Mum - I need a Halloween Costume - for tonight! Ideas for Quick Costumes

They always do it to you don't they? Tell you they want a costume last minute.

And if it's not the kids themselves, it the school - how many of you have had a letter saying "Your child has been chosen to be a Sheep / Alien / Christmas Parcel /Lobster (delete as appropriate) for our School Show. Please can you supply a costume for tomorrow's dress rehearsal."

And yes really, I once had to do an  lobster costume. It was for a dance show routine "Under the Sea" - the girls wore mermaid costumes but the only boy was Sebastian the Lobster.  

Today is the last day for entering the Get Crafty with Creative Connections October Challenge which has a Spooky theme. So if you've made any fabulous Halloween costumes, or if you have got some fantastic spooky themed makes you'd like to share, just follow the link: October Challenge - Spooky (Halloween, Ghosts, Ghouls). Our favourites will be shared on this blog next month and the winner will get a set of Funky Fabric Coasters from The Old Button. 

And if you need need to create a Halloween theme costume really quickly with stuff you may have at home or can find at local supermarket or high street shops, you might find the following ideas helpful:

• Harry Potter - you can do any of the characters in a school uniform - get your child to draw a Gryffinor (or Ravenclaw etc) badge onto an old white school shirt with felt pen. Add a wand (or a clean stick from the garden). You could run up a quick cloak if you have the time - a rectangle of fabric can be fastened with an old fashioned brooch or button.  And don't forget to draw Harry's scar in eyeliner pencil. And tie up a few old books with string for Hermione and give a "Quidditch" broom to Ron. Or maybe you can make some cardboard Radish earrings (use thin cord elastic or hair bobbles to loop round non pierced ears) and a "Butterbeer" cork necklace for Luna Lovegood.
• The Grinch - if you have an old Father Christmas outfit and hat, you can use green face paint to create a this really lovable creature!
• Black Cat - tight black tights or leggings and a long sleeved crew neck tshirt, jumper or old dance leotard. Black furry or cardboard ears sewn or glued onto an old headband. Add a tail made from black fur trim or sew a narrow fabric tube stuffed with cotton wool or old tights.  
• Or you can adapt this into a Black Bat by swopping the tail for shaped wings cut from black fabric or a thick black bin liner and tacking or safety pinning to the back of neck and the sleeves once the costume is on.
• Pumpkin - got a big orange t-shirt? And a black sharpie or felt pen? Just draw thin curved lines and then go crazy with blacked out pumpkin designs. Faces, bats, witches - much easier to draw than to carve on a real pumpkin! And you can tie a couple of pillows round the tummy if you want the to show the roundness of the pumpkin. 
•  Hunches from Seussical / Crazy Hair Creatures - I used some Crazy Hair with flashing lights to create Hunches for a local production of Seussical. I made huge black bat-wing tunics and the kids wore black leggings.  They also wore flashing gloves and looked brilliant on a black stage.   I bought these flashing assessories on-line but you may be able to find similar in the super market Halloween section or from a fancy dress shop.

Keep an eye out over the next couple of months as we share some more design ideas for costumes as well as lots of other makes, craft tips and tutorials.

September Wedding Challenge Winners

Last month's challenge was all about Weddings. So we challenged you to show us what you can do and we had two fantastic entries.  

Silk Dreamer Cushion by csvernm

This luxurious handmade white silk cushion by csevenm has a lovely phrase embroidered onto it "every great dream begins with a dreamer" and would make a great gift for a newlywed or an engagement. 

This beautiful embroidered wedding envelope from Joan Glen Martin is just stunning. There are lots of little details from the cute girl holding a just married banner to the flower and lace surround.  


Elsie May and Bertha kindly offered some prizes for this challenge - and the Design Team unanimously agreed that both entries were so amazing that we would have two winners. 

So well done csevern - you win the needlecase and pincushion  - and well done Joan - you win the lavender pillow. Either drop us a message on the Get Crafty with Creative Connections Craft Challenge or email Louise on elsiemayandbertha@virginmedia.com.

And don't forget everyone - October's challenge is Spooky (Halloween, Ghosts, Ghouls) so get your amazing entries in now  - you have until the 31st October - just click on this link to find out how to enter.

The makes entered into October's month's challenge will be judged by the Design Team and the top makes will be featured on this blog next month. And there is a prize too - the Old Button is donating some Funky Fabric Coasters.  

Get Crafty with Creative Connection's Monthly Challenge October 2013 - Spooky (Halloween, Ghosts, Ghouls)

Hiya all and welcome to October's Challenge which is all about Halloween and other spooky things.  We would love you to take part - full details on how to enter are at the end of this post - and please share share share to promote the challenge - Twitter, Blog, FaceBook - whatever works for you.

The makes entered into this month's challenge will be judged by the Design Team and our favourites will be featured on this blog next month. And thanks to those who entered September's Wedding theme challenge. It was great to see some gorgeous entries - watch out for a feature on these later this month. 

