Making a Textured Pendant

For this project you will need the following:
1.5mm Spacer
Acrylic Roller
Suitable Work Surface
Non stick Baking Paper
Mini Cookie Cutter or Craft Knife for cutting out a shape
Texture Mats or similar
Stainless Steel Mesh for firing on a Gas Hob or a Ceramic Firing Brick for use with a Gas Torch
Stainless Steel Brush
Stainless Steel Burnisher
Art Clay 650 Silver Paste ? small amount
Sanding Pads or Needle Files
Necklace, Ribbon or Leather Thong
Small bowl with some water and a paintbrush
Art Clay 650 7g Slow Dry

1. Using the spacers as a guide, roll out your clay to an even thickness between 2 sheets of baking paper. Use the paintbrush and water to help keep the clay moisturised whilst working with it and to smooth out any cracks that may appear.

2. Apply a texture from your texture mats or anything else that you may be using.

3. Cut out your desired shape using the mini cookie cutters or a craft knife. For the design above, I used mini heart cookie cutters, to cut out a smaller heart shape from the larger one. I then used a little paste to stick the smaller shape (texture side down) onto the larger heart shape. If you are making a design that is different to the one shown in the pattern, remember to make a hole for a jumpring.

4. Dry your piece using the oven, warming tray, hairdryer or heat gun. To find appropriate drying times please look at Drying Schedule for Art Clay resources page

5. Once dry, use your sanding pads or needle files and smooth out any sharp edges and corners. Now is also the time to carve in any patterns or designs you would like.

6. Your piece can now be fired using your preferred method. For a firing schedule please look at Firing Schedule for Art Clay resources page

7. After your piece has been fired and cooled, brush with a Stainless Steel Brush to bring out the beautiful Silver colour.

8. You can now use your Burnisher to create a mirror finish to your pendant. Add a necklace, ribbon or leather thong to complete your unique creation.

9. Enjoy!! All that you need to create a unique Textured Pendant is available in The Webshop

For more information on using, drying and firing Art Clay please take a look at the Resources Page

Candle Making Kits

Candle Making Kits - A Candle Hobby Can Be Fun
By Christopher J

Millions of people throughout the world have hobbies to help them relax after a long day of work. One hobby that has risen in popularity is candle making.

Candle making has become sort of an art form. Each person has their own ideas and designs for candles, and each candle has the potential of becoming a work of art, if only to its creator.

Candle making is not difficult, however if you are creating something that will become a focal point of a room, you want it to be perfect. The great thing about candle making is that if you make a mistake, you can melt the candle and start all over again.

Candle Making Kits Are Great

Candle making kits are great for first timers to introduce yourself to candle making. Candle making kits will show you the basic steps and techniques when you have the basic knowledge of how to make candles, you will be able to create candles that are stunning.

The first step in candle making is to protect your work surface from melted wax. Covering with newspaper or heavy plastic will insure that your workspace is kept clean.

You do not need elaborate tools to create wonderful candles. A roasting pan and a thermometer will work just as well as all of the fancy equipment that can be quite expensive.

Candle making kits can become a way to spend quality time with your children. However, it is very important that they are supervised at all times to avoid any accidents that may occur.

Safety First

Melting wax is relatively easy, however little fingers may try to test it. Make sure that you advise your children that although the melted wax may smell good, it is extremely hot and they could get serious injuries if they try to touch it.

Dyes and fragrances for candles are available at craft stores throughout the country. It is important that you add the dye slowly to the melted wax and wait for it to dissolve completely. Adding colors one at a time will allow you to determine which colors work with each other the best.

It is very important that you watch the wax very carefully when it is melting. If the heat is too high, it will burn the wax. If melting wax begins to smoke, remove it from the heat immediately, being very careful not to spill any on your skin. If this should happen, do not wipe it off. You could spread it cause more serious burns. Instead, run it under cold water until the wax hardens and it should fall right off.

Once you have poured your wax into your molds, it will need twenty-four hours or more to cool and harden completely. Once the candle has set up, it is time to decorate.

Add Personality To Your Candle Making

Choosing the right pattern for your candle is the most creative part of candle making. If you want to add a splash of color, try melting your favorite colored crayon for a vibrant look to your candle.

You can use just about anything from stencils to non-flammable beads to create works of art. You are limited only by your imagination.

If you choose to create scented candles, adding crushed herbs will give a pleasant scent that will last as long as the candle itself. Candle making kits come with complete instructions on how to create the perfect candle. They are easy to follow and can be used in any setting. Candle Making Kits are great fun and also make for an interesting past time by yourself or with your family. Learn even more about candle making kits at. Types of Candles.com

Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Christopher_J http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Christopher_J

Soap Making Supply... What And Where!

