Merry Christmas Everyone

Well it's Christmas Eve and soon to be Christmas Day

Here's wishing everyone a 

Peaceful, Healthy and Happy Christmas 

with all good wishes for 2012

Mince Pies and Jam Tarts

Next bout of cooking, a few Mince Pies and Jam Tarts

(for those in the household who do not like mince pies).  

I have only made a few so far, as I like them fresh and warm from the oven,

but mmmmmmmm delicious

Sausage Rolls next on the menu and maybe some Oreo Cookie Balls :)

Mars Bar Cake

Christmas is nearly here and one of my first makes is a Mars Bar Cake; only trouble is, it didn't last long enough and so will have to be making some more!!!

This was all tht was left about an hour after making it!! LOL

  It's really easy and quick to make and tastes delicious.  There are various methods, which include some with Digestive Biscuits and some with Rice Krispies, others use golden syrup and some margarine or butter, melted with the Mars Bars.  The Mars Bars and Golden Syrup/Butter/Margarine are melted together and then the 'Krispies' or crushed Digestives are added till the mixture is evenly coated and will hold together when set. The Topping is solid chocolate and that again is a preference with either plain or milk chocolate; melt the chocolate and then pour over the base and allow it all to set; if you can wait long enough.

Enjoy!

Dorcas Designs Candy

Have a look at Dorcas' website - stunning cards and colouring and Dorcas also has some delicious candy at the moment too! Until 30th December 2011.

Yipee!!!! I'm a Winner - Just Magnolia

WOW - I can't believe it, what an early Christmas present, I'm been picked as a winner in Just Magnolia's Challenge for 'Pink.White or Red' and this was my entry...... my little calendar girl

I am extremely pleased to say that I have won a fantastic voucher from 'Crafts U Love' and boy is that true, I do love to Craft.

Thank you to all the DT member's of Just Magnolia for all their inspiration - I'm as proud as punch to have won this challenge.

STARCARDS AUCTION for GREAT ORMOND ST HOSPITAL

I am very happy to promote and support the auction below, in raising funds for children who require treatment from all over the world, at the Great Ormond Street Hospital in London.  Fantastic gift ideas for Christmas, totally authentic and supporting a good cause at the same time, a gift that keeps on giving :)

Starcards Chrity Auction is now live at: http://www.starcards.org

Featuring hand signed items from Michael Crawford (Wizard of Oz), Brian May (Queen) , Alfie Boe (Les Miserables), Kerry Ellis (Wicked), Lee Mead (joseph and his Amazing Technicoloured Dreamcoat), Amanda Holden (Shrek)

StarCards are delighted to support and promote worldwide, Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity. We hope that as a result of our involvement it will be possible for children of all nations who are suffering from the rarest, most complex and often life-threatening conditions, to receive the best medical care that money can buy. With help from our friends and sponsors StarCards organise fundraising events, celebrity visits and charity auctions dedicated to the wonderful work of GOSH.

Calendar Girl - Magnolia

Well here's my little calendar girl

This Magnolia is one of my favourites and as I had not been feeling well lately, I sat with a stamped image (on watercolour paper) and coloured her in with my Prisma Pencils, blending with Sansidor.  It's one of my first projects with these pencils, and even if I say so myself, I was pleased with the outcome.  I did layer her with some Crafter's Companion 'Spray and Shine' afterwards so as to protect her.  She is mounted on a mini wooden spoon which I had picked up in a local store months ago.  

CLOSE UP OF THE FLOWER

 I made the flower by using eight 'foundation white blooms' from Wild Orchid Crafts.  I coloured these with Promarkers and dried them with my hairdryer - LOL, anything is used in the name of craft.  There are two layers for the base and the other layers are folded and glued to the center, I used a pearl brad also from WOC for the center.  (If anyone is interested in how I did them with more info, just let me know and I will put a tutorial together - they are very effective and sturdy, whilst still being flexible).  The calendar came from a local stationery store and the ribbon is from my stash.

