Friday Chat Day!

Hello friends

Chatty blog post alert!

Firstly, big thanks to those who have messaged me

asking if everything is okay as I am very quiet at the moment -

I know, unusual for me! 

Very kind of you to ask and yes, myself and family are all well.

I do feel I would like to explain what is happening so

without going into too much detail, here goes!

There have been a few changes within Spellbinders and with one of the 

UK distributors.  Those changes have impacted upon my 

role as demonstrator and blogger. 

I'm still working with Spellbinders but it basically means 

I'm doing a lot less which was an initial shock,
I'm so used to running around, juggling plates and cranking a Platinum 24/7!

 Instead, I now find myself adapting very well to extra 

hours in bed and not hurtling up and down the motorway.

I would be lying if I said I haven't had a few sleepless nights 

and indeed shed a few tears but it's all good now.

And it means I'm trying out new hobbies ...more on that in a minute.

Hope and Chances is also going to undergo some changes,

haven't fully decided what (!) but initially we are clearing a lot of stock, 

so please keep an eye on the website. 

I've got some ideas up my sleeve so stay tuned.

So, those new hobbies I mentioned... at the moment

I am completely addicted to crochet!

I'm working an a blanket called Dune Blanket 

designed by Lucy at Attic 24, I adore her blog.

I'm more than three quarters through and I'm really pleased

as I only took up crochet 87 days ago.

I can be that precise because I started it as the 100 Day Project!

I've yet to do the border but I know Kathy (Cherwell Leys Alpacas)

has done hers so be warned...I may call upon you Kathy! 

I also finished a very plain blanket, this is more Bella size.

Turns out I crochet like a knitter - I watched many videos on how to hold

my hook and yarn and couldn't get it so I held both yarn and hook in my right hand

(wonky!) and it worked! 

As I'm typing this it promises to be

a sunny day so my washing machine is trundling.

I'm not at my city job today, booked a day off to 

do various jobs (mainly sort the cabin) but actually waiting in for a plumber.

Earlier this week Elliott discovered water dripping from 

his light fitting - eeekkk!

Turns out it was a leak in the cold water tank so it has had

a temporary fix and plumber is returning to do all the proper bits.

Yesterday I worked in the City and in my lunch break

crossed over to the church yard to seek out some greenery.

I'm not a city person despite working there for 30+ years.

I work near Aldgate, the church is lovely - St Botolph Without Aldgate.

If you are watching the new daytime drama London Kills

every time they cut to their office building that's Aldgate.

My lunch spot yesterday.  It was glorious and I really didn't want 

to go back into work, well apart from appreciating the air con!

So normally today would be Friday Die Day

and instead I've changed it to Friday Chat Day! 

If you've made it this far it really was a chat wasn't it.

Have a fantastic weekend, I'm heading up to see my friends in 

Milton Keynes tomorrow returning Sunday, there be crochet ahead! 

Take care friends and much love.

Kits at the ready!

Hello friends

Good weekend?

I spent a little time rounding up various kits and uploading 

them to the website so feel free to browse.

There are recent workshop kits using Becca's latest collection now available

along with other items and prices starting at just £1!

Worth mentioning that all the proceeds of kits

go to charity.

Pretty much everything is provided, you just normally need to

add adhesive and distress inks.

Charity Kits have full instructions, Workshop kits

have an image to follow, all nice and easy and great

if you want to take a project away with you and leave your 

die cutting machine at home.

Today back in my cabin, still in the midst of a big sort out.

Oh yes, as mentioned keep an eye on pre-loved,

Elliott is working through them.

Machines have also been added.

Take care friends, have a lovely week.

A scrapbusting card!

Hello friends

Hope your week is going well.

I'm back today with a project that has just popped up on the

Scrapbook Adhesives blog here.

I've called it a stash busting card.

This is because I seriously need to get to grips with the amount

of patterned paper scraps I have!

By cutting paper into strips and layering you can achieve a 

nice background and it makes a teeny dent in the stash. 

Don't forget those very useful 3D Foam Squares for embellishments.

For the full step by step tutorial please pop over to their 

blog here and if you have a min if you could leave a comment over

there too - I get brownie points! 

Here's a few more pics, the papers I used 

come from Craftwork Cards.

They tone nicely, bright colours also work really well.

I'll be back again soon, I'm getting to grips with 

lots of stuff at home at the moment so not blogging quite so regularly.

Please stop by the website for any Scrapbook Adhesives products here

and keep an eye on the pre-loved as Elliott is adding more today/tomorrow.

Take care friends, enjoy the sunshine - it has reappared in Kent!

Dad's Day and a recipe!

Hello friends

How was your weekend?
I had a wonderful day at Sir Stampalot in Peterborough,
the workshop went well.
Whilst creating we got onto the subject of cooking
and I happened to mention that I was doing a
Suet Onion Roll to accompanying a roast dinner on Father's Day.
I was asked for the recipe so here it is,
a step by step photo recipe.

