Recycled Postcards

I cannot believe I finally own a set of stamps that enables me to recycle old Christmas cards and make postcards! Yep!  You heard me right - Christmas postcards.  I've dreamt of owning a set like this for a long time now and can't believe I haven't already found one but there it is - I haven't until now that is.

 

Postage has become incredibly expensive.  This week alone I posted just 2 small packages and 3 Christmas cards and spent over £13 - that's just crazy!  I can't imagine what they'd have cost me if they were heavy?

 

This week I also posted my first ever recycled Christmas postcard and I couldn't be more excited about it.  I was so thrilled with this set from Waltzing Mouse Stamps that I took the set into the office where I work to show to the girls in out team.  Everyone commented on what a clever idea this was - like nobody had ever thought of it before?  They even came up with a few ideas of their own and I loved the 'selfie' postcard idea.  Can you imagine being on a beautiful beach somewhere or on a cruise and taking a photo with you in it; and then thanks to a few stamps and a bit of ink you can send an 'in the moment' postcard.  This has gotta be way better than looking high and low for just the right shot.

 

 

 

This is the actual set and as usual Claire has packed in so much thought and lots of stamps for the money.  There's a mini version and a regular sized version but because they're mix and match you have options of the style of postcard you can create - I love that.

 

 

And if you happen to be fortunate enough to get to own this set for yourself let me give you a helpful tip.  I trimmed up my card front to about the size I wanted.  I guess you could make them all a standard postcard size but the beauty of being able to create your own is that you can make larger postcards too.

 

Next I flipped my card over and set out the various stamps as I wanted them to appear except when I placed them down onto the card the reverse side was uppermost.  Then I took a single large stamping block and carefully placed it over the stamps, positioning the edge of the block with the edge of my card.  I simply pressed down and picked up the block with my stamps securely in place and perfectly positioned.

 

 

And of course some cards come with a bit of text on the reverse like this one that had a verse of scripture running down one side.  If I trimmed it off I was in danger of losing the message on the front so instead I just incorporated it in to my design.  It looked a bit like the descriptions you get of the views on the front.

 

And I won't just recycle Christmas cards from now on either.  I can do Get Well, Thank you's, Birthdays - anything I can recycle.  I can create my own single layer postcards using pretty stamped designs to create a one-off personal item.  I love that I can create several in an evening because I try to send cards off to friends a few times a year for fundraising and this will be something really different to sell.

 

Best of all I love that I get to write a personal message.  One of my pet peaves is that someone takes the time and trouble to pick out a card, take it to the post office, pay good money to post it but doesn't make good use of the space in the card to write a few lines.  If it's a Christmas card it may well be the only time in a year that you communicate with some people.  A postcard by it's very nature just cries out for a message to be written on it - you simply can't help yourself.  And how many of us have written real small in an attempt to cram even more in that left half.  I've even been known to write up along the sides and around the edge!

 

One note of caution tho'.  Use a versamark permanent ink on slick cards so the ink will dry and not smudge.  Some cards don't need it and that's fine but quite a few do and besides it wouldn't do for Mr Postie to be delivering your postcard on a rainy day and all the pretty postcard stamped image runs now would it?

 

This is gonna be my 'go to' whenever I need a quick card from now on.  In fact I'm already asking everyone I know to keep their old unwanted cards for me and I can't wait to see what my mother makes of this set.  As a pensioner she will appreciate a lower cost option plus she finds it hard to know what to write to fill an entire page these days and writing has become increasingly difficult for her to do.  I even like the idea of stamping up an ecclectic mix of cards and dressing them up to gift to a friend.

 

Seriously!  The possibilities are endless!  Thanks WMS

 

Now I have a whole stack of cards to go trim - 2 whole boxes full that i was saving to be recycled one day.

 

Blessings

 

Suezie

Brown Paper Packages!

One of my most favourite thing is to get a package in the post - whether I'm expecting it or not.  And although I was kinda expecting a package I was so surprised by what I got recently.