I kept the project clean and simple so that it would be appropriate for any setting

and finally

MAGNOLIA

JUST 'COS SHE'S SOOOOO SWEET

Hope you like her and the project too - please let me know

I am entering her into the following challenge:

Just Magnolia Wk 134 - Challenge Pink/White/Red

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

WISHING ALL OUR FRIENDS ACROSS THE POND

A VERY HAPPY THANKSGIVING, HOPE YOU ALL HAD A WONDERFUL TIME YESTERDAY

ENJOY THE HOLIDAY SEASON

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

OK, so I know it's November today, but here are some photo's of our Halloween efforts at our house last night, there were a lot more but we were too busy decorating to take more photos - LOL

THE TREE DECORATIONS

HENLEY IN THE HALLOWEEN SPIRIT WITH RACHEL

And here are just a few of the sweets that we put together, there were loads more, but we made the bags and labels for these and covers for the lollies.  We had trays of other sweets and some in bowls of the slippery balls that you put in vases, brilliant for Halloween.  We also made 'Frankfurter Mummies'.  These are frankfurters wrapped with strips of croissant dough, made to look like mummies swathed in bandages.  Cooked in the oven and were yummy, hence no photo, all been eaten :)

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

Playing with my Winnings - YEAH :)

Well I've literally just download the My Memories Suite which I won from Dorcas Designs, thank you again Dorcas, and I'm 'chuffed to bits'.  What a fantastic and easy programme to use.  Here is my very first creation and this is within minutes of installing it.  This is my hubby by the Trevi Fountain in Rome, where we went last year.  beautiful City and I can now do the photos and memories justice!

Bit of fiddling around needed I know, but as this was within minutes of downloading but I am absolutely thrilled with the results.  This suite is so easy to use and I'm so glad that I have it.  I'm looking forward to creating lot's of Memory Books now and experimenting with all the features that you can use.

Oh boy am I a happy bunny :)

OH MY STARS - I'M A WINNER - THANK YOU DORCAS

OH MY STARS - I'M A WINNER

I'm so pleased to announce that I'm a winner. 

Dorcas of Dorcas Designs held a Giveaway of the fantastic MY MEMORY SUITE and I'm soooo pleased to say, I'm the winner.  I never win anything and was so surprised and so very pleased.

The software package is amazing and you can visit Dorcas' Blog and find out more about the software by clicking on this link

http://dorcasdesigns.blogspot.com/2011/10/my-memory-suite-giveaway.html

Oooohhhh I'm so happy and can't wait to start playing with it.

I would like to say a huge thank you to Dorcas for offering the chance to win and also for her very inspirational blog.  Do pop over and have a look, there are all sorts of projects and I just love having a browse.

Sweet Magnolia and Copics

I was soooo pleased when I saw the theme from Pops for the Magnolia - Anything Goes with Coffee and Cream as an option and also the Copic CMC Challenge of 'Vintage or Distressed' with Copic or Promarkers.  So here's my design.

I love this stamp and just knew I had to have her when I first saw her.  There are so many possibilities with her, Birthday's Christmas, Wishes, all sorts.  

Anyway enough drooling over my stamps, I coloured her with a mixture of Copics and Promarkers, using an assortment of coffee, cream, beige and brown hues.  I ummed and arred over whether to distress the edges of the image, but as I liked her just the way she was, I decided not to and so I layered her onto a matt gold background to give an antique feeling and to keep it in line with my design.    The backing sheet is actually from a card cut down, I liked the vintage edge and the 'Olde English' text that runs across it - yep it's definately 'Olde English' and nope, I'm not that old!!!!!!  

The lace is actually vintage cream lace, which I picked up from a lovely store in Bexhill-on-Sea on the Sussex Coast, it's not a craft shop, just a store that sells all things divine (decadent chocolate for one - LOL).   To blend with the cream lace I topped it with a dark brown grossgrain ribbon, giving the coffee effect, more your espresso than your latte look.   The sentiment is from my stash, had them ages, and love them and the flowers are a mixture from Wild Orchid Crafts and I believe The Craft Barn in Lingfield.  

The flowers are actually cream and brown, although the photo has made the brown ones look red, they're not I promise you - I hope my daughter sorts her camera out soon so I can pinch it off her, the colours come out much better on her SLR than my little point and shoot - oh well. 

Hope you like her - have a great day :)  

I am entering this card into the two challenges then:

Just Magnolia - Pops - Anything goes with the option of Coffee and Cream

CMC Copic Challenge 28 - Vintage and Distressed Colouring

LOTV Challenge 115 - Let it Snow

Back to my favourite stamp but with a twist.  I've used all sorts of techniques on this card so I hope you like it! camera's playing up so sorry for the dark piccies :(

The card base is pearlescent with backing paper from my favourite stack at the moment,  First Edition Festive stack.  The ribbon paper is from Papermania and is self adhesive, and I love it.  

