25.3.16

Pretty Easter eggs

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25.3.16 - 11:00
Just a quick post to tell you about this cool way of making Easter eggs that I tried. This is the first time I've dyed eggs - usually I go straight for the chocolate kind but they look mega. They are all done with red cabbage, can you believe it?

There is a great tutorial here on 'Honestly Yum' that I've been saving since this time last year.

You have to start with white eggs for the super pale ones, but the brown ones are great for the really dark colours. She uses edible gold 'paint' to do the pretty flecks but I used what I happened have with is edible gold lustre powder. If you mix it with a little alcohol you get a 'flick-able' texture.

Happy Easter!


30.1.16

Adventure planning: New York

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30.1.16 - 19:00


Although the year has barely got under way I've actually already travelled abroad once and booked another trip!

I've been to Paris. Unfortunately the visit was for work so I didn't get to do anything fun, but I can't complain since I did get to be in Paris for a a few hours and have lunch in a real French cafe.
I also got to travel on Eurostar which I've not done before. I hardly even noticed that we were in the tunnel. Probably for the best as the idea of being under all that sea is not good to think about too much.

I've also got a (for fun) trip planned to New York. I'm very excited about this one. I've haven't been to the big apple since 2007! Whoop. I'm travelling with my husband this time. We had talked about going somewhere else in the US but oddly NY is a more affordable destination because of the flights.

I generally think it's good to get flights early and hotels later for good deals.

I got a different travel guide as I think the statue of liberty might still be where I left it in 2007 ;)
Last time we were there we did all the major sights so this time we are hoping to see some of the out lying areas - the hipster places in Brooklyn, the galleries and museums. We'll be going to the Brooklyn Brewery and MoMA.

Any recommendations for great places to go in the city that never sleeps?

25.12.15

28.11.15

December album supplies

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28.11.15 - 18:00
Christmas things!


Let's get straight to it.

Here is my 'kit'. I've chosen a (slightly excessive) mixture of bits and pieces rather than one whole line. I never like everything and there is always glitter on something. I bought it all online at Craftie Charlie, except  a few pieces from Paper Issues (they stock individual sheets and since they are in the US, get things in stock faster).

- December Daily 6x4 Album by Jasmine Jones for Ali Edwards
- 'Christmas Magic' wooden buttons by Shimelle for American Crafts
- 'Christmas Magic' stamp and stickers
- 'Christmas Wishes' 6x6 papers by Pink Fresh Studio
- 'Claus & co' wood veneers by Simple Stories
- 'Joyful' journaling tags by Elle's Studio
- 'Yuletide' stickers by Pink Paislee
- 'Snow Day' flair badges by Lawn Fawn
- 'Imprint Tile' Printed Thickers for Pebbles
- Postcard from Paperchase

I'm excited to get started enjoying and documenting the most wonderful time of the year :)



18.10.15

How to make a mini Halloween countdown calendar - with printable

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18.10.15 - 12:32
Well hello there. As part of my run up to Halloween (and revealing my finished Cabinet of Curiosities) today I'm bringing you another easy little craft that is kinda cute.

Since my project is primarily meant to be a countdown calendar, there really has to be some kind of number/time element... somewhere. Considering there are a limited amount of shelves/drawers it couldn't work like a advent calendar with opening doors/drawers.

I thought about clocks or dials but really I wanted something that would fit under that little bell jar and, well, I like paper. Hence the actual calendar idea. The pages turn over the top and I've added enough numbers to count down from 99, but 31 will probably suffice. It's only about 7cm tall (2.5in).

I'm sharing it as a printable if you want to have a go at making your own teeny tiny calendar, click on the image at the bottom of this post and right click to save a nice big print resolution version. It's still for personal use only though. Just for fun, guys.


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10.10.15

How to make creepy old photographs

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10.10.15 - 11:20
For a while now I've been wondering why anyone would want the Tim Holtz Found Relatives cards. It seemed really weird to me that you would make something with photographs of people you don't know. Then as I worked on my Halloween Project I realised I was going to need some pictures. Not just photos, but old spooky ones. So I set to and made some that are a bit creepier than the Tim Holtz set, but I do get what they are for now. It's part of getting that feel right.


Here is how I made my old and weird photographs for my halloween project though this might be useful for all kinds of stuff.

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3.10.15

Halloween Project - making a start

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3.10.15 - 15:30

I get that this does not look very Halloween-y. This is my plan for the inside of the Cabinet of Curiosities. I've used washi tape (surprise surprise) to hold all the shelves up and the blocks at the bottom will all be individual drawers. 

Obviously by the time it's finished it will look a bit more spooky-victorian and a tad less Ikea. I've been getting inspired by these awesome works of Assemblage.




You'll have to wait and see how it turns out!

19.9.15

Halloween Project

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19.9.15 - 11:57
This year for Halloween I want to make a countdown calendar. Like an advent calendar but, you guessed it - until the 31st of October. I (laughably) thought I might be able to have it done by the first of October. No chance. But it shall be complete by Halloween my pretties and hopefully come out each October hence. Bwa hahaha hahah.

Back in the real world. I have looked at a myriad of options for advent calendars - windows, pockets doors and drawers and I want everything. My fascination with boxes of things goes way back. The only thing I like more than paper is boxes. Boxes with drawers are even better.

I love love love these in my makeshift studio space:



The point is,  I'm going to create a 'Halloween Cabinet of Curiosities Countdown'. A box with drawers and shelves and more boxes and jars. I've got no idea how it's going to work but it's going to be awesome.

25.8.15

Thinking about Christmas already?

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25.8.15 - 11:36


I'm already dreaming of Christmas. Sounds crazy but this year I'm not going to tell myself it's crazy. I'm going to use it as the early alarm clock going off in Christmas planning world. Why do I never have a super fantastic hand-crafted advent calendar? Because I don't think about it until November 30th!

Here are ten things you can start planning way in advance to make December way more fun whilst also making you feel less like a moose for dreaming about Crimbo already.

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11.8.15

Black forest gateau macarons

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11.8.15 - 22:34

I'll start today by telling you that this is a bit of an experiment. Not my baking, well, maybe. Actually that's always a bit of an experiment, but that's not what I'm talking about.

I'm attempting to blog from a tablet rather than a proper computer. I have a fond idea that I'll get more written if I don't have to sit at a desk. That it won't feel like work. Less formal. We shall see.

On to the baking. The start of a new series of the Great British Bake Off has once again ignited my interest in baking. Last week I made the rookie error of not having any treats in for scoffing whilst the program was on! So my brain was quickly running through what was in the cupboards in an attempt to find something to reconcile the situation.

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