 

Inside what I thought was a bog standard white padded envelope from someone familiar was something a little different to what I'm used to getting.  It was a brown paper package, tied up with string!  I did think the envelope was a bit large for what I thought should've been inside.

 

 

And I love the vintage tag that was attached to the front.  I'd seen this tag already but it was such a thrill to see it up close and for real.  That's a phrase I use a lot I know but it's kinda like a dress.  You know how often times a dress looks way better on than it does on the hanger?  Well seeing something in a photo and then seeing it up close and for real is kinda like the same.  There really is a massive difference.

 

 

Better still was the handwritten note on the reverse of the tag - a hand stamped tag to boot.  I love a personal touch because it turns something regular, kinda every day into something special and wonderful.  It's like the difference between getting a card for your birthday and then getting a card with a letter in it.  It means so much more somehow because the person sending it took the time and effort to 'add' a little extra thought to it for you.

 

I was thrilled to get it.  I am considering it my first Christmas pressie of the year.  I did consider not opening it - for all of several seconds.  I even considered opening it and then re-wrapping it up so I could stick it under the tree but then said 'nah!'  But I get to keep this little note whcih is super sweet to remember my brown paper package tied up with string by.  That'll do me thanks.

 

Hugs to 'you know who'.  And to everyone else out there too -  I hope you all get at least one pretty package with something you really want in it this Christmas!

 

Suezie

Sweet Little Christmas Cards

Folks I'm a great believer in small being beautiful, all things come in small packages - that kinda thing and I adore mini cards.

Sticking with the kraft coloured theme which seems to inspire me so much this year I came up with the sweet little card.

 

Mass producing cards gets a bit much after a while so this years card has been kept pretty simple.  I love CAS styling but I just can't do it - my versions always end up way busier but for me this is CAS.  It's almost a single layer except for the sentiment banner.

 

Apologies for the glare.  Sometimes I take pictures in a hurry at the worst possible moment in the day like on the kitchen counter in the evening when the lighting isn't great!  A photographer I am not I'm afraid and any great shots I've ever managed to get of the grandkids are simply fluke.  Though I'm very grateful for fluke shots. LOL!

 

I did two styles of opening - one opening upwards and one to the left.  I like a card that opens upwards but some people don't so I make both and then try to decide who might like which kind - funny huh?  I don't know why I can't make them all the same.  I guess I like choices.

 

This little WMS sprig stamp comes out again and again and is so easy to use for any and all occasions that I just love it.  I sent a few of these cards and the bits to make them up to a friend who I knew had the sprig stamp set so she could make a few as she recovers from surgery and she was thrilled to have another idea to use her stamps.  I never tire of this leaf design.

 

This particular sentiment was chosen cos it wasn't too large to go across the card and leave a bit of space to admire the 'V' shapped bunting strip.  I cut this out using my envelope board, same as for tails of a bow - boy did this make the task quicker and easier!  I'm sure if I had time to play more with the board I'd discover more but instead I've googled it and pinned a whole bunch of ideas.  Someone else has already done the hard work so why bother.

 

And just in case you hadn't noticed.  That red checkered paper bag I'm saving that I told you about?  Well this is it.  It's already lost a bit off the top on a project so what's left has become more precious so I'm saving it for just the right package or project.

 

I love packaging, love recycling, upcycling - whatever name you want to give it but making something new and giving it new life or a whole different one just amazes me.  One man's trash is another man's treasure!

 

I have a couple more posts but hubby and I are about to have lunch and then hit the shops.  I was kinda hopin he'd cook me lunch whilst I blogged but that ain't happ'nin any time soon so my other posts will have to wait a while. Oh and apologies for the waffle!

 

Enjoy!

 

Suezie

Easiest Box Ever Completed

Well I finished my box a few days ago now and it finally went off into the post (after a couple of failed attempts!).  I am a nightmare for carrying a package around in town all day only to bring it back home with me!  I've lost count of the times I've done this.  I've even been known to tell whoever I'm with ~whatever you do, don't let me forget to post my package'.  Jilly's pretty good cos now she says 'well, let's do that first then!'

