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

Sweet Tatty Teddy Revamp

I have been busy collecting bits and pieces to make up a couple of diaper cakes in a week's time (will post finished pictures when I do them).

Two of the gals in our office are leaving to go on maternity leave and soon to have babies, one in October and one in November.  We plan to go for a meal together to say goodbye and are giving them diaper cakes as baby gifts.  I found a really neat one by an English gal called the 'two minute nappy cake' that uses a Roses or Celebrations sweet tin (google it).  The idea is you fill the tin and use it as a base.  It takes less diapers but you can add a whole bunch more useful stuff too.

Anyhow one of the things I wanted was to add a toy to the top of the cake and especially wanted one of those oh so cute blankie type teddies.

To say I was SHOCKED at how expensive some of them were was an understatement!!!  Even though we have a healthy collection, we're splitting it two ways plus paying for a cake to be made so I had to get the cost down somehow.  Here's what I came up with.

 

I purchased a couple of 'tatty teddies' at a local charity shop - cost £1.50 for one and £1.49 for the other.  So far so good.  These teddies were lovingly handwashed in a tub of soapy water and then bagged and popped into my washing machine for a light rinse and spin.  They they were hung up in the airing cupboard for a couple of days and lovingly brushed and fluffed back to life.

 

Next up I unpicked a brand new (bargain at only £3.99!)  'oh so soft & lush' velour baby blanket and cut new smaller squares which I stitched together and turned right sides out.  I was very careful NOT to press the seams as I notice most of the store bought versions didn't have neat pressed seams.  Then all I had to do was tuck a corner of the little blankie square up next to teddy's face and gather his arms around it as though he were snuggling it.  I simply stitched it in place!

 

These two teddies will sit on top of each diaper cake as the top layer and the little blankie will be draped down over the front.  Not bad when you consider that I spent a total of £6.98 total which works out to just £3.49 per teddy!  My time and effort was minimal and since these teddies are found all over the place (and I picked up another one today for £1.50) and I have a bit of white velour left over I will easily get at least one more done and get even better value for money.

 

My new acquisition is in the washing machine as i type - poor thing! LOL.

 

Hugs

 

Suezie

Strawberry Cupcakes

Okay so you've seen my daughter's efforts.  I thought I'd share my latest efforts of baking.  I get way less time these days it seems to do anything - crafting, stamping, baking and preserving.  I don't know where this year has gone already but if it wasn't for a few special occasions I wouldn't even do what little I've done this year.

 

I was asked to contribute a couple dozen cakes for a celebration at church.  A wonderful couple got married recently and then went off to France to honeymoon.  Now they're back they had a blessing service so that we could all celebrate with them and they chose to have an 'afternoon tea' which really was delightful - just like a grown up tea party. 

 

My daughter is always borrowing my piping bags, tips and kitchen gadgets so for a chage I borrowed her cake whole maker thingy (can't remember what it was called) that I bought her one year just for fun.  It's a fab way to put a bit of cream inside your cupcakes.  When Charlie is around I usually pop the cake bits into a container and give them to him to nibble on.

 

I piped - in this case buttercream icing - but on another occasion I think I'd use sweetened, whipped double cream for a 'strawberries & cream' cupcake into swirls on top and then washed and dried fresh strawberries to add to the top of each cake.  They really couldn't have been much simpler.

 

So vanilla sponge cupcakes filled with homemade strawberry jam, topped with vanilla buttercream and a luscious fresh strawberry on top and there you have it.  They were very sweet I have to say which is why I'd use slightly sweetened cream next time but they were oh so delicious too!

 

Enjoy!

 

Suezie

Over the Rainbow

I just wanted to quickly share something my youngest daughter made last week.  I think a colleague was having a birthday or something and she offered to make a cake.  The theme was rainbows and fluffy white clouds.  Here's what she came up with.

