Fundraising: Car Boot 18/05/14

This car boot has been my main little fundraiser this month as I'm currently doing all of my GCSE exams - however, they will all be over soon and any money I can make in the mean time is beneficial to me! On mine and my Mum's stall we sold an array of different things that we either didn't want anymore, or old clothes that didn't fit us. We woke up at 5am and packed the car full to the brim with our items and set up pitch for 8am.

The place was packed out with people as soon as we arrived, we unloaded the car and laid out all of our items. A couple of hours later, maybe 5 or so, we had sold a majority of our things so decided we would make a move.

Overall we made about £85, but only £31.75 of it was mine to put towards my fundraising. I was pretty impressed with myself though as we only sold things around 50p to £1.50 and this was only supposed to be an 'on-the-side' fundraising event and making the most of this lovely weather!

Now, I am inside revising physics, for my exam tomorrow, with a throbbing headache!

Chloé

x

My T-Shirt Came!

It's been a little while since I have blogged on here but slowly I'm making my through my GCSEs (7 down, 5 to go!) . However, the lovely Leanne from the opperations team visited our school on Wednesday to give us an informative fundraising meeting about planning our different events. Plus, we got hold of our t-shirts which I was overly excited about! 

I also finished my 'Camps International' bracelet which took me ages but looks so good now it's complete! 

I'm so happy that I've almost finished school and can have 12 weeks of intense fundraising and relaxing! August the 6th (I think it's then) I am doing a sponsored trek with a fellow fundraiser, Louis, which we are currently looking forward to completing (I hope the weather holds off!) 

Now, this is only a quick post as I will do a post tomorrow as I am doing a carboot sale! 

Chloe x

How To: Friendship Bracelets

It's May now and if you're like me, you'll be about to sit your GCSE/A-Level exams and have only short periods of time between your revision to plan your fundraising. In between my breaks of revision I usually make a couple of these bracelets to sell at different events: car boots, summer fetes or to friends and family.

To make them you will need:

- Scissors

- Coloured Embroidery Floss (Here's where I got mine: Argos)

- Bulldog clips

- A book/clipboard to secure your string to 

First you'll need to learn the knots:

Forward / Backward / Backward-Forward / Forward-Backward

Step 1. Choose 3 colours and measure 60 inches of each thread. Then fold them in half and tie them into a knot to form a loop. 

Step 2. Secure them to your board and separate the colours from the outside to the middle.

Step 3. Create a forward knot (4 knot)using the pink string over the green string, then the cream one, until you reach the middle.

Step 4. Then using the pink string you haven't used yet (the one on the right) create a backward knot (P/D knot) over the green string and then the cream one - until you reach the middle.

Step 5. Once you've reached the middle knot the two pink strings together using either a forward or backward knot. I prefer to use a forward one - you have now completed one row.

Step 6. Repeat the steps using the outside colours until you find a chevron pattern forming. Keep repeating until the braid will comfortably fit around your wrist. You may take it off of the clip to see how much longer you have to knot.

Step 7. When it comes to the end of the bracelet, braid three off the strands in a regular braid, tie a knot so it doesn't come undone, and then trim the left over string. You now have a chevron patterned bracelet.

Once you've mastered all the knots you may want to try out the following patterns (click the captions for video tutorials *not my videos)

Alternating Leaves

Chinese Staircase

Striped

Alpha

For other patterned bracelets, visit http://friendship-bracelets.net/
Let your creativity be part of your fundraising!

Good luck!

Chloe

xx

Easter Recipe - Simnel Cake

Simnel Cake is a cake filled with mixed fruit, lemon and marzipan and is a perfect Easter recipe. It could be used to sell at a cake sale or as a prize. I was actually asked specifically to make one from a family friend who will give me a donation in return. Be sure to try it out! Here's how to make it: 

You will need:

• - 175g/6oz butter or margarine
• - 175g/6oz soft brown sugar
• - 3 free-range eggs, beaten
• - 175g/6oz plain flour
•  - Pinch salt
• - 350g/12oz mixed raisins, currants and sultanas
• - ½ lemon, grated zest only
• - 1-2 tbsp apricot jam
• -500g natural marzipan (ready made is best)

Step 1. Preheat your oven to 140C/275F/Gas mark 1. Then, grease and line a 18cm/7in cake tin using grease-proof paper.