It's pretty much the same as earlier pictures except that now I've added a tag I made up earlier.

 

And just for fun I added some pretty red glittery berries.  I picked up some red glittered cardstock this year as well - anything shiny, I really liked these.

 

 

I had been adding bits and pieces to this box for several days until I pretty much couldn't add much else - although if it wasn't for the fact that I wanted to get it into the post I could've found a few more bits and pieces I'm sure.

 

Often when I give crafting friends gifts they're more bits and pieces to craft with.  I mean really - what else do you give a fellow crafter buddy if not new crafting goodies!

 

There was definitely a theme going on here as well - red and kraft coloured goodies.  It's full of so many bits and pieces.  Take one layer out and there's another and another.  I get excited just thinking about it being opened and all the lovely goodies taken out and used.  I have one crafting friend who says she nevers uses the bits I give her because they look so pretty all dressed up.  I know when we went over for Mom's funeral I found several hand crafted bits I'd sent her not even used but just kept all pretty just as they were presented. Crazy!

 

Girls - take a picture and then dive in!  That's what they're made for.

 

 

My joy in all this?  Knowing the recipient will be pleasantly surprised, putting in as much TLC as I can and creating lots of homemade goodies myself.

 

I sat one evening and die-cut several bits including some PTI labels, rolled flowers and my favourite PTI numbers.  I cut a few bits in chipboard and then glued scrummy red glittered layers to them.  There's nothing quite like a bit of blingy 3D to get the Christmas crafting juices flowing. 

 

Of course the recipient can do what she will with all these goodies (she's incredibly creativer herself) but I kinda had in mind brown paper packages with twine or ribbon and lots of embellishing to make them look all pretty as I was putting it together.

 

I am saving a big brown and red checkered paper sack that I got at Mom's house to dress up a package one day and when I do it'll have to have something special like these red glittered diecuts on it for sure.

 

Hugs

 

Suezie

 

 

Christmas Stamping

I haven't had too much chance to play with some of my new stamps but I have had a project out on the table since I got them.  Usually when I get new stamps I'll take just a fews minutes to stamp a few out and see what they look like.  This is just a single stamp from the Waltzing Mouse Nordic Winter set and I stamped it up in a Christmas red colour until an entire A4 kraft colour sheet of card stock was covered.

 

A couple of days later and I decided to take a few more minutes and make up the 'easiest box you'll ever make' (one of my tutorials here on my blog from way back).  I started by making up the lid from my stamped card stock.

 

Next up I assembled the lid and then trimmed a further piece of card stock and created the base.

 

Then it was a few days later that I picked up the stamp set and hand another play.  This time I stamped the long decorative stamp in green on strips of card stock.  I had in mind to decorate the box as though it was a wrapped gift but actually the entire lid would lift off in one.

 

 

I also knew I wanted my bow to be offset in one corner and for the bow to make quite a statement.

 

I used my envelope punch board to create a bow with the stamped card stock strips but it wasn't quite grand enough and looked a bit plain as a single bow.  I decided to create two further tails and had to punch the notches slightly offset on either side to get the angles right.  I did this by offering up the tail to my bow, twisting it in one direction and then placing a pencil dot just about where I needed the notches to be.  For the third tail I simple offered it up and twisted in the opposite direction and then repeated the process. Hopefully that makes sense?

 

Anyhow here is the finished bow which makes a much greater statement than the original bow.  I could've added a double loop as well but I didn't want to go overboard at this point.

 

And then I added a few things inside my box and set it aside for several days.  I will reveal the finished box later this week as I'm popping it into the post right today.  It's off to someone special to bring a little Christmas joy.

 

And real quick cos I'm headed out to visit my mother this evening and have to get ready I wanted to share the cracker box I am toying with next.  This is made using the envelope punch board as well and after it had sat for a couple of days I stamped it up all over so I could see what some of the other stamps in the Nordic Winter set looked like.  I still have to finish it with ribbon ties and a tag so like the box it's sitting out waiting for me to have a spare few minutes to pick it up and play.

