Wednesday 29 June 2011

How long is a piece of string?

Here's another project I can cross off my very loooong 'to do' list. 
I have been wanting to try this ever since I saw it on Sharyn's blog - La Vie en Chic
I am so happy with the result.



I have been looking at the same plastic soap dispenser in my kitchen for about a year now - just filling it up with good, old, economy hand wash. It was definitely time for a revamp!

Here's the 'during' process.   
I used garden twine around the dispenser - this is just the cheap stuff, but it has little bits of wood chip in it and whisps coming off, that make it look so pretty IRL. The glue is Hi Tack all purpose glue and it's stuck down really well.
I finished off with a layer of cream lace to the top and bottom


Then, it just needed a tag.
Do you like the sweet, little ticket.
I made this with my favourite, new gadget at the moment.
It's a McGills Multi Ticket punch - available at Crafty Emma's Store. You can punch 3 sizes of ticket with this punch (this is the largest one).
Everything I make is going to have a ticket on it from now on....lol**
The inside of the ticket was made up on my comp.


Challenges - 
Top Tip Tuesday - T is for?    My 'T' is for Twine
My Mum's Craft Shop - Something Old, Something New.   The old is the dispenser bottle and the new is my ticket punch.

Supplies -
Old Soap Dispenser.      Twine.       Lace.
Tim Holtz journaling ticket covered with Prima, Botanical paper.
Prima white bloom, punched bloom and pearl centre.
Cream bow with glittered heart.
McGills Ticket punch.

Saturday 25 June 2011

Exciting news and CES Challenge

I have some really exciting news to share with you today - 
I have been asked by Emma, to join the DT for the CES Challenge - I am so thrilled to be joining such a friendly and creative bunch of girls.

This week the challenge is 

Anything But Square

As Emma is going to be having a visit from the stork soon,
I thought these cute little babygrows would be perfect for my first DT make.


You will find an excellent step-by-step tut for these cards at Stempeleinmaleins



Check out Crafty Emma's Store for lots of gorgeous embellies.

If you're quick you can grab yourself some bargains, Emma has a 25% off sale, due to end Monday 27th June at 10am.

I used ribbon, flat back pearls, card candy, and mini button brads.


The little pink, felt bunny was something I found in my 'bits & bobs' box.
Don't forget to check out my new teamies awesome 
work over at the challenge blog
and make sure you play along
for your chance to win a £10 voucher (not incl p&p)
to spend at Crafty Emma's.

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Friday 24 June 2011

Spots & Stripes

Morning everyone - here we are at the last Friday in June - and what a wash out it's been so far, it hasn't stopped raining up here in Yorkshire.

Your Totally Papercrafts host this week is the fabulous Vicky
with the theme

Spots & Stripes


This is a Trifold Pocket card, and I followed the great tutorial by Beate Johns.
I made my card a little bit taller so that I could easily fit a face mask sachet inside.
This was so quick and easy to make, it would be perfect if you had a lot of little gifts to make up. I can see it with a chocolate bar inside, or a little notepad, hot chocolate/coffee sachets, etc etc.


The cute little 'Grace & Puppy' image is from one of our sponsors this week - Digi Stamp Boutique.
I hope you will join in the fun and check out the fab work from my fellow teamies over on the challenge blog.

Challenges - 
Top Tip - Cross It


Supplies.
Stamp - Digi Stamp Boutique.
DP - DCWV Nana's Nursery
''Handmade' stamp - Catslife Press (available at Crafty Emma's Store)
Tim Holtz journaling tickets    Blooms and Card Candy from my stash.

Wednesday 22 June 2011

I scream, you scream!!

Hello everyone, yesterday was the longest day of the year, so SUMMER has officially arrived!! Although you wouldn't think so, looking out at the rain today!


Summertime means ice-cream and not only did I make a little ice-lolly card to show you, but I have also had a play with my ice-cream machine!!


***I couldn't upload my pics this morning and it seems lots of other people are having the same problem. A little tip I found, is to upload pics in 'Edit HTML' mode - that seems to be working for me.***




I followed the instructions for the 'Popsicle Card' here - check out the really cute cards this blogs teamies have made.


Challenges
Fab 'n' Funky - Summer Loving
Papertake - Here Comes The Sun
Try It On Tuesday - Here Comes The Sun
Kaboodle Doodles - Food and/or drink ( Ice-cream is a major food group, right?)
Make It Monday - Anything Goes



And now for the real thing  :-)   This is Coffee & Brandy Sultana Ice-cream
I love anything coffee flavoured, yes, even coffee Revels!!! lol**
And this was sooooooo good.
The recipe is for use with an ice-cream machine, but I guess you clever people out there could make it by hand. If anyone wants it, just email me.

