Crafts -

Homemade Thrifty Party Bags and Tatty Teddy/Me to You Gift Tag Printable

By Helen | June 18, 2013 - 6:39 am | Crafts

The Craft Walk of Shame

By Helen | January 22, 2013 - 2:20 pm | Crafts

I like to think of myself as a Completer/Finisher (a throwback to a term I used in my HR days there!). The reality is so much different though. Hidden treasures lie around this house, taunting me of projects that started so well and never quite got to the finish line.

Let me introduce you to the hell that is my TBF pile and the promises I make to myself that I will not start another project until I’ve finished them all:

The Kitchen:
The 2 bowls of measured out fruit that has been soaking in alcohol since early December. Yep, I still intend on making those Christmas cakes even though it’s now mid January. Who knows they could end up birthday cakes for Tara in Feb (or the rate I’m going my own cake in August!) I have kept adding so much port to them over the past few weeks that you are in danger of going over the drink drive limit by just walking past the bowls.

The Blanket
The blanket that I absolutely LOVE, that is languishing in a bag in the corner of the kitchen. We’ve got so used to the bag being there, that we’ve stopped noticing it. I fully intended on Tara using this as a pram blanket for this winter, knowing that by next winter she might not be using a pram all that much *sniff*

The Rainbow Badges
Have you any idea how long it takes for a Rainbow to collect so many badges? Obviously not as long as it takes me to sew them onto the blanket she uses! I hate to think what the other girl’s blankets look like in comparison to Violet’s. My poor deprived child. Perhaps I’d better contact our local WI and ask if they’d like to help sew them on … Erm!

The Ballet Shoes
Why oh Why do they sell them with only half the elastic sewn on? Both the girls are now doing ballet and conveniently wearing the same size shoes. Yes they are looking a bit battered and grey but they have both sides of elastic on and the girls swap them over between ballet lessons in record time. God help them if they ever have lessons at the same time.

The Lavendar Bags/The Christmas Tree Decorations/The Knitted Nativity
These had a fabulous holiday to France the summer before last. I convinced myself that I would finish them before Christmas and make one for each underwear drawer in the house (not sure Derm was too keen on that idea). Thankfully I soon went off that idea – not that keen on the smell of lavendar knickers anyway!

I also convinced myself that starting knitting a nativity scene and Christmas Tree decorations in blazing sunshine in August would mean that by December I would be well finished. The evidence is here in picture form to argue differently.

The Knitted Camper Van
My first ever knitted project and supposedly a child’s kit. My Mum got so sick of seeing this hanging around that she even took it to her house to sew together and soon gave up. I’m beginning to think its impossible to get a good camper shape and its about 3 times bigger than I expected it to be too.

The Knitted Aardvark
Doesn’t everyone have one of these in their home? At the time of starting, I was the owner of Aardvark Cakes so it was very appropriate – I can’t admit to myself though that maybe now isn’t the time for us to be joined by a very cute but unfinished wooly toy.

The Christmas Beanie Hat
A present for my brother-in-law for Christmas 2011 – it had a brief resurrection this December when I thought I might finally finish it but no. Its still there!

Please make me feel better, tell me you have hidden projects that are just waiting for that magic moment when they will get finished. Perhaps we should all get together and have a Finishing Party – no-one is allowed to go home until they’ve done all their jobs. Although, I may be some time with all those Rainbow badges!

Marzipan Apples Tutorial

By Helen | November 10, 2012 - 8:34 am | Cake, Cake Topper, Cake Tutorial, Crafts

3 Comments

I’ve been making apple cakes today (Post to go up tomorrow about them). I could have left them alone and enjoyed them as simply apple cakes that were delicious. Me being me though, resulted in rows of marzipan apples being created for that added interest.

I thought I would post a tutorial of how to make the marzipan apples in case you fancied a go …

Makes 6 marzipan apples:

Tangerine sized piece of marzipan (the paler the better as it will hold the colour better)
one thin chocolate stick – I used Mikado but Matchmakers do just as well

Instructions

Colour the marzipan pale green – I used Sugar Flair Gooseberry
Remove a large grape sized blob of marzipan from the main piece and colour this slightly darker.
Divide the main pale gooseberry piece of marzipan into 6 identical sized balls – will be about the size of maltesers. Roll into smooth balls.
Break the chocolate stick into 6 small sticks – you might not need to use all the stick – enjoy eating the rest. Insert these into the tops of the balls – these are your stalks.
Using the dark gooseberry green piece, divide into 6 small balls. Roll into cone shapes. Using a veining tool, cocktail stick or end of a thin paintbrush make a small indentation about half way – this will flatten the leaves. Attach to the main balls next to the stalks. No glue needed.
Lightly dust with red dusting colour and Ta-Dah!

When a family gets crafty, we get a craft room!

