A Scrumptious Thank You

I got a chance to play with a beautiful THANK YOU sentiment for Tando Creative
and immediately knew that it would be perfect to team up with a gorgeous paper cupcake gift holder that I saw on the Bubbly Funk blog, (Bubbly Scrumptious) here.

At 85mm the chipboard sentiment is the perfect size to add to the cupcake. I applied a few coats of Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel (UTEE) to the chipboard in a few different shades including dark pink, light pink and dark brown and fastened it to the top of the paper cupcake with a cocktail stick.

There is a polytyrene ball inside the cupcake that hides a gift card inside it. The outside is decorated with paper, ribbons, flowers, brads and of course glitter! I made it slightly differently from the tutorial - instead of paper flowers I used a small oval punch from Stampin Up to punch out the icing.

It was a bit fiddly to make but I think it is well worth it in the end. A perfect gift to say THANK YOU to someone special!!

For full instructions on how to make the cupcake please visit the tutorial at Bubbly Scrumptious here.

Mum 60th Birthday Card

I received lots of pieces of chipboard from Di at Tando Creative yesterday and couldn't wait to get started on my first DT project. I made a card for my mum's 60th birthday using the small chipboard word MUM. I knew that I wanted a feminine card and of course a glittered word!

I painted the chipboard with two coats of Buttermilk acrylic paint and inked the edges with Chestnut Roan chalk ink. I then applied glossy accents and Crystal Glamour Dust for sparkle. The chipboard piece is really thick and sturdy and really stands out on the card.

The paper base is Pandora from the Victorian 7 gypsies collection.
The flourish border and 60 have been cut using the Storybook cartridge on the Cricut. The butterflies have been punched using a Martha Stewart Butterfly punch, stamped, blinged and layered.
I also added ribbon, tulle and a heart pin for a soft, feminine effect.


I have really enjoyed making my first DT project which can be seen on the Tando Creative blog here.
Thanks for looking.
xxx

Graceland Gates

Here is a double layout that I have made as part of a surprise album for my mum's 60th birthday (she is 60 on Boxing Day and will probably give me a row for disclosing her age LOL) She had better not read my blog between now and then!!!

When my dad was 60 a few years ago we (that is my 4 sisters and myself - we let my brother off!) made an album for my dad. It was a whopping 120 pages big and took almost a year to complete! It spanned from the arly 1900's to present day. My dad was overwhelmed and said that it was THE BEST present he had ever received so it was certainly worth it in the end.

For my mum's album we are covering her heritage up until she met my dad. At this point the albums will combine and we are also making layouts featuring special events in the past 3 years since my dad's 60th.

For his 60th birthday my mum had secretely booked a holiday to Nashville, Memphis and Las Vegas. He is a HUGE Elvis Presley fan and has always wanted to visit Graceland. He found out about the Graceland trip in the last layout that was made for his album and took a while to realise what it meant!!

As with a few of the layouts for my mum I have omitted journalling as these can be added later and if necessary be hidden behind the photos. I would prefer to add this once my mum can give more personal details etc.

Click on the image for a larger view and as always thanks for looking.
x

More Exciting News

My other piece of exciting news is that I am now a member of the Tando Creative Ltd Design Team!!

I got the shock of my life when I got a message from Di Oliver (the owner of Tando Creative) offering me a place!

I am really excited at the challenge that this will bring me however I am a bit nervous too - I hope I don't disappoint!!

Other members of the Design Team are:
Karen Gist
Kaz Boughton and
Caroline Scattergood

I will be joining them in showing our projects on the Tando Creative Blog here.

Please drop by the blog.
x

Exciting News

Oooh I am delighted to share that I have won two prizes in the UK Scrappers cybercrop.

Di Oliver from Tando Creative selected my Countdown To Christmas as the winning one from her class. Di has kindly donated a selection of Tando Creative chipboard as a prize- so looking forward to playing with that!!(Tando Creative blog is here).




Rachel Millington from Paperarts selected my "Sisters" Layout as the winning LO from her class. Paperarts very generously asked me to choose a 12 x 12" Basic Grey Collection pack from the shop. It was hard choosing one but in the end I chose the Lemonade collection.