Now for the technical bits (LOL); 

The Faded Jeans backing is from a Tim Holtz Coredinations stack and it has been run through my 'Big Shot' with a Sizzix Embossing folder.  I then sanded the card to expose the core.  I made the sentiment in the same way.  I put a silver eyelet through the tag and added a piece of white organza. This has been added tot he card with 3D foam to add dimension.

The image stamping was a little more involved! 

I stamped the image onto Clarity cardstock with Tim Holtz's 'Faded Jeans' Distress Ink, to blend with the Coredinations backing.  I then masked the image with the blotted copy of the stamp and I punched a circle to create the moon, which I positioned on my cardstock where I wanted the moon to appear.  I then used my brayer to roll across the image to create the night sky.  Snowflakes have been stamped onto the main image plate and the tree and snowflakes have been 'Glamour Dusted'.  The corners of the image plate have been punched with a decorative snowflake, and I punched further snowflakes to embellish the backing paper.

The final design was finished with a lovely wooden reindeer embellishment from Wild Orchid Crafts. 

I hope you like my interpretation of 'Let it Snow' for the LOTV Challenge.

I am entering this into;

LOTV Challenge 115 - Let it Snow

Crafts and Me - Use a Digi Challenge

I love the digi stamps over at Crafts and Me and seeing that I'm an Aquarian and loving all things, watery and natural, I couldn't resist using their 'Felicia' stamp for this card.

The card base is pearlescent and layered with silver mirri - well what else for a gorgeous mermaid.  There is blue baker twine from WOC, to add the extra nautical touch.  The background is a wash of 'Dew Drop Brilliance Ink' in Pearlescent, Sky Blue, which I painted in swathes to create the feeling of depth and waves; and so to 'Felicia'.  

I coloured Felicia with a mixture of copics and promarkers.  I wanted her beauty to show through naturally, hence the colour palette that I chose for her. She is a beautiful image and  I highlighted her tail with Glamour Dust.  There are blue and green gems, from my stash, forming her stash of jewels and gems along with her collection of shells.  The fish have been coloured vibrantly to express the liveliness of the sea :)

The frame is a digi download that I have had for sometime from Cardmaking Downloads, but which I thought complemented Felicia beautifully.i cut the frame carefully and lifted it with 3D foam tape to add dimension.  I didn't add loads of embellies as I think Felicia speaks for herself!

Hope you like her and thanks for stopping by:)

I am entering her into

Crafts and Me Challenge 55 - Use a Digi

Button it at Christmas

Well the weather's still out of kilter, as it's beautiful at the moment and nothing like Autumn.  Anyway, I still decided that for the LOTV challenge this week I would use one of my Christmas stamps - LOL don't know why, just love the stamp and wanted to use it :)

So here goes for my 'Button it' Challenge offering

Not sure the photo does it justice, but I was really pleased with the result.  The image was coloured with a combination of Promarkers and Copics, with subtle shading with my favourite C-1 Copic marker.  The sparkle is glamour dust, which I have added to her hat and fur trimmings and also to the white poinsetta and leaves which are from Wild Orchid Crafts.  The buttons are from my stash and I just love them, as is the organza ribbon which is one of the best staples in my crafty stash. 

 The backing papers are from the Christmas First Edition paperstack, whose designs are just delish; almost breaks my heart to use them - LOL

So I am entering this in the

LOTV Challenge 114 - Button It

So here she is again, with her little doggy, 

best friend in the world, in my opinion :) 

Thanks for stoping by.

Aqua, White and Glitter - Lovely

Oh my word, just as I thought we were getting all autumnal the weather goes and finds summer.

It was really misty here yesterday morning, lovely during the day and then the mist rolled in again last night, but today is a beautiful, sunny, glorious day here on the South East Coast.

Well I crafted again and thought I'd use the LOTV Challenge of Aqua, white and Glitter.  Love the colour aqua and it works so well for so many occasions.  I was tempted to do a Christmas design but with the weather so glorious I just had to sneak another summer inspired feel.  Also, I know several folks, who have birthdays late in the year and feel cheated when their cards are always wintery or frosty.

So casting the 'Daddy Long Leg' (crane fly) aside that has decided to join me  this is the card I came up with. 

(Please see last photo as this has the sentiment on which I realised I'd missed off)!!!!!!!!!

The card is white pearlescent and the backing paper, mounted on mirri card is 'Pink Petticoat', from the Wild Blossoms collection, paper stack.  My little fairy friend is coloured with copics and her wings and the dandelion heads are glittered with crystal glamour dust.

