Christmas Cake - snowman

I love Christmas its such a special time of the year to spend with loved ones and just be thankful for everything you have.  Its a magical time for younger children and to watch their excitement and see their delight in opening their parcels and celebrating the day is so lovely. 

 

My children love the build up to Christmas.  They love to see the Christmas cake being made each year.     I always like to try and make it well ahead of the big day to allow time to make my husbands and daughters birthday cakes to celebrate their special days in November and December without feeling under pressure. 

 

For this years cake I decided to stick to a fairly simple novelty cake that wasn't too time consuming to allow me some time to do some other Christmas crafts also.    I got the idea from a pinterest pin that had been posted but it is actually based on a Karen Davies cake mould .....

 

 

I am definitely starting to feel in the Christmas spirit now which is good given that in less than 5 weeks we will all be celebrating

Hope you are all feeling in the Christmas sprit too!!

Julie
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Christmas Card Making

Hi,

I have had a go at making some Christmas cards as the season is almost upon us.  The first card I had a go at was this Christmas Tree Trio.

I had some small 6x6 black cards so decided to use these.  I cut down some other black card that I had in my stash and then used a Christmas Tree punch to punch out three Christmas trees.

I then cut some white and silver feathered patterned paper I had found in my stash to fit the 6x6 card and then added the smaller black card with the punched Christmas trees on top.

Finally, I added some little silver gems to the top of the trees and added a 'Merry Christmas' sticker.  

A very simple but effective card.  Just got to write them now.  I have made another card which I will share with you another time.

Hope your Christmas preparations are going well.

Bye for now

Von xx

Autumn Colours

Hi,

What a super half term holiday!  The colours have been absolutely glorious around our home.  When walking our dogs we have been fully taking advantage of them.  There are a line of trees that line the canal and pathway from our estate.  I love watching these trees as they change throughout the year but I think Autumn has to be the best, don't you agree?

The fallen leaves are scattered all over the pathway and have totally covered the grass areas.  Our dogs love walking through these.  Happy days!

Just at the back of our estate are some lakes and these are another popular daily visit when walking the dogs.  There are lots of geese and ducks and other water birds around here.  We regularly see people feeding them.  The birds are always very keen to say 'hello' as you walk past even with the dogs!

I have got a few crochet projects on the 'go' at the moment but have had to put these aside for the time being after a request from my daughter.  She had found this pattern on Ravelry so I bought it and bought some 4ply grey Women's Institute wool to begin.

I have made a good start but have hit the cabling section and I am definitely struggling with this.

I have created the holes to weave the cable into but I have been struggling with the next step.  A definite puzzle for me to solve!  A few attempts in front of TV tonight ....

I will let you know how I get on!

Bye for now

Von xx

Birthday Card

Hi,

It was my Mum's Birthday last week and she is quite a card maker herself.  www.lynnescornercreations.blogspot.co.uk

She had commented that she doesn't often receive handmade cards so I set about having a try myself.
I began by using some wax and melting it this to create a background.

Then I used double sided tape to attach to a card for the background.  After that I used my Big Shot machine and the Sizzix flower layers dies to cut some paper flowers for the base of the card.

Following this I added some little silver gems to the centre of the flowers for a bit of glitter.  Next I used a butterfly die from "Signature Collection" by Sara Davies to cut two butterflies.

 After that I added some little blue gems to the outer edges of the one butterfly.  Then using sticky pads I layered the two butterfly cut outs and added these to the card.

I think my Mum liked it.  I have had a go at some Christmas cards too which I will share with at a later stage.

Bye for now

Von xx

Kindle Cover

It was my mums birthday at the weekend, so I decided to make her the kindle case that I promised her I would make this time last year!!    I thought it would be nice to wrap up along with her other pressies as a surprise, but  a week before her birthday when the kindle case was near completion she announced that she had plans to make a kindle case for herself.... typical eh   ... I did suggest that maybe this was not a project she needed to rush to get started with which made us both  giggle, so a surprise it was not but  it was completed in time and wrapped!!  LOL

 

 Whilst making a kindle case for mum I decided to make another one for me - well it would be a shame not to !!    Here is a couple of photos to show you what the finished cases looked like.  Hope you like it...

I really enjoyed making these cases... it seems as though it has been ages since I have had the chance to sit down, sew and create.    It has given me the incentive to get a few more of my projects completed ..the next one I think will be to make a lampshade from a lampshade kit that has been sitting gathering dust for 12 months.

Ju
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Mocha Blanket

Hi,

I have been busy off and on creating a simple blanket for myself for the winter nights that will soon be upon us.  On a recent caravan trip we stayed at the Chapel Lane Caravan Club site just off Junction 3 off the M42 at Wythall.

We love this site as it is close to home but far enough away to make us feel like we are 'on holiday'.  It is a very peaceful site and the wardens are really friendly and helpful there.  There is a smashing Farm shop just a short walk from the site called Bennetts which we always visit during a stay there.  On one of our visits to the shop I discovered these fantastic flavoured coffees.  

There are a range of flavours including French Vanilla, Hazelnut, Chocolate and Orange, Maple Walnut and Chocolate Caramel which are my favourites so far. I am a real coffee lover and must say a mug of coffee is never far away when I am busy crocheting.

Hence, the name for my newest creation "Mocha Blanket".  I have loved making this.  It has simply been row after row of daisy stitch in a tweed effect aran.  

I finished it off with a contrasting brown double knit wool to create a scalloped border.

Then 'Ta-da!' All complete!  Really pleased with it and I have already made use of it during these cooler Autumn evenings.

Need to look at my next project now!  I have something in mind but will fill you in at a later date....

Bye for now

Von xx

Birthday celebrations

Children are back to school and the first few weeks have been hectic trying to get back into the weekly routine but we are getting there.

It was Yvonne's birthday on Sunday and my little brother also turned 30 last week so we all got together to celebrate.  Our mum and dad treated us all to a lovely meal out at Christopher's restaurant in Tamworth.   Would highly recommend a visit, lovely food and a great company made for a fantastic evening.

I made a cake to celebrate.   I managed to get the icing smoother on this attempt so I was feeling very pleased with myself because this is something that I always struggle with.   Here is a photo of the finished result ( I didn't set this photo up very well so excuse the cooker that is also featured!!!)......

It will soon be time to be thinking of other birthdays on the run up to Christmas and then of course there is the traditional Christmas cake to decorate so there will be plenty more opportunities for me to practice with the icing

See you soon

Julie
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