My Weekend of Chocolate Making ...

As you might know, i have a new obsession ... making chocolates. I also want this new obsession to help out with Christmas this year which i need to be as much "homemade" as possible! I've also invested in soap base and a mould for that too ... watch this space! I still have a couple of moulds to use, but these where just testers for the fondant flavourings really. I wanted to make sure that they tasted right before i made a batch of chocolates!

These are chocolates made using the 15 flower chocolate mould . I painted white chocolate in the flower part of the mould, allowed it to set before painting 3-4 coats of plain chocolate over the base and up the sides. I've filled one with raspberry fondant which was the basic fondant recipe and 1/2 cup of seedless raspberry jam reduced on the hob to around 1/4 cup and then mixed in. The other 2 have a coffee flavoured centre ... yuk! But they look pretty LOL!!!

Above are chocolates filled with chopped nuts made using the 20 Cell Nut Chocolate Mould . For this i used a bar of Galaxy and a packet of chopped nuts from Morrisons. I'm not sure whether it was due to the hot weather outside or if its just the chocolate, but i didn't like how it melted and it didn't set as hard as i would have liked. What i need to do is check what the consistency of the chocolate is like now, a few days after .... oh what a chore LOL!

These have to be some of the most delicious chocolate's i've tasted and if you love Terry's Chocolate Orange then these are for you! I melted milk chocolate and added a few splashes of orange flavouring. I used the Diamond Chocolate mould which has 11 large diamonds and 16 small diamonds. I think i need to work on the air bubbles with this mould, as you can see they have a few holes in them, but hey they taste great and would look fab in a bag with an assortment of plain, milk and white chocolate!

So, still to use is my Easter Egg mould, 15 Rose Chocolate mould and 15 cell Chocolate Caramel mould that i thought looked a lot like Rolo's, but would be delicious with caramel and a hazelnut inside!

Sketch Saturday Challenge #104

This weeks challenge is sponsored by Whimsy Stamps and there is a fab prize up for grabs!

This is the card i made following this weeks sketch...

For this card i used:~

• CS ~ Stash
• DP's ~ No Reimer Reason ~ Free Download
• Sentiment ~ Create with TLC ~ Buggy Collection
• Image ~ Magnolia Ladybug Tilda
• Gems & Ladybug Button ~ Stash
• Tools ~ Martha Stewart Ladybug Border Punch, Sewing Machine, Pencil Crayons, Sansodor, Glamour Dust.

Just Magnolia Week 55 & Papertake Weekly

Just Magnolia's Challenge is "One for the Girls" and is sponsored by Crafty Sentiments. They are offering a £10 voucher to spend in their store.

Papertake Weekly's Challenge is "Say It With Flowers" and that’s because they are sponsored by Wild Orchid Crafts and the fantastic prize is a huge selection of the most beautiful flowers and pins!

So, onto my card...

For this card i used:~

• CS ~ The Paper Cellar
• DP's ~ Pink Petticoat Gingham Papers & Kathryn Balint ~ Fresh Picked Strawberries
• Images ~ Magnolia Jam Jar (stamped, scanned and resized) & Oops Tilda
• Sentiment ~ Create with TlC ~ Strawberry & Cream Day
• Flowers ~ TabbyCrafts
• Pearls ~ Quixotic Paperie
• Leaves ~ Stash (cut off some old silk flowers)
• Tools ~ Martha Stewart Border Punch, Sansodor, Pencil Crayons, Blending Stumps No.0, Sewing Machine.

Just For Fun ...

It's not very often nowadays i get chance to make a just for fun card, what with making them for other people who have specific idea's about what they want and my chocolate making ... which has led to me making sample chocolates for the company i purchase my moulds from, so they can photograph them and add them to their catalogue! I'm also about to embark on soap making!

Anyhow, back to the card ...

For this card i used:~

• CS ~ The Paper Cellar
• DP's ~ Pink Petticoat Gingham and Flowery paper from Create with TLC
• Image ~ Magnolia Tilda with Spring Bundler
• Sentiment ~ Create with TLC ~ Flower Day
• Pearls ~ Quixotic Paperie
• Tools ~ Sewing Machine, Nesties, Pencil Crayons, Blending Stumps No.0, Sansodor

Friday Sketchers Challenge #102

Tanja from Germany is the host this week and the sponsor of the challenge is The Stamp Shoppe. This week’s winner will receive Ellie the Elephant with two of the matching sayings.