By Al Bullington

Soap making supply sources are very numerous on the Internet. It's actually puzzling where to go for supplies and information.
Consider these five categories of soap supplies that you must choose for your soap making project.
1. Oils
The most basic material you must choose are your base oils, the actual oils that turn to soap. If you're making only small batches, you may choose to use what's available in your local grocery store.
As your production volume goes up, you may choose to buy in larger volume. Here, shipping costs are a major factor.
If you do order your oils, consider Columbus Foods in Chicago for excellent quality materials at great prices.
2. Scents
If you scent your soaps, which you probably will, the choice of a scent supplier is difficult. Thee are so many to choose from.
You must choose whether to use synthetic fragrance oils in endless varieties. Or you may decide to use natural essential oils.
There are suppliers who specialize in each or some carry both types.
The choice of the scent oils may be a large part of your cost for a bar of soap.
3. Colors
Colors can be commercial pigments approved for cosmetics. These are often clay based.
Or there are many natural materials that produce muted earth tones. I've used and enjoy rose hips, spirulina, turmeric, kelp and many other natural plant-based materials as colorants.
Some soap making supply sources carry both types.
4. Lye
Lye is used to turn the oils to soap. It is a necessary ingredient in soap. But it is classified as a hazardous material so it's expensive to ship. Luckily it is available through many of the soap supply source companies.
Lye can sometimes be found in building supply stores in the plumbing department.
The best place to buy lye is locally through an industrial chemical supply house. You'll most likely need a tax exempt certificate or some way to prove you're a business. Your wholesale cost will be far less than any other way.
5. Information
There is a bewildering amount of information about making soap available online.
Much of it is very good. and from reliable sources. Some of it is worthless.
A good inexpensive basic printed book is Soap by Ann Bramson. It's a classic.
With some good guidance and a little work you can find the best soap making supply sources for your soap making projects.
Al Bullington writes about rural living and small scale business topics. He has made and sold soap for years.
For ideas about the best soap making supply sources as well as professional tips on making and marketing soap get his Soap Business Kit at [http://www.soapbizkit.com]www.soapbizkit.com.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Al_Bullington [http://ezinearticles.com/?Soap-Making-Supply...-What-And-Where!&id=643047 ]http://EzineArticles.com/?Soap-Making-Supply...-What-And-Where!&id=643047

Fingerprint Pendant, Brooch, Tie Pin or charm

For this project you will need the following:
Silicon Moulding Compound
Stainless Steel Burnisher
Stainless Steel Brush
Art Clay 650 Silver 7 or 10g – depending on the size of the print to be taken Sanding Pads
Jump Ring & Necklace or Earring fittings
Liver of Sulphur

This is a wonderful project to make as a present for parents, grandparents aunts, etc. Or for a new parent to make as a keepsake.

1. Mix together equal quantities of the blue and white Silicon Moulding Compound until well blended, about 5mls of each for a small child’s print. You have to ensure that there are no streaks or light and dark patches. Roll this mixture into a ball and flatten slightly.

2. Press a clean and dry finger or thumb into this ball and hold for about 1 minute. You will need to allow this mould to rest for about five to eight minutes. It is ready when a fingernail pressed into the silicon no longer leaves an impression.

3. When the mould is ready press the Art Clay into the mould and smooth out the back.

4. At this stage a Bail Back or Eyelet can be pressed into the wet clay or they can be attached later using a bit of Art Clay Paste.

5. Allow the Art Clay to dry either in the mould for a few hours or overnight or after about 1 hour carefully remove the Art Clay shape and dry using a hairdryer or in a moderate oven.

6. When completely dry you can sand out any rough edges and carve out the person’s name or date of birth, etc.

7. You can now fire the shape on a Gas Hob, with a Gas torch or in a Kiln. Firing instructions for the different methods are included with the Art Clay.

8. Once fired the fingerprint can then be brushed with a Stainless Steel Brush and burnished. Burnishing helps strengthens the finished item as well as giving it a lovely shine.

9. You can also finish the piece by dipping it into a solution of Liver of Sulphur. This does highlight the finger print rather well. You can achieve all sorts of colours using this method and it may be worth experimenting.

10. If you do not like the finished effect with the Liver of Sulphur then just refire the piece, brush and burnish.

You know have a wonderful keepsake of someone special to wear as a Pendant, Brooch, Charm, Tie Pin, etc. Enjoy!!!

A kit is available with everything you need to make your own Fingerprint for only £32.95 which is a 16% saving on the normal Retail Price!! The kit contains enough to be able to make 2 fingerprints of children.

The kit includes: Stainless Steel Mesh
Stainless Steel Brush
Burnisher
Art Clay 650 10g
Sanding Pads – 3 grits
A Bail Back
Sterling Silver 18" or 16" Necklace
Liver of Sulphur
Blue & White Moulding Compound


Buy the kit here...

Father's Day Cufflinks

Creating Beautiful Cufflinks for that very Special Dad

There are so many different designs and ideas that you could use to make your Dad a very special Father's Day Present!!

To create a base for the cufflinks you will need to roll out the Clay to an even thickness or at least one side of the base should be flat. This will ensure that you have a suitable surface to attach the cufflink backs too.

I normally find that a 1.5mm thickness provides enough weight and substance for a cufflink. If you want to create a textured surface then remember to place the spacers on the texture sheet before rolling out the clay. Once the clay has been rolled out, cut out the shape of the cufflink, by using mini cookie cutters or a craft knife. Place cut out pieces on a flat ceramic tile.

