Hero Arts "High Heels" Birthday Card

A quick card I made using a Cuttlebug embossing folder for the background.  

I stamped the shoe on white card, the stamp is part of the Hero Arts "High Heels" stamp set, using Versafine Clair "Charming Pink" ink.  I then cut the shape using my Brother Scan n Cut SDX1200 machine.  

Sunday Bunday Marathon Baking Session

Yesterday was "Sunday Bunday" baking challenge.  The challenge set by my friend this weekwas to make strudel.  I opted for an apple and raising strudel.  I'd never made one before, I cheated a little as I used shop bought filo pastry rather than making it myself... it seemed to much of a faff.  The finished strudel came out well and tasted lovely.

As I had some apple left over, I decided to make a chocolate and apple cake due to the fruit, which turned out well too.  It is quite a moist cake and tastes heavenly.

Today I have a friend who has a local removals business delivering a piece of furniture to the house.  I asked about payment and he said make some cake, so for him and his men, I have made a cherry and sultana traybake and a dozen chocolate chip muffins.

My final bake of my marathon baking session was a couple of Bara Briths.  I was so happy with the way they turned out last week, I thought I'd make more.  

All in all, yesterday was really lovely.  As you can see I baked, cleared the kitchen and then while I was waiting for things to cook I read, finishing my  31st book of this year.  I've read some cracking books recently and my "to be read" list seems to be increasing by the day.  Too many books and not enough time.

Funky Fossil "Cowboys" stencil Father's Day Card

Although both my Dad and Father-in-law passed away a number of years ago, I felt the urge to make a card of acknowledgment.

I decided to use one of the new Funky Fossil "Cowboys" stencils with That's Crafty black texture paste. For the background I used the Funky Fossil "Bokeh Builder" stencil with three shades of Distress Oxide Inks:  Pumice Stone, Stormy Sky and Bundled Sage".

The sentiment is a stamp that came in an old copy of Papercraft Essentials Magazine, Issue 159, stamped in Versafine Clair "Nocturne" black ink.

Just to show, that sometimes things go wrong, here is a photo of my first attempt where the texture paste has gone under the stencil 😭

Adventure Card

Late last night I had the urge to make something and ended up with this card.  I had no agenda, just took a selection of things out and put them together.  It was nice not to think about placement etc.  In hindsight I would have done it different but I still like the piece, likely more to do with the colours used.

I found a piece of card where I had unsuccessfully attempted the "Bleeding Tissue" technique, but as the colours were to my liking I thought I'd make use of the piece.  I added extra colour to the edges of the card using "Broken China" and "Mowed Lawn" Distress Oxide Ink.

I used a Stampin' Up stamp called "Crackle Paint" with Versafine "Vintage Sepia" brown ink.  I then stamped the Carabelle Studdio feather, part of their "3 Plumes SA60284" stamp set, in Versafine Clair "Nocturne" black ink. Using the same ink I added some pattern around the edge of the card using a honeycomb design stamp and a small sentiment saying "Live The Life You've Imagined" both by Stampers Anonymous.

I added some black and white splatters to the surface using Posca Pens, before adhering the sentiment, cut on the Brother Scan n Cut SDX1200 machine.

Funky Fossil Designs "In To The Blue" Patterned Paper and "Beach Life" Stencil Card

Funky Fossil Designs have just released their first patterned paper pack, called "In To The Blue".  It is in a 6"x6" format with 12 double sided designs and 24 sheets in the pack.

The paper has a slight sheen/coating.  I"ve tried a few techniques on it, including heat embossing, inking with stencils and stamping and it accepts all perfectly.

I made this card using a sheet of paper from the pack.  I used the Funky Fossil "Beach Life" stencil with two shades of Distress Oxide Ink.  "Warm Breeze" for the top and "Evergreen Bough" on the lower section.  I used the Funky Fossil "Whale of a time" stamp set for the whale, stamped in Versafine Clair "Warm Breeze" ink.