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Card Supplies..
Image - Someone sent it to me - I think it's a Magnolia
DP - Prima Madeline
Text Stamps - Wild Rose Studio
Glossy Accents

Tuesday 21 June 2011

Stop and smell the flowers!

Today, I am showing you a card that I was asked to make - the brief was for a 'pretty' card, but not to have 'little girls' on it!!!   Hope they like it!


I used this cute Penny Black, Bountiful stamp, coloured with Copics and the hedgie and butterfly are 3D'd. I also added a sprinkling of glitter to the stamp and the flowers.
With all those flowers, pearls and the lace, I kept the background simple - stitching just one layer of pretty DP in place.


Challenges - 
Charisma Cardz - Pink & Green
Stamp Something - Pretty Papers
Penny Black - Pesky Critters - plus their 3rd Birthday Blog Hop - Congrats everyone.  xxx

Supplies
Penny Black Stamp - Bountiful
DP - K & Co, Classic    Stickles glitter.
Blooms, lace and adhesive pearls from my stash.
Craftwork Cards Sentiment.

Friday 17 June 2011

To die for !!

What do you have lurking at the back of your kitchen cupboards? This week I found a Magimix ice-cream maker, that I had completely forgotten about. Shame that some of the bits had gone AWOL, but thanks to the internet, my replacement parts arrived today!! Watch this space :-))

Now, on to this week's Totally Papercrafts Challenge.
Our host is the lovely Marion, with the theme

Say it with dies/punches


 I made this little gift bag from label nesties and started out following the tutorial from Mona Pendleton .
Then I realised that my nesties were a completely different size,
so quite a bit of swearing went on, as I tried to make the box piece fit.


 I cannot tell you the number of times I have tried to make my own flowers - 
they always end up looking like something the dog has chewed up.
So I was thrilled when this one, 
made with different punches, turned out ok - ish! :-)
 

We're looking forward to seeing what you come up with this week,
and if you want some inspiration 
check out the fab work of my teamies over on the challenge blog.

Challenges
Top Tip Tuesday - Open Challenge
Simon Says - Bingo - I went for the bottom row - Shape/ribbon/sentiment

Supplies
Nestie labels and scalloped circles.
DP - Prima, Moulin Rouge
Various flower punches.     Ruffled ribbon.
'For you' sentiment - Wild Rose Studio

Wednesday 15 June 2011

Little Orphan Annie

I have two cards to show you today - using the same image.
This little girl is so cute - she just reminds me of my friend's daughter.

My first card is for Crafty Emma's Challenge - where the theme is 
'At the Movies'
My movie is -  little orphan Annie 


I wish the camera picked up the clouds better - it took me ages to get that effect. 
I followed several online tuts for using Copics, 
but I couldn't get it right.
Then I tried an old set of kids watercolour paints, 
that I found at the back of a drawer - no luck with those either.
Finally, I got out some chalks and leaving some areas white and going over others
to darken them up, worked perfectly. 
I will definitely be doing this again.

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The next card is for the Less Is More Challenge.
It's one layer week, plus a frame of some sort.
I do struggle with one layer cards - and several went in the bin!
This one is a bit of a cheat really - the image already had the frame around it,
I just printed it out.


 Being useless at printing the image just where I want it, 
meant I ended up with lots of white space on the left.
As it happened, this was the perfect place to add the sentiment!!


Image from The Graphics Fairy.
DP - Prima, Moulin Rouge.   Black adhesive gems
Sentiment stamps - Wild Rose Studio

Monday 13 June 2011

Dad's Bicycle!

Busy Monday today, so just a quick post from me.
Sunday is Father's Day here in the UK, so I have my card all ready.
Now all I need to do is come up with a present??? 
Why are men so difficult to buy for?



I used this penny farthing image from The Graphics Fairy, cut it out and added it to some cream card, with foam pads. I die cut the balloons, embossed them and tied some bakers twine to them and then the penny farthing.
The 'Dad' letters are just some gold stickers I found at the back of a drawer, coloured black, with a Copic.