You can now add embellishments to the cufflinks with either rubber stamps, man made stones, Art Clay Syringe, etc. For the Cufflinks in the first picture above, I created a shape from Cork Clay which I then dried overnight. Once dry I placed this on to the square rolled out piece of clay and syringed around the Cork Clay, ensuring that it was attached on all sides to the piece of clay. When it was fired the cork clay burnt away leaving a hollow filigree like structure on the base. In the second picture I used rubber stamps and in the 3rd one I used a texture mat.
Once you are satisfied with the cufflinks, dry them thoroughly. Generally I find it best to do this in the oven at about 150 to 180 degrees C for about 30 minutes.

Allow to cool and using your sanding pads, ensure that there are no sharp edges or scratches. If you are using Sterling Silver Cufflink backs, you can add them now with a little bit of Art Clay Paste. Dry again with a hair dryer for a few minutes before firing.

The cufflinks can now be fired, using a gas hob, blow torch or kiln. Remember if you have used Cork Clay it must be fired in a kiln.

Once fired, allow to cool slightly and quench in some cold water. Using your Stainless Steel Brush, brush your fired Cufflinks to expose the beautiful silver. If you have attached the cufflink backs prior to firing you may notice fire scale on them. This can easily be removed by dipping the Cufflinks in a “pickle” solution or by filing away with a little bit of fine emery paper. If you haven't add the backs before firing, then you can either solder them on now or glue them on with a 2 part epoxy resin.

Depending on the finish you want, you can now burnish the Cufflinks or polish them up to a mirror finish with the sanding pads or oxidise them with a Liver of Sulphur Solution.

Add on the Cufflink bars and polish with a soft cloth. The cufflinks are now ready for that very special “Dad” to wear.

Your imagination is the only limitation for design ideas. He will love anything that you make as it is such a very special present.

More Art Cay Projects can be found at http://www.artclaysupplies.co.uk/art-clay-monthly-project-page.shtml

Simple Topiary Chickens Without Trimming

By S. Roberts

Since I was a child I have always admired topiary. The art of creating a living sculpture from buses and trees has always appealed to me. I would look in aura at topiary peacocks, squirrels and bunnies, even if they weren't particularly well formed.

I remember also as a child my mother clipping three small box buses into dome like shapes. Not quite the sculptures I admired but certainly less brash and easier to maintain. Funny to thick that nowadays simple topiary of geometric shapes is so popular, more so than the more elaborate birds and animals that were so fashionable in by gone days.

We recently moved house and in the garden were two dwarf conifers, which were rather old and had reached a height of four and five feet. I have never been a fan of conifers because they sap the earth's goodness without a single bloom to show for it.

Not really wanting such dull specimens in the garden I pondered on how to make them more appealing. And with a little tree training I transformed the two trees into a Mother hen and chick, giving a topiary appearance without any of the hedge clipping of trimming skills.

How to make a Topiary looking chicken...
Take an aged dwarf conifer and look down into the construction of its stems or branches. The tree sends up 'clumps' Mentally divide these clumps into four.

The tallest clump will form the head.
The smallest will be left as a tail.
The other two clumps will form the chicken’s wings.

You may have to dig the tree up if the largest clump is facing the wrong direction. But with a good watering the tree can be replanted happily.

Using a length of green garden wire, fix one end of the wire to just above half way up a wing clump. Then thread the wire down through the main body of the chicken so that the wire can not be seen. Pull the wire so that the clump bends down to form a right angle, this forms the wing. The tip of the clump points out behind the chicken. Fix the other end of the wire to the to the woody base of the tree where it wont be noticed. Do the same to the wing on the other side of the tree.

Creating the head of the chicken works on a similar principle to the wings. Attach one end of a piece of garden wire approximately one quarter of the way from the tip of the head clump and pull the tip down and bend it over roughly 45 degrees to form the head. Fix the other end of the wire to the main branch f the head clump. Arrange the greenery to hide the wire.

Leave the chickens tail to stand upright proudly at the back.

As a finishing touch wire a couple of fir cones in place as eyes.

The result is simple topiary chickens that don't require clipping and continual trimming. I'm sure you will agree that they are 'cheep' and cheerful.


Garden Tools and Supplies




S. Roberts wrie for http://www.santaspostbag.co.uk/ http://www.artclaysupplies.co.uk/ and http://www.bigboystoyz.com/

Crazy Daisy Jeans

Funk up a dull drab pair of jeans with a little bit of flower power. Great for kids jeans or hippie ladies jeans or a project for a teenager, you’re bound to be a trend-setter in funky daisy jeans. Quick and easy to do and not a great deal of artistic flare is needed.

To make daisy jeans you will need…
A pair of jeans (cheap jeans are ideal), thick bleach, artists paintbrushes, thick card, scraps of bright fabric (look in the patchwork box in your local haberdashery) and a needle and thread.

Lay the jeans out flat on a table. Move anything from the area that would be spoilt should it come into contact with the bleach.

Push some thick card up the inside of the right leg of the jeans. This creates a firm base and prevents bleach from seeping through to the fabric below.

Along the bottom hem and up the side seem of the leg to the knee draw 4 to 8 daisies with a biro. The flowers can be assorted sizes. Start off with an “O” shape at the centre and draw six petals or so coming off from the daisy middle. Just draw the flower heads – no stalks or leaves.

Once you are happy with the design go over the daisies with bleach. Pour some bleach onto a plate (thick bleach is best) and using a paint brush, brush the bleach over the biro lines.

