School Holiday Boredom Buster - Salt Crystals

School holidays are back!!! So I thought I'd share these holidays a few school holiday boredom busters.

Today is growing salt crystals.

You will need:

*A clean jar
*String (I tend to prefer brown string)
*Scissors
*A bolt or something to use as a weight
*Pencil
*1 - 2 cups of boiling water
*1-2 cups of table salt (another variation is to use sugar)
*A couple of drops of food colouring (optional).


Boil water and place into your clean jar. Then pour in enough salt so that you only have only a tiny amount of undisolved salt crystals at the bottom of the jar that will not dissolve.

Tie your string to the middle of your pencil and tie your weight to the end of the string ensuring that your string is short enough that it dosn't reach the bottom of your jar.

Leave the string dangling in the solution overnight, the next day you will notice some small crystals, replace the string in water and over the next few days you will notice the crystals will grow. If you would like larger crystals it is necessary to replace the salt solution daily.

Enjoy!

This is my entry into this months Crafty Mama Competition.
Great prize up for grab this month and lots of tough competition!
The cord came from the Craftymamas shop, it's beautifully soft.
As always CM's service was second to none!
The pattern is Vogue 1757 Maternity Career Wardrobe This is the swing maternity coat.

The Coat is lined with a vintage sheet. It's nice and warm. I managed to get the set in sleeves first time on both the outer and the lining!! Still a novel experience for me :D

I made another coat from this pattern 6 years ago. And love the style of it.

Flannelette nightdress

This is a long nightdress for a three year old child I made. It has pintucks at the front, has a box pleat at the back.

If you have any other questions just ask me.

Cathy

Ottobre 1/2009 Siiri Pinafore Dress

I just thought I would share with you all a top I made for one of my daughters.

From Ottobre 1/2009 this is the Siiri Pinafore Dress made using a gorgeous cord I bought last year from the Crafty Mamas shop. It fits my DD lovely and would look great with either a skivvy or t-shirt underneath. I think she'll get a lot of wear out of this!

My Finished Jule

This is my finished piece for the Jule Sew-a-long. I finished it last week but only got around to blogging it today! I love the fabric - velour...my favourite fabric for this winter..oh wait...maybe Minky is - oh I cant decide! I had an "issue" with the hem - I was going to add the ruffle but then made an error so its a tad short - next time I might use matching poplin to make a less bulky ruffle (as was suggested to me by the lovely Sara).

TFL!

Crafts for kids - Playdough

I've never met a child that doesn't love digging their fingers into playdough. Squishing, moulding and rolling, oh the hours of fun that can be had with the dough is amazing.

If your like me though, you may have had a few making playdough disasters in the search to finding a good homemade playdough recipe. It's too gooey, it's too hard or just a plain big fat mess. Well, look no further as here is my favourite easy peasy playdough recipe.

Playdough Recipe:

• 2 cups of plain flour
• 1 cup of salt
• 2 tablespoons of oil
• 4 tablespoons of cream of tartar
• 2 cup of hot water (not boiling)
• A few drops of food colouring
  
• glitter (optional).

Method: Mix all ingredients in a saucepan over medium for approx 3 -5mins or until the mixture congeals. When playdough is not in use keep in an airtight container in the fridge and it will last you for months!

June Giveaway!

Alright - we all love a giveaway! I know there are very few days left in this month but heck - it doesnt take long to leave a comment does it! This months giveaway comes straight to you from the Crafty Mamas store...and it is *drumroll please*

2 Farbenmix Patterns!!!

Anna


and

Geske


These are an amazing range of patterns.

So to be in the running simply leave a comment by 11.59pm on Tuesday 30th June and at the beginning of July I will draw a winner at random using Random.org. Winner takes both patterns :)

In months to come there will be more patterns as well as giveaways donated by you..the Crafty Mama. If you would like to donate something then please contact me or come to the forums and introduce yourself and get involved!

Good luck!

The Farbenmix Jule Sew-a-long

Sometimes attacking a new pattern can be a bit daunting and never more so when the instructions are in German!!! Farbenmix are a huge and wonderful range of Euro patterns and currently we are having a sew-a-long for the pattern Jule.

