Are we nearly there yet? Recipe Book

Hello Crafters

The question is for the Christmas Craft Fairs.  I feel I have been making things for these Fairs forever and yet keep thinking that I do not have enough stuff yet, nor have I finished some of the projects I intended to have done.  Then to top it all off I suddenly realised that I had yet to make a sign for my stall!!!! Eeeeeeek!!  I left my Hubby this morning painting a canvas, varnishing 4 cork coasters (had planned to do more and even bought a  new ink pad to do purples ones!), as well as making a display board (your fault LLJ!), and if he had time after going to Cardiff to register his car (had to have "different" number plates transferred) he was to carry on decorating the dining room!  Poor thing. 

However, one of the projects that has been on my desk for what seems like an eternity is this one......

I wanted to make a Recipe book using my Cupcake die as the front decoration. 

As you can see it has glitter and glimmer mist.....

And I could not resist using the mini Cupcakes on the reverse of the book.

Inside I have put pockets in there to act as dividers and also any snippets of paper can be held in there.

If it doesn't sell on the weekend, I know just who I will probably give it to for Christmas.  I must just hope she doesn't see this post, but as I know she doesn't go on a computer other than for work, then chances are she won't!!  Even the base of the cupcake is recycled... Thanks Coffee #1.  They are the corrugated card sleeves that go round your cup so you don't burn your fingers.  Perfick for this project!!

Off to play with some candles, cards and price tickets now.  I might even see if there are any chocolates left over after I have finished filling the tree boxes!  For quality purposes you know!!

See ya soon!

Hettie

Something non-Christmassey

Hello Peeps

Well today is the first Sunday in Advent.  Wow!  Where did that last 11 months go?!  It will be time for the Advent Calendar on Thursday but does anyone remember a time when they did not contain chocolate?  I used to love opening the windows on my Advent Calendar and getting excited as to what picture was in there but not these days.  Kids wouldn't get excited about Advent Calendars which did not contain chocolate in them.  I do still have the last one I had as a child (I am still a child I know!!).  It is a little delicate now but I still get it out and hark back to the days when toys and gadgets were not run from electricity!

Right! Rant over.  Here is why I am posting tonight.

My Buddy Rachel is expecting her second child next month and she left work on Friday on maternity leave.  As we know that she is having a second daughter, I set about making her a small album in which she can either put photos of the new baby in or of both girls. 

This is a Sizzix die which I bought some time ago when Sizzix had a sale (and when even with the postage it was worth ordering).  I cannot for the life of me work out why it has taken so long for me to use this die.  I love it. 

As Rachel's little girl was poorly on Friday we did not get to go for lunch with Rachel so a few of us are meeting up tomorrow for lunch and I will give her this album.  It has become a tradition now that I make small albums for new babies that are born.  I have punched out a few spare butterflies so that she can pop them in once she has put the photos in.

I hope Rachel and Hubby like it. 

Thanks for looking and please feel free to leave me a comment.

Have a great week and Keep Crafting!!! (Can't believe they booted Anita out tonight! :-()

TTFN

Hettie

Ingredients:-

Die Sizzix; Cardstock Bazzil; Patterned paper, DI Vintage Photo, Walnut Stain; Stamps - Tim Holtz; Punches Martha Stewart; Ribbon Hobbycraft; Embossing Powders.

Grungy Monday 28 - It's a Cracker!!

Sorry Guys - I couldn't resist the title!

Well, here we are today on a miserable windy day in November and the race towards Christmas is galloping away.  Scrary thought for today is that it is now less than a month to Christmas!! Yikes!!

After having a few days to think about this week's Grungy Monday Challenge set by the Lovely Linda over at 3Ls and having gone to the post on the Tantalising Tim Holtz's blog, I woke up this morning with the intention of completing the challenge before I set out to my Scottish Dancing class this afternoon (and before I was even dressed for some of it but we won't go into that!) and here it is.  I hope you like it!

Those of you who have visited before will have seen some crackers that I have made using my Silhouette.  Well each Christmas Hubby and I buy each other a small gift, both in value and size, which will fit in a cracker which we open at the Dinner table on Christmas Day.  We don't buy those expensive crackers as the gifts are usually a bit naff and end up in the bin and so I usually  make some sort of crackers.  When I was making the other crackers I thought that these would be great for our table. 

