the series according to the booklet) please do let me know.

Happy Sewing!

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