Tag Archives: #craftblogclub

#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, 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! 

ruby

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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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#craftblogclub, Inspiration

Mince Pie Challenge

By now I am sure you know I am co-host of #craftblogclub. Our latest challenge was set by my fellow co-host Fiona. I was really pleased when this challenge was set as I have been rather quiet on the blog this year (busy having a wedding, wedding party and honeymoon!) so what a great excuse to dust off my keyboard. The only requirement of the challenge was that the post was to be based on the theme of ‘firsts’. So, this got me thinking …first sewing project, first knitting project, first kiss…no, let’s not go there!

With the clocks turning back and thoughts turning to Christmas I thought I would set myself the challenge of making mince pies for the first time. My husband LOVES mince pies and I want to be the good wife (it is our first Christmas together as husband and wife after all) and supply him with scrummy homemade mince pies. Having never attempted them or pastry before, I thought I best get some practice in before the festive season really begins. I remembered seeing a Mary Berry Christmas special last year and I found two recipes, with slight variations, online. Armed with a shopping list I headed off to the shops at 7:45 am on a Saturday – far too early for the weekend.

Everything you need

Everything you need

Pastry - for my first attempt I was worried it was too sticky.

Pastry – for my first attempt I was worried it was too sticky.

But after 10mins int eh fridge and a sprinkle of flour it rolled out fine

But after 10mins in the fridge and a sprinkle of flour it rolled out fine

ready for the mincemeat

ready for the mincemeat

star pastry and grated marizpan - ready for the oven. Fingers crossed!

star pastry and grated marizpan – ready for the oven. Fingers crossed!

ta-da!

ta-da!

So here are the recipes:

http://www.stylist.co.uk/life/recipes/mary-berrys-cranberry-mince-pieces

http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/mincemeat_and_orange_21941

I also found this youtube clip of Mary at what she does best:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ne-TIqBmrU

The verdict – I found both recipes really easy to follow, especially having the video helped. More importantly my husband gave them the thumbs up! I will certainly be making plenty over Christmas; and maybe another batch before then just to make sure I perfect them!

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#craftblogclub, Inspiration

#craftblogclub Secret Santa 2015

craftblogclub-badge-291x300It’s that time of year again and we are SO excited here @craftblogclub! Can you believe this will be our third Secret Santa?! If you took part in previous years then we are certain you will want to be involved again. Here is how it works:

If you want to take part please email us at:

craftblogclub@gmail.com 

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

Please email us by 8pm on Thursday 5th November. We will then email everyone back by Tuesday 10th 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 of 21st 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.

Then the real excitement begins as we all receive a special handmade Christmas gift from our Secret Santa! You can then write a blog post about the wonderful gift you receive and about the gift you made. We suggest you do this by Tuesday 5th Jan, which is our first #craftblogclub of 2016. It will make for a great first chat of the year to discuss our makes and gifts.

I 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, Fi and Emma x

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#craftblogclub

#Craftblogclub Guest Host and Giveaway – Tuesday 13th October 2015

#Craftblogclub are thrilled to have guest host Jenna Clements of the Exeter Sewing Machine Company join us for Tuesdays chat. We will lead the chat with ‘Top tips for running a craft business’ but Jenna is happy to chat about all aspects of her work. So get your questions ready and we will see you all Tuesday 13th October at 7pm. Here is a short bio to find out more about our fab guest host:

‘I was introduced to the crafting world when my mum taught me how to cross stitch when I was 2 years old – so it’s true to say that I can’t remember a time without craft! I’ve been working at Exeter Sewing Machine Co for 4 and a half years and now own the business with my husband. As well as sewing machines we sell fabric and haberdashery and employ a team of four members of staff. An important part of the business is our sewing classes – we run workshops in dressmaking, patchwork & quilting, as well as sewing machine and overlocker techniques – and occasionally host classes run by special guest tutors. My personal favourite class to teach is my Beginners Patchwork & Quilting – I love teaching absolute beginners. A lot of people ask why I don’t sell my work – but I genuinely enjoy dedicating my time to teaching others instead. I’m a firm believer in the positive effect that craft can have on personal well-being, therefore passing on my knowledge and enthusiasm feels important. This is also the reason why we as a business put a lot of effort into our own education. I’m in the middle of my City & Guilds Level 3 Certificate in Design & Craft, specialising in Patchwork & Quilting.’

Jenna has kindly offered up a fab giveaway for one of our lovely followers! Check out these three fat quarters of Kaffe Fassett fabric.

Kaffe Fassett fabric

There are a number of ways you can enter this fat quarter give away and the best part is each one will be counted as 1 entry, so do all three and you will be entered three times!

1. Please leave a comment below about why you would love to win

2. Share this post on Twitter, tagging @craftblogclub and using the hashtag #CBCgiveaway

3. Give the #CraftBlogClub Facebook page a like, and leave a comment on why you’d love to win

Deadline for entries is 20th October at 5:30pm (GMT) and we can only except UK based entries – Sorry!

The winner will be picked at random using random.org and will be announced during #Craftblogclub on 20th October at 7pm (GMT) as well as on this blog and on Facebook.

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#craftblogclub

#craftblogclub Spring Clean Gift Swap Challenge Reveal

At the end of March #craftblogclub set a new challenge – The #CraftBlogClub Spring Clean Gift Swap.

The challenge was to create and send a gift to a fellow #CraftBlogClub-ee, using materials that have sat unused.  The idea of this challenge was to use up those materials that have been lying around and to help you have a good clear out.

I was partnered up with the lovely Kay. I know Kay likes her knitted items so I saw this as a chance to dust off my knitting needles. I had some wool left over from a scarf I made years ago. So I decided to make Kay some wrist warmers. Not much use to her now but ready for the winter.

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I also had some fabric left over from a jute bag I made last year and there was just enough to make another. To my delight Kay loved them both.

From Kay I received the most wonderful gift. Next month I am getting married and Kay has made us a beautiful cross stitch as a keepsake for our special day! How thoughtful?! I’m not ashamed to say I shed a few tears when I opened my gift. Thank you Kay x x x

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I can’t wait for the next challenge – there really is nothing like getting a special hand made gift through the post! #craftblogclub is every Tuesday 7-8.30pm GMT, join us for lots of crafty chat, blogging inspiration and fun challenges – Come Join Us!

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