Sunday 31 October 2010

Calorie free chocolate !!!

Put 'eat chocolate' at the top of your list of things to do today - then at least you'll get one thing done!!!

Here's a 'calorie free' chocolate, caramel card.


I had another go at 'distressing' with this card - it's not really my thing - but I quite like the way it turned out. I also sponged the background, behind Anya - it's done with a papermania copper coloured ink and, in real life, has a shimmer to it that the camera just doesn't pick up.
Anya is 3D'd and coloured with Copics, and I added a couple of little pearls to her shoes.
I love the ribbon - I found it at the bottom of my ribbon box and I think it came from a box of chocolates!

 Challenges -
Friday Sketchers - Great sketch by Claudia and the chance to win some fab digis from Lauretta's Digital Stamps
CES Challenges -  Who can resist Sandie's 'Chocolate Caramel' theme? With the chance to win a gorgeous My Mind's Eye button box. Check out the DT work for some yummy, chocolate caramel projects!!!



Stamp - The Greeting Farm, Miss Anya Dressy       DP - Daisy and Dandelion, Picnic Patch
Raffia Lace from Bunny Zoe's Crafts                       Square Gems are Papermania, Mosaics
Ribbon and adhesive pearls from my stash.

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Saturday 30 October 2010

Witchie Witchie, Screamie Screamie, Happy Happy Halloweenie !

Have you carved your pumpkins and got your witches outfit ready?? Hope everyone that's trick-or-treating,
or partying this weekend has a great time.
I don't really celebrate Halloween, but I can still use it as an excuse to make some treats!!   :-)

This is my second ever attempt at Toffee Apples. The first time was a disaster. My daughter and I made some last year and, when we went to check them, all the toffee had slid off the apples !!!
This time I remembered to clean them in hot water first, to remove the wax.


Chocolate Fudge Spider Web Muffins.
I've never done this spider web pattern before and I think the icing nozzle I used was too large, but it was fun making them and I'm sure they'll taste delicious.
You can find the recipe  here



Easy Toffee Recipe
400g golden caster sugar        1tsp vinegar        4tbsps golden syrup.
Put the sugar into a pan with 100ml of water. Heat for 5mins until the sugar dissolves.
Stir in the vinegar and golden syrup.  ( You can add a touch of red food colouring if you like.)
Boil to 140C - take off  the heat
Swirl the apples in the toffee, let the excess drip off and place on baking paper to set.

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Friday 29 October 2010

Totally Papercrafts Challenge #40 Bling It On!

Gosh... here we are the back end of October already.... are all your little ghouls and ghosties ready for Halloween? Here's Suzie on the webcam... not sure what she was doing on my comp... looking up Halloween outfits maybe ???


It's time for another challenge at Totally Papercrafts. This week our host is the lovely, Mel, and she has picked the theme

Bling It On   !!

We want to see plenty of sparkle and glitter on your projects.
Go mad with it.... I dare you!!    :-))
Check out the blog for more details and to see the gorgeous work of the DT.
Here's my project - a Christmas Wall Hanging.


My kitchen walls are very plain - just white paint... so I thought it would be nice to put something up with a bit of colour and, of course, plenty of bling. This is a cheap 12 x 12 canvas, the perfect size for a sheet of my DP.

Challenges -     ABC - 'G is for Glitter'


Stamps -  Mary and Joseph - LOTV, coloured with Copics.   Fa La La - Catslife Press.    Remember this moment -  Maya Road.                Design Paper - My Mind's Eye, Signature Christmas.
Slice machine ( Fa La La Design ) cut the snowflakes, which were covered in Diamond Dust, and the 'Noel',
which was edged in stickles glitter.
The blooms are from my stash, and I threaded a little silver bell and some beads onto a piece or wire and then wrapped the end around the rose.
Pearl and gem swirls are Prima  'Say it in pearls'.

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Wednesday 27 October 2010

Some birdie's thinking of you !

