Cake anyone?

Happy Saturday ladies!

I hope you all have lots of lovely things planned.

I am still catching up with my "Christmas Chaos" posts.

It was such a busy time, that I didn't have much chance to post or get over to your blogs.

But I can assure you lots had been going on.

Here are a few little creations that have been rustled up in my kitchen lately.

The Christmas Gingerbread House!

This was the first time I had attempted a Gingerbread house from scratch.

I had been planning it for a little while and collecting little sweeties that I thought suitable.

I had a nosy around Pinterest to get some ideas, then sat down to draw up the pattern.

I used graph paper (I've never been a great measurer!) which made life much easier.

I first drew the piece for the front/back wall, the gable end where simple enough after that.

The roof proved most tricky, but I got there in the end.

After the important components were done (and I realised I had a fair bit of excess Gingerbread dough!) I faffed about with a chimney and dog house!

There was still plenty of dough left for multiple gingerbread men and angels too. :-)

After all the pieces where baked (and Charlie was tucked up in bed!!!) I got to constructing the house.

I used royal icing to stick it all together then added the sweeties.

The Snow dog and Snowman were Joe's creations. He spent ages carving a carrot nose out of a Dolly mixture!

I got through a kilo of icing sugar that day, I thought I'd make a huge batch and do the Christmas cake (which I will share with you soon) at the same time. Don't tell my Dentist please!

Below, a Birthday cake made for my Sister.

She loves pink, so I added a fair splodge of gel colouring to the cake batter.

Once baked it was VERY pink indeed, I wanted it to be a bit of a surprise so I whipped up a chocolate fudge icing as a disguise, then added a whole giant tube of pink smarties to the top.

You can't have too much Pink.

And lastly today, some cupcakes I made for a Birthday tea for Charlie we had with friends.

I must share Charlie's Birthday cake and the Christmas cake with you soon.

... Must hunt out the pictures ...

Have a great day and thanks for reading.

Love Katie

xxx

Better late than never ... Christmas swaps

I know I know...

Were well into January and I'm only now posting about Christmas.

I have been meaning to share these swap goodies with you.

Like I said ... better late than never.

Firstly, A little Christmas swap with my friend Lynda...

From Lynda:

Goodies Include: Lovely books and magazines, socks, sweet treats, sticky notes, some Cath Kidston goodies, a Hope and Greenwood advent calendar, an awesome Christmassy tea towel, some lovely stitched gifts made by Lynda and lots of bath treats.

All of which were wrapped beautifully in Christmas papers.

(I know, spoilt rotten again, aren't I!?)

This is what I sent to Lynda:

 I made: a little hexie stocking, some felt star decorations, reindeer cake toppers, a toadstool sewing set (scissor fob, needle case and pin cushion), some Christmas spice sugar scrub and a beaded heart decoration.

I also sent: some Yankee candles, a birdy scarf, diary, magazines, mug, labels and tape, Christmas socks, napkins, sweeties, a knitting pattern and ladybird book.

I really enjoyed this swap with Lynda, shes so kind and sweet.

Stocking Swap

Before Christmas I entered a Stocking swap hosted by The Undomesticated Scientist.

This was another great swap. I was paired up with Lisa Wiggins. At the moment, Lisa doesn't have a blog for me to link too (but I'm going to work on that!).

Lisa really is so talented, she makes the most beautiful things, you all really deserve to see the goodies she creates.

This is what I received from Lisa:

She made me: The most wonderful personalised stocking, a cute owl, an awesome card, bath bombs and soap, a russian doll key ring, a brooch, a tree decoration, a drawstring bag and pencil case (in this great Russian doll fabric!) and some homemade brownies and fudges!!!! The best I've ever tasted in fact.

I have asked Lisa to write us a little post with here recipes, so watch this space.

(Like I said, she's very talented isn't she!? And she had been very busy too, making all these wonderful goodies. I am so lucky!) 

I also received: a personalised tree decoration, some Yankee candles and votive, gingerbread men, mulled wine spices, fabrics and buttons, some Cath Kidston and a chocolate orange!

I'm sorry the fudge and brownies did not survive long enough to make it to the photo shoot!

But luckily for you, I did manage to take this picture (before they got scoffed!)

I sent Lisa:

A crocheted stocking, pig, owl and robin tree decoration (all made by me).

Some nuts and chocolates, candles, glitter pens, a Cath Kidston makeup purse, button soaps, an owl hand warmer, handmade card, a dried fruit hanging decoration and some crafting goodies.

I was so disorganised before sending this swap, that I forgot to take a picture.

Thank you Lisa very much for taking this photo and sending it to me!

last but by no means least...

The Advent Swap

This wonderful swap was hosted by Lynda at Hookin with Laalaa.

(unfortunately I can't link to Lynda at this time)

As you may know, this swap included 24 little presents (one for each day of Advent) and one larger present to be opened on Christmas morning).

I had intended to add pictures of the goodies to Flickr. I think I managed to do the first few days, before finding myself "snowed under" with Christmas preparations.

So instead I thought I would do a quick round-up.

I was paired up with the wonderful Judith. Judith is also not a blogger, but with out this swap we never would have met and I'm so glad I have. She also makes the most wonderful things.

To Judith:

I shan't list all the goodies I sent and received, we would be here all week!

I thought I would just give you a little detail about the handmade items I sent.

These Included: Some star decorated (like the ones I sent Lynda), A heart garland and beaded heart decoration, handmade reindeer cake toppers in a handmade envelope and a crocheted lavendar owl.

