Kids Craft Out

At Make we understand how exciting it is for kids to craft, but coming up with ideas that they will not only learn from but also cherish and be able to use is hard to find! So we have created a special programme after school for those crafty kids in your family!

These workshosp are aimed for 8 year olds + (if your child is younger and you think they can do it, they are welcome as long as you stick around until we feel comfortable that they are). They are also totally suitable for boys & girls.

Book either as an entire workshop for the term (and receive an amazing craft book for kids worth $40) or book separately! 8 spaces per class.

Our first session will cover making a patchy memo board using a wide selection of fabrics, make it patchy or make one big bold print! All materials included $25

In week two we will be recovering lampshades in our favorite fabrics, ribbons, felt & more! You child will go home with a fantastic homemade lampshade! All materials included $25

Week three sees the sewing machine come out! Some sewing experience is great but not necessary. Make a perfect throw to keep you cozy on those cold nights coming up! All materials included $25

Week four we will be decorating and making an applique pillow case! Perfect to decorate your room! All materials included $25

Week five we make this simple but effective door stop again in the fabric of your choice! We may also add some embellishments! All materials included $25

Week six we learn the art of decoupage and make some creative letters, using papers, comics, fabric! All materials included $25

In the final week we will be printing onto Canvas bags, using a variety of methods, including painting, stenciling, freezer paper and applique All materials included $25

Book the entire workshop online 
View the individual workshops

Mother's Day Raspberry Chocolate Heart

What I am making for my Mum this Sunday

- Jamie from The Cake Eating Co.

 

 

Raspberry Chocolate Heart

 My mum likes classic flavours and what is more classic (and delicious) than chocolate and raspberry! This cake is easy to make and so pretty. Just don’t tell my mum!

 

Raspberry Chocolate Heart

 

Chocolate Sponge

4 eggs

110g sugar

85g flour

15g cocoa

 

 

 

 

1. Heat oven to 200 degrees. Line a high sided baking tray with baking paper.

2. Whip eggs and sugar together until a thick ribboning foam is formed.

3. Triple sieve the flour and cocoa. Fold gently through the eggs and pour into the lined tin. Spread evenly over and bake for 6-8minutes. Remove and cool

 

Raspberry compote

200g raspberries (frozen or fresh)

30g sugar

1. Heat raspberries with sugar until the sugar is just dissolved. Set aside to cool

 

Chocolate ganache

200g dark chocolate (make sure it is a quality dark chocolate or it will not set)

200g cream

1. Cut up chocolate into small pieces and place in a bowl.

2. Boil cream, pour over chocolate and mix until emulsified.

 

To assemble

 

1. Cut a heart template out to the desired size using baking paper. Using this template cut out as many hearts from the sponge as you want layers.

Ready to assemble

 

2. To put the layers together smear a layer of ganache over the sponge then over the smear some raspberries.

Sponge layered with raspberries

 

2. Repeat until all your layers of sponge are layered. Leave the top layer without anything on it.

4. Cover the whole cake in ganache, move into the fridge to set. Apply the ganache again, thicker and make sure it is a smooth finish. Set it again in the fridge.

First layer of chocolate ganache



 

4. gently warm the ganache until it is liquid, pour over the cake to create a shiny finish.

Smooth layer of chocolate ganache

 

6. Decorate it! Use shards of chocolate or pipe ‘Mum’ on it! I have used pink macarons around the side with cocoa butter painted zebra stripes finished in edible gold leaf.

Ready to decorate

Raspberry Chocolate Heart decorated with macarons 

 

 

 

Guest Post by Jamie from The Cake Eating Co or visit her on Facebook

 

Jamie is one of our amazing Culinary Craft Workshop tutors. 

 

What are you making mum for Mother's Day?

Crafting Alongside Kids

What to do when you REALLY want to get something made, and they do to..

Creating with or for our kids can sometimes be hard, whatever art or craft activity we get out, they are immediately interested in it aswell. And lets be honest here, sometimes that can be just plain annoying!

Perhaps you have a last minute card to make, and you hold a pretty high standard for yourself, visible glue will not be tolerated! What do you do when your pre-schooler begs to 'help' you?

Stamped Aeroplane Garland

When the answer is NO

"Mum, Mum, can I please carve stamps with you?"

The answer was no.

I wasn't going to let my 4 year old carve stamps with sharp carving tools (call me over protective but I value his fingers)

But I did want him to be involved. I was carving stamps to use for his birthday party, we used them in a variety of ways, including in the aeroplane garland above, on wrapping paper and the food boxes.

I wanted them to be made well, but I didn't want my high standards for my own creations to put my son off having a go, so this is what I did.

1. Acknowledge him. - "I see you are really interested in carving stamps with me, it looks like a lot of fun."
2. Explain WHY he couldn't - "These carving tools are very sharp, and I would never want you to be hurt, so I won't let you use them." (Notice I emitted "because I don't want you ruining my stamps")
3. Give him options - "If you want you can wait until I have finished carving them and help me with the stamping, or I can give you some scissors and foam and you can make your own stamps now."
4. Encourage his efforts - "I can see you are concentrating really hard on your stamps, you have cut up a lot of foam very carefully with your scissors" - Rather than praising his efforts I prefer to 'feedback' to him what he is doing, and encourage the behaviours and skills rather than the art itself. (concentration, persistence, fine motor-skills, patience, care)

Concentrating very hard on his careful cutting and sticking

The result?

About 2 hours of very enjoyable side by side crafting and several sets of very nice stamps!

Once I had finished my stamps, he stamped 9 sheets of large newsprint that we made into wrapping paper for his pass the parcel game. He used 3 shapes, a cloud, an orange Dusty Crophopper and a black Echo & Bravo stamp (characters from the Planes movie - his chosen party theme).

My favourite part was that he told stories the entire way, this is Dusty racing in front, this is Dusty getting lost in the storm, this is Echo and Bravo and their friends rescuing Dusty stamp, stamp, stamp and so on. It was a very entertaining narrative and all the while we were producing very personalised and useful wrapping paper.

I think it can be hard, but very fulfilling to create a space where we give our children quality tools and supplies, some safety and messiness boundaries and then allow them to create without passing judgement on their artwork or correcting them. (the words good, nice and well-done are banned in our household) You will surprised at what they can do!

Painting Planes at the party

Keeping Them Quiet (and focused!)

You could have heard a pin drop when the 6 four years olds sat down to paint their planes at his party, it was amazing, and BONUS there was barely any mess. I think by giving them good quality art paints, fine brushes and interesting and challenging items to work with they really stretched their skills, imaginations and concentrated really hard.

They same could have been said of one of The Make Cafe's kid's fabric printing workshops today. Imagine a room full of 5-12 years old quietly concentrating on their masterpieces. The only thing we could hear was the parents quiet whispers of awe in the background!

Kid's Fabric Printing

Equipped with the tools, safety, and product boundaries and the right environment, our children will astonish us with their creativity, storytelling and artful insights. We just have to give them the chance!

If you are keen to learn more about stamp carving yourself we are actually running a new stamp carving workshop as part of a larger fabric embellishment block course. Well worth checking out!