CrafternoonTeas

Perfect Light Sponge Cakes Everytime

Friday, 27 March 2015


This method never fails for the perfect fairy cakes

Hello,

I wanted to share a quick and easy tip to get the best ever sponge cakes. It's was passed on to me by a farmer's wife and it really works.

Before measuring out your sponge ingredients, just weigh your eggs. Then weigh out equal butter, sugar and flour and make as per usual. And that's it!

Little trade secrets passed down through the families are priceless

I swear by this quick tip and the cakes are really light. Eggs vary in weight depending on so many factors, so to get the egg weight right balances out the rest of your cake mixture.

A teaspoon of cream also adds a creamy texture if you want some extra richness.

Try it this weekend and if it works, leave me a comment below.

Happy Baking,

Samantha

Introducing Vintage Loveliness from Hen Box!

Monday, 16 March 2015

Hello,

Planning a party?

Have you seen the lovely vintage range from Hen Box . Hen Box is a one stop party shop for all things hen, bridal and pre-Wedding celebrations. Plus the lovely Hen Box has given us a cheeky 10% discount off the whole site!

Just enter 'CRAFTY10' when you get to the checkout.

Here are my top vintage style picks from Hen Box for your perfect Crafternoon...

pretty, pretty, pretty!

I love these pretty colourful paper decorations (below) to add that vintageness touch to a party. Place on the table or use around a door way as a fantastic entrance for your hen. The green and pink ones are my favourite.

Why not decorate your table with these floral napkins and for all your sweet treats add these pretty cake stands in vintage Summery colours.

The range is beautiful without being over fussy and would compliment your crafty party. Little touches like matching napkins or sash look great on photos and add those extra little details.

I look back at my hen party and it's a great keepsake to remember how all your friends and family made your last days as a Miss so special!

For more inspiration hop over to Hen Box's blog and why you are there read about our real life Glamp-site Crafternoon from last Summer at Secret Cloud House Holiday yurts in the Derbyshire peaks.


yurts, craft and sun..we are ready to go and Crafternoon!

Thanks for featuring me Hen Box!

See you soon for more Crafternoon inspiration,

Samantha x

Vintage Style Faux Fur Wrap..Stitch Me In One Hour for #JungleJanuary

Friday, 30 January 2015

Hello

Here's a post for a one hour sewing faux fur wrap. I saw the hashtag on instagram #JungleJanuary and throught what about a lioness fur mane...roar!

Run one up whilst it's snowy and chilly this weekend to give your coat that vintage look. If you are going to a special occasion it'll save you about £20.

Chic vintage wrap for chilly days

It's ideal for any level of stitcher, so if you had a sewing machine for Christmas, this is a perfect first project.

wear it to accessorise a your coat as a faux fur collar

The Sew

Faux fur is a great fabric to use, I actually upcycled my wrap from a charity shop gilet that I cut up. It cost me £6 and I have enough to make two. The wrap is a rectangle of faux fur with a lining and two 50cm lengths of double satin ribbon sewn on the top.

I measured around my shoulders and the depth I wanted my wrap to be and added on seamage allowance of 2.5cm onto each edge.

Or wear it as high necked collar

Faux fur is best cut with the furry side up, it will shed and look like you have shaved your cat but this is fine. I always cut faux fur in old clothes and vacuum up afterwards. I use a 100 needle as when you turn the wrap right side out it needs to take a lot of thickness.

I stitched the ribbons on inside out and turned the stitched bag leaving about 15cm gap to turn. Once pressed I hand sewed the raw edges closed.

snow day

I've been wearing this wrap, whilst it's been snowing (it was snowing yesterday whilst I was taking pictures with my lovely new tripod) and it's so warm and cosy. You can wear it nice and cuddly or off one shoulder or just how you feel on the day!

Let me know if you like the vintage wrap by leaving me a comment.

If you liked my Jungle January, follow your favourite bloggers and their makes on #junglejanuary

Take care,

Samantha
x

Spring Treat Size Crafternoon Teas

Monday, 26 January 2015

Happy Monday!