By Helen | August 27, 2012 - 1:23 pm | Children, Crafts, Parenting, Synchronised Swimming

How to make a Peppa Pig Cake Topper – Tutorial

By Helen | April 24, 2012 - 5:02 pm | Aardvark Cakes, Birthday Cake, Cake Topper, Cake Tutorial, Children's Cakes, Crafts, Creme Egg Creatures

34 Comments

I’ve made thousands of Peppa Pig cakes over the years (maybe a teeny exaggeration but not much!) so now it’s your turn. Here’s how to have a go at making your own Peppa Pig Cake Topper using our good old friend, the Walnut Whip (walnut gets removed and eaten!)

Equipment Needed: 1 x Walnut Whip, Red fondant icing, Pale Pink Fondant Icing, 2 small balls of white icing, Just under a malteser size ball of black icing, small rolling pin (or end of a paintbrush), sugar glue, small knife, paintbrush.

Step 1: Take Walnut Whip out of packet, Remove Walnut and eat – Take ball of red icing (for approx size needed see pic next to a walnut whip).

Step 2: Roll out red icing and cut a straight edge down one side. Paint around and on top of the walnut whip with the sugar glue.

Step 3: Wrap the red paste around the walnut whip and cut the bottom edge with knife to make neat.

Step 4: Pinch the top edges of the red icing together and cut with scissors or a knife. Flatten to make as neat and flat as possible. This will be covered by the head though so don’t worry too much what it looks like. If it is not going to be eaten you could insert a skewer or cocktail stick to make sure that the head stays on.

Step 5: Roll out the pale pink fondant icing. Use the side edge of your hand to make a tear drop shape with the top end being the fatter end. Press in the thin end to make a slightly flat nose shape. Keep messing about with it until you are happy with the shape. I sometimes like to have my nose facing upwards slightly as if Peppa is looking up.

Step 6: Use the pointed end of the rolling pin to make eye sockets – go quite deep with these (you will be filling them with white later)

Step 7: Roll two white balls of icing into pointed tear drops and insert into the eye sockets. Only paint the sockets with glue once you are sure they are the right size. Roll 2 very small balls of pink icing (slightly darker then Peppa’s skintone is best) and stick onto the cheeks with sugar glue.

Step 8: Stick the end of the small rolling pin into Peppa’s nose twice to make the nostrils (Do pigs have nostrils?) If you have a smile tool go under the snout and insert to make a smile – if not, cut a straw into a smile shape and push under the nose (slightly to the side is best) – Your Peppa will now be smiling.

Step 9: Stick your 2 tiny balls of black icing on top of the white eyes – at an angle is best. Looking straight on always looks a bit strange.

Step 10: Roll 2 small sausages of pale pink and flatten down halfway with the end of the paintbrush – stick to the top of the head.

Step 11: Roll 2 thin sausages of pink and attach to the cake (My Peppa is sitting on a dark blue puddle) Paint with sugar glue and stick your model on the top.

Step 12: Your model sitting in place – Nearly done! 2 balls of black with the bottom cut off makes the feet – always best done in situ as I always knock them.

Step 13: Roll 2 sausage shapes again and attach to the body. Make 4 more teeny weeny sausages and attach Peppa’s fingers. See there’s the smile!

Good Luck – Feel free to show me your homemade Peppas – You can start getting all creative and add bows and flowers on her head too!

Chocolate Roses Wedding Cake – Cake of the Week

By Helen | April 8, 2012 - 4:32 pm | Aardvark Cakes, Cake of the Week, Cake Tutorial, Crafts

10 Comments

Happy Easter Everyone. Hope you are having a wonderful day. We have unexpectedly come home early from our second caravan trip of the year – Violet became unwell yesterday and we didn’t want to chance her spending the night vomiting in the caravan – Of course, as soon as we got home, Violet was right as rain. We don’t mind really as we got a couple of days to spend at home relaxing. We have been to church this morning which was lovely (Tara wasn’t quite so impressed) and now we are home to carry on eating chocolate.

Our house was slightly more full than usual of chocolate this week due to a massive 4 tier chocolate wedding cake for a couple that got married on Good Friday.

They wanted the same style cake as this one but slightly different so chose it to have the corners covered by the moulded roses. Each rose was dusted with gold lustre and each tier was chocolate fudge cake. I’d completely forgotten how long it takes to do the roses (especially the white chocolate ones that melt as soon as you look at them)

For those who would like to have a go at making moulded fondant chocolate roses, heres how:

We’ve not had a Cake of the Week link up for a while, so here’s the link – don’t forget to spread the word and invite new members – I love seeing your creations!

Mr & Mrs Easter Chick – Creme Egg Creatures

By Helen | March 21, 2012 - 6:06 pm | Aardvark Cakes, Crafts, Creme Egg Creatures, Gifts

7 Comments

I’m going retro this Easter with my Easter Chicks. I did this design about 8 years ago and they sold like hot chicks. They were everywhere – up the stairs, on window sills,you name it! I’ll even admit to having the odd conversation with some of them – they were definitely part of the family.