I hope you can see this better in the piccie above.  The flowers are from my stash and 'Wild Orchid Crafts' including the pearlised brad.  The buttons are Papermania.  The paper ribbon and crystal hat pins are from my stash and the leaves are cut from white pearlised cardstock with a with a Marianne Creatable die.

Hope you love her as I do :)

Whoops; just realised I'd missed the sentiment off when I saw it on my craft table, so here is the 'finished' card with sentiment!!!!!!

I am entering her into the following challenges:

LOTV Challenge 113 - Aqua, white and Glitter
Birthday Sundaes Challenge 28 - Who's got the Button

Autumn/Fall - it's that time of year

Well even though the weather isn't quite sure what it should be doing (although I don't mind this last summer rush of sun) it should really be the start of that season full of golds, browns and oranges, so here's my take on Autumn.

 

I love this Magnolia image and could just picture her on a lovely, windy autumn day, flying her kite over the fields, with the leaves just beginning to fall from the trees - are you getting the scene? :)

I coloured the image with a mixture of Promarkers and Copics and used a basic form of 'pointillism' to create the background.  The base card is made from a cocoa cardstock that I had in my stash and the green layer is from a paper stack called 'Spring Feast' by First Edition Papers, (lovin' these papers), this was layered onto gold mirri card.  The next layer is 'Rusty Hinge' from Tim Holtz and Rangers Distress Collection.  This was run through my GC in an embossing folder and then distressed with sandpaper.  All the layers were 'hand' stitched (yep - hand stitched).  The leaves were coloured with 'Pumpkin' Promarker and cut using a Woodware embossing punch.  The ticket is from a Tim Holtz range which I stressed I think, rather than distressed!!!!!!! and this is sitting in a Magnolia 'Doo Hickey' die, which I just love, cut from 'Dried Marigold' from the Distress Collection Core'dinations stack. There are three little yellow gems to the top right of the image too - just to add a little pazazz :)

Hope you like this fun little card, setting me up for those Autumn days to come.  if you click on the lower piccie, it will take you to a close-up; hope you enjoy.

Hugs

Kaz Bee

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Magnolia Wk 125 - Fall/School Time has Returned

Bunny Zoe  Monthly Challenge 16 - A Sketch by Debbie

Rachel's 17 - Happy Birthday Rachel

Oh my stars, how time flies.  My youngest daughter was 17 on the 14th of this month.  Rachel is starting at a new performing Arts Academy on 19th September in Hove, called the MGA Academy; so it will be a very exciting time for her.  Rachel loves her music, dancing and acting; it's going to be a lot of hard work but I know she's going to love it. She'll be able to start her driving lessons too - oh my word, my little girl all grown up; and I'm very proud of her :) 

And here's the card I made for her

Rachel not only loves singing, she plays guitar, keyboard and writes her own music, she is currently recording her first album.  So as you can see, the card had to have a music theme!  

Now why did I pick that image???? 

well this is my Rachel a couple of years ago with her Red Guitar and below is my Rachel performing at Pevfest 2011 with her band, as you can see I think the image was made for my Rachel !

If you want to see and hear what Rachel's up to 

please follow this link: Rachel Brett

Aaaagggghhhhh Blogger!

Apologies to my followers - for some reason if you are using Firefox the piccies of my followers do not appear; however, if you're using Safari they do!  This problem occurred today, but reading the Google Blogger Help Forum there seems to be a lot of similar issues to this, all without any solution so far.  If you know the answer please leave me a comment.  Otherwise, apologies to my followers who view through Firefox for your piccies not appearing!

Other than that, hope you all had a good day today :)

Curlybearcrafts 100 Follower Candy

Curlybearcrafts 100 Follower Candy: click on the piccie below to be taken to the fabulous site with lots of inspirational projects using lovely tones and colours. Enjoy the journey of crafting through Blogland.

Downrightcrafty Blog Candy

Celebrating 400 followers, Downrightcrafty are offering some fabulously themed candy.

Click on the piccie below or side bar to go to the site and see the fantastic projects.

Scallywags - You Want Candy?

For inspirational projects and designs pop over to Scallywags Blog

Click on the piccie below of the candy on offer or the link on the side bar - enjoy and good luck

Ali's Sharing the Passion

Ali's sharing the Passion: Molly Blooms Birthday Candy

Go have a look at Ali's Blog and her candy.  Very inspirational great designs and projects.

Click on the piccie to go!