You need to work quickly because not only will some brush bristles melt, but the bleach will also be bleaching and attacking the fabric of the jeans. Really you want all the daisies bleached to a similar colour.

Reapply bleach to areas you feel needs it.

When all the daisies have turned white, immerse the jeans into a bowl of water and rinse three or four times to get all of the bleach out. Do not put them into the washing machine because the bleach will perish the rubber seal of the washing machine. Leave the jeans to dry.

You can leave the jeans like this, or you can give each daisy a coloured centre.

Here’s how to colour centres…
Draw around a mug or something onto the back of some brightly coloured fabric. Cut out and with a needle and threads sew a row of running stitches around the outside of the fabric circle. Draw the running stitches up so that the raw edges are drawn in. Flatten the circle out, this is your daisy centre. Adjust the tightness of the “Drawing up” to make the centre bigger or smaller to fit each particular daisy. Sew or Wonderwed the daisy centre into place on the jeans. Use invisible stitching, hemming stitch would be good.

Feeling adventurous?

Try covering the jeans in daisies, the front and back. Or just across the seat of the jeans. The funky design possibilities are endless.

More of S. Roberts craft ideas can be found at http://busy-crafting.blogspot.com/. For Christmas crafts visit http://www.santaspostbag.co.uk/ where you can also send a free letter to your child from Santa Claus. For Jewellery crafting, visit http://www.artclaysupplies.co.uk/ for beautiful home-made jewellery making projects.

How to make a special memories album

A special memories album is an ideal Christmas, birthday, anniversary, wedding or christening gift because it is a collection of special memories. The album could include photos, poems, certificates, concert tickets, and newspaper clippings, scraps of fabric or anything else that holds sentimental value. It could be a kind of “This is our life” album.

This special gift is easy to make, all you need is…
Glue, double sided sticky tape, ribbon, a hole punch, memories and contents and some multicoloured thin card (ring binder dividers are cheap and ideal, just cut of the holes and tabs).

Cut the sheets of card to the size you want the album to be.

Choose a coloured card for the front and back cover. The front and back covers need to be double thickness card to give the finished album some rigidity. Stick two sheets of card together, one on top of the other for the front cover and do the same for the back. Set to one side to dry.

The front cover will need a title of sorts, you could name it “Special memories album” or “An album for Mum” or “Grandad – This is your life”. You could create a title page on a computer with images and a decorative font and print it out and glue it to the front cover of the album. Alternatively you could paint or draw the title. You could cut out flowers from some wrapping paper to make a small collage to decorate the front of the album.

On the front of the front cover rule a pencil line 3cm in form the spine edge of the album. With a pair of scissors score this line, so that the front cover will open with ease.

Sticking in your memories…
Cut some strips of card, 1cm wide on assorted colours.

Take one strip of card and a piece of card and lay the strips diagonally over one of the corners and fold the excess strip behind the sheet of card to form a triangle. Remove the triangle from the sheet of card and trim away the excess strip of card. These are the “Photo corners mounts”. Make a set of four (one to fit each corner of a photo or document). Put some double sided sticky tape on the back of each photo corner mount and stick the memories into place in the album.

Between the memories can be decorated with stickers or more wrapping paper decoupage to form some continuity throughout the album.

When your album pages are complete you need to mark the centre along the spine edge of each page and also the front and back covers. This mark is used as a guide for the hole-punch to ensure all the holes are central. Hole-punch each page.

Put all the pages in order and thread the ribbon through the holes to tie the pages together, making sure the ribbon ends are at the front of the album. Tie a knot in the ribbon ends and then tie a bow for a decorative finish.


More of S. Roberts crafty gift ideas can be found at http://busy-crafting.blogspot.com/. For Christmas crafts visit http://www.santaspostbag.co.uk/ where you can also send a free letter to your child from Santa Claus. SantasPostbag is in association with http://www.bigboystoyz.com together keeping Christmas Magical.

Football Crazy Wall Clock

by S. Roberts

Do you know someone who is football crazy? Is your Dad a footy nut? Is your brother a soccer Fanatic? This is possibly the bestest Crimbo pressie you can make them. You can make it fit any football team of your choosing, or add an assortment of football teams. You could also adapt this idea to make a net-ball, basketball, or rugby clock.

To make a Football Crazy Wall Clock you will need...

Paint, thick card or an old grocery box, a clock mechanism and clock hands (you will find these at craft shops) and a print out of pattern of football shirts which is available at the link below.

Colour the football shirts in the team’s strip you choose. You can colour them randomly if you wish. Number each shirt 1 to 12.

To make the clock face, draw around a large dinner plate or a tea tray onto some card. An old grocery box is great. Cut out two identical circles, and glue them together so that the lines in the cards structure cross, this will give the clock face extra strength.

Once the glue is dry, paint the clock face green. Again leave to dry. With white paint, paint on a centre line through the middle of the clock face, and paint a kick off circle in the middle of the clock.

Push a pencil through the centre of the clock face ready to attach the clock mechanism. Be very careful and use the old Plasticine trick - Put a ball of Plasticine on the table, put your card on top of it where you need the hole to be, and push the pencil through the card and into the Plasticine.

Arrange the football shirts on the clock face and stick them down.