With this challenge were were to cover something with the foil tape and then alcohol ink.  Tim used a fab pumpkin, I have used a cracker. 

I cut out the cracker on the Silhouette with bazzill (twice as the first one went walkabout as it was cutting - grrr!), then cut the foil to size and run it through the Big Shot with an embossing folder (my neighbour's daughter bought me this one as this is the one she and I used to make her Wedding Stationary - isn't it gorgeous!).  I stamped the diamond stamp up the edges and embossed with a white sparkly embossing powder then masked with post-it notes and stamped my lovely flourish stamp and embossed with silver embossing powder. 

Then I inked up the foil with a mixture of Wild Plum, Espresso, Snow Cap, Cool Peri and Rich Black alcohol inks and a little blender.  I carefully peeled off the backing from the foil and adhered it to the cracker.  Then I cut out the leaves using foil tape and card (stupidly I cut the leaves out of the foil before I had adhered it to the card!! Doh!!).  Then I used Clover, Juniper and Citrus alcohol inks to colour the leaves. Hubby and I spent yesterday evening making pine cones (and swearing! Those glue guns hurt!) so I used one of those and adhered them on with glossy accents.

A little black and white ribbon and glimmer mist on the pine cone and hey presto one cracker.  Now I just have to make another one in a colour more suited to Hubby for the Dinner table!  I might even make another two more so that they actually match the Christmas table!!  I may put a gift voucher in this one for my Mum :-)

Right, off to shower and get ready for my dancing lesson.  I am lucky enough to have a friend picking me up so I don't even need to drive. 

Stay warm and healthy and in this wind, upright!!

Please leave me a comment.  Love comments.  When I come back I shall have a look at the other Grungy Monday entrants to see what inspiration I may get.  It truly is worth going and seeing what the other participants do in these challenges.  There are alot of talented peeps amongst them!

TTFN

Hettie

P.S.  Alcohol ink on your PJs is not the "In" look - trust me on this one!!

Happy Rudolph Day!!

Hi Guys and Gals

It is the 25th of November so according to my friend Sandra it is Rudolph Day!!  Yeay!  Only one more month to the big Day!!  Or Yikes!! 

Here is my card which I have made to celebrate the day.....

It was before midnight (just) when I started this posting to I just about qualify for Rudolph Day!!

You may spot that I have used the lovely new Lamp post die here.  I bought it because I thought it would be useful for my Prague layouts too.  It is not just for Christmas you know.  The Bingo folder is having its first outing tonight too, depsite having it for absolutely ages.  I used the brayer technique to colour the embossed images.  Ink a brayer up with ink and then gently run it over the top of the embossing.  It is so much cleaner inking than using the inkers.  Wish I had discovered it before. 

The DIs used are Barn Door and Forest Moss.  The ribbon came from Wilkinsons!!  Yep!  3 yards for only £1!!  Bargain so it "fell" into my basket!!

Well, think I will clear a few more bits of my desk before retiring to bed.  I finished my handbags and I will show you in the next day or two. 

TTFN and thanks for looking.  Have a great crafty weekend!!

Hettie

WOYWW 129 - A Haaandbaarg!!!

Sorry guys - I was trying to say it like in The Importance of Being Ernest!!

Happy .... Hump Day or WOYWW or Wednesday whichever you would like it to be.  Today's the day when a lorra Crafters show off their desks on their blogs and all link in to the Desk Jockey - Julia Dunnit. 

Here's mine......

And here is Supervisor Monkey in the hot seat......

BTW - when Mandy was up at the weekend, she reminded me where I got this lovely stamp from, it was Hobbycraft and it was half price!  Now I know why I really like it!!  If you are lucky you might be able to get one. 

The lickle handbags are little gift bags in the making for my Craft Fairs which are only next week - eeeeeeek!  These I just have to put some velcro spots on the flaps and add a decoration of some sort on to the fronts.  There are little gift tags hanging from each of them, which you cannot see from here.