2 more children later and time constraints mean that I won’t be able to make as many this year but if you are quick you can order some of the limited edition chicks for £4.80

As usual, they are made from a Cadbury’s Creme Egg middle and come gift wrapped. don’t forget to say whether you want a Mrs Chick or a Mr Chick.

In other news, my Monkey Creme Egg Creatures and Flower Basket Creme Egg Creatures were highlighted in a lovely post by Ruth of the Great British Bake Off fame. Ruth has made her own Creme Egg Chicks too – why not pop over to her place to check them out?

Cake of the Week will be back very soon along with news of what I’ve been getting up to. Its been fairly manic (in a good way) – you didn’t think I’d been staying in with my feet up every night did you?

PVZZW5FTCXUU

Books By My Bedside

By Helen | February 29, 2012 - 12:30 pm | Crafts, Meme

5 Comments

Jen at Mum In The Madhouse tells me I have been tagged to share with the world what books are currently by my bedside. The books I have by the side of my bed are a real snapshot of ‘Me’ at a moment in time.

I always have a book on the go (and probably another in my handbag, and maybe another in the bathroom, and maybe even another in the car) and there are always a selection of books that I just like dipping into for those few moments before I can’t keep my eyes open any longer. I think these are commonly known as coffee table books but I don’t have a coffee table.

So my list:
Reading Books
Lizzy Harrison Loses Control by Pippa Wright – I actually finished this last night so it is due to go in the WI Book Swap Box.

I bought Me Before You by Jojo Moyes at the same time as Lizzy Harrison so have no idea what to expect – anyone read it?

How to be a Woman by Caitlin Moran – I’m over half way through this and made the fatal mistake of picking another book up before finishing it. Some bits have been pure brilliance but I’m wading through some sections. I. WILL. FINISH.

Crafty Books
I must have told everyone I know last year about wanting to learn to knit/crochet – I have conquered the knitting and the crochet will come soon. My Christmas presents reflected my new hobbies in the form of books:

Twenty Mini Christmas Crochet – Val Pierce
Twenty Bunting & Pennants – Kate Haxell
Hat to Knit – Guild of Master Craftsmen
Meet Me At Mikes – 26 crafty projects and things to make

Cake Pops – Bakerella – THE queen of Cake Pops – I will master them this year! This book is brilliant.

Magazines
And the list goes on … I also have a couple of issues of Mollie Makes in there, the March issue of the Caravan Club mag and 2 Sirdar booklets on knits for little ones.

No wonder I’m always exhausted when I wake up – my mind is always on the next project!
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Jen for forcing me to dust my bedside drawers – The shame of the dust there before this picture was taken!

So what reading matter do you have by your bed? Share it with us and lets get a snapshot of your bedtime reading.

I’m tagging the following but if you would like to join in, you’d be more than welcome.
Cara at Freckles Family
Sarah at Tilly Mint Boutique
Kate at Another Goldfish
Beth at The Pieces of Me
Kate at Parents to Bee

Cheeky Monkey Creme Egg Creature – Valentine’s Gift

By Helen | February 1, 2012 - 7:08 pm | Aardvark Cakes, Cake, Crafts, Gifts

11 Comments

A cheery little fellow and a new addition to the Creme Egg Creatures range. My daughter despairs that you can see the creme egg but I quite like showing what he is made of.

We have had several discussions about whether his ears should be on top of his head or at the side – I won with the side.

Available giftwrapped for a cheeky Valentines gift!

Do I have to be able to sew to be crafty? – Day 29 Project 366

By Helen | January 30, 2012 - 6:39 am | Crafts, Project 366

1 Comment

I’ve been asking myself this question forever. I’ve always loved having a go at ‘stuff’ – I started making cards years ago long before I discovered cakes and everyone knows where my dabble at making cakes took me.

But yet, I’ve never really considered myself to be ‘crafty’ because I can’t sew. I come from a family where our Mum knows everything there is to know about a sewing machine – I’ve never needed to know how to make clothes or fix garments because Mum has always been there to do it … and so much better than I could.

Last year though I made a decision to become familiar with materials other than paper and cake – I learnt to knit and discovered I LOVED it. My mission this year is to tackle crochet but I know being so short of time means that I’m not going to be able to learn everything I want to in a year. Eventually, I do want to learn how to use a sewing machine and produce lovely handmade items but in the meantime, can I consider myself to be ‘crafting’?

I’ve got tons of projects planned and hope to learn how to be crafty but frugal with it – I’m becoming obsessed with reusing old clothes and paper so watch this space.

One major project I have to do though is make our spare room/office into an official craft room. From the photos you will see that it is a small room – The ironing pile is shocking but getting smaller and the cupboards contain loads of books/files/paper and stuff that I have kept just in case. I foresee a calm, pretty room with somewhere to sit and escape the madness of our house.