Happy Wednesday everyone. I am having fun today - hubby is out from under my feet, playing golf, which means I have 5 hours of crafting, before I have to spray some furniture polish around and look like I have been busy!!!
Here's my morning's work.

Finances are tight at the moment, and I am banned from craft shopping, so I dug deep into my stamp box and found this little cutie. I don't know why I have never used her before.

Challenges -
Sketch and Stash - Sue's fab sketch and my stamp, which isn't exactly 'new', but it is the first time I have used it.  Does that qualify ????
Papertake - 'Sparkly and Bright' - I have added sparkle to Lola's coat pocket and the bird, and it's hard to see, but the 'birdy' paper is covered with sparkle too!



Stamp - Rachelle Anne Millar, Lola with bird, coloured with Copics and stickles glitter.
Design Paper - DCWV Nana's Nursey, Baby Boy.   
'Birdie' Text - Impression Obsession, Life is Tweet.
The little flowers started off cream, but I coloured them with a Copic to match Lola's coat and added an adhesive pearl.   

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Monday 25 October 2010

Anyone can be an Angel !

My 'Clean & Simple' cards can be pretty hit and miss - I just can't stop myself reaching for the embellies  :-)
Can you see here? Those pearls were just screaming at me to be added - they virtually jumped onto the card themselves !!!


There are NO mistakes on this card! Can you believe it? I hardly ever make a card where something isn't quite right. Ok, Ok... stop trying to find something :-))

I would like to enter this card for a couple of challenges...
Keep It Simple - fast becoming one of my favourite challenges - where the theme this week is 'Take A Bow'.
Fussy and Fancy - fab DT work to inspire you - theme is 'Winter Wonderland'


Stamp - from the Penny Black, Christmas Critters set, coloured with Copics and Sakura Glitter Pen.
Design Paper - Memory Box, Spiceberry.  
Large snowflake cut with Slice machine ( Fa La La Design Card ) and covered with Diamond Dust.
Adhesive pearls coloured red with a Copic.  Red Ribbon from my stash.
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Saturday 23 October 2010

Andele! Andele! Arriba! Arriba!

Doesn't this cute guy remind you of  Speedy Gonzalez ? I loved that cartoon. This is actually Speedy's distant cousin... Chili Chihuahua from Meljen's Designs.
Instead of giving my girls sweeties this Halloween, I thought I would make them a Take-Away in a Box, and since Mexican food is one of their favs... that's what I went with.


The box came from my daughter's b/f  ( he got a birthday present in it ). I think he was a bit bemused when there was almost a punch up to see who got the box that he was just about to throw in the bin!!!
I filled it with some Tortillas, Guacamole, Salsa, Sour Cream, Enchilada Sauce, Cheese and even managed to squeeze some vegetables in there! All they will need to add is the meat.

I would like to enter for the following challenges...
Colour Create - 'Purple, Aqua and White'
The Wild Flower Patch - 'Twine'
Meljen's Designs - 'Anything Goes'
Stamp Something - 'Digi Day'
Craftalicious - 'Anything Goes'


 To decorate the lid of the box I used Papermania Capsule Collection, Aqua, design paper. The cute Chihuahua is by Meljen at Whimsy Stamps , and was coloured with Copics and stickles glitter.
The stars were cut on my Slice machine ( Fa La La Design Card ).  'Handmade' stamp is by Catslife Press.
Twine and buttons from my stash and I made the 'Mexican Take-Away' text on my comp.


Here's a close up of the twine and the 'Handmade' Stamp. Can you believe I actually practiced writing 'Mum' before I added it to this stamp? My writing is terrible!

Friday 22 October 2010

Totally Papercrafts #39 Stick A Number On It !

***  Happy Birthday to Joey ***

She hits the big 30 at the end of the month, so her theme for this week's Totally Papercrafts Challenge is

'STICK A NUMBER ON IT'
Joey is also offering some scrummy Birthday Blog Candy,  so check out her blog for details.
Here's my project - I made an Easel Card Calendar with a drawer underneath.
Don't forget to check out the fab work of the DT.