The nights are getting darker here in the UK and the shops are filled with lots of scary costumes, bags and decorations. While some of these are pretty good, it is great to have something unique, something that appeals to your taste and something that you will love to bring out year after year. 

And as crafters we just love making our own. So it's time to get spooky......... here are what a couple of members from our Design Team have been busy making.....

Just take a look at this fabulous bunting by Louise from Elsa May and Bertha - I just love the autumn colours and the gothic theme. Ravens and bats. Perfect for a bit of grown up decorating for Halloween.

And for the kids - what about these not so scary padded goody bags by Sharon from The Old Button. Cute appliqued felt pictures and embroidered words - perfect for little ones who don't want the blood and gore look.  

So why don't you show us what you've been up to?

So how do you enter -  it is simple - just add your item via the link tool at the bottom of this post.  But check out the rules and guidance first: 

• This challenge runs until the 31th October 2013, so you can enter at any time during the month.  
• This challenge is open to all crafters, and all craft business owners, to enter.   
• You can enter up to two times in any one month.   
• Please always make new projects, no back linking to previous projects.
• You can include items you will go on to sell, most of us who are members of Creative Connections sell things so that is not a problem. 
• You can combine your entry to this challenge with any other challenges that you contribute too.  
• Please include a link back to this blog and Creative Connections (www.creative-connections.ning.com) when talking about the Get Crafty Challenge on your blogs, or any social media places. Creative Connections is on Twitter, Facebook and Google+.  
• If you want to blog about your challenge items then please do so, please remember to link back to the challenge post and please add your links to the Get Crafty Challenge Group over in Creative Connections, (you need to be a member to do this which is free to join) the group is here for you to add your posts.   
• If you would like to add the Get Crafty Monthly Challenge badge, you can copy the image from the side of the blog and link it back to www.getcraftywithcc.blogspot.co.uk

We're looking forward to seeing your entries - and there is a prize too - The Old Button is donating some Funky Fabric Coasters.


 

Get Crafty with Creative Connection's Monthly Challenge September 2013 - Weddings

Welcome to this month's challenge!

First of all, we must apologise for us not being around these past few months. Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances, we were unable to run the challenge regularly. However, we have now reorganised so ensure that the monthly challenge is back, and here to stay!

So to start as we mean to go on - September's challenge subject is 'Weddings'. All different types of crafting can be used to make something for this challenge. From cakes to jewellery and sewing to card making.

We hope that you get involved in this challenge, and to have as many makers involved as possible, could you please promote the challenge via Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Google +, Instagram etc.

Here's what two members of the Design Team came up with.

Sharon from The Old Button has made a wedding heart "Something Old.... Something Blue" 

It is made from recycled materials left over from her own wedding 18 years ago. The guipure lace was used on her bodice, and the ribbon trim was used on the hem of her skirt and train. The blue silk was used to make the bridesmaids' dresses, and the silver button is a spare left over from the men's waistcoats. 

Louise from Elsie May and Bertha created a ring pillow. Again, she used materials from her own wedding dress to make this pillow. (You can see how she made it on her blog).

The makes entered into this month's challenge will be judged buy the Design Team and the top ten makes will be featured on this blog next month. There's also a prize for the best make, for this challenge, a couple of lovelies from Elsie May and Bertha (a  needle case, pincushion and a lavender pillow).

You can enter the challenge by adding your item via the link tool at the bottom of this post. 

The rules for the challenge:

• This challenge runs until the 30th September 2013, so you can enter at any time during the month.
• This challenge is open to all crafters, and all craft business owners, to enter. 
• You can enter up to two times in any one month. 
• Please always make new projects, no back linking to previous projects.
• You can include items you will go on to sell, most of us who are members of Creative Connections sell things so that is not a problem. 
• You can combine your entry to this challenge with any other challenges that you contribute too. 
• Please include a link back to this blog and Creative Connections (www.creative-connections.ning.com) when talking about the Get Crafty Challenge on your blogs, or any social media places. Creative Connections is on Twitter, Facebook and Google+.
• If you want to blog about your challenge items then please do so, please remember to link back to the challenge post and please add your links to the Get Crafty Challenge Group over in Creative Connections, (you need to be a member to do this which is free to join) the group is here for you to add your posts. 
• If you would like to add the Get Crafty Monthly Challenge badge, you can copy the image from the side of the blog and link it back to www.getcraftywithcc.blogspot.co.uk

We're looking forward to seeing your entries.

Louise @ Elsie May and Bertha

I've called this Louise @ Elsie May and Bertha as people sometimes that I'm called Elsie May or Bertha. In fact, these were my two grandmothers, Elsie May Hancock and Bertha Hodson. The name  popped into my head one day when I was trying to think of a name to call my 'shop', I'd gone through lots of names, many of which were already taken. So Elsie May and Bertha (EM&B) it was.