 

How cool is this over the rainbow cake?  And how clever is she?  Clearly the acorn doesn't fall far from the tree huh?  LOL!  I left her baking in the kitchen when I went off to bed and the next morning when I came down to get ready to go to work this is what she'd done!

 

She spent a great deal of time in town trying to buy all sorts of bits to make the cake extra special and fun even down to the pot of gold.  I can only imagine how long it must've taken her to colour up all the different frostings etc. 

 

And as if that wasn't enough she carried on creating with leftover cake mix until she had a whole stack of mini over the rainbow cupcakes.

 

I came down to a note that said 'mum, dad, please help yourselves to the cupcakes and take them to work'  So I did!  The rainbow fizzy candy strips went down a treat.

 

Will be back with a few of my own bits of creativity.

 

Hugs

 

Suezie

Pillowcase Bag

Oh dear - it would seem I don't blog in like forever! and then sudedenly I blog loads.  If  I told you today was my day off and besides doing a bunch of laundry and a few dishes I'm pretty much havin a PJ day maybe you'd understand why.

I said earlier that I took my sewing machine along for company on my holiday, and my stamps and my dies and my Big Shot and I read books and I crocheted..........  I guess I could've been anywhere and it wouldn't have mattered.  I took my own amusement along with me LOL!

Anyhow I had in mind to make my friend a pillowcase bag but just couldn't find a pillowcase that was right for her.  Instead I used the same process but with fabric and when I saw this floral fabric remnant in a charity store I thought of her - she has a really bright side to her personality and isn't afraid of colour.

 

This is only the thrid one of these I've made and I made mine from a pretty pink vintage pillowcase.  I refer to mine as my 'grab and go' bag.  It doesn't hold masses of stuff but it's perfect for when you just run to the store for a couple of things.  All you need is your purse, your keys, maybe a hanky and some gum and that's it - you know, the kinda errand you don't need your heavy handbag for.  And of course it just happens to be perfect for the beach too shich is kinda neat.

 

 

It's kinda a hard thing to get a good shot of but if you were to open the ends and lay it out you would see it's the size of a pillowcase and i have Pinterest to thank for the idea.  I like to line mine and to enclose every single seam.  I am a stickler for neatness and durability when I sew - which is why I still have several bits of my handiwork that are well loved and still hangin in there.

 

 

The idea behind this bag is that most of the work is done for you because you start off with a pillowcase that you cut on the diagonal.  Obviously starting from scratch make the process much longer.  And once made up you are them supposed to tie the ends to form the handle but for me it makes the 'armhole' because I like to hang my bag on my shoulders too small to pop things into the bag whilst it's on my shoulder.  To get around this I overlap the ends by about 1" and stitch them together and then when using a pillowcase reserve the bit that folds in - the bit that keeps the pillow tucked inside and make a long piece with shaped ends.

 

I lay this under my stitched join in the opposite direction and secure it in place with several stitches.  Then all I do is bring the ends together, tie in a knot on top and it looks as though the ends are tied.  It gives a much longer drop and I can get inside my bag easily without having to take it off my shoulder.

 

Well I have a bit more I could post but I'm leaving it there for today I think.  All this posting of crafts makes me want to go craft!

 

A couple of gals from work will be leaving to have baby's pretty soon and I have plans to make my first ever diaper cake!  In fact my work colleague is gonna have a go at one and I'm gonna have a go at the other so that should be fun huh?  I think the sewing machine will be coming out again cos I need some more doily and cupcake bunting for that one LOL!

 

Blessings

 

Suezie

 

 

 

 

 

 

Waltzing Mouse Favourites

I have a handful of stamps and now dies from Waltzing Mouse Stamps that have become my 'go to' favourites and this envelope die and these flowers are at the top of my list.

 

Sad person that I am I even took my Sizzix Big Shot, dies and stamps along on holiday with me.  This is how I relax and since darling daughter moved back home and into what was my craft room I planned to make the most of the opportunity!  If you'd seen teh car though - let's just say for two people it was fully loaded LOL!

