October Review...

Hello,

Here is the next part of my review of the year, the final quarter!  Today is October when thoughts turn to Autumn! 


Firstly the card I made for Patricia, I am not a pink person by nature however the combination here just click the right button for me. Click HERE to see the original post.

 Click HERE to see the original post.

 Click HERE to see the original post.

August Review...

I Know I know mixed up, again due to scheduling I'm afraid!

Firstly the box I made as my version of spellbinders Bracket Borders box, just larger.

Click HERE to see the original post

 

Finally I have to repost this card as it has proved my biggest post of the year!  This card was made as part of the items I made when Christine Emberson form the spellbinders design Team honoured me by asking me to create something for her blog.  I love this card so much that it hasn´t been given to anyone and will remain part of my Christmas decorations for years to come!!

Click HERE to see the original post

This is the card I made for the chef at work, I cant get the picture any larger so to see this properly you prob need to click through.  Click HERE to see the original post



July Review...

Happy Sunday,

Now I know these went out of sync as I was away Partying in Benidorm with no internet so I have no real excuse! lol  I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and that it was exactly as you want We have a nice, relatively peaceful one where the hotel took care of all our needs, after the marathon cooking session for gifts on last Sunday no time in the kitchen was very welcome!






This first card was only liked by me I think.  I loved the colours and the intricacy of the fold however it didn´t prove popular in blog land, still beauty is in the eye of the beholder! lol

Click HERE to see the original post

Still in filigree mode I created this simple layered cream and turquoise card.

Click HERE to see the original post

Finally another box I'm afraid this one was made to house some baked goods, I have found this box so useful in the past few months for all sorts of gifts.

Click HERE to see the original post

September Review...

Hello,


As it started to get a little cooler ( well I had  hoped so, didn't come to pass!) thoughts turned, inevitably to Christmas, here my three favourites from September...


My card set and selection of Box's to house them.

Click HERE to see the original Post.















One of my favourite uses for the Spellbinders Filigree Delight Die.

Click HERE to see the original Post.












Finally my Design Team inspiration card for House of cards and one of my first, successful, uses of Gilding Flakes.


Click HERE to see the original Post.

June Review...

Happy June!

&happy Boxing Day!  Sorry this post is late I am in benidorm and didn't realise this hadn't gone live!  Late post but I hope you like my June selection.

Firstly I have always been disappointed in the photography of this card.,  It is made in a thick parchment and in real life the blue backing shines through however this just doesn't ´shoot´ well  it looks like white card stock.  I love the wrap with the flowers and the foliage and a few pins etc. as it adds interest!

Click HERE to see the original post















Next something a little brighter (I seem to have got on a bit of a blue kick!)  this card was made specifically for a tutorial so never really got the exposure I thought it deserved subtle yet bright!


Click HERE to see the original post

Something in similar colours to my favourites from May however the combination of blue and brown really appeals to me.  This card is, again, quite clean and simple which possibly, as I am writing this we are in the midst of Christmas excess appeals!
Click HERE to see the original post



Enjoy...

Merry Christmas Lovely Friends...

Merry Christmas!

I wanted to break from the review for today to wish all the wonderful friends and followers I have made over this year a wonderful Christmas!  I really can't overplay how much I appreciate your support, comments and friendship and wish that everyone has the Christmas they want, whether that be loud, with family, with friends, peaceful or just comfortable and warm.

Today I decided to show the card I made for family members its very simple and clean in white and silver...


this one is made for you!  as I said yesterday It was impossible to send a card to everyone in the U.K. so I made this version of my family and friends card just for you all.







Have a Very Merry Christmas
and a Crafty New Year!

Much Love,

John xxx

Christmas Biscuits

Happy Christmas Eve,


Here is my recepie for the Vanilla Christrmas Biscuits.

Recipe:
200g Unsalted butter
200g Caster Sugar
1/2 Tsp Vanilla Extract
1 Egg
400g Plain Flour
All at Room Temperature





Method
Cream together the butter and caster until light and fluffy, add the egg and vanilla and continue beating.  Slowly add the flour and mix in being careful not to over mix as this makes the biscuits tough!

Wrap in cling film and chill in the fridge for 30 minutes then remove, knead to take the chill off and roll out. 









I find that I need to use my hands to bring the dough together once the flour is mixed in this also makes them lighter than beating the heck out of it using my electric mixer!









I got my mini cutters as a set in Aldi of all places in the summer, the gingerbread man shape along with the reindeer was from my favourite Chinese shop (our version of poundland I guess)














Once cut into the desired shape place them on a baking sheet and chill for 10 minutes before putting in a 160· oven for about 10 to 12 minutes (or in my case till they look done!)
Finally I ice some of them using simple Icing sugar, Cold water and food colouring, wrap in card bags with a ribbon and gift them out.



As I can´t send a pack to all my wonderful Followers, commenters and friends (the cost of sending food items through the post from here is seriously prohibitive!) I have made a small set for the lovely Val In Spain on behalf of all of you!  Hopefully she will give us an unbiased opinion.

AS I have been so busy this Christmas with work, and the pantomime, I have been slack on the Card front.  Therefore next year I intend to make a card specifically for all my lovely regulars  Ill say more about this new feature in the new year however once the card has been posted on the blog email me your address and ill post it to you!

It simply remains for me to wish you all the Christmas you want, deserve and hope for and a Crafty New Year!

Enjoy...

 

Baking Mad!

Happy Monday (wasn't that a band?)

As it gets nearer to Christmas I have to give up, mostly, the papercrafting and start gift making.  Now this year as in others most of my gifts are handmade and usually baked.  Therefore over the last few days I have been manically baking!

