HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN CAKE STAND…
Beautiful cake stands are everywhere at the moment, but they can cost quite a lot of money. So make your own, it’s very easy.
All you need are two (or three) plates, a central rod, washers and a handle to hold it all together and bobs your uncle.
You can buy cake stand fittings from Amazon from £10.99, to around £19.89.
If it’s a two tier cake stand you want to use a dinner plate and a side plate. Measure the diameter of the largest plate and mark the centre with a pen, then do the same with the smaller plate.
There is a great post on Pinterest from Instructables Crafts on exactly how to make your 3 tier cake stand.
You can also go for an even easier one like this one from Duke Manor Farm where it explains that for the tops use an old glass plate and a small glass plate that if you do not have in could be picked up from anywhere. The glue is the most important bit as the last thing you want is for it to fall over. One of the best ones is
LOCTITE Super Glue 3g tube Especially for Glass.
The building of your cake stand is simple just like the images show from Duke Manor Farm. Simply turn your plate upside down. Apply your glue to the bottom rim of the plate. Place your candle holder to the rim and let it dry for a few minutes. That’s it. Easy.
Source: Instructables Duke Manor Farm Amazon
TOP 14 HOBBIES WE CAN ENJOY IN OUR HOMES…
I love spending my free time on creative hobbies such as art and paint-by-numbers, blogging, card making, knitting, sewing, painting, cross-stitch, and baking.
Some ideas for hobbies from home include –
- Art – My children bought me an adult paint-by-numbers art piece one Christmas. I absolutely love it, and I am well and truly hooked. In fact, I am writing a book on how to make money with paint-by-number kits.
- Drawing – there are lots and lots of sites online and on Pinterest to learn how to draw.
- Singing – with choirs popping up online all over the country, it is easy to join one and enjoy a bit of singing.
- Writing – I love writing and write a couple of blogs. I find they take me away to another place when I start writing. It’s very therapeutic.
- Scrapbooking– I looked into this, and I think that when I have finished all my other projects, I will give this a go. There are lots of books on Amazon about how to get started with this, which you can pass down to your family when you have finished it.
- Handmade cards – I have been making handmade cards for several years now, and used to have them in a local post office, but I mainly make them for family and friends now. I mean, who doesn’t like receiving a nice card through the letterbox?
- Knitting – another of my favourite pastimes. I am a very average knitter, but I can find lots of things to make, including a granny blanket I made from all my bits of wool, which I use outside to keep me warm. Knitting groups are popping up all over the place, and a great way to find one is to head to The Quilters Guild.
- Cross stitch – this is a new hobby for me and another present from my children for Christmas, which I asked for. It has become one of my favourite things to do at the moment.
- Baking – with a mass of lessons, recipes, and so much more on baking, it’s a hobby for anyone who loves to cook. I love baking for my family and bake regularly for them.
- Photography – with lots more of us taking long walks in the countryside its an ideal hobby. At this time of year and with spring around the corner, there are some lovely photos to take outside using just your phone until you want something a bit more substantial to take the photos with and like most of the above, there are endless amounts of free help online.
- Making candles, making soap, making jewellery – all these types of crafts can be done from your home and could even bring in some extra pennies if you go onto sell them. Pinterest will inspire anyone with pages and pages of posts and ideas on all these types of crafts.
- Calligraphy – an art which is coming back into fashion again, and a lovely hobby to start and learn from home, and then maybe progress to a class.
- Reading and reviewing – whatever you buy nowadays they ask for a review on it but the most rewarding review is one that someone has written about a book you would like to read. You can start by writing them on Amazon and if you enjoy it you could always start a blog on book reviews.
- Gardening – now the spring is nearly here you can start planting your own vegetables and herbs. Lots and lots of people enjoy gardening and is a great hobby for anyone who loves to be outside.
There are many more hobbies you can start from home, these are just the top 14 but if you haven’t got a hobby or want another one then try any of these as they will definitely improve your health and wellbeing.
Source: Ebay, Amazon, Clip Studio Paint, The Quilters Guild
10 CLEVER WAYS TO USE AN EIDERDOWN (Beyond the Bed)…
The eiderdown is a type of duck, and down, which are small fluffy feathers on a large sea duck or other large bird. They are used to fill pillows and mattresses and eiderdowns as it is very soft and has insulating properties.
The female eider duck plucks down from her breast to line her nest and cover the eggs. Once the nest has been abandoned, the eiderdown is gathered. The bird s are not disturbed.
Feather beds were only for the rich in the 14th Century but by the 19th Century they were something that most people could afford.
They were introduced to Victorian Britain as marvellously light and a warm substitute for heavy woollen blankets, however they didn’t throw away the blankets.
Did you know it takes “65 hours of manpower, and 66 nesting ducks, to generate one kilo of eiderdown” says Vollebak who make eiderdown puffer jackets.
Practical uses
- Extra-warm duvet or blanket – Layer it in winter for insulation.