 

Several of these bits were already stamped or cut but I just couldn't seem to finish them off at home.

 

 

I used up loads of old papers and had to add matching liners just inside the envelopes because they were single sided papers.  It was a bit of a pain and I much prefer double sided paper but on the whole even with this extra effort these whip up in very little time really.  They are magnetic on the back so they are actually fridge magnets.

 

 

And again because they were for my friend to take to the gift shop they have in the Granary Restaurant at CFL and because I wanted to help raise a bunch of money I made bags of them.

 

I am planning to do a few more bookmarks at some point but at least this latest batch of goodies will keep things going for a while.  Some of you out there might've come to the CFL workshop we had when she was last down.  Well she will be down again in October so I might see if we can swing another one.  Will keep you posted.

 

Hugs

 

Suezie

 

 

Putting my Talents to Good Use

I feel so very blessed to have been made creative, that is to say that I have been given some small measure of creativity.  More and more as I get older and as time moves swiftly on I'm looking for ways in which I can use these skills and talents to do for others.  I guess what I'm trying to say (rather poorly) is that I've had so much pleasure from crafting over the years and teaching allowed me to share it.  Since I don't teach anymore (and I'm pretty okay with that) I'd still like to give back, to share.

I do that by making up bunches of things and sending them to our friends in Leeeds to sell at the charity they both work for - Caring For LIfe.  So whilst we were house sitting for them I took down several projects to get finished cos I just couldn't seem to find time over the summer to do that whilst I worked.  It was just too darn hot and sticky and i was way too tired after a long day at the office I guess.

 

I took my sewing machine along and used it most evenings.  It's my way of relaxing and I could do this we had a few rooms downstairs to choose from.  I made up a whole bunch more of those super quick and easy pocket tissue holders in some of my much loved CK fabric.  Because it takes minimal fabric I don't mind using it because I have bags left over.

 

 

And because our hosts had a myriad of hearts all over the house I picked up several little hearts to attach to the various bits and pieces I left for them.  I had great fun choosing these hearts everywhere we went and now when I look at hearts (which are EVERYWHERE in stores right now) I can't help but think of them.

 

Blessings

 

Suezie

A Little Bit of Crochet

Whilst hubby and I traveled around during our break we took time out to really relax.  We listened to CDs in the car and as he drove I crocheted.  Here's my efforts.

 

I've only ever made a couple of these granny square cushions before (last Christmas) and after a day at Leeds market I found the perfect wool which as it happens was also on sale so I got me a bargain to boot.

 

As always with a flash on your camera the colours seem to come out way brighter than they are in reality.  You will just have to trust me when I say they are way more subtle than they look in these shots as I matched the colours pretty perfectly to the colours in the chair behind.  And as if I needed an example to prove it this chair below which looks bright red is in fact pink!

 

Once I complete my square - and I can do one of these in a day making them a great project for a long journey or several hours in the garden in summer - I simply stitch it to my fabric, usually just inside the edge and a second row of stitching closer to the middle to keep it in place.  Then when I add the additional cushion fabric so it becomes a removable cover rather than a fixed cushion I use the first stitch line as a guide and stitch just outside of it so that when I turn it right side out the seams match up perfectly along the edge of my crochet panel.

 

By making it a removable cover it can then be washed.  I can't abide a cushion that can't be washed!

 

 



And before I go I'll leave you with a few more shots of Leeds, this time of the indoor market where I picked up the wool.

 

 

Dave and I were just facinated with all the detailing in this building - it was pretty amazing!

 

 

And yes it was covered with more of that Tour de France T-shirt bunting that seemed to greet us everywhere we went.

 

 

Oh and I found another shot of a store window that had been painted up especially for the occasion.  It's kinda weird how you can see the reflection of the real little town in the window too.

 

Enjoy

 

Suezie