Its not exactly a cracking pace so people dont feel pushed to finish by a certain date! A thread in the forum enables us to chat about the pattern and ask questions of each other. There are also links to pattern translations and design examples.

Its a great way to get motivated and its awesome seeing everyone's finished work. Those participating are going to post some of their finished pieces in this blog!

Other a-long's we have done including knitting for charity and sewing Enid Gilchrist Patterns.

Its great fun - so come check it out at the Crafty Mamas forum...

Free Patterns and Tutorials

Pic: sewingfreebies.com

There is nothing like getting something for free and on the world wide web there is a plethora of freebies in the way of sewing and craft tutorials and patterns.

At the Crafty Mamas forum mamas have submitted links for patterns for knitting, sewing, crocheting, sewing clothes as well as headbands, bags, costumes and well really just about anything!

We also have some very talented Mamas who have shared their knowledge with us including Tracy at Mad Quilter. I have made a number of her tutorials including the DS Nintendo Pouch and the water bottle holder. My son has the funkiest bottle holder in all the kindy! Tracy's latest tutorial is for a bandana style bib.

So come on over and have a gander...your to-do list will grow rapidly!

Winter Warmer Recipes - Pea and Ham Soup

Pic: taste.com.au

There is nothing like a nice steaming plate of Pea and Ham soup on a cold winters night! My crockpot is on with all the ingredients to deliver such a meal tonight!

Pea and Ham Soup
2 cups split peas
1 ham hock
1 onion
2 carrots
2 potatoes
water

Cut up the onion and carrots and potatoes and put all of the ingredients into a crockpot. Pour water over them until just covered and set on high. You may need to add extra water so keep an eye on it.

When the ham is coming off the bone, remove the hock and take the meat off, add back into the pot and either serve chunky or whizz till your happy with the consistency.

Serve with crusty bread.

There are some really yummy recipes including Budget Busters and Family Favs in the forums....so there is no reason to be stuck for something to make tonight!

Special Buys at Crafty Mamas This June

We all love a bargain! C'mon...you cant tell me you dont...

Have you seen the latest Special Buys at Crafty Mamas?

Lisa has some amazing selections for the month of June including


Wired Up Fabric Designs


Jalie Patterns


Headgear Prints

and the greatly anticipates Kokka Japanese Fabric

How do you get involved...come to Crafty Mamas and check out the Special Buys thread...so simple!

Follow Us On Facebook

Like just about everyone out there today Crafty Mamas can now be found on Facebook. We have a page where you can be a friend here......and we have a fan page here.... which you can all the latest shop news from...

So now there is no reason not to keep up!

Come Join Us!

There's nothing like a great online community - and that's what Crafty Mamas is all about.

So dont delay any longer...come here to Crafty Mamas..sign up for our forums and our newsletters and perhaps have a browse through the shop.

You'll be glad you did!

June Theme Challenge - Calorie Free Sweet Treats

Oh dont we all wish we could have calorie free sweet treats! Well here is our chance..in the crafty sense of course.

For our JUNE Challenge...we want to see some Sweety Treat crafty Projects!!

In any medium you choose ( ie: fabric, felt, wool, painted etc).
...just make them mouth watering!!

Dont forget to post your entry here at Craft Mamas and of course...have fun!

June Competition - Knits/Pattern Up For Grabs

Currently in stock Farbenmix Patterns - Xenia.

It's starting to get chilly out there, so now's the time to get your snuggly Winter sewing projects underway!

We have a $50.00 knit fabric bundle up for grabs as well as a Farbenmix pattern of your choice.

Total value of $66.00 rrp from the Crafty Mamas Shop.

To win this cool prize, we want to see some snuggly mama made outfits.
Label your pic " Crafty Mamas JUNE comp" and date it and post it on our forum here...

You have until the end of June to get your entries in.

Happy Sewing!

Welcome to Crafty Mamas!

Crafty Mamas is about to enter its fourth year and its bigger and stronger than ever. A wonderful community where crafty people can get together and just be..well..crafty!

Stay tuned to the blog for heaps of information about the latest goings on around Crafty Mamas...including information on the latest challenges and competitions, Special Buys and maybe a giveaway or two (if I cant talk the boss into it!)

So, follow us as a friend of Crafty Mamas and stay up to date!