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Coombe Mill Blog
"Tales from the farmers wife" shares the funny and interesting happenings on our lovely holiday farm with Farmer Nick and our 6 children. A behind the scenes look on balancing family, farming, the holiday business and cooking for all.
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Welcome to a new month of Trash 2 Treasure. The dark nights are upon us and Remembrance Sunday is approaching followed by the merriment of Christmas. There are so many wonderful craft ideas for the season and I’d love you to share them with me. Whether you are sewing, crafting, cooking or sawing I’d love to see all your upcycled ideas. We have been Making a Poppy Wreath from a cereal box and egg boxes, which can then be reused as a Christmas Holly Wreath. A double upcycle!
Joining in with Trash 2 Treasure
Trash 2 Treasure is all about upcycling. Posts should be about making something foraged from nature, household throw away items or low value items you have added value to.
Posts can take any form, all that matters is that the item made has primarily been upcycled. Whether you cook, sew, make or create I’d love you to join me.
The linky will run on the 1st Monday of every month and stay open for the full month.
There is no post limit as the link up is open all month.
Old posts and new posts welcome.
Please comment on my host post and at least 2 others and use #Trash2Treasure in the sign off so other’s know where you came from and can pop back to see what you have made too.
Do remember to pop back during the month to check on later posts linked up. I will share linked posts during the month as a reminder and a thank you for joining in.
Please add my Trash 2 Treasure badge to help others find the link up and to be in with a chance of winning the lovely Duck Tape Colours (see below).
Most of my Trash 2 Treasure tutorials will come from fun keepsakes we have made with the children in our farm activity hour, but sometimes I share bigger upcycling projects from the farm too. I hope through the linky to acquire some new ideas from you.
A little extra from the awesome folk at Duck Tape Colours
Trash to Treasure is sponsored by Duck Tape Colours, makers of colourful tape to add pattern and sparkle to all your upcycling projects. My favourite upcycling post each month will receive 3 colourful rolls of tape to inspire their next project. Do check out the website for plenty of creative ideas.
My October winner of the duck tape colours is Vicky of Vicky Myers Creations. Vicky made a wonderful bathroom makeover with some great thrifty accessories that look so effective. Do pop over and take a look.
Trash 2 Treasure Communities
Please use the hashtag #Trash2Treasure for your makes, I’ll find you and promote your post or picture on
Twitter
Instagram
Google Plus
If you link up below to Trash 2 Treasure November I’ll also send you an invite to pin on the Trash 2 Treasure Pinterest board
Please take the code for the badge from the sidebar, we’re having some issues transferring it over to the post.
A no glue, easy assemble, stylish upcycled Poppy Wreath
With Remembrance Sunday fast approaching I wanted a craft I could share with the children staying on the farm which also gave me a chance to explain what Remembrance Sunday is all about. My own children still give me a sigh when I insist they attend the Remembrance Service with their scouting movement, but I feel it is an important date to mark. As kids they have enjoyed the fun of Halloween and Bonfire night, this one is a chance to step back, to reflect and to remember how we came to enjoy the freedom of our country. A little crafting fun makes listening and comprehending easier for children. The result is a beautiful poppy wreath to show your support as well as a reminder to give generously to the poppy appeal.
What You’ll Need
2 x 6 egg plastic egg box
Red, green and black poster paint
Scissors
Black wool
A large cereal box
Pencil
Paint brush
Floristry ribbon (optional)
Green leaves (optional)
How to Make your Poppy Wreath
To make the wreath base
Draw a circle on a cereal box (use a plate or something to draw around) and cut out. Use both long side of the box.
Make a hole in the centre of both pieces with scissors and cut out a smaller circle within the first.
Paint your remaining rings with green paint and set aside to dry.
Take the black wool and tie a knot around both pieces of card to hold them together then wind the wool round the card leaving a length of wool free at the end. Set aside
To make the poppies
Cut the egg shapes from the egg box.