The Cutie Pie Challenge Blog

There is some great candy on offer at 'The Cutie Pie Challenge Blog' who also launch their first challenge on 19th September 2011.  Click on the piccie below to be taken to their site.  Have fun and enjoy :)

Kylies Kraft Room Blogaversary

For those of you haven't visited, take a trip to Kylie's Kraft Room.  There are fantastic projects and designs to be found, which are absolutely delightful and gorgeous.  

Kylie's celebrating her 2nd Blogaversary very soon and is offering some fantastic candy.  Click on the link below or on the side bar to take a visit - you'll be glad you did.

Sail Away!

Back to crafting after a hubby's holiday.  Didn't go away as I'm still recovering from my heart op. but we managed a few days out together, which was lovely and I left the crafting alone for a few days - oh no - withdrawal symptoms.  Still back to routine - kind of - and as I love this stamp, I couldn't wait to create a card with it, saw Pop's Sketch on the LOTV Challenge and here it is.

I loved creating this card.  I used matting and layering on the backing papers with silver mirri card; the papers are from a Heritage stash set.  The blue band is watercolour paper which I inked with Tim Holtz, Faded Jeans and I then wrapped Bakers Twine (from wild Orchid Crafts) around the card in diagonals.

The image was coloured using promarkers, which worked really well on the watercolour card, even though they draw the ink quite strongly.  I edge the image with Tim Holtz, Antique Linen, to bring the design out.  The sentiment, LOTV stamp, is also on watercolour card and has been stamped using Tim Holtz, Faded Jeans too, to keep the colour theme running through.  I added the buttons as I felt these kept the feel of the design.

Ingeredients:

Stamps: LOTV, Main Image (Sailing Boat)  and Sentiment (Dreamy Days Collection)

Papers: Heritage (Paper Pizazz),  Silver Mirri Card, Watercolour Card

Markers:  Promarkers: China Blue, Cornflower, Musard, Buttercup, Poppy, Cinnamon, Caramel and Sandstone

Embellishments: Buttons and Bakers twine from Wild Orchid Crafts
Tools: Spellbinders Nestabilities - fancy circles

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

LOTV Challenge 110 - Sketch by Pops

I Love Promarkers Challenge 81 - Anything Goes 
Crafty Purple Frog Sep 1 - Birthdays
Passion for Promarkers Challenge 115 - Theme - Anything Goes

Pixie Dust Paperie September Kit ~ Tecolota Preview

Pixie Dust have some fantastic candy that they are giving as a gift.  The kit includes lots of embellishments that would be brilliant for card making, scrap booking and all sorts of other projects too.

Just click on the picture which will take you too the link, or on the side bar link too :)

Happy September!

Hi all, just wishing everyone a Happy September.  It's that back to school and usual routine month, for some of us, which we either love or hate.  

Lot's of new things in my family - 

Kim starts her new job at a local school and starts her Degree course 

to hopefully become a teacher one day

Rachel will be going to a new Performing Arts Academy in Hove, England and will be studying for a HND in performing arts. She'd love to be treading the boards of a West End stage one day as a leading lady.

Hubby's just started with a new division with his job and continues with his own charity 'Starcards' where he raises funds for Great Ormond Street Hospital in London that looks after children from all over the world.

And I will be returning to my place of work, following my heart surgery!

Oh boy, what a month!!!!!!!

Fantastic News and Candy to Celebrate

Jacque has had the most fantastic news and to celebrate she is offering the most delicious candy.  Click on the piccie to go to her website and take a look, but most of all to celebrate in her good news :) 

Two Happy Birthday's - My Mum and our Dear Friend Vicky

Wishing my Mum a Very Happy Birthday today

This is my Mum with all the trophies that she won for her fuschias at the recent Fuschia Society Show.  Mum won five firsts, five seconds and three thirds, plus best in show!

The other birthday that we are celebrating today, is a very good family friend's, particularly of my eldest daughter Kimberley, our dear Vicky.  

Vicky and Kim spent the day photographing cats with Vicky's dad today, you may be thinking why? but not the domestic cat but wild cats.  tigers, lions, pumas etc.  It's a special wild cat reserve that is in Kent, England, that hold special photography days, which help fund the animals.  The center is not like a zoo and relies on funding and volunteer keepers along with the trained specialists.  

Here's one of my daughter's photos.

Bunny Zoe's Crafts Bog Candy

Well the lovely ladies at Bunny Zoe's are offering some delicious candy this week, as always, so pop over and see.  Click on picture below or link on side bar to blog.