Craft Swap: Sammy

Another new feature for 2016 that we are very excited about, Craft Swap!  We were wanting to find a way to inject more creative thinking around our projects and try and include more of our friends to join in the fun too.

I really enjoyed the limitations of the copper wreath project I did before Christmas, in the way that the lovely guys at Turtle Mat sent me a small selection of supplies and by adding just a few bits from my stash I made something awesome.

So we have decided to start a Live it. Love it. Make it. Craft Swap.  The idea being that two people will gather together some crafty bits and bobs from their stash, then swap them with each other. Each person will then use them to create one or more handmade items.  We will share ours and our friends stash swaps and their creations on the blog over the next few months, in the hope that it will inspire us all to use up some of those bits we have been saving and give away the stuff that others can make use of.  We are so excited to kick off this new feature and we hope you will enjoy it too!

Lets get started with the goodies that H gave to me last month.

H swapped me: a glass jar, a test tube container, some patterned paper, a sheet of glitter paper, a necklace chain, a wooden pendant, some pink wire, a heart peg, red flower stamens, a gold succulent craft kit from a copy of Mollie Makes, a plain paper note book and some small wooden scallop charms.

And here is what I made...

My first idea was to use the glass jar and the gold fabric from the magazine kit to make a scalloped collar to go around the jar to make it in to a pretty vase, then I used this simple paper flower tutorial with the paper from the notebook, the wire, staples and some glue to make a cute bunch of everlasting blooms to put in my new super cute vase. This quick simple project would make a great mothers day gift, don't you think? I kept it clean by just using the white paper, but you could also use patterned paper to create a more colourful bunch of flowers.

My second make was with the patterned paper, I used this paper folding tutorial to make some of these fun ornaments. I love these so much, I am going to make a ton more in different colours and hang them up in my conservatory roof, they will look lovely in there.

My third and final make from this swap was this necklace. I loved the wooden elements together, so I added some jump rings from my stash to attach the scallop charms to the necklace chain. Then using some metallic thread, again from my stash, I used the holes in the lager pendant (also a free gift with Mollie Makes I think) to create a simple design. I attached the last of the scallop charms to the bottom of the large pendant with a scrap of smaller chain to complete the necklace. 

So as you can see I didn't end up using all of the swap bits this time, but they have been put into my stash for other projects. 

We would love this to become something that everyone can get involved in, if you have a friend that you can do a swap with we would love to see your makes!  Tag us in your pictures @liveit.loveit.makeit on Instagram and use the #lilimicraftswap so we can see and share them with everyone. 

If you are a blogger and would like to get involved in our craft swap please get in touch via email liveit.loveit.makeit@gmail.com so we can feature them here or pair you up with another blogger. 

We hope you like this idea as much as we do and that it might encourage you to have a go, even if you just dive into your own stash and get inspired! Next month you will get to see what H made with the goodies I gave to her, so be sure to keep a look out for that one. 

Sammy & H, xxx

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Link for the week: Norden Farm Craft Club

Our Craft Club down at Norden Farm has been going very well - Thank you to all those who have come along so far.

We have some more coming up in May and June - Yey - and so I thought I would use my Link for the Week to let you know what will be going on.

Thursday 30th May - 7-8.30pm - Ribbon Rose Corsage

We did something similar for our first ever Norden Farm Workshop and it proved very popular and so we thought it would be a good idea for the May Craft Club.  In this session you will make your own Ribbon corsages which can be used for bouquets or brooches amongst many other things.  You will use an array of ribbons and embellishments from the craft club table and we will give you the skills to make your own accessories at home.  You can book on the Norden Farm Website here.

Thursday 27th June - 7-8.30pm - Button Jewellery

We will show you how to make bracelets or necklaces using the many tubs of buttons we have.  You can learn how to make jewellery for yourself or as gifts and get some inspiration for further jewellery ideas.  If you have some buttons at home you would like to use, then please do bring them along and we can add them to your piece. You can book on the Norden Farm website here.

Come 'Make it' with us.

H & Sammy

P.S.  We will have a little break in July and August but will be back for the Autumn (as long as they agree) and we have got some big ideas already!

Embroidery Workshop this week

This Thursday (25th April ) is our Embroidery Workshop down at Norden Farm, Maidenhead - yey exciting.  We have loved doing these workshops and showing our participants some new skills and hope they have enjoyed our ramblings just as much!

There are still a few spaces left to take part and take home some of your own work and you can book online here.

You will learn lots of different embroidery techniques during the workshop and get to see some of the work we have done - everyone likes a bit of a nosey hey!

You will then be able to put all the stitches together to make something pretty to take away with you.

If you can't make this one, not to worry, we will have some further workshops in May and June down at Norden farm and we will let you have the links to book as soon as they are up on their website.

If there is anyone who comes to Norden Farm and has any ideas of anything they fancy making, please let us know and we can see if we can make it happen.  Just leave us a comment below or on our facebook page.

Make it with us

H & Sammy

Make it: Workshops

We have a few workshops coming up over the next few months, check out were we are going to be and when.  We would love you to come down and get crafty with us.

Bandstand Marathon, Maidenhead, Sunday 9th September

We will be at Bandstand Marathon on Sunday the 9th of September from 11-5pm showing you all how to up-cycle your old Jeans! From cuffs to bags to brooches we will be making the most of your old denim!

Bring along a pair of your own or use some from our stash.

Between £3 - £5 per person you can take home a new denim accessory!

King's Place Festival, London, Sunday 16th September

At Kings Place in Kings Cross, London we will be recycling again, using up all the old, out of date leaflets from the theatre we will be creating fun new things for FREE.

You can come along and make paper beads and paper accessories with us between 10.30am - 2.30pm check out the link for more details about the festival and to book tickets to other exciting events.

The Big Draw @the Guardien, London, Saturday 20th October 

We are very excited to be a part of The Big Draw!

We will be doing a workshop at the annual Cartoon and Family Art Day at the Guardian Head office, Kings Place, London, from 2pm - 4pm on the 20th of October.

We will be drawing onto shrink plastic and then making necklaces or badges from our designs. It should be a fun day.

Activities are free but places must be booked in advance. Follow the link for more details The Big Draw at the Guardian

We love doing workshops and getting out there and meeting all of you. Do you have any thing you would be interested in learning at a workshop?  Let us know and maybe we can can come and do a workshop near you or if you have a special event coming up then maybe we can tailor something for you!

Get in touch: liveit.loveit.makeit@gmail.com

Make it

Sammy and H