Push the clock spindle through the hole and push on the hands. The mechanism has a hole for hanging the clock on the wall.

Put a battery in the clock and set the time.



Football shirts print out http://www.santaspostbag.co.uk/football-crazy-wall-clock.html S. Roberts is one of Santa’s Helpers and writes for www.santaspostbag.co.uk a Christmas educational & activity website. For more festive ideas & gifts to make visit http://www.santaspostbag.co.uk/homemade-christmas-gift-ideas.html
SantasPostbag is in association with http://www.bigboystoyz.com Together keeping Christmas Magical

Sock Monkeys

By S. Roberts

Well we have a fantastic idea to turn a boring old pair of socks into a cute, cheeky, little sock monkey.

All you will need is... A pair of socks in any size, needle and thread, toy stuffing, 2 buttons for eyes and a sewing machine is an advantage but not essential
You will also need the FREE prinable pattern which you will find HERE...

Take the first sock, turn it inside out and lay it out flat heel up.

Mark out the centre of the sock up to 4 cm below the heel line. With a dewing machine, if you have one, stitch 1 cm away from the centre line and sew down towards the ribbed part of the sock. Sew down to the bottom edge, turn away from the centre line and sew across the ribbed section to form a foot. Stitch the other side of the centre line to match.

Now cut up the centre line to divide the legs.

Turn the sock the right way out through the hole at the monkey's crotch. Lightly stuff the monkey's body and legs and sew up the hole in the crotch with invisible stitches.

Lay the second sock out flat in a side profile position and cut out relevant parts as indicated in the diagram.

Tail
Fold in half and stitch up the long side, tapering the ribbed edge to a point. Turn, stuff, turn the ends in and attach to the monkey's bottom.

Mouth
Turn in edges and pin the oval shaped mouth to the main monkey just below the toe. Stitch invisibly in place leaving a small opening. Lightly stuff and close opening. Embroider on a mouth.

Arms
Fold in half and sew up the long edge and across the ribbed edge. Turn, stuff, turn the edges in and stitch in place on the monkey's body.

Ears
Put two ear parts together with right sides facing. Sew around curved part of the ear and turn right sides out. Tuck the bottom edge up inside the ear and fold the ear in half. Tack half way along the bottom edge to form a fold in the ear and stitch in place at the side of the monkey's head.

Eyes
Stitch buttons on the front of the monkey's head above the mouth.

Pull the hat on to the monkey's head

For illustrations and photos see http://www.santaspostbag.co.uk/how-to-make-sock-monkeys-christmas-toy.html a free educational resource packed with creative things to do over the festive period including traditional, religious and 21st Century activities. For more craft projects visit http://www.santaspostbag.co.uk/christmas-fun-stuff.html

Indulge Your Inner Hippie and Learn to Tie Dye

by Chris Robertson

Even if you're not a child of the 60s, you've probably had the pleasure of owning and wearing tie dye clothing. If you've ever been to an event with a craft fair, chances are that you've noticed those eye-catching booths full of colorful tie-dye clothing and home decor. You may even have marveled at how they manage to incorporate those intricate, vibrant designs onto a plain cotton T-shirt.

While intricate tie dying is truly an art, you and your family can have loads of fun at home making your own tie dye (or tye dye) creations. Hands down, the best way to learn how to tie-dye is through instructions demonstrated on a video or DVD. Seeing how it's done, as opposed to reading about it, makes all the difference in the world. Still, tie dye is a process of trial and error, so why not give it a whirl (or a swirl)?

It's All About the Fabric

When it comes to tie dye, the right fabric is critical. Natural fibers - like cotton or linen, pick up the dye well. If you stick with 100 percent cotton, you can't go wrong. To start with, why not pick up some inexpensive T-shirts at your local mass merchandiser? Get one for each family member, and make it a party! Remember, though, that you need to wash and dry the new garments before you start your tie dying party. Unwashed new fabric won't pick up the dye very well.

The Secret of Dyes

Actually, the dyes you use to tie-dye aren't a big secret. For cotton, you need to use a dye that will react well to the fabric, namely Procion MX, dissolved in a urea solution. You can make virtually every color imaginable with just three colors: yellow, turquoise, and fuchsia. But, before you start dying, you need to soak your fabric in soda ash. Tie dye artisans use a few other chemicals as well, which you can learn about on an instructional DVD or video.

The Fun Part: Patterns

Tie-dye is all about colors and patterns. Learning how to make swirls, crinkles, stripes, wavy lines, hearts, clovers, and - yes - even peace signs is a great way to engage the creativity of everyone in the family. You can learn to tye knots; twist fabric into pancake shapes secured by rubber bands; roll a shirts to form tubes, which you then tie; and pleat the fabric to make symmetrical patterns.

Applying the Dye

There are at least six different techniques you can use to apply the dye to your fabric, from dipping and soaking to using squeeze bottles and spray bottles. Again, someone with years of experience can best teach you how to apply dyes to get the results you want.

Making it Stick

After tie dying your shirts or decor, it's important to follow the steps necessary to make sure the dye reacts with the fiber. Then you need to repeatedly wash the fabric in a special solution so that the dyes don't inadvertently mix and so the garments remain colorfast.