 

It's surprising how much of my crafting these days is done on the go here and there.  It means it takes a bit longer to finish a project but I'm not in any kinda hurry.  I have been working on Christmas cards too as I sit and watch the telly on an occasional evening - I don't watch too much telly.  I'll post a picture of those later this week as well hopefully.

 

Blessings

 

Suezie

Super Cute 'Elf' Style

Ever since Tuesday when my new stamps from Waltzing Mouse arrived I've bee surrounded by the cutest elf characters.  I love getting packages as many of you know and when they're from Claire and Waltzing Mouse stamps then I especially love getting them.  My new WMS dies went straight onto the magnetic backing sheets in my file box to wait until I have enough time to get my Big Shot out and play but so far I've only managed to open one set of stamps and play.

I cannot lie - I seldom do 'cutesy' for Christmas.  I much prefer the more traditional and I'm not really that big on colouring up images much either but I just might be converted after this set.  And since I had been crafting with 'kraft' coloured cardstock  and fallen in love with the rustic, vintage feel, my 'go to' choice had to be kraft.

 

Papermania do a great pack of 25 A4 sheets of cardstock, thick enough to hold it's shape but thin enough to easily die-cut or punch - perfect!  At just £3.50 a pack it's well within my 'reasonable price' range too.

 

 

And this was the stamp that sold me on this set.  Yep - I have to admit that I purchased this set for a single stamp - the 'certified elfmade' stamp and that's probably pretty shameful but thankfully the entore set is growing on me.  I'm taking it as proof that I did a GOOD thing LOL!

 

 

I actually ordered a tag die as well but it was out of stock and I was desperate to make up more cute Christmas tags so I improvised.  I cut a long thin strip 4.5cm wide and then cut across this at 8cm intervals to get 3 tags out of an A4 long strip.  Because they looked kinda plain I topped them with my SU! tab stamp/punch combo.

 

What I absolutely love most about these stamps is how you can build up the design.  I first stamped the basic stamp and then added the 'elfmade' across it.  Next up I added the red '25 Dec' round sort of official looking stamp - so, so cute!  Then I added a number for my elf dispatcher and decided it would look better if there was a zero preceding it - not sure why but this just seemed to fit for me somehow.  Then to finish it off I stamped the 'for you' sentiment in the space left at the bottom using red ink.

 

I flipped it over and added the same lines and 'for & from' as my earlier tags and even added the 'waltzingmouse' name.  To finish them off completely I used my pattern tracing wheel around the entire tag and distressed the edges with brown ink.  So far, so good.  I liked the finished result.  But then......

 

 

Well then I got curious and my creative juices started flowing and I began to wonder what the elf image might look like stamped up on kraft coloured cardstock too.  I was pretty happy with the tag on this card so it couldn't hurt could it?

 

 

After I coloured just a few elements in - not all of them because I didn't want to lose the charm of the kraft coloured cardstock and then just happened to set one on top of a tag - OMW!!!!  How simply ADORABLE are these tags!!!

 

I have fallen for these 'oh so cute' little elf guys (and gals)big time.  I have all manner of ideas running through my head about how I can use them and they take on a whole new look and feel in the kraft cardstock.

 

Yesterday evening I stopped by my mothers house for a couple of hours and whilst my sister and I stamped away making several more of these (I just had to share the joy with someone) my mother did something she loves to do.  She took my pens and coloured in the images for us.

 

 

 

And so my table is full of these cute tags.  I've been making up tags to send a 'last of the year' package to our dear friends working for Caring For Life in Leeds.  I know I won't get another package out after this one and whilst I have a few ideas for fundraisers next year I figured these would be super cute in the gift shop in time for Christmas gift giving.

 

 

So there you have it - some of the cutest little tags I've ever nade even if I do say so myself.  And this year - well, I think I'm wrapping everything in brown packaging wrap with red and green trim.  Oh and the round elf stamp?  I think that would look evbery bit as ADORABLE in the middle of either paper loopy bows or using my envelope board to make up paper bows and adding them to the middle of those as well. 

