DIY's like crafting

Purchased a new stand to use in the shop, and it came flat packed so putting it together is abit like crafting.

Its a white ladder shelf unit with four shelves of varying width. I'm really pleased with it and looking forward to creating my mothers day window display using it.
 It's been a while since I've built any flat pack furniture I'd almost forgotten how much I enjoy it.  Think I may purchase another one when they get back in stock, I like the ladder look feel it works with the vintage cottagey look I'm trying to achieve in the shop.

Also did abit more baking, got a huge bow of blueberries on special offer so just had to turn some of them in to blueberry and lemon muffins. It was a recipe I hadn't tried before ad was abit surprised how large they came out, however they are very yummy quite moist with the fresh fruit in and not too sweet because of the lemon, the icing was made using icing sugar and lemon juice instead of water, I maybe made it abit too thin as it ran everywhere will make it thicker next time. The book I got it out of suggested an alternative with fresh raspberries and white chocolate on top, think I will try that when the summer gets here.

Something Sweet

I enjoy dabbling with a little baking as well as crafting and like to make things for the village events committee  meetings which I go to. This week I did not have much time to be making so made the following.

It is a quick and easy no bake refrigerator cake, make by melting butter and golden syrup together and add coco powder, raisins and crushed digestive biscuits,  which is then pushed firmly in to a tin and topped with melted chocolate. It went down well with the other committee members and was soon munched up.    

Love is in the air

So here's a few cards I've been making really for Valentines day in the shop. They are made using some items I received in a Christmas package from Craftstyle products as a thank you for signing up to be part of their volunteer design team, they have since sent me some items with which to make sample cards and send back to them to be used at fairs and shows and even maybe on TV.

 These three are tall elegant cards with tags, I think tag shapes are very on trend.

These thee are again tag embellishments but in a round shape,  I will admit to changing the ribbon on two as they came with black ribbon which in my opinion didn't work. I like the colours or these something different from the traditional red and pink.

This last one for now, is my favourite I love the little patchwork hearts and lace, and who can resist buttons, I think the washing line effect really works well.









Check back soon to see what other crafts I've been up to including a bit of baking(ish) and mastering crochet.

A feathered friend

Just a quick post to share with you this cute get well soon card I made for a friend who had been unwell.

It's made using the stampin up owl punch a very versatile punch usable for a range of projects.
Here I have turned the owl in to a little get well soon nurse owl, the hat is cleverly created by using the belly shape and eye shadow added with half circles.








I hope you find him cute and are all finding some snug crafting time in the cold snowy weather.

First card of the year

A sympathy card made for a neighbour, created by simply just stamping on to a blank card, the large floral design is in two complimenting shades of green with the sentiment in brown, I like using brown ink as it is a lot less harsh than black.
Sorry about the quality of picture there's not enough daylight around at the mo, roll on summer.
So a new year and lots of new craft ideas just need to find some time to try them out.

A few Christmas cards

I've been really disorganised with my Christmas cards this year but here's a few I've managed to get done.

 This one is a simple stamped card using a set from Stampin up lovely as a tree and a merry Christmas I've had forever. Used my new ink pads for this the colours are really good, particularly pleased with the green, its Stampin up old olive.

These three are made using Stampin up hostess set four seasons. When I first looked at this stamp I thought it would be best in blues since it was snow flakes but I'm also pleased with it in the other colours, (red and green, purple and lighter green.)  My scalloped circle and one inch circle punch compliment this set perfectly. Looking forward to making cards with the other three seasons in the set.

The last one for now is created using my new stampin up owl punch. This is a really versatile punch and I think this reindeer is cute and quirky, very good for a first attempt using this punch, it is quite alot of fiddling getting all the elements punched in the right colours but the end effect is lovely.

Christmas Craft Fair

Sorry I've not been posting much recently, seem to have been so busy with work and the guides and scouts I volunteer with.
Anyway when to a Christmas craft fair at the week end in my village, had a stall.

The stall layout wasn't brilliant but that's something I'm going to work on in the next year. The friendship teas sold really well I think people are thinking they will be nice to post with Christmas cards to friends they don't see very often. Also sold some of the pencil boxes as a nice little stocking stuffer and the festive tissue packs.





Hopefully get some posts up soon about the Christmas cards I've been making and playing with some of the new items I've brought from Stampin up.
Happy Christmas Crafting.