Ultimately, though, tie dye is all about having fun. It can be a family adventure, a fun way to spend a weekend afternoon with friends, or a way to indulge the creative hippie within you. A great instructional DVD or video will help you learn to tie dye, and send you well on your way to creating gorgeous, vibrant designs.

Chris Robertson is an author of Majon International, one of the worlds MOST popular internet marketing companies.
For tips/information, click here: Tie Dye
Visit Majon's Crafts and Hobbies directory.

Home-made Safety Pin Jewellery

By S. Roberts

Make a beautiful bracelet from safety pins and beads. No one will know what it's made of until they look really closely.

To make the bracelet you will need...
Roughly 85 silver safety pins of the same size, an assortment of small beads and some sheering elastic.

Decorate each safety pin by opening each pin and slipping on some beads. Make sure there are enough beads to fill that side of the safety pin once the pin is closed again. Close the pin and use a pair of plies to squeeze the head of the safety pin to hold the pin firmly closed.

Decorate each pin in this way, adding beads to pins in a random way.

The pins are now threaded together. You will notice that there is a hole in the pinhead and another hole at the other end of the safety pin where the metal is turned, creating a circle. These are the holes used when threading up the pins.

Two lines of elastic are used one at the top and one below with the pins threaded onto them like the rungs of a ladder. To begin, thread the top line through the head of the first pin and the bottom line and through the circle hole. With the second pin, thread the top line through the circle hole and the bottom line and through the head of the pin.

Continue adding pins to the lines in this way alternating which way you add each pin. Make sure when you add the safety pins that all the beads are visible on the same side.

When the last safety pin has been added tie the two ends of the top line together so that all the pins sit closely together. Then tie off the bottom line in a similar way.

S. Roberts is one of Santa’s Helpers and writes for www.santaspostbag.co.uk a Christmas educational & activity website. For more festive ideas & gifts to make visit www.santaspostbag.co.uk/homemade-christmas-gift-ideas.html SantasPostbag is in association with www.bigboystoyz.com Together keeping Christmas Magical

Peppermint Sweets

By S. Roberts
To make peppermint sweets you will need...
12 tablespoons of icing sugar, 1 egg white, green food colouring (optional), peppermint flavouring and cooking chocolate.

Remember to wash your hands and clean the work surfaces before you begin.

Method...
Add to a bowl the icing sugar, egg white, 4 drops of peppermint flavouring and 12 drops of green food colouring. Mix well and kneed the mixture to form a smooth ball. If the mixture is a little too wet add more icing sugar.

Roll the ball into a large sausage and slice into individual sweets. Use your hands to shape the sweets and leave them on a chopping board to dry.

Melt the chocolate in a dish in the microwave, it will only need a minute or two. Don't over do it, it just needs enough time to melt. If you do not have a microwave, you may need an adult to help. Stand a mixing bowl inside a pan of boiling water on the hob, keep the water simmering. Don’t let any water bubble over the side and into the chocolate because this spoils the chocolate. Be careful not to let the pan boil dry.

Dip each sweet into the chocolate half way, and leave it on some tinfoil until the chocolate sets.

A perfect Christmas gift for someone with a sweet tooth.

S. Roberts is one of Santa’s Helpers and writes for http://www.santaspostbag.co.uka Christmas educational & activity website. For more festive ideas & gifts to make visit http://www.santaspostbag.co.uk/homemade-christmas-gift-ideas.html
SantasPostbag is in association with http://www.bigboystoyz.com Together keeping Christmas Magical

LED Light up Bottle

By S. Roberts

You can find lots of unusual things in bottles, ships and messages, so why not fill a bottle with LED lights? What a bright idea! This attractive bottle is a great talking point; it makes a nice table decoration or a festive night-light, everyone will want one of these.

To make the LED light up bottle you will need... A clear glass bottle, a meter or so of tinsel, a loo roll or kitchen towel tube, glitter, PVA glue, and a set of 20 LED lights. You can get these ready made from with a battery compartment from the '99p Store' on your local high street. Tech confident people could make their own from individual components. DO NOT use mains fairy lights, this is a fire hazard!

First wash out the bottle and remove all the labels. Use a nice smelling detergent to rid the bottle of any lingering odours from its previous contents. Leave the bottle to drain and dry out completely.

Take the LED lights and the Tinsel, use a small amount of selotape and stick the wire directly behind the last LED bulb (the bulb furthest away from the battery compartment) to the end of the strip of tinsel.

Twist the string of lights and the tinsel loosely together and carefully push the lights and tinsel into the bottle until the battery compartment rests on the neck of the bottle.

The loo roll or kitchen towel tube will become a fancy bottle stopper that covers the battery compartment. Draw around the end of the tube onto a piece of card. A grocery box is great. Cut the disc out and push it into the end of the tube. Use a bit of selotape to hold it in place.

Cover the tube and end piece in PVA glue and sprinkle with glitter. Cover the cardboard completely so that it is no longer visible. Leave to dry.

Perch the battery compartment on top of the bottle and place the glitter bottle stopper over the top of it, so that it hides the batteries and part of the neck of the bottle.


S. Roberts write for www.santaspostbag.co.uk a free educational resource packed with creative things to do and make including traditional, religious & 21-century activities. Visit http://www.santaspostbag.co.uk/christmas-fun-stuff.html for more fun stuff. SantasPostbag is in association with www.bigboystoyz.com Together keeping Christmas magical.