I've been making things for as long as I can remember using a mixture of sewing and knitting. I've now added paper crafting to those two, and attempting crochet, but I don't have enough time for that really (a poor excuse I know).

I've been selling my wares under the EM&B banner since October 2010 after I'd taken voluntary redundancy from work (I have chronic fatigue so I went before I was made too). I sell via my website, Folksy and vintage/craft fairs. The latter are really good for meeting like-minded people and puts names to faces that I follow on Twitter and Facebook.

I really enjoy being able to spend my days (when I can) creating lovely things. I'm especially keen on reusing things and a lot of my stash has come from charity shops and I love coming up with new ways to use something that someone else didn't want.

I've not been able to make any kind of living from my making, as yet (where are all those sale?), so have had a considerable drop in lifestyle, but I do get to make things every day! Some thing are worth more than money (but don't tell the bank manager that!).

I don't really have one style, as I tend to make either for someone specific or to use a specific item from my stash, so the style can depend on that.

I have started to branch out into more arty things, creating collages out of fabrics and/or paper and I participated in my first art exhibition this may. I'm looking forward to doing more of this kind of work.

I really enjoy being a member of the Monthly Challenge design team, I like the discipline of having a deadline to work to. I have quite a few things waiting to be completed in my work basket! I am also looking forward to seeing the things that people make for the different challenges. The ones we've judged so far have been really difficult because of the standard of the entries.

TTFN 
Louise

Who am I? The Old Button Undone

So who, or what is The Old Button? Inspired by a box of old buttons my grandmother gave me as a child, I have to admit I have a love-hate relationship with the name.

On the love side, it's short, cute and fairly memorable. And it sounds a bit retro.  But on the hate side it makes me sound ancient - ok I am approaching the half century but I am still young at heart. It begins with "T" so it is always towards the end of an alphabetical search. And worse of all - I don't sell buttons!  Not exactly what it says on the tin which seems to go against all I advice I've since read about developing your brand. But I've grown attached to it so it is here to stay.

What to say about me?

I've been designing and making things since I was a little girl and needed more clothes for my Sindy dolls. Luckily Sindy is more forgiving than her high maintenance cousin - Barbie - and was more than happy to wear my "Sarongs" - aka clumsy wrap rounds with ribbon belts. She didn't even complain when I made her wear my latest "Dress" design - two "t" shaped scraps sewn together with huge stitches and a neck hole so small I had to pull off her head before I could get it on.

Luckily both my skills and technique developed and as a teenager I made some of my own clothes and "improved" others - despite what my teenage daughter thinks - customising clothes isn't a new thing. Unfortunately this was during 70s and 80s and both my taste and style was severely compromised - think bright pink polka dot ra-ra skirt with matching boob tube. Or wide leg jeans turned into drainpipes by taking in the inside seam - looked fabulous if worn with an oversized t-shirt to hide the baggy bottom. But I got through this and graduated onto evening dresses, cushions and curtains and even designed and made my own wedding dress. Wish I was still that slim...

.... fast forward a number of years. I live in South Wales with my fabulous husband, two gorgeous children that love performing and two pesky cats. Our house is an under-maintained Edwardian semi that my poor parents keep nagging us about and a lovely garden that I sadly don't spend enough time in. I work part time as a Financial Resources Manager in the NHS and have a second "job" as Mum's taxi. My "me" time is reading, sewing and designing - I make stage costumes as well as gifts for children and the home - and more recently I've discovered I love writing blogs.

I am really looking forward to sharing some of my ideas and inspiration with you and finding out what you are all up to.

Sharon- The Old Button

Who is Maelotti

Many people have asked where the name comes from and I can tell you it is not Italian it is actually the names of my two grandmas, May and Lotti. In 2011 I set up a website to display my creations and showcase my husbands art, which in 2012 had a shop added as requests were coming in.
Recently I have had some of the artwork converted into cross stitch patterns which are now available on my website.

So, about the person behind it all. My name is Claire and I cant remember a time when I didn't do some form of craft. From a young age my grandma, May, used to spend time with me teaching me to knit, crochet and make pompoms, lol.

About 20 years ago I started making the occasional card and it spiraled from there. Know i cross stitch, make bobbin lace, glass paint and have recently began to draw under my husbands tuition (he is a teacher of fine art) I have a passion for anything that sparkles so jewellery seemed the next best thing for me to make. Silver Angel started after I had made a necklace for a gift and then was asked if i could make another.

I now live on the Suffolk coast with my wonderful husband, Phil who puts up with all of my crafting stash. Our two beautiful children Keianna and Reggie, our dog Angus and new addition of Misti the kitten. 

I am pleased to be on the design team and am looking forward to seeing all of your creations.I am still fairly new blogging, but I hope you enjoy my creations, some of which may not be quite as planned. 

Claire
xx