Step 2. Start to make the cake by creaming together both the sugar and the butter until light and fluffy. If you want to speed things up a little you can use a mixer  but, if you're like me just give it some elbow grease! 

Step 3. Add in each egg one at a time beating between to make sure they are completely mixed into the mixture. Then sift in the flour and salt and mix again.

Step 4. Place your cake mix aside for this step and use a grater to grate 1/2 a lemon zest (or more if you prefer) and add to the mixture. After the zest has been added, get your mixed fruit and place into a separate bowl. Coat the mixed fruit in some plain flour before adding to the mixture. This stops the fruit from sinking to the bottom of the cake as it is cooking.

Step 5. Roll out roughly 1/3 of your marzipan on a hard surface; lightly dusted with icing sugar. Cut out a circle which will comfortably fit in your cake tin.

Step 6. Put half of the mixture into your cake tin. Smooth the top over and cover with the circle of marzipan. Then place the rest of the cake mixture on top and smooth it over leaving a little less mixture in the middle so that the cake can rise. Bake in the oven for 1 3/4 hours. Test the mixture by inserting a wooden skewer, if it comes out clean you cake is ready.

Step 7. Generously spread apricot jam on top of the cooled cake. Roll out another 1/3 or your marzipan and place on top. Then create 11 little balls and using half cut cocktail sticks insert them on top of the cake, making sure they are evenly spaced. 

Step 8. Now, if you're professional (unlike me) and have possession of a cooks blow torch (this would have been fun though) brown the top of the marzipan until it goes a slightly golden brown colour. Alternatively, heat up your grill to the highest setting and brown the marzipan for roughly 1-2 minutes checking every few seconds so that it doesn't burn (you wouldn't want to ruin all of your hardwork now!)

Good luck! 

Chloe 

xx

What's happening this week?

Hello fellow fundraisers! I thought I will give you an insight to what's happening on my fundraising journey this week!

Tonight, I am setting up my stall once again at my brother's football match selling: teas, coffees, sweets & chocolate (which proved quite popular for the kids!) in the hope to raise a little bit more towards my fund.

Then on Friday, I am baking cakes that I have been asked to bake in return for a donation towards my expedition. One of them is a bit of a challenge and will reveal my inner Mary Berry as if it goes wrong, well....don't even get me started! Keep your eyes peeled for the recipe! 

Sunday, the thought of Easter egg hunts and chocolate springs to mind, but not for me. Instead, my mum will be standing in a field selling bits and bobs from the boot of her car! Unfortunately, I cannot be at this one as I am at my dads and away in Sheffield - poor mum! But, I will let you know how it goes!  

I also want to give a massive thank you to Leanne at Camps International for sharing my blog and giving me some amazing opportunities!

Chloe

xxx

Easter Holidays - April Fundraising

Now that the Easter holidays are upon us, it's the perfect opportunity to get some more fundraising on the go. Easter Sunday we are going to do our first boot sale, we have loads of 'nick nacks' and old games to sell and lots of my friendship bracelets. 

Thursday evening I also baked cakes for a pre-school fayre which I was paid £10 for, for just making 24 individual fairy cakes!

I will also be doing another tuck shop on Wednesday at my brothers football game which last time raised £50 selling chocolate, sweets, teas & coffees. 

Also, I'm currently pet sitting a hamster called Steve (isn't it cute) for a family who have gone on holiday, out of the country, for a week. 













I also got in touch with the local Brownie group who will hopefully be willing to help me out with my fundraising! Fingers crossed! 

Chloe 

xx

Fundraising Idea - Friendship Bracelets

Now that I have handed in my deposit for my expedition to Borneo it's time to start fundraising! I've been reading other people's blogs and one thing I can do is make and sell friendship bracelets. Believe it or not I actually did this last year to make money for myself. I would take orders from my friends and bring them in the next day or so in a little brown envelope. (I think my teachers thought I was drug-dealing in the corridors! Ooops!) Over the month I managed to bank up myself £80 which was quite good for someone like me!

So, I have took full advantage of my bracelet making skills and taken it up again. Eventually, when I have a enough I will sell them to friends, family and on stalls at craft fares, summer fetes and boot sales. If anyone would like to know how to make bracelets like these to sell towards your expedition, please leave a comment and I will enlighten you! 

Thanks for reading, 

Chloe 

xxx

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