Wow, Team GB...

...second on the Olympic medal table.

Way to go Team GB !!!

Back in 2012 the Royal Mail honoured our medal winners with postage stamps and post boxes painted gold, silver or bronze - I wonder if there are any plans to celebrate the medal haul this time?

On Friday it was a lovely sunny day in Stratford...

 ...and despite the traffic and all the building work, the area looked rather nice with the sunshine and blue skies.
Unfortunately, something didn't look so nice...

 ...the gold post box in The Broadway (to celebrate that Stratford was the home of 2012) is looking rather tatty...

...four years of keys rubbing on the front when the postman empties the box have taken their toll. You would think that a bit of National pride would want to keep the boxes looking good.

Let's hope that a good result in Rio with prompt some action to give these items a lick of paint............................................................

Loom Bands as closures...

...for journals, notebooks or Smash books.

Since my last post about Loom Bands (here) I've been rather busy.

I've been playing with colour combinations and also become quite adept at the 'triple fishtail' that can be turned into the most pretty cuff bracelets...

 ...these are just a few of the ones I've made...

 ...I really love the rainbow ones and so it would seem do several of my crafting friends as I've had to make more to share. My Mum is starting to build a bit of a collection too. Every time I show her my latest creation, I end up having to make one for her too. Even my sister has a cuff that I made in her favourite football team's colours (and I forgot to take a photo - doh!!!). With the Summer holidays upon us, these cuffs make pretty jewellery that is perfect for beach holidays. A couple of packs of bands that are "Cheap as chips" and you can make some colourful accessories to wear on the beach and it won't break the bank if they don't survive the sun, sand & sea.
Yesterday (4th August) was the 100yr commemoration of the day that WW1 started...

 ...I wore this camouflage cuff with a black bow to mark the occasion.
In my previous 'band' post, I mentioned that they could be used to make closures for mini-albums and journals that had started to expand. MaryAnne kindly mentioned this in 'Blogbits' this week over on UKS so I thought I should show you what I meant...

...this notebook is held closed with a long 'fishtail' band in colours that I've picked from the cover of the notebook. I've kept it very simple with no trims, charms or embellies of any kind.
However, I'm really having fun with the 'triple fishtail' bands - especially since I picked up a Mega-tail loom...

 ...they fit comfortably in the hand and are the perfect size for this style of band...

 ...and you can make them as long as you like without any problem.
Here is a band that I've just completed for this kraft journal...

...the journal was given a bit of a rub over with a white stamp pad...

 

...and the closure was created using bands in white/gold/silver then decorated with a burlap broach that I bought at one of my local craft shops (yes, I know I could have made one myself but I was being lazy LOL).

 

So you can see, Loom Bands don't have to be something just for the kids - you can actually make some pretty crafting accessories - so go on...have a play............................................................. 

Kids are going loopy...

...for this current craze.

LOOM BANDS

The High Streets are swamped with them...looms in a variety of formats and mini elastic bands in just about every colour you can imagine. Oh, and it doesn't end there. There are solid colours clear colours, glittery ones, florescent, glow in the dark and pearly ones to name but a few. Add to this the charms & beads that can also be incorporated and you have a massive retail success.

The problem is, it's not just the kids who are getting hooked.

When my friend Suzie (Weasel) mentioned over on UKScrappers that she had been tempted and gave in to buying a loom and some bands, I thought perhaps I should own up too.

I had seen what folk had been making and when I saw a huge selection of bands in Poundland, I just had to give it a go. I started with a few packs of bands...

 ...and was getting along quite well with the single link "chains" when a colleague mentioned about the videos on YouTube. The next thing you know...

...I've added a basic loom and some more bands - all from Poundland.
After watching a few YouTube videos...

...I soon had this collection of bracelets. However, some of the videos showed a different type of loom being used...

 ...and yesterday I picked one up from the market near work for the massive sum of £2.50 (I saw the same one in Clare's Accessories for about £8).
I had a couple of storage boxes in my craft room that I thought would be suitable...

 ...but as you can see...

...both boxes are overflowing.
I've had a go at basic chains, Infinity bracelets, ladders and triple row cuffs but...

...the Fishtails seem to be what I'm having most success with at the moment and this photo shows my favourite colour combos so far.

The thread that Suzie started over on UKScrappers has suggested some crafting uses for these bands.

Made long enough the bands can be used to hold Smash books and Art journals closed. You can make them any colour you like which has to be better than the pretty limited choice of rubber bands that Smash produce. I thought it would be quite fun to make some bracelets to attach to kids cards so that they have a gift as well as the card.

It may well be a craze amongst the kids but I can assure you that it has hit other age groups as well. Whilst I was looking at the selection that Clare's Accessories have, an elderly lady came in and selected a couple of packs. She explained that her granddaughter had shown her how to "do it" and she had decided to make a couple of lanyards for her keys in pretty bright colours so that she didn't lose them.

Like most crafts/hobbies, 'Loom bands' can be as cheap or as expensive as you want it to be. Packs of bands can be obtained for as little as 50p (approx. 300 bands) although the most common price is around £1. A basic loom can be picked up for just a couple of quid. You do have to be a bit careful because prices can vary a lot - it seems a lot of retailers are jumping on the band wagon and know that kids will pay what ever is asked just so they can keep up with the craze.

With the Summer holidays almost upon us, this is something that can keep the kids occupied and can be a bit of fun that Mum/Auntie/Gran even Granddad/Dad/Uncles can join in with. It is an easily portable hobby so great for keeping the little dears busy in the car so that you don't continuously get the "are we there yet?" chorus from the back seat.

If loom bands haven't yet invaded your home...go on...give it a go...................................................