Tribute to Satori one year on

I can't believe a year has passed since we lost our "old girl" Satori.  She was such a big old Brown Bear of a dog and I still miss her every day :-(  I will never forget you xx

I love Pumpkins (recipe)

 Well I managed to get all my Halloween gifts sorted out yesterday. The treat bags are stuffed, cards written,  the pumpkin lantern is made and the insides of Mr Franky are cooked up ready to make some 

Pumpkin Muffins

• How to do them: scoop out pumpkin insides discarding the seeds and stringy bits. You can wash and toast the seeds as a snack they are delish but it's a bit tedious taking the shells off.
• put the flesh, 2 tablesppons of water and 2 tablespoons of sugar in a bowl and microwave for 6 mins or until softened, stir a couple of times while it's cooking.
• Mash the cooked pumpkin or blend in a processor. You can now make muffins or freeze it for later in a poly bag. or Buy a tin of prepared Pumpkin from Waitrose!

Muffin Ingredients

• Divide your pumpkin into 2 equal amounts and find a cup that one amount fits in to fill it, this will be your measure for the other ingredients (you can use shop bought measure cups if you wish just follow that rule)
• put into a mixing bowl,  the 2 "cups" of pumpkin, 
• 3 cups of plain flour
• 2 cups of sugar, I prefer brown
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon of each of the following spices, cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice or just use 2 teaspoons of Mixed Spice.
• 2/3rd's of your cup of sunflower or vegetable oil
• 3 eggs (beat before adding to the mix)

Mix it all together, put into muffin cases, sprinkle with a little sugar for a crunchy top (I use crushed sugar cubes but regular is fine)  and cook for about 25 mins at 180cent, 350 farenheit or Gas 5  

EAT :-)

they will freeze in a plastic bag or box, reheat for a little while after defrosting to freshen them up

xx

Word Plaques and Door Hangers

These are so popular right now and in my massive sorting session I came across a load of these wood blanks to make them.

I am having issues with the "Safmat" I used to print the wording on, when I embossed over the top to give them a nice textured  glossy finish the tape reacted with the heat, so not so good. The  pink one I used with glossy accents which was a  little better.

The flash from the camera makes them look worse :-( in natural light they are not so bad.  I think I will try some with a lighter pastel colour background as that might help too.

Used:

• Wood blanks (Ebay)
• Ranger Paint Daubers by Tim Holtz
• Glossy Accents
• Ultra thick embossing powder 
• white embossing powder & Brilliance white pad (pink plaque)
• Safmat
• Glue Pad
• Stazon inks 
• Artemio Stamp Flourish
• Sandpaper

Method:

1. Sand the shapes to remove any rough edges
2. paint with the daubers and allow to dry
3. In a toning colour stamp the flourish design
4. Add the self adhesive cut out lettering
5. Dab all over with a glue pad and coat in UTEE and melt with a heatgun - or cover with Glossy Accents and allow to dry
6. Add a metal picture hanger to the back (plaques)

TFL

xx

New online shop and page

I have had a mouth abscess for a couple of days which is slowing me down too.  I look a bit like a Hamster right now and will be glad when it goes.  One of the dangers of eating fresh French bread, be warned those sharp crumbs are nasty :-(  Sorry nothing new again today as I have been making some Halloween crafty bits for gifts,  but I can't post yet as it would spoil the surprise, but I will put photo's up after the weekend.

Also I have been trying to get some ideas of what to make next as I was told I am having an online shop to sell my "makings"  I am not sure they are good enough but my daughter says they are and is setting it up for me.  Shop is rather a grand name as I won't have a zillion things, only individual pieces.

It has a Facebook page and I will link it to the shop when it's all up and running.  If you would like to go and show support by "like'ing" I would be very grateful for the support :-)

Be safe and thanks for calling by
xx

Circular Star Album/Mini Book

O'k so as promised I made the sample of my idea today.  I only made this one as a 6" size because of the amount of paper it will take to do the full size 12" one.  I have had a circle week and thought Star Album.  It works fairly well, If you don't want to tie it together to form the complete round it could be laid flat on the cover to form a half circle or maybe you can hang it if not.  It was easy to make as I have the Cricut to cut the circles, maybe a bit longer project if you have to cut by other means.

You cut circles in three sizes per "page" with 1/2" difference between sizes and one circle 1/2" bigger than your largest to make the cover.  I sandwiched the ribbon between the pages and the cover to keep it in place.

If there is any interest I will post some instructions but if you look at the way my Star Book is made it works on the same principle of only gluing at the outer edge to make each page stand away from the last one.

Christmas Decorations - Doileys

Having a circles day today, got my mind spinning with one idea and up popped another.  If the first is successful I will share it tomorrow.

