Dyeing with Sharpies - very easy

Link to original website

100% Cotton - (T Shirt) 

Piece of thick cardboard - for placing inside T Shirt

Sharpies - preferably with thick 'nibs'

Eye/Medicine Dropper

95% Alcohol - (make sure your room is well ventilated)

Draw dots with Sharpies on to your T Shirt 

Gently drop alcohol on to your dots - they will spread.

Let them dry.

Place in tumble dryer for about 15-20 mins, then wash.

Pure silk can also be used.

Collage - easy

magazine pictures, doilies, tissue, paint - Photoshopped to refine picture detail

painted, coloured papers, paint and pen

(collage detail) - magazine pictures - photoshopped

Collage is such a lovely thing to do.  Kids love it - and adults too!  

If you initially choose a picture, you can use it as your inspiration.

It can be done very simply with just one magazine or newspaper, 

some paint (not necessary) and of course PVA.

You can scan it, play with it in Photoshop, then print it off.  If you use very good quality inkjet paper, (with your inkjet printer), this makes the world of difference.  A good quality paper seems to pick up the colours beautifully.  (Hahnemuhle Papers are excellent.)

You could make your own cards too.

Lip Balm - Homemade - Kirstie's

.... have been watching Kirstie's Homemade Christmas - as I love anything crafty.  This 'recipe' was on the first programme - thought it was such a nice idea, and don't think the ingredients will be too difficult to get hold of  ....

Ingredients:
8g. beeswax
10g. cocoa butter
25ml. sunflower oil
3 ml. calendula oil
a few drops of grapefruit essential oil (if desired) or chocolate (!)
1/2 tsp. pink 'mineral' powder to add sparkle or one square of dark chocolate.

1. Melt the beeswax, cocoa butter and sunflower oil over a very low heat, for about one min. - either in a bain-marie or saucepan.
2. Add 3ml.calendula oil.
3. Add few drops of the flavouring.
4. Pour into a small tin or little plastic pots (as above).  (You can buy these at Boots.)

This will keep for about a year.

Valentines Hearts & Flowers Beaded Cuff - Free Beading Pattern

This Bracelet can be made in either Peyote or Brickstitch - turn chart on its side to make in Brickstitch
The top part of the chart is the basic bracelet pattern, and there are some 'little extras' below.

Origami

The Origami Bride is probably a little too tricky for most people! 

but for lots of lovely instructions - try this website

Temari Balls

Link 1.
Link 2.
Link 3.
Link 4.

Japanese Temari balls are a symbol of perfection.
Click on the above links if you want to find out more about the history,
some instructions and more patterns.

Kirstie's Homemade Home - Channel 4

Kirstie Allsopp's new programme on Channel 4 is lovely! For anyone who loves crafts and enjoys watching things being made - this is for you - plus some great design/recycling ideas. This is a definite must watch. The website also gives instructions on how to make some of the items shown in the programme. Love it!

My two other favourite design-type programmes - - of course Grand Designs with Kevin McLeod and Country House Rescue with Ruth Watson.