If you take a look at the last few posts you can see some of the other stuff I have made.  On the left corner of my desk I have some more pillow boxes cut out ready to put together as well as some more of the little square cubes which need to be stamped, acetate windows put in and then assembled.  For the assembling you need at least three if not four hands.  Monkey has tried but he has no working thumbs!!

I am really starting to panic about the Craft Fairs as I do not have many cards ready yet but hopefully by the weekend I will have finished the boxes so I can sit down just to do cards.

Off to work, Dancing and then I will try and catch up with you all later today or in the week.

Whatever you are doing have a lovely Crafting week and keep warm and away from these nasty bugs that are going around.    Don't forget to pop over to Julia's once you have kindly left me a message!

TTFN

Hettie

Frosty the Snowman Book is finished.

Hello there Peeps.  Don't feint - I know it is two posts on consecutive days but........ If you must know I haven't been in work today and yesterday as I took a couple of days off!  Back to work tomorrow though!

Remember this on my desk recently?

I finished it off today so it is in the box ready for the Christmas Fair which is now only next week - eeeeek!

Here it is.............

It appears to have little yellow specs on the photos, but I assure you they is a gold shimmer over the whole book with Glimmer Mist though you cannot see that I am afraid.

Here is the back of it........

Hope you like it.  I loved doing this one and am loving the papers I used.  So much, in fact, I may just make one for myself!!

Better get on and tidy my desk now ready for the weekly WOYWW inspection tomorrow!!

 

TTFN

Hettie

What a busy day yesterday was!!

Hello there Peeps

My friend Mandy came up to my Craft Room yesterday and we sat like busy lickle beavers working away on Christmas crafting.  I was supposed to be making cards but I did not get round to making one!  However, I managed to finish the two pink mini books that were on my desk last week, and I all but finished the blue album too (had to leave it alone for stickles and enamel to dry without sticking my thumbs in them before they dried - oops!!). 

Once I finished those I started to think about the boxes I wanted to make.  Here is the first one....

A bit fiddly trying to get the acetate to stick and manhandle them but I really like these.  I think it would be better if I had the patience to let them dry properly before trying to fold them into shape!!!!  Patience Missey!!

Here is number 2........

I really like these.  I can see me making more of these for my stall and for Christmas presents for family.

But my favourine ones are these..........

I really enjoyed making these and who can resist a cracker?  I ended up cutting out another 5 of these (including two minature ones) once Mandy had left. 

So all in all, a good day was had by all, though Mandy was left very much to herself as I was trying to get as much done as I could.  I am so sorry Mandy if I neglected you but I know you did have fun cutting out various embellishments using my dies!!    And I did feed you with some lovely home made Brownies!!  Mmmmmnnnnnn! 

Right guys, off to finish decorating all the other boxes that I cut out last night.  Those Craft Stalls are getting closer at a galloping pace!! Yikes!!!

Hope you all had a productive weekend and are not having this yukkey weather that we are having in South Wales. 

TTFN

Hettie

WOYWW 128 - And Yes! It is still tidy!!

Hello Folks

Guess what day of the week it is - again!  Is it me or are the weeks going faster the closer we are getting to the C word?

For those of you who visit my desk on a Wednesday and came last week you will remember that my desk was tidy.  Well, sorry to disappoint you, but it is still relatively tidy this week though there are signs of life!!!

 For a start, Mr Monkey is trying to get in on every photograph!

I currently have three small albums on the go.  These were all buried under the pile in the corner of my desk but now they have been liberated they will be finished.  They have to be finished as they are to be on my Craft Stalls at the forthcoming Craft Fairs. 

If you want to see other desks on this mega-nosey then please click on the button on the side of my blog to be transported to the Lovely Julia Dunnit.  From there you will be able to join in the multi-national nosey that is WOYWW!!

Off to work, dancing and then home.  In between times I will try to pop into see your desks!!!  If I don't make it today I will get there as quickly as I can!!

Before I go though I would like to say a huge Thanks to Neil who sent me a little package last week with some beautiful ribbons in and the most exquisite card.  You really need to see it in daylight to get the best of it.  It is gorgeous.  Thank you Neil.  You made my Friday when I opened this!!