For the drawer box I followed Holly's great tutorial, over at Splitcoaststampers.  Then just added an easel card to the top.  Don't you just love this image and the quote - it's from our sponsors this week - Bugaboo.
Check out their digi stamps, they have something for everyone -  cutesy stuff,  to my fav,  'ladies with attitude'.
I used the gorgeous papers from Kaiser Craft - La Di Da - that pink stripe is flocked, so it has a lovely texture to it.


Digi Stamp - Bugaboo, MStellaTid Morning Smile, coloured with Copics.
DP - Kaiser Craft, La Di Da      Large Fabric Brad, coloured with a Copic to match the paper.
Ribbon and Mini Calendar from my stash.

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Wednesday 20 October 2010

BOO !

Ok, I lied! I said I was only going to make 1 Halloween card, but here's my 2nd.
People don't seem to celebrate Halloween much around here, and last year I didn't get a single trick or treater! I had to eat all the sweeties myself!!


I want to thank Mandi for pointing me in the direction of a 'new to me' challenge Keep It Simple
Well, with my blog name I had to join in, didn't I ?   This week their challenge is to add a charm to your project.
I didn't have any Halloween type charms, so I made this little bat. I got this guy from the internet last year, but sorry, I can't remember who made him. I printed him out and layered him onto card. I punched a small hole in him, to add the split ring and then covered him with glossy accents.

Challenges -
Keep It Simple - 'Charming' - Add a charm to your card or project.
A Spoon Full Of Sugar - 'Boo!'
Fab & Funky - 'Things that go "bump" in the night'
Creative Inspirations - 'Spooky!'
Creative Cottage - Halloween



The witch is a digital image from this fabulous Halloween quotes collection here. It's only available for a limited time, so be quick if you want it.
DP is Hot Off the Press, Earth's Pallette.    Pearls were coloured black with a Copic.
Ribbon from my stash.  'BOO' letters cut with Slice, Fa La La Design Card.

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Tuesday 19 October 2010

Only drink beer on days that end in Y !!

Just a quick card from me today - before I tackle the ironing mountain!! I have used one of my smaller stash of cards ( 6" x 4" ) that just doesn't seem to give me enough room to add anything. So I increased the size by adding the circle at the top.


 This is the first time I have used this fun Beer Monster, from Pollycraft - he does make me smile!
I even found - in the box of 'things I will never use' - some googly eyes, that fitted just perfectly.

Challenges -
 CES - Male Birthday Card
Pollycraft - Purple, Green and 1 Other   ( my 'other' was black )
Top Tip Tuesday - Anything Goes


Stamp - Digi Beer Monster from Pollycraft, coloured with Copics.  DP - Cardmakers, Earth's Palette
Happy Birthday Stamp - Catslife Press       Googly Eyes and Brads from my stash.
Border Punch -  Martha Stewart.

Monday 18 October 2010

A work of heart !

Afternoon everyone... poor Suzie is having a stressful day today. The gardeners are here, trying to cut back the hedges from hell and she is not happy that they are strolling about her garden. She thinks she is a Rottweiler in a Westie body!!

I don't know what came over me with this card - I think I had a 'girly' moment !!


I've never really got the hang of distressing, but I am pleased with the way this turned out. I used Tim Holtz distress ink  on  the edges of my DP, around the stamp and on the little tags. I like the colour around Tilda, instead of it being just flat white, so I think I will be adding some inks to my list for Santa!
I cut Tilda out, coloured her with Copics and stickles glitter and paper-pieced her clothes.

