For a fun bouquet or just something to add a little pizazz to gift wrapping, these tissue paper carnations are a unique way to give flowers.

The project is incredibly easy and inexpensive. My 12-year-old made these in under half an hour.

The materials are simply:

Colored tissue paper

Decorative pencils

Pencil Eraser Caps

Small elastics

You can use any color of tissue paper, even white – or layer different colors for a rainbow effect. Lay out your tissue paper in layers of 4 – 6 sheets. 4 makes a loosely petaled flower, 6 is a bit tight and harder to work. We found 5 sheets were about right. Then measure a rectangle of about 5 – 6 inches wide and about 10 – 12 inches long. This will determine the size of your flower but the great thing is that it doesn’t really matter if you are exact or if you eyeball it. The edges don’t even have to be particularly straight as when you fan out the paper, these inconsistencies will only make it look more real. This makes it a great project for kids who may not be as meticulous about measurements and straight edges.

Once you have your rectangle, start an accordion fold at one of the ends. Fold on the short side, not the long. Fold over and over as if you were making a fan. Each fold should be about 1 inch width. When you are done, fold it over to find the middle, then unfold and place an elastic around the middle of your now 1 inch wide folded fan.

Take a pencil and wind the elastic on the pencil end, just under the metal band that holds the eraser on. Placing it here keeps it from slipping off easily. To ensure it doesn’t slip off, place a colored eraser cap over the eraser. This also makes the pencil more useful as the owner will be able to erase with it without removing the flower.

Now fan out both sides and grasping the edge of the innermost tissue paper layer, start pulling it up towards the middle. Once you have done that, do the next layer and the next and so forth. Pull each layer on both sides towards the middle until your carnation is formed.

You can make several of these and give them like a bouquet of flowers. Alone, these tissue paper carnations can be attached to gifts instead of bows for a unique decoration.

There are many forms of “craft”. Witchcraft used to be called “the Craft” by its adherents.

Nowadays, New Age crafts are all the rage among the young and those left over from the 1960s. Here’s a taste of New Age crafting by Rhian Gibbings:

Orbs are mysterious, spherical forms of energy and light that we simply can’t explain. The most common form of orb is the small white sphere often captured on digital cameras, although they have been spotted in many colours and a variety of sizes.

Orbs are the most common form of paranormal phenomena captured on video or camera by psychics and paranormal investigators. Be aware that not all photographs of orbs are genuine, however, as particles of dust and moisture can appear as orbs in your pictures. Perhaps the only genuine orbs are the ones that we can see with the naked eye if we are perceptive enough and release our limitations.

There are a number of theories that attempt to explain the strange phenomenon of orbs. Some say that they are a basic form of ghost or spirit – the portion of us that leaves the body after death.

Another suggestion is that orbs are the manifestation of elementals or nature spirits. Shamanism and other ancient, nature-based belief systems have always revered the consciousness of flowers, plants and the land itself.

Finally, the idea that orbs represent consciousness from other realms or dimensions is perhaps the most plausible. This suggests that the spherical, light form is how other-worldly or multidimensional consciousness can project itself into our third dimensional existence. Some say that orbs collect information, while others claim that they deliver wisdom and healing to our realm. They suggest that the origin of this consciousness is angelic, faery or even extra terrestrial and that if we open to the possibility, we can even communicate with them.

Whatever the explanation for orbs, experiencing them real-time is much more powerful than viewing them in photos. If you’d like to try to see orbs, find a safe, quiet place, meditate or raise your vibration.

Project the strong intention of lifting your limitations and seeing some energy spheres. When you are ready, use all your senses to perceive what is around you.

Keep your digital camera handy but remember the most important record keeping facility we possess is within our own minds, so concentrate on the experience rather than capturing the proof.

We’re all looking for ways to economise and reduce our weekly shopping bill as well as to maintain our health by eating nourishing foods. Unfortunately the healthiest options are often the most expensive, and this is certainly true when it comes to bread.

Investing in a breadmaker will certainly help you cut costs and develop a new craft, especially if you enjoy luxury breads packed with the goodness of seeds and nuts, for example.

Today’s breadmakers are also fairly versatile, allowing you to make mix cookie dough or pizza bases, and you can enjoy different types of fresh bread according to your weekly requirements.

If you have particular dietary needs, then baking your own bread is ideal as you can have full control over the ingredients, eliminating artificial additives and limiting sugar, salt and fats if you choose to do so. What’s more, your home will be filled with the delicious aroma of freshly baked bread, and that can’t be bad.

Some machines have a ‘quick bake’ facility so that your bread is ready to eat in a fraction of the time. Others will keep your loaf warm for a set period of time, which is attractive if you’d like to return home from work to a slice of fresh, warm bread and jam and a cup of tea or coffee.

Finally, check the size and shape of the breadmaking tin before you buy so that you’re baking the right sized loaf for your family’s requirements – there’s nothing more frustrating than not having enough bread to go round.

Once you’ve got to grips with your new breadmaker, why not try some adventurous recipes – Sundried Tomato and Olive bread with a hint of Pesto is the ideal accompaniment to Italian food, and a rustic Rosemary and Potato loaf makes the perfect partner to a chunky winter soup or Cottage Pie.

Honey and Flaxseed bread is great for the digestion whilst a slice of whole wheat bread enriched with fruit and nuts makes a delicious teatime treat.

For other craft information, try Devon & Cornwall Online.

Growing your own crystals is great fun and amuses the kids on hot summer days.

Whether you grow your own as decoration, jewelry, or for some other use — would you believe as a deodorant, it’s really very simple.

So let’s start with the deodorant. You may have seen “safe” forms of deodorant in healthy living shops. Often they come in the form of large crystals of Potassium Aluminium Sulphate, or Alum.

They have the advantage of being free of Aluminium Chlorohydrate, which has been implicated in ill health. Natural deodorant crystals are suitable for the most sensitive skin, are hypoallergenic and last a long time. Furthermore, they won’t stain your clothes or discolour your skin.

If you prefer the decorative side of crystal making, just add some food coloring to the mix.

You can grow these crystals quite easily with a little bit of knowledge. You will need :

* An ounce of Alum from a local store or online at Pans Pantry.
* A glass jar.
* A clean stick.
* Warm water.
* Thread.
* Small, sharp stones, cleaned well.

Method
1. Pour enough warm water into the jar to cover the stones — but don’t put the stones in yet.

2. Add the Alum and stir well until it stops dissolving. A small residue will be left.

3. Add food colouring if desired.

4. Tie a small stone to the thread and the other end to the stick. Place the stick across the top of the jar so that the stone dangles in the liquid.

5. Put the jar in a warm place to aid evaporation.

The first crystals will appear in a few days. You can add more Alum to make them bigger.

The biggest crystals can be rubbed under arms as a “safe” home-made deodorant.