Challenges
Cupcake Craft - ...Boy, Oh Boy, Oh Boy...
Secret Crafter - A Male Card
Fussy & Fancy - Man Cards!
Wags 'n Whiskers - One for the Boys
Creative Inspirations - Card for Dad

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Sunday 12 June 2011

Baileys and Dark Chocolate Cheesecake

Has anyone seen my mojo?? I have tried this morning to make a LIM card,  but 3 attempts have ended up in the bin - so, I went in search of sweet stuff. I found 2 pieces of cheescake left - one to photo and one to eat :-)

 
This is my Baileys and Dark Chocolate Cheesecake
It actually started off as Raspberry and Milk Chocolate Cheescake, but after reading the reviews I made a few changes!
It was VERY easy to make and I had no problems with it setting
and the fact that there were only 2 pieces left this morning,
proves it was a hit.




Friday 10 June 2011

Here comes summer

 Flip-flops, picnics, ice-cream, a jug (or two!) of Pimms, Wimbledon on the telly...
what does summer mean to you?

At Totally Papercrafts this week, our host is the lovely Sarah and
we want to see your SUMMER themed cards and projects.


Our sponsor is Meljen's Designs, who generously let the DT have some images to play with.

I paper-pieced the ice-creams and embossed them with a little dots folder that came free with a magazine. 
Can you spot my deliberate mistake?? 
This is only the second time I have embossed and I didn't realise it mattered which way up you had the folder,
so my strawberry ice-cream has negative dots!!!



Challenges

ABC Challenge - W is for Wish.  
Simon Says Stamp - Let's Get fruity - Photo Inspiration
Party Time Tuesdays - Summer Birthday Cards/Projects
Meljen's - Pink and Pearls
Supplies
Digi Stamp from Meljen
DP - Prima Sweet Fairy
Sweet Wishes - WOJ Stamp

Wednesday 8 June 2011

Mid-week treat!

Just a little sugar, to get you through the week! 
:-)
These are my cheats Banoffee Tarts.

Recipe

6 small, sweet pastry cases
1 can Nestle Caramel
2 Bananas
Double Cream

I always have a can of this caramel in my cupboard - it's really handy to whip up a quick dessert with.
I put some caramel in the bottom of each tart case - covered with sliced banana, and then more caramel. Whipped up some double cream to decorate the top and sprinkled on some drinking chocolate!
How easy is that?
:-)


Monday 6 June 2011

Vintage Clover

Hello everyone...  hope you all had a lovely weekend. 
We started partying for Annabel's birthday on Friday and just carried on!!! 
I need a bucket of coffee to get me going this morning.

In my hangover haze yesterday, I made my LIM card.  
This week the challenge is 'Monochrome'.


The clover image is from The Graphics Fairy, printed onto cream card,
coloured and shaded, as best I could, with various brown Copics.
Even after adding the bow it all looked a little flat, 
so I sprinkled on some very fine, brown glitter to give it a lift.


I would also like to enter this for the following challenges.
Craft Emma's - Clean & Simple (check out the awesome work of the DT)
Copic Creations - Distressing with Copics and 2 year Blogoversary. My colouring isn't the best, but I really had fun trying this. If you want to give it a go, head on over there for some awesome inspiration from the DT and amazing 'distressing with Copics' video tuts by Suzanne Dean.

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Friday 3 June 2011

The best meal of the day

Morning everyone. Today is my daughter, Annabel's 21st birthday. 
She grew up in the blink of an eye! :-)
I have my Totally Papercrafts card to show you, 
but first I wanted you to see this little breakfast set
that I put together for Annabel and her b/f.


Who wouldn't want to start the day with a Bucks Fizz and waffles??

I made this little card to go with it,
but forgot to tuck it into the tray for the photo.
I blended a few images from the Graphics Fairy and added some glitter.



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Now, onto this week's Totally Papercrafts challenge. 
Our newest teamie Victoria is hosting, 
so please stop by her blog and give her a warm welcome.
The theme is

Get Fruity

Show us some fruit on your card/project. 
It can be on the image, the paper, or maybe you have some fruity embellies.

I used this House Mouse image, sent to me by the lovely Lols.


 I coloured the berries as raspberries (even though I think they are meant to be blackberries!)
Then I added some glossy accents to them.


The papers are from Pink Petticoat and the sentiment is from Craftwork Cards.

Challenges
Fab 'n' Funky - 'What'eva'
Creative Inspirations - Bears/Animals
The Paper Variety - Fruity Fun

Thursday 2 June 2011

Cheats Chocolate Cake

I woke up this morning with 'cake' on my mind (not an unusual occurance!) and decided I needed to make Annabel a birthday cake.

She is popping in this lunchtime, so it had to be something quick and easy to make.

Ta da!  Thanks goodness for Betty Crocker :-)

This is a Devil's Food Cake mix, covered with a tub of chocolate buttercream style icing.
I used chocolate fingers around the sides (it took 2 packets), icing flowers and a champagne bottle candle.