Firstly my vanilla Christmas Biscuits ( Gelletta de Navidad)


Secondly Chocoltae Fudge Bites and Baileys Chocolate Fudge Truffles


Over the next few days I will, if wanted, slip in recipes and instructions!

Enjoy...

May review

Happy May!

So Simple, was the title of this effort and I loved the simplicity of the reverse die cut, a very clean card for me but it just struck me as so sweet!  Click HERE to see the original post













Next my first attempt at a filigree card, not my favourite choice of colours however it shows off the technique really well!


Click HERE to see the original post
















Finally whilst there was an awful lot I loved in May I really liked the colours and composition of this one, it was not a populkare card however IU had a pretty yet manly feel that appealed to me!


Click HERE to see the original post

April Review

Happy April!



April was my second month of blogging everyday and I think I may have started to feel the strain of creating 31 new projrcts.  I hadn't yet learned the value of making as much as possible on a sunday!

Here are my April Choices

Firstly one of my first Something Different Saturday, a writing setr and box.
Click HERE to see the original post

Red or black a severe offering of so many die cuts!  Click HERE to see the original post








Finally another box this time with a hanging decoration.

Click HERE to see the original post

March review

Happy March,


The first item for March is from my attempt to join the design team for core´dinations (unsuccessful I´m afraid!)  I've chosen the jewellery box I made for this, click HERE if you want to see the other projects I made


















It was an early Easter this year so I made my own Easter egg box in silver Mirri Card and Acetate,  click HERE for the original post.

With mothers day also falling in March I had to post what I made for my mum this year.  although a canvas was a new experience for me, since leaving Art college at least, I really enjoyed playing with the paints and mixing media´s.  click HERE for the original post.





I have loads more favourites from March but I limited myself to three so these are it, I do feel that this was a creative month for me and it was the month I decided to post everyday!  I think this meant that I threw everything at the blog to see what would stick!

Enjoy...

February Review

Hello All,

Todays review, of February, is a little cheat!  I only posted once in Feb however these cards were made in February yet posted in March, sorry!

Hopefully these cards will show how much we all develop our craft skills overtime as these look, to me at least, very basic!

Firstly I started my crafting as a stamper, and this card was my first attempt with alcohol pens, click HERE for the original post.







This card was one of my first totally die cut cards using my Christmas gift of a Big Shot.  The background was complex to cut as a first die cut but I loved the look of this in mirror card.  click HERE for the original post.









Finally a stamped card, to remember summer as it was cold here, coloured with watercolour pencils, just one die cut border on this simple card. click HERE for the original post.

Review of The Year

Hello lovely Friends,

With Christmas just around the corner I know how little time everyone has, I'm no exception!  Therefore for the next 12 days I thought I would review my creations from this year.  Starting today, with January, I am going to show my three favourite creations from the month.  Now these may not be the most popular or your favourite crafty projects however they are mine!

As always I genuinely hope you, all...

Enjoy...

For January I don't have much to choose from as I was just starting on this blogging lark!  First my dark, steampunkish, picture frame.  I really think only I liked this...











Next was something lighter, a wall hanging which I gave to a good friend as a housewarming gift...









Finally my New Year card for everyone, long live 2013 lol!!!


I will be popping some extra posts on covering a few things I make over the Christmas Period, hopefully my baileys' fudge as its made etc. so expect a few surprise additions!

Twins!

Happy Tuesday!

Todays cards are a set of two made for my friends sisters who are, I bet you can guess from the title, twins!  She wanted 2 cards which were similar but different for her twin sisters Christmas. I decoded top go away from my usual Christmas palette and go small and sweet.

Now these were made quite a while agao and although I've looked I cant find them featured on my blog however I was sure I had posted them so apologies if you've seen these before!

Enjoy...

Nessitity II...

Happy Monday!


Todays cards are my last minute panic makes.  I realised I had not made nearly enough cards for friends, neighbours and customers so I grabbed my scraps box a couple of sheets of red and white card and a pack of refolded card blanks and this is what I came up with (well a selection at least I made about a dozen!)







The whole focus of these cards was using the sections of card that I had cut snowflakes, reindeer etc out of.


Enjoy.....

Hobbycutz all wrapped up!

Happy Sunday,



Todays is HobbyCutz challenge time, click here to join us there are some great prizes on offer!

Here is my design Team inspiration for the challenge this week the theme is all wrapped up and so, using a beautiful Hobbycutz Peace laser cut, I've made a box (surprise |Surprise!)

I needed something to gift my crackers form yesterday in and so I made this...






This is a simple box at 16cm x 16cm and 4cm deep.  I cut a square aperture in the front, edged it in pearls and added the laser cut, and gilded, Peace topper and complete. 

I thought these would make perfect gifts for the girls at work and my boss with a few of my handmade Baileys chocolate fudge inside.

Click HERE to see what the rest of the design team have made, or to join in the challenge!

Enjoy...

Something Different Saturday The Final Countdown

Happy Christmas Saturday,

This is the final something different Christmas Saturday and, I'm afraid, the last of the year!  Most of us get really busy this time of year as you read this I am acting in the local pantomime!  I'm not saying what part but it's Aladdin and I'm not the genie!!!!




Todays something different is not a box (hurrah I hear you all shout) quite frankly its crackers!  After years of hand cutting crackers I finally
found a die that cuts them!  Unfortunately I didn't read the description so this die from Tonic is not A4 it makes them from A5 instead.  However once I started cutting I LOVED these mini crackers and as you saw yesterday, Hopefully, they really work on a tree.

I have made these in different cardstock even Mirri card

these will be boxed and filled with my handmade chocolates for this years Christmas gifts.

Enjoy...