Category Archives for Misc

A Return

Hi there

We’re now somehow three weeks into the new year, and I don’t know where the time has gone honestly! I had all the good intentions of posting from the beginning of the year, and then a friend came to us for a visit for new years, and then I was sorting and tidying as needed in the beginning of the year! So here we are!

I have been thinking a lot about what my crafting plans are for this year, and how I was going to use this blog, which was great as a pastime for a year, but posting every day began to be a bit of a strain, as life gets in the way. After getting a lot busier before Christmas and failing (yet again) to complete the advent calendar finished (seriously I’m going to be sick of it if it doesn’t get finished this year!) I have decided to simplify things completely. This is a bit of a long post, do feel free to get a nice warm drink and have a sit down!! I’ve added some links and pics along the way to make this more interesting!

So starting now, my aims for 2012:

And aside from continuing the unfinished:

  • Work on the 2 cross-stitch projects I received for Christmas! (I have just about managed to start on one so far)SAM_1537 
  • Finish and send my three pieces for the pay it forward project (by August).
  • Scrapbook my year…as usual. (This year I’m more “smashbooking” my year). I got this wonderful faux leather book towards the end of last year, and can’t wait to start using it: SAM_1538
  • As well as this I am learning to knit… I don’t really know how it came about, but I will share my progress with you as I go! As you can see, I have nearly got a square… I am so proud! SAM_1536

I also wanted to have a 52 week project, as appears to be the trend these days, but wanted something low pressure, so have decided to look into some to start in February and work back on January when I’ve decided what to do. So any ideas do let me know!!

I am planning on posting/updating a couple of times a week, and maybe more depending on news and time!

Hope you had an excellent Christmas and New Year, and that 2013 is going well for you so far! Aside from here I am also on Facebook if you want to visit, “like” and comment at your leisure, share your page, your blog, or just say hi!

Happy Crafting!

A BIG Week

Hi there!

Well, the long weekend is over, and I’m back to that usual Tuesday-after-bank-holiday-Monday feeling. We had a pretty good weekend though, Saturday was a complete wash out, I did some more photo sorting (about half way with sorting my childhood photos from envelopes into albums). Sunday OH and I went to the first Pentillie Festival of Speed, which though dry and sunny was very muddy, but it was still good! Yesterday I finally found some time to pick up my stitching!

I know, I know, I planned on finishing it this weekend, of course I didn’t, though I don’t have much more to do now, and it’s looking pretty good: 

(Just the water and some backstitching to go).

In other news, I’ve got my card making bits out! All ready to start at least prepping my Christmas cards (which sounds mad at the end of August, whichever way you put it!)! I’m going to be sorting and taking up the BIG PROJECT again this week! (Just a link there for those of you who are wondering what I’m on about). I’m quite excited! I’ve sort-of missed it! I think it helps that I only have 10 squares to do, and then work out some sort of backing… I have my ideas, but I never did buy any last year. The time consuming part will be making the pockets, anyone get the feeling I’m going to change it as I go? Haha, I won’t be changing any squares, though I will be getting them out and ironing them at some point this week, just to freshen them a bit. The busy crafting season is almost upon me! (And that’s not including the continuing mission of the photos, scrapbooking and general “life” stuff!)

I do also still have a couple of other things to do as well, just small pieces and, potentially one big piece coming up, for a friend of OH’s Grandma. But more on that when I find out myself.

Right now though, I’m going to finish my morning cup of tea, and get ready for volunteering this morning!

Hope you had a great weekend, did you get up to much?

Have a lovely Tuesday!

Happy Crafting

Cheesetastic!

 

Hi there!

I’m posting a little later than usual as I have been out at an event held in the shop I volunteer for, the Cake Bake, which had nothing really to do with baking, for anyone except staff. It was a cake sale really… Owing to the success of the cheesecake I made, I have decided to share it with you, it’s really easy and sooooo yummy. Or “Amazing” as I was told earlier on. 

So here it is:

THE BASE:

  • 250 g Digestive Biscuits (I believe the USA equivalent is a graham cracker but I’m not one to know, Hobnobs work well too)
  • 100 g Melted butter

Smash up your biccies and mix well with the butter, squash flat into the bottom of a non stick/parchment covered loose bottom cake tin, I use my knuckles, do feel free to use the back a spoon or something!

Refrigerate for about 2 hours to set.

THE TOPPING:

  • 600 g Cream Cheese (I used a low-fat one, but the world is your lobster)
  • 100 g Caster Sugar (USA making me work hard again, that would be ”superfine” to you)
  • 284 ml Double Cream (*sigh* Heavy Whipping Cream USA… I got a 300 ml pot and just poured it into my mixing bowl, without scraping or shaking the pot)

Mix everything together, I used an electric whisk, because it was easier. It will become a lovely thick creamy mixture.

Spoon your topping onto your now set base, and pop back into the fridge until set. Then you can push up from the bottom (hence the loose bottom pan) and slide your cheesecake onto a plate. 

Best Served Chilled. (You can top with pretty much anything, or eat it as is.)

Do feel free to help with any ingredients across the pond! 

Have a great day.

Happy Crafting!

 

Quilling Butterflies – RainbowBeads Tutorial

Hi there!

The Sun is shining! (This makes me very happy.) Though it’s made me lazy today, forgive me, I still have something amazing to share with you all!

A while ago, I made some cards that looked like this: 

And I was asked how to make the butterflies, which I didn’t make, but purchased for the wonderful price of 99p for 3!

However, I have since been on the lookout for someone to do the hard work for me, and show anyone who is interested how you can make them yourself, and I happened upon RainbowBeads, a blog new to WordPress. After a brief communication, they agreed to post a couple of tutorials for quilled butterflies! So if you head over there now, you can find THIS POST. Where they show you how it’s done! So, why not go and pay RainbowBeads a visit, welcome them to WP and check out their posts.

  

They really are incredibly beautiful! 

Hope you have a lovely Monday

Happy Crafting!

A Special Request

Hi there!

Not my usual crafty post, but today I a request for you, whether you are a regular visitor or just happened by today.

I would like to know what YOU think, about my cards and stitching, and I’d really appreciate if you could take a couple of minutes from your day, and head over to the FACEBOOK PAGE take a look in the albums and LIKE your favourite projects.

Why? I am creating a small portfolio of my projects, and instead of simply choosing cards and stitching I really like, I thought it would be better to get the opinion of others!

I really hope you can take the time to do this little thing for me, it is really appreciated.

Have a lovely Friday,

Happy Crafting