 

Thanks you Claire for the wonderful designs you give us release upon release and for getting me back to crafting a bit.  I have time, I just don't always make time, especially as I've lost use of my craft room.  Oh and I was asked if I was doing another Christmas craft workshop this year - I have some pretty neat ideas rolling around in my head using these stamps so I don't actually know if I could stop myself doing one! LOL!

 

Hope this inspires.  Enjoy!

 

Suezie

Christmas 'Krafting'

So that my week's annual leave wasn't a total washout I decided to give some Christmas crafting a go today.  I have been super inspired by the Waltzing Mouse DT samples and whilst I wait for my new stamps to arrive I dragged out a few older WMS Christmas sets to play around with.

My vision is beginning to improve but still slightly blurry so my stamping on white card wasn't always brilliant.  I knew I had some 'kraft' coloured cardstock upstairs so I grabbed it and my favourite 'go to' Tim Holtz distress inks and got busy stamping.

Because they're distress inks they don't always give that perfectly stamped image which was fine.  It was exactly the look I was after.

 

I used some really bright colours too - barn door red, broken china blue and peeled paint green and when stamped onto the kraft coloured card they toned down beautifully and took on a kind of vintage look which I was thrilled with.

 

 

Since I was dragging out older stamp sets I grabbed this StampinUp! tag stamp that I'm almost ashamed to say I've never used.  I bought it to go with the SU tag punch that I use constantly - I just never use the set of 4 co-ordinating stamps.  I will absolutely be using this stamp again cos I just loved the way it allowed me to create coloured distressed tags to perfectly match my project.

 

 

And this was the finished tag which has a whole bunch of 3D goin on.  I even used a pair of decorative scissors with a 'cloud' scalloped edge to make cutting out the small stamped holly leaves super quick and really accurate.  I also used it to cut out the scalloped corners of the tag too though I'm really curious to know if the new pretty shape die from WMS fits this stamp.  I guess I'll just have to be patient and wait for Mr Postie to find out.  All I know is if I'd had to cut it all out by hand it would've taken ages and wouldn't have been anywhere near as neat.

 

 

On the reverse of the tags I added dotted lines from a WMS gardening stamp set (name escapes me) and then a sweet little 'for & from' from a different set again.  Claire always tucks in as many little extra stamps as she can so I have plenty of choice.

 

 

What actually started me crafting today was a set of tags stamped onto book pages that I pinned.  I knew immediately that they'd look great on music sheet paper and I happened to pick up a book of Christmas Carols sheet music last year in a charity shop.  It was whilst playing around casing these (although I made mine way more detailed and in colour) that I later went on to create the 'goodwill' tags.

 

It felt really good to be doing something even if it did make my eye hurt a little after a while.  And anyhow, now I've made a start on some Christmas crafting.  I plan to use plain ol' kraft brown wrapping paper for my gifts this year and just dress em up with my tags, twine, paper bows, Christmas die-cuts and doilies.

 

Anyone else started their Christmas crafting yet?  It's almost November!  I'm probably way behind everyone else this year huh?

 

Enjoy

 

Hugs

 

Suezie

Sweet Baby Party Bags

I thought I was just about finished catching up on my posting for the past couple of weeks and then whilst reading back through my blog I suddenly realised I'd neglected to share a picture of the party treat bags I placed at everyones setting.

 

I made up a dozen of these and used the baby bottle tags I made to finish them off to match the theme.  I had some lovely glassine bags that I knew would be perfect fo these little treat bags and I had been moving them from one spot to another over the past couple of months.  Finally I told myself I'd put them in a safe place ready for baby shower projects and could I find them?  Could I heck!!!!

 

Instead as I was quickly running out of time I hunted down some small plastic bags that would do.

 

Granted they weren't terribly pretty and took away some of the surprise element  plus there was a big white square plastered on the reverse but I was desperate at this point.  I decided to do my best to hide as much of the white square as I could and actually used it to write 'thanks' on each one.

 

Whadda ya wanna bet I find them glassine bags over the weekend and then kick myself for not looking there?  It's pretty much a given I reckon!