So I have a load of dies including some pretty circle ones and the vibe at the moment seems to be doilieys.  I got some bargain mega packs of small ones and also drinks coaster size so I had a play and came up with these. I don't suppose its new but hey it worked for me.  Many brands also have Doiliey Dies available now which could also be used

They take very little time and if your having a party would make a cheap bulk decoration for tables maybe hung on Twig Trees,  different papers would work for Birthdays etc

Made with 8 small Christmas circles (retired die) This is single side paper with the white side inked which works better

6 larger Christmas Circles, made with one sided paper and I don't like the white that shows

Made with 8 drinks coasters, I like the white ones best of all

Small gold doilieys do not work the metalic finish makes them floppy :-(

The single side papers work better if you ink the edges first (on the back the white side)

Tried an oval shape too, like those and stamped some doilieys with a Christmas  background stamp in red which looks o'k

Cotton seems to work better than ribbon as it makes it to bulky to put together

I used - 

• Papers by Blonde Moments and Milton's Christmas (last years papers)
• Doilies and drinks coasters
• Spellbinders Dies, Lacey Ovals, Star Circles and the retired Christmas Circles
• Wet glue,  D/S tape does not stick well
• Cotton thread
• Cuttlebug
• Stamp Crafty Individuals Star background
• Momento Ink Eyes in Ladybug and Ranger Distress Ink pad in Lipstick Pink

edges inked before folding, fold right sides together

stamped drinks coasters

Wet glue the folded shapes at the straight edge( not all over), stack and bring the last edge round to join the front

Super Easy, quick and cute
TFL
xx

Crafts To cards

O'k so I have come across so many things I forgot I had lately :-(  I have some Crafts Too Dies and have never had a go at using them before so here I have two Autumn theme cards.  I need a little work on the embossing side of it, I know it's not rocket science but I have never bothered!!  Featuring my favourite thing right now Owls, discovered I had an abundance of Owl stamps too (blushing guiltily)

• Papers for back grounds are K & Co.  
• Stamps are Inkadinkado Autumn Foliage and the flourish stamp which you may be able to see on the papers is by Artemio. The frames are inked with Ranger Distress Inks

TFL xx

Waste not want not

Well after a Gale last night its a beautiful day, I thought the roof was coming off at one point!!  Today is now the perfect Autumn Day.  I had a colour therapy done once and the clothes and make up choices I was advised are all Autumn colour's so maybe that is why it's my favourite season.

O'k,  I had a whole load of pieces of Halloween double sided Designer papers left over from all the albums I have been making over the last week or two.  They are not really of a size that will be usable for most projects but too lush to be discarded.   I have been hoarding, stroking and smelling them for some time  but when it comes to using it's like making a sacrifice :-(  I am sure you will be with me on this one?  It's a Craft thing :-)

So I thought weaving!  and here is what I made and a couple of projects using the pieces afterwards.

Too good for the bin

Cut into strips, mine are 6"x 1/2"  but whatever suits your scraps

Put tape on one piece then add strips going down in a random fashion.(I Used purple to show up but it doesn't matter)

Add your "down" strips weaving in and out for the pattern Sorry if this is obvious!

Add some card to the back to hold it together and trim to a neat shape

Voila it's done

A couple of cards made using the woven pieces, I think they make great layers.
Thanks for looking. x

ATG Bargain

ATG on Sale what a Bargain

I have had a desire for one of these for ages and at this price how can you go wrong!! Plus 2 rolls of tape included, I think this is a total bargain.  It arrived very fast and I am loving it.  Not heavy to use and you can get into nooks and crannies well too.  O'k it is a little big but much cleaner to use and no bits of backing paper going everywhere:-(  AND it's PINK :-)

Two Halloween Photo Albums (movies)

This is a gift for I made for a little friend

• Papers - K & Co, Bo Bunny and Prima Marketing
• Embellishments - Assorted
• Cardstock - Bazzil and Sugar coated
• Ribbon

Slightly "grungy" album I made after a lighbulb moment!!

Method as before but the Gates are from Paperdolls Cricut Cart - it's actually the fence but resized in Craft Studio

Tim Holtz Distress embossing powder

Tim Holtz Ideology Chain and other metal elements

Beads and charms for the "dangly charm" on the front

I like the texture embossing the gates gives

Close up

Too Cute to SPook Pink Halloween Mini Album

I thought I would have a try at a more Girlie colour scheme for a Halloween Album, maybe a little less scary for tinies who have their own party pictures to keep. 

Made in the same design as the previous Halloween Album with envelopes, tag photo mats and journal tabs

 Hope you like it xx

Cover

Pretty ribbons

Inside cover tabs for journalling

Photo tags

inside back cover

Extra tabs

More Tag photo mounts  

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