Challenges...
Friday Sketchers - Aud's fabulous sketch (definitely a keeper this one!)
Allsorts - Bingo - A fun challenge from Mummylade, where you choose a row on the Bingo card.
I chose Lace, Flowers ( on my DP ) and Tags, but I admit, I was tempted to go for a Full House...lol**



Stamp - Magnolia, Tilda with Heart Package.     DP - Papermania, Regency.
Happy Birthday Stamp - Penny Black, Critter Party.       Stickles, Frosted Lace.
Tim Holtz Distress Ink, Tattered Rose.   Heart Buttons, Lace, Mini Tags, Card Candy from my stash.

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Sunday 17 October 2010

Chocolate Oreo Truffles

Intra Aortic Balloon Counterpulsation - mean anything to you?? No, me neither - but that's what my daughter has filled my desktop with this weekend. Whilst she deals with the frivolity of saving lives, I have been delving into more important matters -  the perfect truffle !!!

HUGE thankyou to the fabulously talented Julie, for this Oreo truffle recipe. Please pop over to her blog to see her amazing cards and projects.
This is a real winner - these are de-lic-ious!


I did some milk and dark chocolate ones, but the milk are definitely better. Not sure how long these will keep, because of the cream cheese filling, but I have a feeling they won't hang around long enough to wory about that! The recipe is below - let me know if you give them a try.


 I also made some iced gingerbread - there is nothing better, when it's rainy and cold outside, for the smell of  warm treacle and ginger to come wafting out of the kitchen.


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Friday 15 October 2010

Totally Papercrafts #38 Autumn

 Is it Friday again already??   Then it's time for another challenge at Totally Papercrafts.
This week the fabulous Sue is hosting our challenge and she has picked the theme of 'Autumn'.
I don't know what it's like in your part of the world, but Autumn has well and truly arrived here in Yorkshire.
The temperature has dropped and the leaves are falling from the trees. I love this time of year and  I can't wait to see all your 'Autumn' projects.
We have some wonderful new DT members too - so please pop by their blogs and say hello to

I decided to go with Autumn colours and try my hand at a 'shaker' card.


I knew I had a couple of plastic, coaster kits, left over from my cross-stitching days. It took a lot of rummaging and a little swearing, before I finally found them. I put a good amount of 'autumn' coloured seed beads into the coaster, then my coloured image and then snapped the back into place. I used Glossy Accents to stick the coaster to a piece of scalloped card.

I like the way that Heidi and Madison look as though are knee deep in beads... kind of like standing in a heap of leaves!


The DP is Basic Grey, Max and Whiskers. Stamp - High Hopes, Heidi and Madison, coloured with Copics.
The corners were cut with my Slice - Parties Card and the banner with the Slice 'Pink' Card.
Banner text is a Personal Impressions stamp.   Beads and Ribbon from my stash.


Hope that you will find time to join in our challenge and have some fun.    xxx

Thursday 14 October 2010

Sugar Free Candy


Faye, over at Stampin Fluffnstuff    is celebrating her one year Blogaversary soon
with this fabulous LOTV Sugar.
If you haven't been to Faye's blog, grab yourself a cuppa, pull up a chair and go and visit.
I promise you won't be disappointed.
xxx

Tuesday 12 October 2010

Tag! You're It !!

I just knew it was going to be one of those days today, when, still half asleep,  I sprayed hairspray under my arms !!     
NOTE TO SELF: Do not put hairspray and deodorant on the same shelf!!
Here's a little project that I finished last night. I have been wanting to make one of these cute little cases for a while, and thought it would be perfect to hold a few gift tags.

 These are easy peasy to make, especially with the help of this fab tutorial by Suzanne Dean.
Can you spot my deliberate mistake?? I forgot to add the little corners!!

 The tags were cut with a Sizzix die, covered with the DP and sprayed with Glimmer Mist.
Then I added a sentiment, a Penny Black hedgie, the adhesive pearls and, finally, some sparkly, silver ribbon.