Have a great Crafting Week!

Hettie

What! Grungy Monday on a Monday!! Nah!!

Hi Guys and Gals

Well the weather outside is definately like the November we all know and love..... cold and miserable!!  Though at least it wasn't raining here in Wales.

Well, as you may gather from the title of this posting, I actually completed my Grungy Monday project on a Monday!  Yep!  Once I had read the Lushious Linda's posting for this week's Grungy Monday I was sooo excited I came into my Craft Room and got all inkied up! 

Can you guess what theme I chose?  Bet you will find it difficult..... I will give you a clue shall I .... It is a huge event in the Christian calender and it is next month.......

Did you get it right?  Well done if you did.  If you didn't then you are obviously one of those "last minute" people - a man!!!

HERE is where Linda sent us to see the technique for this week's GM.

I truly loved creating my piece(s) for this week's GM.  However, my first project did not look as good as I hoped so I made another tag.  Then I put the first tag under the daylight light on my desk, and ended up finishing it off to make a card.  Glad I looked before I delegated it to File 13 (the bin!). 

If you have seen some of my previous postings on GM you will see that I love making my own inkie mess using reinkers, perfect pearls, water and a mister.  Thanks Linda for this week's GM.  Loved it!!  I can see some more cards in a similar theme coming up.  Watch this space!!

Now before you go, please go and look on the Linda's blog and look at some of the other projects.  You can get there by clicking on the button on the side of my blog.  And if you want any more ideas from the Man himself Tim Holtz then click HERE to be whizzed over to his blog!   

See ya tomorrow Folks for WOYWW!!

Don't forget to leave me a comment! 

Hettie

Ingredients: Tim Holtz/Ranger: Tag die, Reinkers - Forest Moss, Walnut Stain, Red Brick, Perfect Pearls - copper, gold, red, DIs - Dusty Concord, Antique Linen, Black Soot, Vintage Photo, Fired Brick, Embossing, Mask, glossy accents, utee, flourish die, grungeboard, stickles; Stamps - Hero Arts, Craft Individuals, Stampin' Up; ribbon, paper, velum, embossing powders, pearls.

Grungy Monday 26 - It's Beginning to Look Alot Like Christmas

Good Evening Folks

Well I don't know about you but I can hardly believe that it is the end of another weekend.  Where did the last week go?

My post tonight is this week's submission for the Grungy Monday Challenge with the lovely Linda.  I can't believe we are on Week 26 - despite having a few weeks of extended challenges!

This week we were taken by Fairy Dust to HERE where we saw the lovely Tim Holtz working on a 2009 tag.  As Christmas is only 42 days away (yikes!) I thought I would follow suit and make a Christmas tag in order that I can use it to make a Christmas card (I don't have many made yet!!). 

So without further ado........

(I have no idea why the tag and the bottom of the card looks crinkly on this photo - it doesn't in the flesh!!)

I have to be honest, this is a second version.  The first was a little fiddly on the edges and did not look good so I filed that one and changed to this one.   Here is a close up of some of the details.  You can actually see here that I used the Distress Stickles! 

The Merry Christmas is a new acquisition which I think I bought when I was on holiday in  Cornwall.  Yes, I managed to find a scrapbooking shop in Camborne!!  Wherever it was I bought it I think it is going to become a favourite.  It is such a lovely design and prints lovely and crisp!

Well, don't forget to pop along to Linda's site (click on the Grungy Monday tab on the right hand side of my blog) and also pop along to Tim Holtz's blog for more wonderful ideas and inspiration.

Please leave me a comment.

Hettie

WOYWW 127 - OMG! A clear desk!

Good Morning Peeps.

Happy Hump Day to you all!!  (After we have got over today it is all downhill to the weekend, hence Hump Day!) 

It is Wednesday so that means one special thing to me - it is WOYWW day with the lovely Julia.  In case you have got to my desk by magic, WOYWW is where a few (over a hundred) crafters show a picture of their desk and then link up with the lovely Julia to blog hop to other desks around the world!

Do not feint when you see my picture.  No!  I haven't had Martians or Fairies in my room.  I TIDIED IT UP!!!