I have one more piece of exciting news that I will share tomorrow :)

UKS Cybercrop Mystery Kit

The post below shows the LOs I made as part of the UKS Cybercop. As well as taking part in some of the classes I also took part in the Mystery Kit challenge. I was a member of the Tinmen team and our kit was available for purchase from Sarah's Cards. The kit contained papers and elements that are exactly what I would choose so I was delighted when I opened the box!!

I made two LOs with the material available. (Rules allowed us to also add black or white card, black or white ink, etc as well as cutting tools and stamps etc)

Two Bug Eyed Boys

Move Over Tinmen

UKS Wicked Cybercrop

This past weekend was cybercrop weekend over at UK Scrappers with the theme of Wizard of OZ.
As usual it was packed with challenges and classes. It has been great learning new techniques and working with the challenge of time to get my projects uploaded.

I took part in 6 classes between Friday and Sunday. Here are my projects:

First class was by Rachel Millington and was called Twister and Shout. Her class used a lot of sewing and also a paper rolling technique. I made a LO for my mum's 60th birthday album (which is a surprise so I hope she doesn't look at my blog!!)

Sisters

Next class that I did was called Over The Rainbow and was designed by Ifa. Her class involved sewing on to ribbon to make a circular frame and journalling down the side of the LO.

Crazy Things

Third class I did was The Lollipop Guild by Michelle Jackson (AKA MJM). It involved a lot of tearing and inking to make frames which were then raised with foam pads.

Snow White

My next LO was a class called Dreaming of Home by Tracy Oakes (AKA Tracy Doodle) and yes it included lots of doodling!! I altered this one slightly to suit my photo etc and chose to cut up some Love Elsie paper and doodle around parts with a black sharpie to make it pop.

Together

The next class that I started on Saturday was called Time To Go Home and was designed by Di O. I was originally going to leave this until later in the week so that I could spend more time on it however I was itching to make it as I knew exactly the look I wanted. I started this one at midnight on Saturday!! Then got back to it on Sunday morning.

Countdown To Christmas

The final class that I did was Witch Way Home by Annette West (AKA Voodoo Vixen).
It was of course a minibook but this time made as a frame so it can stand. I chose to make my one for jotting down the funny things my two boys say so that I can use on LOs etc later.

Just You 2

Rainbow Showers Altered Printer's Tray

I want to share some pictures of a printer's tray that I finished altering a few days ago. (Click on each picture for a close up)
For the past 2 years Dyan Reaveley of Art from the Heart has come up to Macduff, NE Scotland for a weekend of workshops called Scrapattack.
Every year the Aberdeen craft group that organise the weekend set us some fun challenges to get us in the spirit. This year one of the challenges was to alter an item.

I soon decided that I wanted to alter a printer's tray and chose to do it in the theme of Colour.
Here is what the tray looked like before I cleaned it with wire wool.

All cleaned!

I then painted it with several coats of undercoat and then painted with acrylic paints. Once dry I sprayed each band of colour with different pearl mist sprays made with Distress ink reinkers, water and Blonde Moments pearl pigments.
Next stage was to stamp some random images over the tray and inside some of the compartments with a selection of Tim Holtz stamps Burnt Umber Palette Ink.

I then filled each compartment with an assortment of doll's house miniatures that I purchased from ebay, collage images purchased mainly from Lisa's Altered Art and Digital Collage Sheets.








Finally I made a minibook filled with the words to my favourite song Somewhere over the Rainbow. I love this song and my two boys love me singing it to them (just a pity that I can't sing that well LOL)
















I will be back over the next few days with new posts showing some of the projects I made at Scrapattack with Dyan. I have had a fantastic 2 days and am back again tomorrow for an art journalling day.

CHA candy giveaway

Visit the lovely and talented Erika to see her CHA blog candy giveaway.
She also has loads of pictures showing new stash unveiled at the recent CHA in Orlando.

Baby Boy's 1st Birthday

Materials Used:
Paper by Hot Off The Press (8x8 baby book)
Cuttlebug polka dot embossing folder
Chipboard number
SU stamp (circle)
Creative Cafe stamp (Today)
Hero Arts Stamp (Happy Birthday)
SU scallop punch

Time for a party!!