 

I would've loved to have had some blue sweets and I did manage to find blue Bon Bons which were raspberry flavoured and scrummy but I decided it was more economical to go with the Smarties.

 

There were just £1 per tube so I bought 3 tubes.  I actually weighed them out, divided it by the number I needed and then weighed exactly 37 grams into each bag.  How sad do I sound? LOL!

 

My jam making funnel came in super handy for getting them into the little bags which were probably 3" x 4" plus it meant I didn't have to handle the candy - just pour it from the tube into a bowl and then from the bowl into the bag.

 

I did buy a bag of blue Bon Bons and even got a bag of pink Bon Bons but I gave these as team prizes for playing and winning games.  And of course since nobody really loses the winning team which were the blues got the blue Bon Bons and the 2nd best team got the pink Bon Bons.  Everyone wins in my book LOL!

 

Blessings

 

Suezie

Sweet Baby Diaper Cakes

I promised I'd share my very first efforts at making a diaper cake and I have to say I'd make this one up again and again.  It takes way less diapers than most I've seen and has a much more practical side to it than most as well.  I love that it gets kinda half covered in cellophane which whilst designed to keep it all clean and intact actually adds to the design.

 

 

I apologise for the quality of the pictures.  My colleague Myra and I took an extended lunch hour to

 make these up at work, the lighting was really poor despite the florescent lighting and as it was in the office I couldn't take it out into my back yard in the daylight and position and pose it.

 

You can just about make out the directions to the left on the desk.  We actually watched a Utube video demo on how to make it and it was advertised as a 2 minute nappy cake.  It might take 2 minutes if you have all the nappies rolled and ready plus everything else cut to size but it took us way longer than we thought it would.

 

 

 

This is the cake pre-cello wrapping.  You place 17 rolled nappies (which we secured with white loom bands) around a Roses or Heroes sweet tin, lid removed of course and then place a package of wipes into the tin, a bag of cotton balls around the back in the tin, a Johnson's baby talc, lotion and bath in the front.  Next you roll up a hooded baby towel and add 10 more nappies around this.  Then you pick this up, flip it over and place it in the tin on top of the wipes so the nappies nestle snuggly on the top of the bottles.

 

Finally you finish it off with a cuddly toy and a few extra die-cut bits or other decorations and ribbons and bows to hide the elastic bands that hold it all in place.

 

 

We used a double layer of cellophane which gets gathered up around the bottom layer and tied in place with curling ribbon and because we could we added a loopy bow.  I've never been very good at making these loopy bows even though I know the basic principles but nobodyhas ever criticised my bows so I just about get away with it I think.

 

These diaper cakes were only two layers, took just 27 nappies in total, were far more practical and full of useful items and were pretty tall making quite a statement and a lovely surprise for our soon to be new mums.

 

Thanks for letting me share and thanks to the gals who gave me my first ever experience of making a diaper cake.  Oh and in case you're interested in watching the video tutorial yourself just google 'two minute nappy cake tutorial'.  She also provides a printable instruction sheet which we found really helpful.

 

 

Oh and I did somehow manage to come home with a bag of pink Smarties that somebody left behind so instead of a cupcake tonight I'm having a bit of chocolate - YUM!

 

Blessings

 

Suezie

Sweet Baby Baking

Well after sharing the sweet baby cupcake pokes here on my blog I thought it only fair that I share pictures of the cupcakes too.

I cheated with a Betty Crocker cake mix.  I have said several times that I am not 'super woman' nor do I pretend or wish to be so I see nothing wrong in making good use of a cake mix.  And if it  happens to be a good quality one like Betty Crocker which are worth every bit of the £2 they cost plus a few extra ingredients thrown in then that suits me just fine.  I still have to mix the ingredients, pour the mix and bake it don't I?

 

I purchased a couple of mixes and decided to go with the chocolate one.  I was sorely tempted to add a bit of chocolate mousse into the centre of each cake but my home-made frosting is alread y pretty light and mousse-like that I worried there would be nothing in the middle to push (and hold) the cupcake poke into.

