Friday 19 April 2013

It's nearly the weekend....yay!

Another week has flown by and I managed to make it into the workshop today for a little card making sesh!

As my skills have progressed over the years, I find myself adding more and more and more embellishment/colour to every card. So today, I restricted myself......and it was hard, very very hard.

I stamped and coloured one of my favourite LOTV stamps and restricted myself to using the following promarkers:

Tan, Putty, Almond, Chestnut, Cocoa and Blender


So that the image's white card didn't look too stark, I used antique linen distress ink and played with my papers from My Minds Eye.



Tuesday 16 April 2013

OK, so I've been a little bit slack and realised I haven't posted April's challenge. I've decided to wait until May now, so that everyone has a chance to make something. I can't believe how quickly the days are passing at the minute, but between Dr/Hospital/Work I don't seem to get a minute for myself any more. I am currently on with the very boring task of tax year end calculation for the business. How I wish it would just magically calculate itself!!

In between the boring stuff, Niamh decided we were to enter a Cake Decorating competition (gulp!) I don't think she realises that there are some very talented bakers out there and after a few weeks of making cakes, we probably don't stand a chance. But......here's how we got on:

First, we made a victoria sponge......

 Next we covered it with Pink Icing..

       Then we added white choc chip 
cupcakes with pink icing and a buttercream topping and a bunch of sugarpaste stars...


   and some more buttercream & stars

  and this is the finished product!

I have never spent so long on baking/creating a cake, but I am looking forward to demolishing it!!! (I did squash the top when I tried to cover it, but nobody gets to see that but!)

If you would like to support me (but mainly Niamh) in winning this competition, please follow this link and vote for the Star Cake Cupcake Crazy entry! https://www.facebook.com/MyCakeDecorating/app_115978431901938


Back on the Papercrafting front, I have had a go at scrapbooking this week. I don't think it will take over from my card making, but it was nice to do something a little different

My happy smiley family

Tuesday 2 April 2013

The winner is.....

Well it's April already and Sketch Challenge #4 has ended. The winner is Jeanette Handley who received the most votes for her lovely male themed creation:


Jeanette wins a selection of Kanban's 'Get Britain Crafting' Toppers. Congratulations Jeanette!!

I am just putting the finishing touches to April's challenge, so watch this space.

On a separate note, I think my new hobby of baking is taking over! Over the last few weeks I have made 4 batches of cupcakes and a batch of sugar biscuits. All different flavours and all have been demolished in the blink of an eye!

Here are the creations so far....

Attempt number 1 using cake decorating magazines instructions:


Attempt number 2 using the same magazines instructions (This was to practice piping skills more than anything!):


Attempt 3 was free styling for Easter and my Mother In Law's birthday (starting to feel a bit more confident with the piping gun now!):


Attempt 4 - I'd bought some coloured Icing and some cookie cutters I wanted to play with:


and the last attempt was a recipe I found on a cupcake app and just had to try!! ( I did adapt it slightly as I thought chocolate drizzle topping would make it a bit different!) :


I have received several volunteers to sample the next batch, claiming they are willing guinea pigs until I master this new hobby and can call myself a 'proper' baker......strange how baked goods have this effect on people! The other suggestion is to branch out and consider a side line for Pink Pig. I'm not sure Pink Pig Cupcakes is all that inviting really, but certainly something to keep in mind.

Happy Crafting