I would like to enter this for the following challenges...
CES Challenge - 'Make or use a Tag'
Penny Black Saturday - 'Two or more Penny Black Images'

Stamps - Penny Black, Christmas Critters             DP - Papermania Monochrome Heather.
For the case - ribbon, pearl brads and pearls from my stash.
Tags -  Sprayed with Glimmer Mist, stamps coloured with Copics and stickles glitter. Pearls and ribbon from my stash. Sentiments from Craftwork Cards.

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Monday 11 October 2010

You can never add too much glitter !!

My craft desk, the floor and the dog,  are now all covered with a fine sprinkling of glitter  
I think I got a bit carried away.  :-)

Challenges I would like to enter...

Friday Sketchers - A Great Sketch presented by Beatrix
Creative Cottage - 'Bling it On' - I think there's enough bling on this card   :-)



Stamp - LOTV James Bear, Deck the Halls. Coloured with Copics. I added some fine red glitter to the tinsel
wrapped around him and some glossy accents to the baubles and star.
Design Paper - The red is K & Co, Peppermint Twist, and the rest is Memory Box, Mistletoe.
Snowflakes cut with Slice, Fa La La card and covered with Diamond Dust.
Blooms made with a XCut punch, and outlined in a Clear Star Sakura pen. The centres are Card Candy covered with Frosted Lace Stickles.
Lace from my stash.
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Sunday 10 October 2010

In search of the perfect truffle !!

At this time of year, when all the shops are getting the Christmas goodies in, we eagerly await the arrival of the Rum Truffles. They always seem to be the last thing to turn up.
The ones we love come from Sainsburys, in a little plastic tray with red packaging.
This year I have been tasked with making some of our own - so, after scouring the net, I came up with the recipe below. Not quite as good as the bought ones, but 90% there.   :-)


As with most of my goodies these are so EASY to make. There's no cooking, or boiling, so you could get the kids involved and make some for Christmas.The only thing I would do differently is add a little less jam - they could have been a bit firmer in the middle.
Lurking at the back of the cupboard were some shiny, paper cases... just  the perfect size.
I think this recipe made about 40 truffles, but it's hard to remember how many we've already eaten!! :-)



Saturday 9 October 2010

Away in a Manger

Hello everyone, it's a damp and dreary day here today, so I am practicing my 'photography with flash' skills !!
Here's another card to add to the Christmas pile..
This is the first outing for my LOTV stamp - isn't it just adorable - I really tried hard to do it justice with my Copics.
I have also discovered my new favourite thing... a little Sakura Stardust pen,
that I got from Bunny Zoe's Crafts. It so easy to get a nice, thin line of pretty glitter - check out Mary and Joseph's headbands.


 I would like to enter my card for the following challenges...
Papertake Weekly - 'Favourite challenge from the last 3 years' - I just love Dawny's sketches, they are great to follow and really make the stamp the star of the show, so I chose one from June (No. 43), that I didn't get to use first time around. Papertake also have a fabulous Birthday Blog Hop, so pop on over there and join in the fun.
Winter Wonderland - 'Jesus is the Reason for the Season'. Warning: Do NOT look at their Christmas Countdown Clock... you will panic... :-)
Allsorts - 'Inspiration from a Song Title' -   Away in a Manger



Stamp - LOTV Mary and Joseph,  coloured with Copics and  Sakura Stardust Pen
Design Paper - GCD Ella Blue.
Snowflakes - Cut with Slice machine ( Fa La La Card ) and covered with Diamond Dust.
Blooms - XCut punch, edged with Sakura Stardust Pen, with pearl centres.
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Friday 8 October 2010

Totally Papercrafts #37 Buttons and Bows

Morning everyone... another week has whizzed by and it's time for a new challenge at
Totally PaperCrafts. We had a fab response to last week's 'Great Outdoors' theme, so I can't wait to see all your cards and projects for this week.  Lorraine is our wonderful host, and she has chosen...
"Buttons and Bows"
Time to rummage through all your ribbons and cut the buttons from any old clothes you have!!