 

I hoped to do a swirl of two tone frosting but the kitchen was so hot yesterday and this frosting separates if you put it in the refrigerator taht it kinda melded into one despite putting it into the bag in separate spoonfuls.

 

 

Still the look and colour scheme was pink and blue and they turned out pretty good.  This may look a bit 'peachey' coloured but it's actually a lovely shade of pale pink.  There was an odd-ball cream one which I used to test out the sprinkles and see which I liked best.  The blue sugar crystals just weren't big enough or blue enough for me so I abandoned that idea.

 

 

In the end I went with just the bigger pink strawberry glimmer crunch.  There is always a worry that the decorations will be like the old 'candy balls' you used to get (and still can), all hard and a bit OTT to bite into.  Did (does) anyone enjoy them on cakes I wonder?

 

I braved putting the pink sprinkles on before going to bed, uncertain if they'd bleed into the frosting or go real soggy.  As it happens they were softer and just right and didn't bleed or affect the frosting in any way so that was a good call.

 

 

And because I made up 24 cupcakes but only actually needed a baker's dozen I packaged up the extras which I took to work and decorated up with more ribbon and tags, even adding a little plastic bag of baby cupcake pokes to finish them off with and dressed them up with a baby bottle tag.  I gave these to the gals who were expecting so they could take them home and share them with family.  And I even managed to take my single 'guinea pig' blue and pink sprinkled cake all packaged up for the gal at the restaurant (Nicole) who had been so helpful with our booking as a thank you.  She even helped us put up the bunting and decorate the tables.

 

 

This isn't the best picture - I ended up being busy organising the games so didn't get around to taking the all important pictures and this is just the cupcake table she had set aside for us complete with plates, napkins, cupcake stands and even a bit of space for the smaller gifts.  Their diaper cake gifts took up a smaller table all by themselves.

 

I didn't actually get to enjoy one myself but I have one in the kitchen downstairs and I'll enjoy it tomorrow with ice-cream which is the way cake should be eaten in my opinion. LOL!

 

I love an opportunity to bake cupcakes and I especially love when my 'yummiest ever' frosting recipe works out well.  It has been known not to work a time or two and I've had to start all over again but when it works well it's worth the effort.  See that's why I cheat on the cake - so I can spend my time making the frosting from scratch.

 

Enjoy!

 

Suezie

Sweet Baby Crafting

These days I seldom craft as I used to so when the opportunity comes along to get a bit crafty (and especially if I'm feeling inspired) I relish it.

For the past couple of weeks I've tried to set a side time here and there to make up a whole bunch of baby bits and pieces for the baby shower at work but like most projects I undertake; much of it gets done right at the final hour!

Almost my entire day off this week (Wednesday) was spent not doing the usual housework or laundry, not meeting up with my mentor friend for Bible study, not even doing a bit of shopping or lunching with a friend; no it was spent getting all the last minute crafting done so I would be free to bake the following day.  The baby shower and meal took place tonight and since there were two pregnant gals it was also a double whammy!

 

I dragged out some old Sizzix dies that haven't seen the light of day for donkey's years and cut out these baby bottles for tags.  Next up I dragged out some 'never before used' Sizzix dies - some that I seriously considered getting rid of I might add but didn't only because hubby bought them for me back in the early days of die-cutting - and made these cute baby boy/girl cupcake pokes.

As you may have guessed our colour theme was pink & blue.

 

 

Neither gal knew - or wanted to know - what gender baby is gonna be and I had such a hard time finding anything nice in pale yellow or mint green that I opted for both pink and blue.  And so that I didn't lean too heavily on one colour I mixed and matched things up so that if I had a blue element on one bottle then I also added a pink element and vice versa.  The 'sweet' stamp was from the Nordic Baby stamp set from Waltzing Mouse Stamps and the 'bundle of joy' was also WMS from the Frame It set.  And of course I inked up pretty much every edge in sight.  It just wouldn't be me if I didn't.

