Last month we made our own fancy papers using scrap paper and old book pages. Any old paper can be recycled back into a pulp and used to make handmade sheets which you can decorate with petals, leaves and other natural materials. We added coloured paper to get different results and sprinkled in some sequins and words!

I will use these papers for junk journaling and Christmas card making, the finer pages could be potato printed and used as wrapping paper. All great ideas for the Frost Fair which will have its own separate blog post – coming soon!

Getting ready for the Frost Fair involved lots of pom pom making and shredding fabric for rag wreaths. We looked at making decorations from materials that we already had and with minimal use of plastic and glitter. The results were nature inspired and had a rustic, junky look just right for Cody Dock!

I have always loved Advent Calendars so I was inspired to construct an Advent Tag Tree. Handmade tags are a great way to squeeze a tiny bit of crafting into your day, they don’t have to take long to make and you can develop any kind of theme with your tags. Use paint, collage, crayon and fabrics – the slow stitching involved in these tags is a sure-fire way to unwind.

Come along to the Tag Making workshop in December to get started. We crafted 24 tags with the idea of tying a tag to the tree for each day of Advent.

In preparation for the Frost Fair, one of the large directional signs in the picnic area needed some attention – a great job for Cody Makers! We stripped all the flyers and posters off, gave it a coat of paint and devised a fun way to create ‘What’s On’ lettering – watch this space for a full update.

Our Craft Assistant Hardev has been hard at work making a sign for the Volunteers Hub – here’s a sneak peek before it’s put in place:

I am the ever curious crafter guiding you through our making journey – always willing to try out new projects in order to pass ideas on to you!

I ran with scissors from an early age, playing with timber, nails and discarded shoe boxes, painting and fixing the world around me.

As an adult I make stuff for Theatre, write plays and stories for TV and continue to craft. I have landed here at Cody Dock in order to re-wild my brain and explore how to blend found materials and sustainability with crafty techniques. Come and join me!

Instagram: @jitterbug65
Website: www.abibown.com