Whilst thinking about how I would number the parcels (and rummaging about in my "fit to burst" craftroom) I came across some tiny envelopes with matching cards. Just what I needed! I stamped numbers 1 - 25 on the mini envelopes and stamped a different Chrsitmassy image on the inside of each little card and coloured them in. These really remind me of a picture advent calendar we had as kids, I was so pleased with them.

From Judith:

Lucky Lucky me.

Each day I opened a parcel, I was just blown away by Judith's generosity and talent.

Amongst the items I received was:

A magazine, painted dolly pegs, drawer liners, a tea towel, yarns, soap, bath products, candles, diary, a mug.

I also was lucky enough to receive a hand knitted washcloth (by Judith), some of her lovely cross stitch, a wonderful handmade card and (perhaps my favourite thing ever!) a hook roll, made by Judith to hold all my crochet hooks.

All in all, three wonderful swaps. I can't thank Lynda, Lisa and Judith enough for their kindness.

Thank you for reading and well done if you made it to the end!!!

Happy new year.

Love Katie

xxxx

Market Day

Today I had a stall at a local Craft Market.

It was a fun day (albeit a wet and windy one!)

... A few stall photos ...

... A few recent Craft Fair makes ... 

  ... Christmas Decs ...

... Keyrings ...

... Brooches ...

... Spectacle Cords ...

... As well as my crochet goodies, I took a few of Dad's Makes along to sell.

My favourites are his "Norfolk Produce" crates and Shaker Pegs (like these one pictured above in my bathroom!!)

I brought this tatty letter holder recently at the Scrap Box. With a lick of paint and abit of TLC I transformed it into a greetings card stand.

Did you spot it?

Over the next week I hope to find the time to catch up with all of your lovely blogs. Time seems to escape me.

I haven't forgotten about any of you!!!

Thanks for sticking with me.

Lots of Love

Katie

xxx

Tutorial : Christmas Tree from milk bottle tops

O.k Ladies, here goes ...

My first tutorial.

This Christmas Tree decoration is really easy to make. My Nan made one of these for me a few Christmas's back and I really wanted to share this with you.

I hope you like it!

First things first.

You will need:

Green and red felt (or fabric)

26 plastic milk bottle tops

A scrap of card

A pencil and compass

Scissors

Soft toy stuffing

A needle and strong thread

Hot glue gun

and

Buttons and twine for decoration.

Draw a circle measuring approx. 9 cm across, on your scrap of card.

Cut this out, it will be your template.

Using your template, cut 21 discs of green felt

and

5 discs of red felt.

Tie a knot in a length of thread. Using a running stitch, stitch around the edge of one disc.

Keep the needle attached, you will need this to sew in the ends.

Take the first bottle top and fill the middle generously with soft toy stuffing.

Place the filled bottle top upside down in the middle of your disc.

Pull the thread end tightly, to close up the disc around the bottle top.

Sew a few stitches over the opening to make it tight and secure.

Repeat this process with the remaining discs and bottle tops until you have 26 completed "puffs".

You should have 21 green and 5 red.

On a piece of green felt, lay out your puffs using the picture above as your guide.

The discs now need to be glued in place, using your hot glue gun.

Place your glue on the base of one disc and press it firmly into position. Take the next disc and do the same, but as you go, place a little blob of glue on the side of the disc already glued in place, to stick the puffs together as well as to the felt. This will help your finished decoration to be a little more ridged, otherwise it will be all floppy when you pick it up!

Once all the puffs are in place and the glue has cooled.

Cut around the Tree. This is usually easier to do from the back.

(Take care not to cut into your puffs!)

By now you should have your completed tree base.

Now It's time to decorate.

I've used buttons for baubles, secured in place with hot glue.

If you have one, thread a star button onto a length of twine.

This will be your hanger.

Knot the twine securely at the end.

Again, with your hot glue, secure the twine to the top, back of your tree.

Take a scrap of green felt and glue over the twine end.

Now your tree is complete and ready to hang.

I also wrapped a long length of twine around the red base of the tree and tied a bow in the front to finish.

(see first picture)

Advent Idea

This tree uses 26 puffs, but I did think it would make a nice advent calendar. Stitch a pretty design on one disc of green felt and embroider the others with numbers 1 - 25. Make up the puffs and secure together to make your tree. Use a decorative brooch or pin to count down the days.

I hope someone finds this useful. Start saving your milk tops!

Have a lovely week.

Love Katie

xxx

Sorry it's been a while ...

It was early December when I last posted! It's been so hectic here, there just has not been the time.
Now Christmas is over (sob sob) and the New year is approaching, things are quieting down and there's lots to fill you in on.

There has been lots of Christmas baking ...

 Trips to see Father Christmas....

We had Charlie's 2nd Birthday on Christmas Eve ... I made these cushions as part of his present for the chair in his room ...

We also had our first Christmas at home, Joe cooked a lovely Christmas dinner and we all had lovely presents, I was luckily enough to receive lots of lovely craft books and plenty of bakeware to keep me in the kitchen!

I made this decoration for Joe and part of his present, along with a chocolate wreath (that I took a bite out of this morning!) ...

My Nanny, those in her eighties, made this lovely tree decoration for us last year. I love it so so much. It's made from recycled milk bottle tops, stuffed with wadding and covered in festive fabrics. She had more requests this year, from friends and family dying to own one! Well done Nanny xxx ...

As I write this I've got my scissors in one had happily snipping away ... I've made it my New Years resolution to condense down the contents of my craft room, there are so many things in there I don't use (because they are to pretty! and I just like to look at them!)
So they are all getting used up (so I have space for more) ... I'm going to be doing lots of card making for the year ahead and enjoy using all these pretty things, so I finally have space to move in there!

Will post next time with some card creations, till then ... Happy New Year!!!

Katie xxx