To make this card i used:~

• CS ~ Stash
• DP's ~ Jamie Dell Scraps ~ Pirate Bootie ~ Free Download and a few left overs
• Sentiment ~ Create with TLC ~ Pirate Party
• Image ~ Magnolia Pirate Edwin
• Tulle ~ Stash
• Press Studs ~ From Nanna's Sewing Box
• Tools ~ Sewing Machine, Pencil Crayons, Sansodor, Blending Stumps No.0

Chocolate & Scottish Tablet ...

I thought i'd share with you some chocolates and the Scottish Tablet i had a bash at making last week. Turned out pretty well and tastes delicious as long as you have a very sweet tooth!

So, we have a box of assorted choc's ...

• Sentiment ~ Create with TLC
• Gems & Ribbons ~ Stash
• CS ~ The Paper Cellar
• Flower ~ TabbyCrafts
• Acetate ~ Stash
• Tools ~ Ribbon Slot Punch, Nesties, Sewing Machine
  

Scottish Tablet ~ I followed a really good recipe with pictures here. There is also a link on that page for the silicone moulds i use (right at the bottom of the page on the side bar)

Above is the Scottish Tablet covered in chocolate ... i used my 24 semi sphere / half round silicone chocolate truffle mould


This is what the slab looks like after its been cut and obviously without chocolate ... I used a 2lb Silicone Loaf Tin / Teabread and once set turned it out and roughly chopped it.


I then packaged it all up and found a sentiment from Create with TLC, that as always fits my project!

Sketch Saturday Challenge #103

Well, its my second week as a DT of Sketch Saturday and i'm loving every minute of it! I've had a nice relaxing week this week with no Rylee and doing very little crafting too! I've spent a lot of time watching TV series and chilling on the sofa!

For this weeks card i used :~

• CS ~ Stash
• DP's ~ Pink Petticoat Gingham Papers
• Image ~ Create with TLC ~ It's A Dad's Day
• Gems & Buttons ~ Stash
• Sentiment ~ PC Generated
• Tools ~ Sewing Machine

Friday Sketchers #101

Happy Birthday Friday Sketchers!!

Jacque from the US is hosting this week. The sponsor this week is Digital Delights. with a fab prize of a $10 gift certificate

To make my card i used :~

• CS ~ Stash
• DP's ~ Pink Petticoat Gingham Papers
• Image ~ Magnolia Honey Tilda
• Sentiment ~ Create with TLC ~ Buggy Collection
• Gems ~ Stash
• Tools ~ Blending Stumps No.0, Pencil Crayons, Sansodor, Sakura Glaze Pen (Red), Glamour Dust, Sewing Machine.

New Home .....

One of my friends asked me to make a card for her friend, who has just been given her first house by the local housing association, after waiting 17 years on the list! Isn't it nice when they work fast LOL! Anyway, I wont get started on them or this will be a loooooong post!

To make this i used ...

CS ~ Stash

Template ~ Here

Sentiment ~ Create with TLC

Flowers ~ Local Market Stall

Pearl ~ Quixotic Paperie

Key Charm ~ The Works

Ribbon ~ Stash

String ~ Morrisons

Eyelets ~ Stash

Tools ~ Square Scalloped Nesties, Craft Knife, Eyelet Setter

My First Sketch Saturday DT Card ...

I'm all excited about this being my first week at a DT member for Sketch Saturday! I couldn't wait to show you my first card, but have had to keep it secret until now ... that nearly killed me LOL!

This weeks sketch is being sponsored by Simon Says Stamp! who is offering a fab $25 gift voucher to the lucky winner.

To make my card i used :~

• CS ~ Stash
• DP's ~ Pink Petticoat Gingham Papers
• Sentiment ~ Create with TLC ~ My Brother & Me Collection ~ here
• Image ~ Playing Fireman ~ Digital Pencil Too
• Buttons & Raffia ~ Stash
• Tools ~ Sewing Machine, Pencil Crayons, Sansodor, Blending Stumps No.0, Carla Crafts Corner Punch, Woodware Star Border Punch

Sketch Saturday #101

Well seeing as i dont take up my position of DT member until next week I'm still entering into this weeks Sketch Saturday in the hope that i win that gorgeous Hanglar girl offered as the prize by Maya ... i would kill for one of those little beauties!!!