Absentee and a Brother Scan n Cut SDX1200

I'm sorry for my absence from this blog over the past week.  I have been crafting, but making things that I am not able to share with you till later in the month.  Other than those, I've just not been in the mood for crafting.  Instead, I've had my nose buried deep in books.

On Monday, I received delivery of a Brother Scan n Cut SDX1200 machine that I'd ordered from Craftelier the previous week.  Yesterday, I bit the bullet and decided to get to know my new electronic die cutting machine.  It's a huge learning curve!

I don't know about you, but when it comes to things like technology or anything new to me really, I start off with a huge feeling of trepidation.  Worrying that I don't know what I'm doing, fretting that I'll break the machine.  

I have realised I hate not knowing what I am doing.  Sadly, there is only a small six page booklet on how to work the machine, they call it a "Quick Reference Guide".  I like to have something the size of a telephone directory that I can refer to!  There is a booklet on-line that you can look at, but it just isn't the same as the actual proper booklet.  I don't seem to absorb instructions in that format as well as I do when it is on paper.  I also like to write notes in the booklets and highlight areas too.  So I think I am going to have to buy more ink for the printer and print the whole book out, it will be less stressful in the end.

The unpacking of the machine was fine, registering the machine was ok eventually, as was the first project they suggest you make, a little gift box.  There were picture instructions on how to do it, which is the style that I like to work from.  I think I must be reverting to being a child preferring this format 😀

The next thing I did, I was on my own, having to find my way around the machine.  I stamped three flowers then needed to sort out how to cut them.  I used a thin card and I managed to get the three flowers cut perfectly.  This is going to be a huge time saver for me, as I often end up fussy cutting images for my crafting projects and I use masks too, so this will be a quick way for me to create them.

I then decided I would stamp a couple of smaller images to see how it coped.  As you can see the cutting was perfect.  So this function is definitely something I will be using frequently.

One of the other reasons I purchased this machine, was that I would be able to make word stencils for the boards that Hubby's metal work projects are mounted on.  But to do this I would need to get to grips with software on the computer called "Canvas Workspace".  When I went on the Canvas site I came out in a cold sweat so decided to stop for dinner!

I couldn't put it off any longer and returned to my desk where the Scan n Cut machine was positioned next to my computer screen.  It was time to let battle commence!

I had no idea what I was doing, so watched a couple of Youtubes first.  Apparently when you want "joined up writing" type words, i.e. letters that touch each other to create a word in one image, instead of the indivdual letters.  The terminology is "Welded Words".

I thought I had done it, transferred the image over to the new machine, but no where on the Youtubes I had watched, mentioned how you actually print off a saved image you've created. So I fannied around trying to do it.  Somehow, and I have absolutely no idea how I did it.  I managed to cut the word.  I peeled the paper away from the cutting mat, gently lifting off the cut image, only to find that I actually had forgotten to press the "weld" button, so I had three individual letters (see photo above).

I was starting to think I was going to have a "love/hate" relationship with this machine!

Not to be deterred, I decided to have another go, this time using Hubby's name "Chris".  The sorting out of the canvas section was a breeze this time, moving it from the computer on to the cutting machine less so.  Then I couldn't find a way to cut the thing.  I don't know how many times I jabbed the screen with the stylus, sometimes going in and out of the same section several times, until eventually there was a urika moment and it offered me a "cut" option and the machine whirred into cutting action, this time cutting the word with the letters all stuck together!

I realised I again had no idea how I got it to print what I had transferred, but as it was coming up to tea time and I had a headache from all the concentrating, I decided to call it a day and take a break from learning.  I had spent a full day of faffing with the machine.

I know the machine has huge capabilities to create stunning pieces, but it is my learning ability that will be the restriction, so for the nextcouple of days I will attempt to be more confident in using it.  Wish me luck!  Sam x

Sunday Bunday Baking Challenge - Bara Brith

It is time for another "Sunday Bunday" baking challenge and this week it is the turn of "Bara Brith".  I have never made one before, but fortunately a neighbour had passed a recipe for one to me recently, so I have used that for this make.

I had soaked the fruit in tea over night so the bake is lovely and juicy.  I'll definitely make it again.