 

I stuck with the all in one babygrow outfit for these babies which are actually just three elements - the baby body, the outfit and the scalloped oval backdrop.  Time was running out fast and I spent the entire evening baking in the kitchen yesterday so I had to ask hubby to assemble these for me.  He's big ol' hands don't do the smaller work so well but bless him he did them all for me and I soooo appreciate that.

 

I never cease to be amazed at just how much time it takes even die-cutting in multiple layers!  I made about 20 bottles and 24 baby cake pokes and that was to say nothing about the hearts I die-cut and stamped up to sprinkle on the tables or the bits in the diaper cakes or the diaper pins I die-cut and pieced (that I never even used!).  Whew!  I'm glad it's all done and dusted.

 

Several people said 'you should go into business'.  Do you know how many times I've heard that?  I mean it when I say 'I really don't have the time!'  Plus I think I know why my neck's been sore and stiff for the past week or so - it's all that hand cranking with the Big Shot - that's what!!!

 

Hugs

 

Suezie

Cupcake/Doily Bunting & a Bargain Find

As the girls at work haven't found out the gender of their expected babies it's been tough knowing what colour scheme to go with but rather than struggle to find things in yellow or mint green as was first suggested I just caved and went with pink AND blue.  Two babies - chances are one of the colours will be right huh? LOL!

I needed some quick, easy and simple decorations for my theme.  Sewing doilies and cupcake cases is by far the quickest and easiest bunting I know how to make.  Of course it helps if you have a sewing machine but even if you don't you can still do this with staples or double sided tape.

 

I purchased a megga pack (catering size pack) of doilies in just the right size when we did our baby boy's baptism earlier in the summer so thankfully I have heaps of these left over.  Paper cup cake cases are cheap enough and again the blue polka dot ones were a catering size pack leftover from his baptism - I just had to get a few pink ones at the local grocery store which explains the differing sized polka dots. 

 

I usually get my supplies from M & W Smith at Pightle Barn, Middlewood Green, Stowmarket but you just have to be aware they will add VAT on at the till.  It's surprising how just a few items add up but it's well worth a visit for cakes, florist supplies, baskets, wreaths and they do a whole room of wonderful Christmas ornaments each year that isn't to be missed.

 

By the time I grab some pink and blue balloons we will have the theme all sewn up!  Get it? LOL  All 'sewn' up.  It takes simple things for simple minds. Sorry

 

At the time of writing this post we are a bit stumped on the ol' collection and money is running out pretty quick so if nobody else is gonna volunteer I just may find myself making a pregnancy cake too.  There's several fabby ideas out there on Pinterest.  I'm just not sure I'll have the time I need.

 

 But as good fortune would have it oday as I was walking home from my Bible study with Em at the Costa coffee shop in Tescos, I stopped off in the charity shop on my way home and picked up a brand spanking new cake holder for just £4 - result!!!

 

 

How cool is that?  It's incredibly large and multi-functional too.  I was surprised at just how sturdy it was but then it is made my Wilton and it's surprisingly deep - perfect for a pregnant tummy cake.

 

 

It has an inner tray which takes 12 cupcakes.  At present my cupcake holders are the pans with plastic lids that clip on and I really dislike taking them anywhere because if I lose the carrier then I lose my tins as well.

 

 

This same sturdy inner tray flips over and takes 24 mini cupcakes.  How cool is that?  I just happen to have a fabby non-stick mini muffin tin and mini cases so I will make use of this one for sure.

 

 

And just when you think it can't possibly get any better - it does!  Remove the inner tray completely and the base takes a large tray bake or other cake.  If I do end up having to make a mummy's tummy cake (and I suspect I will) this is a perfect base for it and will make getting the cake to the venue so much easier.

 

This little baby is gonna get tons of use for all sorts of different reasons.  I know darling daughter will be super impressed and likely to be borrowing it for her next baking event too.

 

It never ceases to amaze me the kind of stuff you can find in a charity shop - even when you don't really know what you're looking for.  One man's trash is most definately another man's treasure.

 

Blessings

 

Suezie