To make this card i used:~

• CS ~ Scrapbox
• DP's ~ The Queen of Quirk ~ 2P's ~ Spring Chicken
• Image ~ Golden Oldies Madge
• Sentiment ~ Another fab wordart creation from Create with TLC ~ here
• Adhesive Pearls ~ Local Craft Shop
• Tulle ~ TabbyCrafts
• Staples ~ Stash
• Tools ~ Sewing Machine, Blending Stumps No.0, Sansodor, Pencil Crayons, Nesties, Stapler.

Chocolate Cake ....

I've been up since daft o'clock this morning (7:00) LOL .... desperate to finish this card that i was too tired to finish last night!

I'm trying not to look at the carrot cake that's sat on the breakfast bar winking at me ... d'ya think it'd be wrong to have carrot cake for breakfast? Couldn't i count it as 1 of my 5 a day? Where's my will power gone? 2 years on the Weight Watchers plan and its come to this ... PMSL!

Anyway, the card ...

To make this card i used :~

• CS ~ Paper Cellar
• DP's ~ Raspberry Road Designs - Country Cuddles and Pink Petticoat Gingham Papers
• Image ~ Newton Bear Colouring Page
• Sentiments ~ Both from Create with TLC ~ here
• Hook & Eye's ~ from my Nanna's Button Box ... they must be ages old, she died 30 years ago!
• Tools ~ Fluffy Stuff, Sansodor, Pencil Crayons, Blending Stumps No.0, Sewing Machine.

I'm Dancing .....

.... for 2 reasons!!!

I've only been bloomin' asked by the fab Jo to join herself and the team at Sketch Saturday! When i got the email yesterday i nearly fell off the chair and believe it or not i was speechless!!! I'm really excited about this new adventure and can't wait to work with these talented ladies and start producing cards for this fab sketch challenge blog in a more official capacity! The biggest downside is i wont be eligible to win any of the amazing prizes anymore ... didn't think that one through well enough when i said yes ... note to ones self LOL!

and secondly ....

Dancing! It's what I do ....

To make this card i used:~

CS ~ Stash

DP's ~ Summer Driggs Truth

Image ~ Mummu ~ Digital Pencil Too

Sentiment ~ Create with TLC ~ here

Gems ~ Stash

Tools ~ Sewing Machine, Sansodor, Pencil Crayons, Blending Stumps No.0, Nesties, Martha Stewart Border Punch.

Right, i still have sausage rolls left for teatime today and my family function. Rylee didn't quite manage to eat them all, although he had his beady eye on the savoury eggs at the time, which i had to fob out his way! As i type i have the eggs on the boil for the egg sandwiches and thats about all i've done LOL .... only got a fruit flan to make, grate the cheese, slice the ham and then make all the cobs/rolls/baps and sandwiches ... oh the joys. I do still intend on getting a little bit of crafting done, but thats probably not going to happen till tonight .... oh just thought i have my Sunday roast veg to peel and throw in the steamer yet ... perhaps i better leave NOW! pmsl! x

Unhappy Princess .....

Here's another card i've made and not had time to show ... now this one was originally for Truly Scrumptious Challenge, but it sort of didn't turn out like the sketch ... it does kinda resemble it ... if you squint and tilt your head to the left LOL!

This is what i used to make this card ...

• CS ~ Stash
• DP's ~ Pink Petticoat Gingham and Summer Driggs Owl Always Love You papers
  Image ~ Tasha Two, Mo's Digital Pencil Too
• Sentiment ~ Create with TLC ~ here
• Pearls ~ Stash
• Tools ~ Martha Stewart Border Punch, Sansodor, Blending Stumps No.0, Pencil Crayons, Sewing Machine, Glamour Dust

Shhhh dont tell Rylee i'm on the lappy posting this ... i sent him in the lounge to watch Fireman Sam whilst the sausage rolls and scones cook ... he doesn't like the oven being hot so he made no effort to stay in the kitchen, but once he realises they're cooked he'll be back in here and my moment of piece will be lost LOL and the sausage rolls will slowly disappear ... for a small kid he don't half eat loads ... he's already gone through Frosties, 4 handmade chocolates, a bag of worcester sauce french fries, a raspberry donut and a pack of milky way stars and still expects lunch!!!!