Our sponsor this week is Squigglefly, and I have used one of their shy bears digital images - aren't they adorable? I 3D'd this cute little guy, layering up his paws, nose and the present, and then coloured him with Copics. I added plenty of blooms, some shop bought and some punched out of card and added buttons in the centres.
I even got my hands on my Mum's button tin!! Oh what a treat it was when I was little, to be allowed to play with all the buttons and sparkly bits and pieces in that tin. I'm sure that's where my love for shiny things comes from!!   :-)


Stamp - Squigglefly Shy Bear Birthday Bear.     Design Paper - Webster's Pages 
Blooms from my stash and made with a XCut punch     Sentiment - Craftwork Cards
Ribbon and buttons from my stash.
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Monday 4 October 2010

Baby It's Cold Outside !!

Just a quick post today - it's already taken me half an hour to try and upload these pictures!!
I even tried to do it from Picasa Web Albums, but that was all gobbledygook to me.

Here's another Christmas card to add to the pile... not very traditional, but I think it's kind of cute.


Challenges I am entering...
Sketch Saturday - Fab sketch chosen by Paula
Cupcake Craft - Happy Hour - with all Faye's talk about a tipsy hot choklit I NEED one now!!
Crafty Emma's Store - Get Ahead, Get A Hat - Do you wear hats? I love them.
I have my eye on one of those woolly ones with ear flaps and dangly bits...
hubby says I can have one.. it will be dark out in the winter, so no-one will see me !!!
:-)


This fabulous digital stamp is from Sassy Studio Designs, coloured with Copics and a glitter pen.
Design Paper is K & Co, Peppermint Twist.
Raffia lace from Bunny Zoe's Crafts
Snowflake cut with Slice (Fa La La) covered with Diamond Dust and with a brad in the centre.
Sentiment from Craftwork Cards.
Ribbon and adhesive pearls from my stash.

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Sunday 3 October 2010

Sweet Sunday



Hope you're all having a great weekend, we have had torrential rain here today, so we haven't ventured outdoors - even the dog hasn't wanted to go out!! Here's the results of yesterdays baking... no recipes needed because everything is pretty basic.

vanilla Cupcakes with some pretty iced flowers and sprinkles,

Chocolate cake - I think I over whipped the buttercream, but shhhhh no-one has noticed and there are only 2 pieces left!!!

Iced Coffee Cake - I found this cake pan in the bottom of my cupboard - I obviously couldn't resist those little hearts. I managed to squeeze half a cake recipe into it and then just drizzled it with icing. Not pretty, I think the icing sould be thinner, but yummy !!




Aaaaaaaggggghhhhhh is anyone else having problems with photo uploader in the new editor??
It just won't upload pics from my comp and sits there spinning away. I have gone back to the old editor and that seems to be working ok, but I like the features on the new one.
Hope it's sorted out soon.

Saturday 2 October 2010

Dear Santa... I can explain!!!

I am so glad I saw the challenge over at  Winter Wonderland, to make a 'male' Christmas card,
it reminded me that I need cards for my male relatives and friends.
This one is for my nephew.


I followed Dawny's great sketch from Papertake Weekly.How do you stick your papers on??   My new role of double sided tape is about as much use as a chocolate teapot, so this is stuck down with Pritt Stick. I thought it might warp the paper, but it looks ok so far.  I am hoping that when I come to use the card it will all still be in place.
The Pollycraft Santa was coloured with Copics. I added Flower Soft (polar white) to his beard and coat trims and a couple of small brads as buttons. The I layered him onto the card with foam pads.

Challenges I am entering...
Winter Wonderland - A Male Christmas Card
Papertake Weekly - Dawny's Sketch
Creative Inspirations - Christmas in September  (October now, I guess!!)
 Charisma Cardz - Christmas Crafting.


Digital Stamp - Pollycraft Santa.
Fa La La Stamp - Catslife Press, coloured with Copics and edged with stickles glitter.
Design Paper - K & Co, Peppermint Twist.
Polar White Flower Soft.  Small Black Brads.