Use the lid of the egg box as a paint tray, and then dip the outside of each cut out egg holder in the red paint and leave to dry. (This will take several hours)
Take the dried red egg holders and paint the inside circle black to form your poppy; then leave to dry.
Make scissor cuts down opposite sides of your poppies from the tip of the petals to the start of the black middle.
Returning to your wreath weave another layer of wool adding a poppy via the scissor cuts as you go round.
When you have finished leave a length of wool for a handle to hang your wreath.
A few extra’s you could try
Add a little floristry ribbon to the base of your wreath curled with scissors
Thread green leaves into the wool behind the poppies.
Try PVA glue coating your finished poppy wreath to help it withstand the outdoors.
Try using holly and mistletoe for a Christmas Wreath
Welcome to a new month of Trash 2 Treasure. Autumn is truly with us now and with the season comes a whole host of lovely nature craft ideas. Those autumn leaves, ripe fruits and fallen sticks are great for upcycling. Added to this is the upcoming excitement of Halloween and Bonfire night. We have been busy on the farm making nature frames and blackberry prints this past month month and are now looking forward to decorating the farm for Halloween.
Joining in with Trash 2 Treasure
Trash 2 Treasure is all about upcycling. Posts should be about making something foraged from nature, household throw away items or low value items you have added value to.
Posts can take any form, all that matters is that the item made has primarily been upcycled. Whether you cook, sew, make or create I’d love you to join me.
The linky will run on the 1st Monday of every month and stay open for the full month.
There is no post limit as the link up is open all month.
Old posts and new posts welcome.
Please comment on my host post and at least 2 others and use #Trash2Treasure in the sign off so other’s know where you came from and can pop back to see what you have made too.
Do remember to pop back during the month to check on later posts linked up. I will share linked posts during the month as a reminder and a thank you for joining in.
Please add my Trash 2 Treasure badge to help others find the link up and to be in with a chance of winning the lovely Duck Tape Colours (see below).
Most of my Trash 2 Treasure tutorials will come from fun keepsakes we have made with the children in our farm activity hour, but sometimes I share bigger upcycling projects from the farm too. I hope through the linky to acquire some new ideas from you.
A little extra from the awesome folk at Duck Tape Colours
Trash to Treasure is sponsored by Duck Tape Colours, makers of colourful tape to add pattern and sparkle to all your upcycling projects. My favourite upcycling post each month will receive 3 colourful rolls of tape to inspire their next project. Do check out the website for plenty of creative ideas.
My September winner of the duck tape colours is Jill from Creating my way to success. Jill upcycles some amazing things from fabric scraps. I particularly liked this bear from an old school sports kit. He would make a great mascot.
Trash 2 Treasure Communities
If please use the hashtag #Trash2Treasure for your makes, I’ll find you and promote your post or picture on
Twitter
Instagram
Google Plus
If you link up below to Trash 2 Treasure October I’ll also send you an invite to pin on my Trash 2 Treasure Pinterest board
With Halloween approaching I am looking at ways to decorate the farm and transform our train tunnel into a Halloween ghost ride. There are all kinds of wonderful things in the shops but they do come at a price, so where I can I like to upcycle and create my own ideas to mix in with the shop bought items. My chattering ghost bunting idea comes from a recent discovery of how versatile tin cans are. I have already used them to make tea light candle holders, scarecrows and garden butterfly decorations, and I was sure there would be a Halloween interpretation I could create. My Halloween farm days are becoming so popular over half term and I always like to have something new for returning guests.
What you’ll need for chattering ghost bunting
String
Tin cans, larger or fizzy drinks ones are best.
Kitchen scissors
Hole punch
Black marker pen
A little tissue or kitchen roll
Method
Wash out your tin can and drain well, make an incision into the can at both ends and cut of the top and bottom saving the can pull.
Cut up the middle of your remaining tube, flatten and dry the inside with tissue.