- Mattress topper substitute – Fold it and place under a sheet for extra softness.
- Picnic or outdoor blanket – Great for cold-weather outings.
Home & comfort hacks
- Cozy floor seating – Fold it into a cushion for reading or lounging.
- Draft stopper – Roll it up and place along doors/windows.
- Pet bed – Pets love the softness (just cover it with a washable layer).
Creative / DIY ideas
- Quilted jacket or coat – Upcycle the material into outerwear.
- Cushion covers or pillows – Cut and resew into smaller soft furnishings.
- Sleeping bag liner – Adds warmth if you camp.
Fun / unusual
- Blanket fort – Surprisingly effective thanks to its thickness.
Source: Vollebak English Eiderdown Co
CRAFT IDEAS FOR SPRING…
Easter is one of the busiest time for crafters, schools and grandparents alike. We can all spend hours with our young ones making crafts for Easter.
We always book a big house for a short break for all our family for Spring which always falls around Easter so I have always been busy making lots of crafts to take with me and for the grandchildren to make.
Here are some easy crafts you can make with children. Hobbycraft, The Range, and of course Temu have lots of goodies, but my personal choice is The Range…
- Painted Easter Eggs
Use dye, acrylic paint, or even markers. Try patterns like polka dots, stripes, or little faces. - Paper Plate Bunnies
Turn paper plates into bunny faces with cotton wool, googly eyes, and pipe cleaners. - Handprint Chick Cards
Paint your hand yellow, stamp it, then turn it into a chick with beak and feet. - Easter Egg Collage
Cut egg shapes from paper and decorate with stickers, tissue paper, or glitter.
Other crafts more suitable for decorating your home could include Spring Wreathes ( my favourite) using faux flowers, pastel ribbons, and mini eggs or mason jar lanterns using fairy lights and pastel decorations or small eggs. An Easter tree can also look lovely but after my first make it was nearly in taters as my girls thought the eggs were real. Of course, the traditional Easter Bonnet is a must for Easter and great fun to make with any little one. Finally a bunny garland which can be simply made without material but with cut up bunny shapes from cardstock and string them together.
If you would like to make an extra few pounds for yourself then there are a number of items you can make and sell online or to friends or at a craft fair.
- Crochet or Knitted Chicks/Bunnies
Small plushies make adorable gifts. - Decorated Gift Boxes
Turn plain boxes into Easter-themed packaging with paint and ribbon. - Personalized Egg Cups
Paint names or designs on ceramic egg holders. - Easter Treat Bags
Sew or glue fabric/paper bags shaped like bunnies or carrots.
Some edible gifts could include…
Chocolate Nest Cakes
Melt chocolate, mix with cereal, shape into nests, and add mini eggs.
Decorated Biscuits
Bake egg or bunny-shaped cookies and decorate with icing.
Marshmallow Pops
Dip marshmallows in chocolate and decorate like chicks or eggs.
A few budget friendly ideas to enjoy making are crafts like paper plate bunnies. Simply turn paper plates into bunny faces with cotton wool, googly eyes, and pipe cleaners. Or, find some stones from outside and paint them like Easter eggs or ladybirds. Finally, the classic one using empty toilet paper rolls, paint them or cover with paper, add ears, eyes and faces to create an easter bunny.
Source: The Range, Hobbycraft, Temu
OLD SCHOOL PACKAGING FOR ALL YOUR SEWING NEEDS…
Merchant and Mills, the famous drapers in Rye, East Sussex has an array of everything you need to get sewing with. Their website is like stepping back in time with their black and white photos.
Apart from their own sewing book, they have vintage patterns, oilskin, notions, kits, stationery and cloth. Their patterns are card patterns as they behave better in use and can be used time and time again. They are more rigid and can be persuaded to lie perfectly still and flat. Their patterns are supplied in individual sizes from 8 to 16 and some up to 18 with full, illustrated instructions. They also hold online sewing classes and residential sewing retreats and much more.
They have some old-school packaging with mother of pearl buttons in small paper packets and safety pins in sets that make you want to buy them, just to admire the packaging.
Whatever you may need for your dress or cushion cover projects you will find it here.
They say “The former toy factory on Tower Street is a key part of our history, at one time housing our whole operation: warehouse, studio and shop. Today, the shop is a treasure trove of beautiful cloth, inspiring even non-sewers to pick up a pattern and have a go. Our sewing studio upstairs is where we host classes and creative retreats. We have hundreds of pattern samples made up for our customers to try on and our team is always on hand to offer sewing and styling advice (or just to have a friendly natter). If you are visiting for a specific product or fabric do call before hand so we can check stock for you. Visit wearing your finest and favourite Merchant & Mills makes and have your photo taken in our in-store Social Club photobooth. Learn more about The Social Club below. Rye is a perfectly quaint English town with an abundance of character, history and shopping temptations. “
Source: Merchant & Mills