More Cup Cakes

These little cakes are addictive!

Funky foam makes great 'icing' too

Cute Cup Cake

The cute cup cake card was made during one of my 'wide-awake' nights around 4.00am using a tiny cupcake stamp from Magnolia. The top was stamped on to glitter card, the cake from brown paper and the case from backing paper. Added some red Liquid Pearls for the cherries and scribbled with green gel pen to change the leaf colour. Slept like a log last night thankfully and hope to do the same tonight. I've walked my socks off at the Craft Show and driven 150 miles to Newbury and back!

Had a great day in Newbury and spent all my cash - didn't need to resort to the Credit Card so feeling very pleased with myself.

Paper Patchwork

I have so many scraps of beautiful papers which I can't bear to throw away but are too small for most cards. A great way to use them up is to make 'paper patchwork'. The easiest way is to place your scraps on to D/S tape or sheets such as Stix 2. Then trim before adding to your card.

They are quick to make and great fun. Add some punched and moulded roses or die cut flowers and maybe a greeting and you soon have a collection ready for those occasions when you need a card in a hurry. I used two collections from Basic Grey - Marrakech and Kioshi

Great weekend (except for the footie)

I wish you could smell these roses!

Spent a sunny Saturday at the great National Trust house - Waddesdon Manor, owned by the Rothschild family. Saw 45 amazing rooms in this French Chateau style house and a fab selection of Meissen and Sevres, oil paintings, books and glass. The gardens were stunning, an inspiring place for a picnic, and I can't decribe the perfume in the rose garden. All in all wonderful day out.

Sunday was mixed. Had a lovely BBQ lunch with friends, shame about the result of the football match. Never mind - the Pimms dulled the pain and the company made it a special occasion! At least Murray is doing better in the tennis and the Tour de France starts next week.

Tonight's class - Mind the Gap

Felt inspired by some lovely die cut flowers and butterflies from Craftwork Cards which i picked up at the Craft Barn last week. Tonight's class is called 'mind the gap' hopefully you can see why in the samples here.

Sissinghurst

As the football season was finished and there were no craft fairs to visit we decided to get some use from our National Trust Membership tickets. Headed towards Kent and had planned to stop off along the A25 to visit Quebec House in Westerham but it was too early. Went on to Emmetts Gardens - a quiet retreat with spectacular views over Ide Hill and the High Weald of Kent. The rock gardens were beautiful and the rose garden will be lovely in a couple more weeks.

Took advantage of the sunny weather (even though the temperatures were more like winter) to visit the beautiful gardens at Sissinghurst and have a picnic. Plans started well but the heavens opened just as we arrived at the car park. People were hurrying back to their cars clutching blankets, hampers and belongings but, once we'd had our lunch the sun returned and we spent a good couple of hours walking round the grounds, shops, gardens and tower. The place is usually so busy that entrance tickets are timed but the earlier shower meant we went straight in and had time and space to take loads of photos.

Worn out Wednesday

Had another busy day - so what's new? Worked all morning in the church office before coming home for a late lunch and then 2 hours battling with the ground elder in the borders in the back garden. Mulched with compost and planted out loads of foxglove seedlings which should flower next year with luck.

Even managed to plant up 7 hanging baskets and several tubs and pots with Busy Lizzies before retiring to the craft room to make next Monday's samples. Just the supper to prepare then we're off to visit friends for the evening. Never a dull moment.

Might be a bit stiff in the morning as I can't kneel yet and had to do the gardening bending over. Good job I have loose hamstrings and can touch my toes without batting an eyelid. Might be a different story tomorrow though.