Use a marker pen to draw the outline of two ghosts
Cut out your Ghosts
Hole punch in two Eyes and use marker pen to draw around the eyes to give them clarity and a spooky look.
When you have a collection of ghosts thread them onto the string separated by a ring pull between each ghost.
Hang them up in a tree and listen to them chatter in the wind!
A Vlog tutorial on how to Make chattering ghost Bunting
A few additions you could try
Try cutting bat shapes or pumpkins from an Orange Tango tin instead.
Instead of bunting you could just use a nail to tack them onto a tree or fence as I did with my butterflies.
I think my Chattering Ghost bunting will form part of a Treasure Hunt of things to spot on the farm at Halloween.
Do you have any thrifty makes for Halloween? Please come and share them on my upcycling monthly link up Trash 2 Treasure.
Well come to a new month of Trash 2 Treasure. The new school term is upon us and weather you have little ones heading back to school, nursery or playgroup; I hope it is a positive start. From my experience the first weeks back can take a little adjusting to and leave you looking for a quite craft at the weekend or with younger siblings still at home. I have one to share today that might fill that time perfectly. A cute hobby horse made from not much more than an odd sock from Farmer Nick and a stick found on the farm. Being quick and easy to make but with endless possibilities for imaginative play, this hobby horse is a perfect after school or afternoon fill in craft.
What you’ll need to make an upcycled hobby horse
Old Sock
Long straight stick
Wool
Soft Stuffing – we used old laundry bags, but old material scraps or other odd socks would work
Googly Eyes
Method
Stuff your sock with your chosen stuffing.
Push the stick through the stuffing and into the heal of the sock.
Take a long piece of wool and wrap it round the toe of the sock and up the sides to form a bridal and reigns. You can do this in sections if you find it easier
Tease some stuffing into two sections at the heal of the sock and separate with wool to make ears.
Stick on some googly eyes.
A Vlog Tutorial on How to Make a Hobby Horse
A few Extras you could try
Why not add a colourful rosette to your horse’s bridal.
Finger knit your wool first to make the bridal and reins more substantial.
Use a shorter stick as a cross section secured with wool as handles.
If you have post about something you have made with something from nature or something you would have otherwise have thrown away please come and share on Trash 2 Treasure. The linky will run on the 1st Monday of every month and stay open for the full month. Posts can take any form, all that matters is that the item made has primarily been upcycled from something of little value or found in nature. Leaves and loo rolls, sticks and staples, there are so many throw away items which, with a little imagination, can be turned into something of value. Most of my something from nothing craft tutorials will come from fun keepsakes we have made with the children in our farm activity hour but sometimes I will share bigger upcycling projects from Farmer Nick too. I hope through the linky to acquire some new ideas and I welcome all posts old and new.
A little extra from the awesome folk at Duck Tape Colours
Trash to Treasure is sponsored by Duck Tape Colours, makers of colourful tape to add pattern and sparkle to all your upcycling projects. My favourite upcycling post each month will receive 3 colourful rolls of tape to inspire your next project. Do check out their website for plenty of creative ideas.
My August winner of the duck tape colours is Liz from Me and My Shadow with an upcycled mosaic tea tray from collected china fragments.
As always there were some wonderful upcycled ideas last month, Please keep them coming.
My other favourites during the month were a DIY phone holder from Emma at the Mini Mes and Me and an odd sock toy dog from Jill at Creating my Way to Success
When joining in please use the hashtag #Trash2Treasure on Twitter, Instagram or Google Plus and I’ll find you
If you link up I’ll send you an invite to pin on my Trash 2 Treasure Pinterest board
Please grab my badge and join my crafting journey and do pop back to check out other people’s posts during the month.
“Tales from the farmers wife” shares life on our lovely holiday farm with Farmer Nick and our 6 children. Step into our beautiful 30 acres and experience nature close up with farming and educational crafts in stunning North Cornwall. Family, fun and adventure start here.
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