Be Glad of Life!

Just lately i seem to have a back log of cards on my hard-drive that need to be uploaded on to my blog, but just not enough time to do it! Since joining the CT at Create with TLC i'm finding that every word art project Paulette creates there's the perfect rubber stamp or digital image to go with it! My card tin has never been so full ... am probably going to have to sell some of these if anyone's interested!

To make this card i used :~

• CS ~ The Paper Cellar
• DP's ~ DS George CD
• Image ~ A Thousand Stars ~ Mo's Digital Pencil
• Sentiment ~ Create with TLC ~ here
• Tools ~ Sewing Machine, Sansodor, Pencil Crayons, Blending Stumps No.0, Woodware Star Border Punch

Sketch Saturday #100

This weeks challenge is being sponsored by The Craft Barn. To celebrate 100 sketches on this blog, Sandy is offering a very special prize for this weeks winner...6 distress ink pads. So on to this weeks sketch ....

To make my card i used ...

• CS ~ Stash
• DP's ~ Pink Petticoat Gingham Papers
• Image ~ CC Designs Swiss Pixie ~ Nurse Nora
• Sentiment ~ Create with TLC
• Flowers & Leaves , Pearls & Gems ~ Stash
• Tools ~ Sewing Machine, Sansodor, Pencil Crayons, Blending Stumps No.0, Martha Stewart Border Punch

Friday Sketchers #99

Simon Says Stamp is sponsoring sketch 99 which is a fantastic $25.00 gift certificate to spend in their online shop! This weeks Sketch Host - Carole ... and what a brilliant sketch it is!

My card is made using ...

• CS ~ Stash
• DP's ~ Pink Petticoat Gingham & Raspberry Road Designs Big Boy Papers
• Image ~ Big Guy Golfing ~ Mo's Digital Pencil Too
• Golf Sentiment ~ Create with TLC ~ here
• Father's Day Sentiment ~ PC Generated
• Gems ~ Stash
• Tools ~ Sewing Machine, Sansodor, Pencil Crayons, Blending Stumps No.0, Nesties, Carla Crafts Corner Punch.

Papertake Weekly Challenge Sketch #39

Flippin' heck i nearly forgot to post this card on here ... had such a hectic weekend with Scott's birthday celebrations, but everything came together and went well ... the chocolates went down very well. I'd made little gable end boxes and put one of each flavour chocolate in a cello bag inside the box with a party popper! Mine and Andy's chocolates were stolen ... we were told we could eat the ones we had at home LOL!

You should've seen me Saturday morning dressed in my finery, tying helium balloons up and trying to make them stay in a bloomin' black bin bag! Then on my hands and knees painting my sisters toe nails ... green of all colours, whilst she still had her sandals so i only had to do the toe nails that showed PMSL!

Anyhow ...

CS ~ Stash

DP's ~ Raspberry Road Designs ~ Vintage Doll Papers

Image ~ Mo's Digital Pencil Too ~ Baby Bum

Flowers ~ TabbyCrafts

Sentiment ~ Create with TLC ~ Slogan Collection ~ here
Pearls & Leaves ~ Stash

Tools ~ Martha Stewart Border Punch, Sewing Machine, Pencil Crayons, Blending Stumps No.0, Sansodor.

The party photos are on my Facebook page ... please excuse the Asti enhanced ones LOL!

Rach's Sugar Free Candy

Rach want to celebrate her new blog and as a thank you to everyone whose visited her she is offering a little bit of candy!

To be in with a chance of winning this fab candy check out Rach's blog

Sketch Saturday Challenge #99

This weeks challenge is being sponsored by The Craft Garden ... supplier of smaller more realistic amounts of craft flowers ideal for trying before you buy a larger pack or just when you want a small amount for that special project. The Craft Garden offers combined postage costs of just 90p within the UK no matter how many packets of flowers you purchase in one order at the same time ... and it's some of their beautiful flowers that you could win this week if you are the challenge winner...

CS ~ Stash

DP's ~ Pink Petticoat Gingham Papers

Image ~ Art Impressions, Golden Oldies

Sentiment ~ Create with TLC ~ here
Buttons & Raffia ~ Stash

Tools ~ Sansodor, Blending Stumps No.0, Pencil Crayons, Nesties, Sewing Machine