I've just been having a Spring clean on the blog. All bloggers need to clean out old widgets, bits and bobs. It's a little blog detox. Let me know what you think?

I have updated my treat size classes and about me sections if you want to find out how I set up Crafternoon tea click here.

I'm excited to be back at Pickford's House in February and March hosting Treat Size Crafternoons for only ten pounds!

Both classes are from 2-3pm

Saturday February 14th 2015

Create Textile Jewellery

Want to make an accessory that's one of a kind? Then this class is perfect for you! Using old fashioned fabrics plus high quality jewellery findings to create your own jewellery. A perfect Valentines gift.
Book Your Place Here

Saturday March 7th 2015

Stitch A Pretty Postcard

With Easter just round the corner, stitch and sew a postcard style quilted embroidery. If you are new to stitching or looking for new ideas, this class caters for all experiences. We will be looking at embroidery used in the Georgian period that you can add to your creation. Looking forward to it!

Book Your Place Here

Places are filling up, it's a great chance to try a class with lovely vintage style tea and cake!

Bye for now,

Samantha

Five Creative Challenges To Banish Blue Monday

Monday, 19 January 2015

So today is Blue Monday, statistically the most depressing day of the year. Boo for that and let's shake it off and look ahead to new creative challenges for 2015.

Why join in on a creative challenge?

Most of us create on our own, in our homes after work or when the children are in bed. It is our time to be ...well us? I love when I host a Crafternoon tea that crafters share tips. Classes are great to join but we aren't available to catch up with like minded people. So social media challenges are fab to keep you motivated, keep you focused on your goal and a great way to meet new creative friends.

Challenges really keep you motivated, improve your skills and build a on-line community and they are FREE or under a fiver!!

So what are you waiting for!!

Let me share some of my favourites -

For the stitcher...

A Stitching Odyssey's vintage sewing challenge #vintagepledge

Last year, Marie pledged to make up a number of vintage dress patterns. Join in and follow her developments as well as the lovely sewing #vintagepledge community. Full of ideas of wonderful makes from other sewists of all levels, it will give you the confidence to make the jump into vintage sewing. And when you are hooked, it gets addictive.

For the creative...

Daire from Open Way Designs inspiring art journal dairies are prompted from the Documented Life Challenge, a weekly mixed media challenge for to stree-e-e-tch your creativity.

Go and check it out, have a look through the what has been created in the first 18 days of the year. The ideas are fabulous. I followed Daire's journal for 2014. This year's won't disappoint I promise.

For the home stylist...

Styling the Season's from Katy's blog Apartmental Apothcary is a monthly styled shoot under a theme.

Follow Katy and Charlotte at #stylingtheseasons on social media as others shared their (very) pretty styled shoots for the home and time of year.

If you are looking for a photography challenge and to rethink how you decorate your home, this is a feed to follow and take part in.

Your home will look like a magazine shoot within a few months. Perfect for decluttering and redefining your living space.

For a lifestyle challenge...

30 Day Challenge: Drink 8 Eight Oz. Glasses of Water Each Day #theeverygirl

I love reading The Every Girl as it pretty much covers fashion, home, beauty and much more for the modern girl.

Each month the ed team put together a 30 day challenge. Follow them on social media at #teg30daychallenge . This month is about hydration, previous challenges have been about waking up 30 minutes earlier and delaying your social media posts to make more out of your social time with friends.

I find it gives you time to look at your lifestyle and if you really want to do something (like for me make a dress but have no time available), these monthly challenges really make your find the time.

Worth a trip to the site and a follow on social media too.

For the homemaker...

Minimal Kitchen 2

If 2015 is your year to declutter, this is a bible.

A monthly planner to get the house how you want it, get rid of the negative items in your home and fill it with happiness! We all need that? It costs around five dollars but well worth it if this is your 2015 mission.

Here is a sneaky peak..tempting hmmm?