The Stampin Up party I had on Friday evening was a great success.
Dawn was a great demonstrator as usual. We made two bagalopes as our make and take, one was Halloween themed and the other was Christmas themed. Unfortunately I did not have time to finish making my one so have no pictures to show you yet but as soon as I get them made I will post a photo.
She also demonstrated various techniques/products including heat and stick powder with glitter, embossing, rollers and rulers, reverse image stamping and the Stamp-a-ma-jig.
I am so grateful to everyone who came along and helped make it a big success. I was rewarded with sales that got me to level 3 and I also got £142 to spend in the catalogue. I will post pictures of my goodies once they arrive.

Thanks also to Dawn for the beautiful gift she gave me of a Rose embossing folder and an epoxy brad making kit, both of which are exclusive to the US catalogue. They will be well used!!

Here are some photos from the evening. (My apologies for some of the blurry photos - my sister borrowed my camera and took it off of auto with the result when I got it back I took some fuzzy photos ~ next time I'll need to remember to check the settings LOL)

From left: Gillian, Sarah, Stephanie, Janice, Ellis, Me

From left: Gillian, Sarah, Stephanie, Janice, Ellis, Fiona

Having a cup of tea and a fine piece!

Janice, Gillian and Denise busy making their make and take

Two of my sisters - Diane and Linda Ruth

Hazel and her grandchildren

Brenda, Kerry and Kerry's daughter Kali

Dawn and Denise

Janice and Gillian

Angela, Rosie and Ann

Mary, Jeannie and Denise (Jeannie was hard at work!)

Christine and her daughter Emily

Anne and Geana


The recipes are on the post below for all the biscuits I made.
Special thanks to Christine for the Jelly Pieces, Janice for the Date&Walnut loaf, chocolate crispies and Mincemeat tartlets, Stephanie for the Lemon Drizzle cake and Strawberry sponge, and not forgetting Sarah and Angela for providing some sandwiches too.

Honeymoon Slice and other recipes

Today I have been busy baking for a Stampin Up Party that I am having on Friday.

Honeymoon Slice

Ingredients:
2 x 300g blocks white cooking chocolate
12 oz dessicated coconut
2 oz glace cherries
1 tbs icing sugar
1 large tin condensed milk
1/2 cup rice crispies

Caramel:
3oz margarine
1 1/2 oz caster sugar
1/3 large tin condensed milk
2 tsp syrup



Method:
Line a tray with cling film. Melt one block of white chocolate and spread over the base of the tray. Leave to set.
Cut the cherries in to small pieces and add to the coconut and icing sugar in a bowl. Stir in the condensed milk, ensuring that all ingredients are thoroughly mixed. Spread on to the chocolate base.
Make the caramel by placing all the ingredients in a pan and gently bring to the boil, stirring constantly. Boil for several minutes, continue to stir and then pour over the coconut layer.
Sprinkle rice crispies over the caramel. Melt the second block of chocolate and spread over the top.
A little melted milk chocolate may be drizzled across the top for decoration. Once colled lift the biscuit out of the tray, peel off the cling film and cut in to squares.


Double Shortbread

Ingredients:
16oz margarine
4 oz icing sugar
16oz plain flour
4oz custard powder

(I sandwich mine with jam but you may prefer butter icing)
Butter Icing:
2oz butter
3-4 oz sieved icing sugar

Glace Icing:
4oz icing sugar
1 dsp warm water

Method:
Cream margarine and icing sugar together until light and fluffy. Gradually work in the plain flour and custard powder, mixing thoroughly. Turn on to a light floured surface and roll out thinly (about 1/4"). Cut out rings with fluted cutters.
Put on to a well greased baking tray and bake at 150C until pale golden. (I baked mine for 20-25 mins).
Cool and sandwich together with butter icing (or jam). Decorate tops with glace icing and sugar strands.