I know this is an old recipe, it is nice to add bacon too
and it certainly bulks out a dinner.

You are going to need:
Self raising flour
Atora Suet
Onions (1 large or 2 small)
Salt
Water

Chop the onions and soften.
You can do this in a frying pan, I add a little water
and pop them in the microwave for about 2 minutes.
Leave to cool.

I use a slow cooker to cook mine but you can also steam on the hob.

I switch on to pre-heat, place a small dish in the bottom.

My suet roll will sit on this.

Into a bowl place 4oz of SR flour.

No sifting needed for this in fact I never sift - takes too long! 

Next add 2oz of suet.

Mix in about 1/8 pint of water, equivalent to 5 tablespoons.

Add a pinch of salt.

You should now have a ball of dough and softened onions.

Roll out the suet dough onto a floured surface.

If you have one of these non stick mats they are brilliant.

Add the cooled onions, spread across.

Roll like a swiss roll.

Make sure the end is at the bottom, I do not worry about sealing it.

Place onto a lightly oiled piece of foil.

Next, position on top of a raised dish in slow cooker.
Add water for the steaming, just ensure it doesn't touch the suet roll.

Pop the lid on and forget about it.

Mine went in at 9am and came out at 6pm, setting high.

I don't even look at it or top up the water, I really do forget about it! 

Unwrap, not the most colourful but the taste makes up for it.

 Slice and serve with a roast dinner, perfect with gravy.

It certainly added to our Father's Day meal and talking of Fathers...
here's my wonderful Dad opening his presents with the help of Bella.
Yes that is a pork pie - a special gift from the pup herself,
she knows what her Grandad likes!

Not craft related today but always like to share a recipe or two.

Take care friends and have a wonderful start to the week.

Bella Luce in Blue

Hello friends

Splish splosh - just a bit of rainy weather! 

I just managed to photograph this card in between the very 

heavy showers.

This project uses Bella Luce Oval, one of the Vintage Treasures

dies designed by Becca Feeken.

I embossed the background with Medallion embossing folder.

Mounted the largest die cut with patterned paper 

using Crafty Foam Tape.

The middle die cut folded down the left hand edge,

fixed in place and this has created a little opening door/gate.

I then went a little mad with little blue flowers.

Stamped sentiment to finish.

This is one of the projects we will be making on Saturday

at the Sir Stampalot workshop in Peterborough,

five projects in total, be sure to visit their website to book here.

Items used:

Bella Luce Oval

Crafty Foam Tape

3D Foam Squares

The full Vintage Treasures Collection can be found here,

love the Adorned Notepad! 

It's city job today and tomorrow I have the day off to visit 

Clarity, they are having a workshop day.

Just up the road from me in Maidstone, Kent so that's nice.

Hope you are all having a good week and haven't had to face

the rain too much.

Take care friends.

Manly!

Hello friends

With Father's Day approaching I thought I would share 

a more manly card project with you.

This features Industrial 2 die set 

(worth mentioning...at a bargain price of £3.95 on the website!) 

I rummaged and found some of the Royal and Langnickel engraving card,

it's the same as those scratch art kits where you 

reveal the metallic colours underneath.

I cut multiple gears and got busy with an emery board.

I combined it with a heart and set the gears/cogs inside.

Finishing touch - the lightbulb and sentiment.

A card made along the same theme.



Really pleased with how these turned out,

I guess I can occasionally make a card without a flower or butterfly!

Industrial 2 is available on the website here.

You may want to check out the New Arrivals, lots of 

new designs by Becca Feeken and Paul Antonio.

Wishing you all a lovely weekend - what are you up to?

I'm finishing off the kits for my workshop at Sir Stampalot 

next Saturday and hoping to do a little bit more in the garden.

Take care friends.

Yarn Swatch Wallets

Hello friends

The sun has got his hat on...!

Isn't it glorious weather, I'm embracing the warmth, gardening

and ignoring that the sunshine shows how grubby my windows are! 

And talking of embracing, my new found hobby (addiction!) crochet

is making an appearance today over on the Scrapbook Adhesives blog here.

My project is yarn swatch wallets.  

I had seen that it is possible to buy yarn pegs to work out colour plans for 

projects but I thought I might make something a little different.

Little yarn wallets with left over yarn.

It helps that they look really cute with that heart aperture!

Wouldn't have been possible without Extreme Double Sided Tape, 

it REALLY does the job of sticking!

So I got a bit carried away and made a few...

I'm looking out for a nice little box to store these in now and yes,

I think I will need to make more and oddly enough I seem to 

have purchased more yarn! 

The full tutorial on how to make these wallets is over on the 

Scrapbook Adhesives blog here.

If you have time to leave a comment over there - always grateful.

Have a fantastic start to the week everyone.

Take care friends.