Making a Fingerprint Pendant, Brooch, Tie Pin or charm

For this project you will need the following:
Silicon Moulding Compound
Stainless Steel Burnisher
Stainless Steel Brush
Art Clay 650 Silver 7 or 10g – depending on the size of the print to be taken Sanding Pads
Jump Ring & Necklace or Earring fittings
Liver of Sulphur

This is a wonderful project to make as a present for parents, grandparents aunts, etc. Or for a new parent to make as a keepsake.

1. Mix together equal quantities of the blue and white Silicon Moulding Compound until well blended, about 5mls of each for a small child’s print. You have to ensure that there are no streaks or light and dark patches. Roll this mixture into a ball and flatten slightly.

2. Press a clean and dry finger or thumb into this ball and hold for about 1 minute. You will need to allow this mould to rest for about five to eight minutes. It is ready when a fingernail pressed into the silicon no longer leaves an impression.

3. When the mould is ready press the Art Clay into the mould and smooth out the back.

4. At this stage a Bail Back or Eyelet can be pressed into the wet clay or they can be attached later using a bit of Art Clay Paste.

5. Allow the Art Clay to dry either in the mould for a few hours or overnight or after about 1 hour carefully remove the Art Clay shape and dry using a hairdryer or in a moderate oven.

6. When completely dry you can sand out any rough edges and carve out the person’s name or date of birth, etc.

7. You can now fire the shape on a Gas Hob, with a Gas torch or in a Kiln. Firing instructions for the different methods are included with the Art Clay.

8. Once fired the fingerprint can then be brushed with a Stainless Steel Brush and burnished. Burnishing helps strengthens the finished item as well as giving it a lovely shine.

9. You can also finish the piece by dipping it into a solution of Liver of Sulphur. This does highlight the finger print rather well. You can achieve all sorts of colours using this method and it may be worth experimenting.

10. If you do not like the finished effect with the Liver of Sulphur then just refire the piece, brush and burnish.

You know have a wonderful keepsake of someone special to wear as a Pendant, Brooch, Charm, Tie Pin, etc. Enjoy!!!

A kit is available with everything you need to make your own Fingerprint for only £32.95 which is a 16% saving on the normal Retail Price!! The kit contains enough to be able to make 2 fingerprints of children.

The kit includes: Stainless Steel Mesh
Stainless Steel Brush
Burnisher
Art Clay 650 10g
Sanding Pads – 3 grits
A Bail Back
Sterling Silver 18" or 16" Necklace
Liver of Sulphur
Blue & White Moulding Compound

Making a Leaf Pendant or Earrings

For this project you will need the following:
A fresh leaf – it should really be one with distinctive veins on the back.
Stainless Steel Mesh
Stainless Steel Brush
Stainless Steel Burnisher
Art Clay 650 Silver Paste 10g
Sanding Pads
Jump Ring & Necklace or Earring fittings
Paintbrush

I find that the best leaves to use are normally geranium, rose or sage, but I am sure there are plenty of other varieties out there that can be used. Just ensure that you find a leaf with an interesting shape and it must be firm. Also make sure that the back of the leaf is not too hairy as it will be difficult to coat with the paste.

1. Lay the leaf with the underside facing up and start painting it with a watered down mixture of Art Clay Paste. For the first layer, I mix 1 part water to 2 parts of Paste. Make sure that you cover the entire leaf.

2. Put the leaf on a Stainless Steel Mesh with the painted bit facing up and dry with a hairdryer. Remember to hold the hairdryer directly over the leaf to prevent the leaf from blowing away!!

3. Paint a second layer of the leaf exactly as above and again dry with a hairdryer.

4. For the third and subsequent layer the paste can be thicker than the first two. Instead of painting the paste on you should rather dab it on. This will prevent the first two layers from being pulled off. 5. Keep dabbing and drying each layer, until your leaf is about 1mm thick. Normally between six to eight layers.

6. Once you are confident that the layers are thick enough, ensure that the paste is left to dry completely.

7. At this stage you can try and gently sand away any rough areas or remove any surplus paste that is on the front of the leaf. Be very careful as the pasted leaf is extremely fragile. You may want to file the rough edges away after the leaf has been fired.

8. You can now fire the leaf on a Gas Hob, with a Gas torch or in a Kiln. Firing instructions for the different methods are included with the Paste.

9. Once fired the leaf can then be brushed with a Stainless Steel Brush and burnished. Burnishing the edges of the leaf as well as the veins helps strengthens it as well as giving it a lovely shine.

10. Drill a hole with a pin-vice for attaching to a chain, ribbon, leather thong or ear wires and enjoy.!

A kit is available with everything you need to make your own Leaf Pendants or Earrings for only £26.95 which is a 15% saving on the normal Retail Price!!

The kit includes:
Stainless Steel Mesh
Stainless Steel Brush
Burnisher
Art Clay 650 Paste 10g
Sanding Pads – 3 grits
A Jump Ring
Sterling Silver 18" or 16" Necklace
Paint Brush

For more information about Art Clay and making your wn jewellery Visit Art Clay Supplies

Finding Old Tools Can Be As Much Fun As Using Them

By Douglas Taylor
Once you get caught up using woodworking hand tools it is hard to stop. Like any other modern day woodworker I needed my table saw. I thought I could not get anything done without my power tools.

