Mum's 90th Birthday Cake - took me 2 weeks to make all these sugar flowers!!!! Was so worried as I was baking it hoping it would be perfect!!

Window Box card

This was sweet I copied this from another blogger as I wanted to try it out......... I think it was a Stampin Up designer as the punch I used for the flowers was one of theirs.  It was so sweet but the instructions were a big vague so I winged this one and used a stamp by Claritystamps for the leaf spray and a Martha Stewart edging punch for the butterflies (I kept the scraps but didnt used the edger on the card).  The next time I make this one I want to find my wood stamp to give the flower box some more realism.  The second attempt on this card I used the brick template to look like a wall at the back of the flower box which was fun.

Patchwork Stamps from Chocolate Baroque

The first attempt at this card was through looking at a member of the design teams from Chocolate Baroques and copy it with just the scant instructions that it was made with 2 6 x 6" card blands and that they were interweaved at the front.  Well I had a go as I love this set of stamps and the look of the distance between the layers.  I didnt have the die for cutting the fence at the front though so of course improvised and I used a Martha Stewart punch.  When Id completed it I was really satisfied but then remembered that Id bought a stencil that was brickwork so decided the the fence should change into a brick wall with trellis on the top.  This was fun to make but very labour intensive and I was frustrated as the greens were too dark and if they were lighter they seemed to turn blue.  I used a selection of Promarkers, Sharpies and Prismacolor pens the latter 2 being obtained fron the USA!!  God bless America cause the UK is rubbish at variety of markers apart from the really really expensive ones...........

Peggy Harris' Workshop 19, 20 & 21 Oct 2013

Well we all started out all eager eyed and bussy tailed (a bit like that squirrel!!) it was the first time Id painted in oils apart from a disasterous attempt at school some few years ago!!  I struggled and struggled and as we were working under electric lights this poor little fella looked green to me......... in daylight he looks yellow so best to keep him in the dark till I get used to him.  The oils were kept in an airtight container to use later on in an attempt to finish him off.........or me!!  the latter being the case as they set hard and were useless so Im stuck with him now.  The only colour that would work was the yellow which I liberally daubed onto the leaves to give him an autumnal feel........

Day 2 and I was feeling optimistic that maybe the bunny would be a little easier to cope with........Hmmm all those well laid plans eh!  I was nearing the end and went to put the dark blue shadow on the back of him to show off the moonlight..........of course too quickly I realised that the fur hadnt dried out and was wiped clean away with the float of watery dark blue which was slapped over his back and hindquarters........  I do try honest I do!!  I blotted it off and reapplied the fur cause I didnt want a bald bunny and left it be till today (Fri 25th Oct)  when I was certain that the paint had dried!!  You cant float over wet paint........... he also got his fireflies tinted yellow and a few stars scattered in the sky.

Day 3 was supposed to be the easier of the 3 projects.......... Oh I got on great with the dragon flies, birds nest, eggs, feather and snail but the butterflies ........... couldnt believe what a mess I made of them.  Anyway I worked on them again today and they do look a bit better or rather more lifelike..........

It was so lovely meeting up with the ladies from all over UK looking forward to seeing them come next April when we'll be painting with Maureen McNaughton!!

I made myself a new blouse ...........

Well I couldnt find a loose blouse to wear over a tshirt and jeans and had all this fab material that Ive not touched in over 10 years so decided to get cracking and make myself one.  Its years since I had my patterns out and was really dispondent when I realised that none of my patterns were large enough!!!  I needed a size 18 (UK) so did a search and found a lovely site that is called PlusSizeLadiesSewingPatterns.co.uk and found 2 dress patterns and a blouse which I ordered.  They contacted me to say they were really sorry but the blouse pattern I wanted was no longer available so I replied to their email asking if they could recommend an alternative as I really needed one.  They were so kind and said they would send me this one for free!!  I set to and cut out the pattern ironing all the pieces then the fabric finding my interfacing fabric all screwed up in a poly bag then my trusty Gutterman's thread in exactly the right colour to match.  Set to and soon discarded the instructions as they were so complicated but I did better on my own.  When Id sorted it all out I decided that only covered buttons would suit and found a pack that must have come out of the ark as they had the price on them of 50p........... of course I needed 2 more for the cuffs so went to Crystal Peaks market in Beighton and bought 2 more buttons they cost me 50p.  Anyway I soon had them covered and sewn in place and am really pleased with my efforts.............. just wish I could get my photos to stay the right way round............. yet another thing to conquer although I wont hold my breath have been trying for ages to figure out why they wont stand up the right way round!!! 

My next project will be another birthday cake for a ladies birthday.........watch this space.............

A Year Long Project

It took me many Monday painting sessions to get this box finally finished and I often wondered why Id started it.  The pattern was entitled Old Lady in a Shoe and was designed by Londi L Rowley CDS from her book The Merry Peasant Vol IV.  As a painting group we were all going to paint it but as the weeks went by I realised that if I didnt get on with it then it would never be painted as although the individual mice are charming a whole box full of them was too daunting for my fellow Monday Painters group.  Lucky for me Id picked up the box from a closing down sale some time prior to taking on this mamoth task, the design fitted it nicely so I set to painting. 

Tiah's Birthday Cake

A friend of my husband's asked me if I could bake and ice a birthday cake for his daughter whose 12 today.  As always I asked loads of questions about her and what sorts of things that she likes and we decided on horses so this is what I made for her.  Her Daddy was really pleased with it when he picked it up tonight!