January – Kitchen
February - Dining room
March – Living room
April – Bathroom(s)
May – Master Bedroom
June – Kids/spare room
July – Office
August – Basement
September – Garage
October – Laundry room
November – Closets
December – Attic/Storage

I hope this post inspired you to start a challenge tonight! I find Instagram and Twitter the best place to find inspiration.

Are you following any challenges in 2015?

Samantha x

14 Pictures of 2014

Tuesday, 30 December 2014

Blog meet goodies from #ccbloggers meet up. Brad got in my yarn stash!

Vintage -spired brooch making with 1940's rug making techniques

Daffodils corsages from a Spring Crafternoon tea

Embroidery project for a Crafternoon

Pretty Snowdrops from my vintage garden

Handmade rings made by old buttons and jewellery findings

China ready for a glamping Crafternoon tea

Dabbling with papercraft and silk flowers for a friend's birthday

Yummy classic sponge cake in icing and sprinkles

My love of vintage patterns for the #vintagepledge challenge

Summer roses and gift wrapping for Father's Day

Salt dough crafting at home

My very first Summer Wedding fair

A lovely photo shoot Christmas present to our family and friends captured by Marie-Louise Hall Photography

What are you top pictures of 2014? Drop me a link in the comments box and I'll pop over for a look.

Happy New Year!

Samantha

Share Why You Love Vintage & Win A Night Out At VOC, London

Thursday, 27 November 2014

Mix Your Night Up With Vintage Style Drinks in London worth up to £60

To celebrate the launch of our new blog www.teacakecraft.eu, we are giving you the chance to win a night out sampling the best vintage style drinks worth up to £60 at VOC in London.

So if you are heading out this Christmas party season or looking for a reason to go to London in the January sales, enter now for the chance to win drinks and food courtesy of VOC in London.

With vintage style punches on the menu, it's really hard to be choose which one. Traditionally made with five ingredients including a spirit (either Dutch gin called genever or arrack made with coconut palm), punches have made a come back.

With a collective of award winning mixologists and drinks enthusiasts VOC has created a phenomenal range of drinks inspired from a bygone era with a modern interpretation. They pride themselves with using seasonal produce and the latest molecular mixology techniques. Vintage looks like a trend that's here for good.

Check out the drinks menu! I have to say I'm a White Port Tea lady myself with Earl Grey in a punch. A real twist that works for me!

So if you are planning a hen party, birthday or celebration, get your friends together over vintage drinks and let the ideas flow!

So let's celebrate. Enter by sharing why you love vintage here .

Good Luck,

Samantha

The small print -

Voucher redemption from 16th December 2014 to 31st January 2015.

One entry per person only.
One winner only.

The winner will be chosen at random after the competition closed at midnight on the 14th December 2014.

Competition held with Crafternoon Tea Hostess (Samantha Schofield) and VOC, London.

No cash alternative to be offered.

Crafternoon Tea Hostess will not share your data with any other third party company.
For an email of the name of the winner please email info@crafternoonteahostess.co.uk after the 15th December 2014.

Please drink responsibly.

Vintage Style Stamps

Friday, 21 November 2014

I am always on the look out for smart, cute and quality crafty tools. I have to say, I've had self inking stamps made for me last year and they didn't print properly! How frustrating! So when Speedy Stamps asked me to review a this cute 2.5 inch square bespoke stamp (the size of a mini clear tape), I was delighted to try it out.

I love stamps! They look vintage and quirky on thick water marked pretty papers and really reflect the retro look we have at Crafternoon Tea Hostess.

Clear printing each time with my new vintage stamp

Speedy Stamps wanted just one image from me and sent over a proof for me to check. We ended up doing two proofs to make sure it was perfect and they even amended the files at the offices as the website address was small.

I love the lovely old fashioned wooden handle of the stamp and the big ink pad that comes as standard with the stamp. No hunting for a ink pad that's compatible.

For me, the guys at Speedy Stamps turned the job around in a few days and hey..the details is really amazing...