Mars Bar Fudge

Ingredients:
3 Mars bars
2oz margarine
150g milk chocolate
2tbs syrup
4oz rice crispies

Caramel:
3oz margarine
1 1/2oz caster sugar
1/3 large tin condensed milk
2tsp syrup

150g white chocolate


Method:
Add the Mars bars to the margarine, milk chocolate and syrup in a pan. Heat gently, stirring constantly, until all the ingredients are melted and thoroughly mixed.
Stir in the rice crispies and spread over the bottom of a greased baking tin..
Make the caramel by placing all the ingredients (except the white chocolate) in a pan and bringing them to the boil, stirring constantly. Boil for several minutes then put on to a low heat and gradually add the white chocolate, stirring constantly. Stir the mixture well and pour over the base mix.
A little melted milk chocolate may be drizzled across the top for decoration.

Caramel Shortbread

Ingredients:
Base ~
8oz plain flour
4oz cornflour
2oz caster sugar
2oz icing sugar
8oz margarine

Caramel:
8oz margarine
4oz caster sugar
1 large tin condensed milk
1 tbs syrup
300g milk chocolate


Method:
Cream the margarine until very smooth, then gradually work in the remaining ingredients. Press into a lightly greased baking tray and bake at 200C for 20 minutes, until pale golden.
To make the caramel, melt margarine, caster sugar, condensed milk and syrup in a pan over a gentle heat. Bring to the boil and boil for 5 minutes, stirring constantly.
Pour the caramel over the shortbread base and leave to cool.
Melt the milk chocolate and spread over the caramel base.

Canadian Roll


Ingredients:
15 marshmallows
15 glace cherries
15 digestive biscuits
small tin condensed milk
1oz margarine
dessicated coconut to cover








Method:
Cut the marshmallows and cherries in to small pieces. Crush the digestive biscuits and melt the margarine. Mix these ingredients well, stirring in the condensed milk.
Shape in to a roll, roll in coconut and leave in fridge to set.
Slice and serve.

Peanut Mallow


Ingredients:
1 medium (8oz) jar crunchy peanut butter
2oz margarine
150g white cooking chocolate
1 packet marshmallowws










Method:
Line a tray with cling film. Place the peanut butter, margarine and cooking chocolate in a pan and melt them together over a gentle heat, stirring constantly. Leave to cool.
Cut the marshmallows into small pieces and stir the in to the cooled mixture.
Pour into the tray, place in fridge and leave to set.

Fresh Cream Meringues

Ingredients:
4 egg whites
8oz caster sugar
1oz granulated sugar
pinch of cream of tartar
10fl oz double cream










Method:
Whisk the egg whites with the cream of tartar until stiff then fold in the caster sugar.
Fold in the granulated sugar.
Pipe or pile small spoonfulls onto a greased tin lined with greaseproof paper.
Bake at 150C for 1 hour and 100C for 1 1/2 hours. When cold, sandwich together with whipped cream.

Peanut Butter Balls

Ingredients:
8oz jar crunchy peanut butter
1 1/2 cups crushed cornflakes
1 cup icing sugar
10z margarine
300g block milk chocolate
walnut pieces for decoration









Method:
Place peanut butter, cornflakes, icing sugar and margarine into a mixing bowl and mix together thoroughly. Roll into balls of the required size.
Melt the cooking chocolate and dip the balls into the chocolate.
When coated with chocolate, decorate with a walnut piece.

Queen's Challenge

The wonderful Dyan Reaveley has a challenge on her blog just now to create anything you want with a Queen's Collage sheet purchased from Lisa's Altered Art.

I had great fun creating a background yesterday for the challenge using techniques I learned from Dyan at a workshop and also a clear embossing resist technique I saw on Tim Holtz's blog.

I knew from the start that I wanted to decorate a tin to hold recipes after seeing the Cupcake Queen image. However I had no idea what I was going to do with the background LOL

Anyway I got there in the end, here is the final result.
If anyone wants the recipes I can email them to you as long as you make me a sample LOL













Details of background (Click on image for close up):
NB: The 5th picture should read " when the paint is almost dry"

Northern Papercraft Retreat Blog Candy Giveaway

See here for a great blog candy giveaway

Birthday Card with Stampin Up Crazy for Cupcakes Stamp

Materials Used:
Papers ~ Scenic Route, Loveland
Stamps ~ Stampin Up, Crazy For Cupcakes
Coloured with Promarkers
Martha Stewart doily punch
Ribbon, lace, gems

The inspiration for this card was in Card Trends Magazine and was by Lilybean