I know this is not a very common occurance, but yesterday evening I decided to clear my desk up so that I could actually see what was in that pile so I knew what projects were lurking under there.   I did have to go and have a lie down for a bit too!  I have already cleared a few projects but knew that the pile may be hiding something I had forgotten about.  There was a fair bit of scraps, one Christmas album, various embellishments, a cut out rosette left over from my Halloween project and two M&Ms! 

So ready for action ey!

I have a hot tip for you lovely ladies who make cards, I went into Partners/Rymans on Monday and they have their packs of 50 cards (5x7 or 6x4) on BOGOFF!  At £6.99 a pack that is a good saving, especially at this time of year.

Right then guys, off to have my shower, feed chickens, take Dobby for a walk and then work.  Then home, Scottish Dancing and home again.  I will try to visit as many of you as I can in between work and Dancing, but I may not see some of you until later this week.  Wednesday is such a busy day for me (the only evening I go out) but I do love to come and visit you when I can.

Have a happy (and hopefully crafting - yes I am jealous if you can craft today) Wednesday.

Hettie.

Mojo Monthly!! Changing Faces

Good Evening Peeps

Now do not feint!  I know it is only the 7th day of the month, but I, yes I, have completed my Mojo Monthly nice and early!!  I actually completed it yesterday but it was far too late to take photographs unless I used a flash, and as you will see from the last two photographs, I really prefer not to use a flash where I can.

The theme of the lovely Sarah's Mojo Monthly is "Changing Faces".  You can read the post HERE.  Please do go along as this month Sarah is interviewing Jo Capper-Sandon and it is a great read.

Sarah was talking about how you can create totally different results by the way you use different inks or backgrounds, but using the same stamps.  Or at least I think that is what Sarah is trying to say!!  (Sorry if I have gone off on a tangent Sarah!!)  So here is my take on the subject.

Here I have used a background of canvas board, which I have inked with DIs (what else ey!).  Then using more DIs I have stamped some of my favourite images in varying layers and styles.  I have also used Distress Embossing Powder with the clock image. 

For the piece with the sentiment on I firstly used clear embossing powder with a clear image, then used DI to colour the piece in before ironing the embossing powder off (this is the only time I will happily use an iron!).  I then stamped the sentiment over the top using Archival ink.

For my second version.....

I used alcohol inks for the background and then stamped the same images again.  As I only have two Archival inks (Coffee and Black) I was a little limited to the colours I could stamp the images, however, I am still happy with the results.  The Umbrella Man was inked using Espresso AI with Gold.  (Note to self order some black AI as well as another colour of Archival ink - oops I did last night!!  Shhh - our secret!)

For the sentiment piece, I splashed inks onto my craft mat and then swooshed the piece through it.  Two of the colours were the same as the background piece.

The reason I have put little eyelets on the bottom edge is so that I can attach calenders to them.  I did not want to permanently adhere them, because once 2012 is over, I did not want the piece to be thrown away.  All that has to be done is to untie the ribbon holding the calender and hey presto - a piece of artwork instead.  It just shows that my work is hopefully not just for Christmas!!

(Sorry about the top picture, but the photo was taken in the evening with flash!)

I hope you like what you see.  Please leave me a comment and don't forget to pop over to Sarah's blog to see more work and maybe you will have a go!! 

TTFN

Hettie

Ingredients:- Ranger/Tim Holtz - DI Dusky Concord, Peeled Paint, Antique Linen, Mustard Seed, Fired Brick, Forest Moss, Walnut Stain; Dies - Altered Edge, Umbrella Man, Tattered Florals; Stamps; Distress Embossing Powder - Peeled Paint; AI Red Pepper, Citrus, Sunshine Yellow, Terracotta, Copper, Gold; Stamps - Hero Arts, Penny Black, Pink Paislee; Embossing Powder, wire, fibres, brads.

Grungy Monday 25 - Special People

Hello There Peeps.

I hope you are having a lovely weekend wherever you are.  Here in Wales we are having a lovely dry day - or at least so far.

I decided this morning that before I started doing any real work I would make my piece of artwork for the Grungy Monday Challenge with the Lovely Linda.  Click HERE to see the full article.