As I slowly discovered hand tools I fell in love with them. The more I used them the better I realized they fit my style of woodworking. The slow easy pace using hand tools fits my woodworking style like a glove.

I started searching for hand tools and found out they were not that easy to come by. Sure you could buy new tools but the old ones seemed to be better. The used tools are often found at a fraction of the price of new planes and saws. The quality of the old tools is usually very good.

You have to sometimes go out of your way to get a great deal on used woodworking hand tools. Some of the places I always look at are my local flea market and antique stores. Yard sales can often bring unexpected surprises and do not forget to check yourclassified ads. This article will share a few tips to help you find those great old hand tools of yesterday.

Often you will have good luck at the flea market. If you get lucky you will come across a booth where the guy has some old tools and does not have a clue what they are worth. You can get some great bargains when you run across this situation. Usually there will be a tool dealer or two where you can find some good tools. They will more than likely not be as good a bargain because the dealer will know the value of what he is selling.

Antique stores will often be your best bet in finding old tools. Almost always there will be some old tools in those glass cases. Shop around all the different antique stores and one will almost always stand out as the best place to buy tools. When you find this store visit often, as you never know what you may find.

Yard sales are even better than flea markets in most cases as the seller very seldom knows what the old tools are worth. He may have had these tools lying around for a long time and is glad to see you haul them off. It is harder to find many good quality tools at a yard sale but you never know what you will find.

It is a long shot but once in a while you will find someone selling an old tool collection in the paper. It is worth the time it takes to glance at the classified ads every once in a while.

Finding old tools is as much fun as using them. There is a great satisfaction in finding a fifty-year-old tool and restoring it so it can be used again.

For more information on using traditional woodworking hand tools try visiting http://www.woodwork-guide.com/ where you will find lots of tips, advice and resources about topics all about woodworking.

A Baby Quilt Will Be Treasured Today and For Years To Come

By Heather Allen
Often when a couple are expecting their first child they will receive lots of gifts from family and friends. One of the gifts that they are likely to receive in all this as well as diapers, toys and clothing will be a baby quilt. However although these can be brought readily today it is much nicer if they receive one that has been made with love from someone who cares.
In many cases a baby quilt which has been made by hand and handed to the couple will be treasured for years to come and often will be passed down from one generation to the next. So choosing the right type of baby quilt pattern can often be very difficult because of the large variety of patterns now available. The most common types of patterns used for baby's quilts include trains, planes, boats, ducks and letters of the alphabet.
All the patterns available will provide the quilter with a general idea of what they will need to produce the quilt as well as detailed instructions on how to make the complete product. Actually getting hold of a baby quilt is not that difficult as there are plenty of books and also websites that offer 100's of different patterns for a person to choose from. There are even some sites which will offer you the chance to get hold of patterns completely for free.
The great thing about a baby quilt is not only can it be used around the crib, but also to provide a cover inside the crib when the baby is not in it. It could even be used as a decorative wall hanging if the parents so wish. However at no stage should it be used as method for keeping the baby warm at night, because of the risk of suffocation. However it could in fact be used during the day when they are sleeping in your arms or in order to prevent a chill whilst out with them whilst out for a walk with them in their stroller.
If you're making a baby quilt for an expectant couple it is best if you choose colors which are either neutral or bold, but do not stick to one prevalent color such as blue or pink. A lot of couples will not tell others the sex of their baby until it is born so keeping away from pink and blue is a good option.
If you want to learn more about baby quilts, click over to Heather's site at http://www.madaboutquilting.com Or click here to get 3 Free Reports about quilting.
Christmas Gift Crafts

Bonsai Tree Secrets Guide

By Stephen Ahlfeld


Growing and maintaining a healthy looking bonsai tree can sometimes prove to be a tough task
for those who are unaware of the necessary attention,patience and dedication needed in order to successfully grow and nurter a bonsai tree.This is where I would like to talk about and review a very helpful bonsai tree guide I recently bought, which is called "Bonsai Care Secrets".This guide shows
people how to grow as well as take effective care of their bonsai trees.

This easy to follow,step by step guide which is also loaded with more than 50 colour photos, guides you in growing and maintaining a healthy looking bonsai tree.It does not matter If you are a beginner
or an experienced gardener who is already aware of bonsai tree needs, this ebook will
greatly enhance your knowledge for growing successful bonsai plants. With this ebook you will learn many aspects such as identifying ideal loactions for planting, different growing techniques, disease curing and general training all your bonsai trees.

The other important topics talked about include "How to identify types of bonsai for indoor or outdoor growing"," Three simple ways to grow bonsai from cuttings or seeds" And various other tips and tricks to pruning and shaping a bonsai tree.This will help you achieve great success in growing your first Bonsai tree! This package also includes three bonus gifts which are "Growing Bonsai for Beginners","Growing Bonsai from Seed" and "Three Reports on Composting, Pest Management and Mulching". This package is an absolute must for anyone interested in growing or maintaining bonsai trees.

Did you find this Bonsai Tree review helpful? For more information on this Bonsai Secrets Handbook visit my home page at:
Bonsai Tree Secrets