This Valentines Day why don’t you spend a little bit extra time and make your loved one a card instead of buying that tasteless teddy one from the supermarket! (Or buy one from Get Made the Nottingham Craft Mafias shop in Nottingham) I have used some of the techniques that I have shown you over the last few months, so if you haven’t tried them out, now is the time. Happy Making :)

Masking fluid is great for masking off areas allowing you to create may layers, it can be brought from all good art suppliers and costs about £5. Mono prints are also fun to layer over paintings and collages. The first print often comes out very inky so use scrap paper then the next two should have good tone and texture. Then re roll the printing ink and draw a new design.

Using polystyrene is a quick and easy way to add a pattern and could be combined with the textural embroidery stitches. Letraset is a fun and quirky way to add text.

‘Make its’ is going to be a regular feature of ideas to add to your work or new ways of working. Some will be easy and some will be more challenging or require specialist equipment. You can print them out to keep or pass on to your craft loving friends!

Add some textural embroidery stitches to felt, fabrics or paper to make work more tactileand interesting. Couching is attractive when sewing down knotted or tangled cording.

The very kind people at Black Dog Publishing are offering our members and followers a whopping 50% off the ‘Making Stuff’ and ‘Making Stuff for Kids’ titles until the end of August.

I already own both books and have got some great plans for future makes… !

Making Stuff was featured in a Guardian ‘How-To’ guide book last year and both books are full of some great ideas which are inspired by the ‘Reduce, Reuse, Recycle’ ethos too!

To order, you simply need to email Jessica – jess [at] blackdogonline.com with your delivery address and quoting ‘Nottingham Craft Mafia Offer’ as the subject of the email. This offer is valid until 31st August 09.

Han x

NCM Don

Just received word from Donna, make an appointment or bid via eBay before the stock vanishes into someone else’s lovely collection!

“Hello Hello,

HUGE AMOUNT OF YARN FOR SALE!

http://www.spinstersemporium.co.uk/blog/

Spinster’s Emporium is moving to brand spanking new digs! Its very exciting times, but not just for us, for you too! Because we are downsizing (in order to consentrate on our splendid new gift line) we are selling over 70% of stock at HUGE REDUCTIONS!

SALE stock is currenlty listed on Ebay http://shop.ebay.co.uk/merchant/spinsters-emporium_W0QQ_nkwZQQ_armrsZ1QQ_fromZQQ_ipgZ

The photo above on the BLOG is stock that has not even been listed yet!!! If you would like to make a appointment to view please email hello [at] spinstersemporium.com ASAP!

Hi guys, stumbled across this the other day in a magazine and found the pattern online, I thought I would share it with you as it’s rather nifty. You never know someone out there could be after a new project :) It all seems pretty simple (I can understand most of it) so enjoy! (you don’t have to go for stripes)

The link is here

All the best :)