We were asked this week to "Use your favorite Tim Holtz products to create a loving tribute to a friend, relative or inspiring person who's passed away". 

Well I have to say that my favourite and most used Tim Holtz products has to be ink and stamps so this morning I set about making a scrapbook layout using a blank piece of Kraft cardstock and first of all chose my photograph. 

This photograph is of my Grandparents on my father's side.  I do not have many photographs of my Grandparents and this is one of my favourites because of the lovely grin on my Grandmother's face.  She is actually knitting for my father.  I am guessing the beach is Clacton-on-Sea as it was their favourite place to go for many years. 

I used a Heidi Swap mask on the right of the piece to make a circular design down the side of the layout.  I then used a TH mask over the top to add a little more depth and decoration.  I sprayed over the layout with a mini mister containing Red Barn reinker, Red perfect pearls and a little water (one of my favourite uses of TH inks). 

I also used another TH mask on the left hand side.  I then stamped using a TH stamp on the right hand side and also stamped sentiments on the right hand side and also embossed with clear embossing powder.  I then layered the photograph with a piece of red PP (from my scrapbox) and the large brown piece of cardstock I stamped my TH stamp and brushed Bronze perfect pearls over. 

I used a bought tag and stamped the TH stamp with clear embossing ink and powder.  I then inked and sprayed the tag before ironing off the embossing powder (another favourite technique).  Whilst working on the tag my Hubby brought up the parcel which had arrived by post in which contained my lovely stamps which I bought with my winnings from Simon Says Stamp (thanks guys!).  I realised that this was perfect timing and that the Love Wish Dream stamp was just what I needed for the tag.  I added a rocking horse and ribbon and the tag was complete. 

A little ribbon across the bottom of the photograph and two roses which I dipped into the Melting Pot and added perfect pearls to the edges and I was ready to start to put the whole layout together. 

I also used a Jenny Bowlin tag for journalling. 

I hope you like my layout.  I will have to do another similar one to use another photograph I have like this, only this time my father is on the photograph and my Grandmother is knitting for my Aunt!! 

Off to make my Christmas Cake now so will see you all later.

Have a Great Weekend whatever you are doing.

Hettie.

Ingredients:-  Tim Holtz/Ranger: DI - Antique Linen, Walnut Stain, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Embossing; Perfect Pearls, Red, Bronze; Masks; Reinker - Red Barn; Stamps; Distressing tool; Heidi Swapp - Mask; Jenni Bowlin - Tag; Hero Arts - Sentiment stamps; Prima - flowers; Ribbon, Charm.

WOYWW 126 - New Balls Please!!

Happy Hump Day Peeps!

Yes, it is Wednesday, hence we are now over the hump of the week and downhill to the weekend!!  I cannot believe we are in November - where has the year gone?

Today's the day when a large number of (daft) crafters show their desks, floors, dining room tables, ironing boards and other crafters hop from one desk to the other to see what they are up to.  All of this wonderful phenonomonon is the brainwave of the wonderful Julia Dunnit!!

Here is my desk........

Not much different you may think, but those keen eyed crafters who have been here before will spot that the pile of "stuff" at the back of my desk has decreased and there is a new project on the go.  This little project was started a little while ago and was buried under the stuff on my desk, but I finished the suitcase albums, moved the scraps out of the way, and then dug out this little project. 

It is a mini album of my chookies when we first had them.  It is a "me" project that will have to be put to one side again as I have my Craft Fayre looming ever closer!!  I also learnt today that a Craft Fayre that I have been involved in before has a table for me - two days after the other one! Yikes!!  Hopefully I will be able to have a good session on the weekend, which plan was scuppered last weekend due to me being a poorly bunny!

If you would like to see my little suitcase I did whilst on holiday in Cornwall, please click HERE to see it. 

I know Halloween is over but I could not resist showing you the pumpkin Hubby and I did this year.  It had to be a joint effort as I was not up to doing it all myself!!

Off to work I go and then dancing and after that I will be able to fly over to your desk for a peek!!

TTFN and Happy Crafting!

Hettie.