Happy Easter....and another day crafting!

Hi All

Happy Easter! Hope you are all having a lovely day and haven't eaten too many easter eggs! We had no plans for the day (apart from tea at the in-laws later) so I decided to do a bit more crafting before I get back to work. Hubby decided to re-organise his DVD collection...enough said! Lol! I hope you enjoy looking at my creations!

My first card was definitely a challenge! I would like to enter it into the Winter Wonderland challenge and this week they would like you to make a card of a Christmas silhouette! I found this really tough as I couldn't find a stamp that I could make into a silhouette at first but I am happy with the final result. It isn't my normal style of card but I might have another go at a batch of these. It was really quick to make and looks quite modern! I might have a go at using different colours (not just black) to make some really funky Christmas cards.

My next card is for the Cute Card Thursday challenge which was 'No Text'. I had to be careful not to include any backing paper that had text on, as well as remembering not to put a sentiment on. I think this image of Tilda is so sweet. This would make a lovely festive notecard, I love the colours and the bit of sparkle with the ribbon.

My next card I would like to enter into the Penny Black Saturday Challenge which was to create a 'Happily Ever After' card (to tie in with the Royal Wedding this week!), something to do with love, a wedding or an anniversary. I struggled at first to find one of my Penny Black stamps that were suitable....I don't own any of the wedding or love sets...must put some on my wish list! I did find this gorgeous little image though and I think the little hedgehog is proposing to the bigger one using the flower in her hand. I thought it was cute anyway! I now need one of my friends to become engaged and I can send this card to them! I would also like to enter this card into the Sketch Saturday challenge. I really liked this sketch and I have used variations of it on a couple of the cards I have made. Definitely one that I will use again!

Over at Just Magnolia this week, the challenge is another great sketch. Again, one that I will definitely use again, in fact I have on another of my cards in this post! I used this opportunity to try to get ahead with some of my Christmas cards and have used this fabulous Santa Edwin image. He is a real cutie. I have also used some paper that I have had in my box for ages but haven't got a clue what make it is! The red paper contained words that you would hear Santa Claus saying himself like 'Naughty or nice' and 'Checking it Twice'. Must try and find it again as I think I have used most of it up now! I would also like to enter this card into the Papertake Weekly Challenge-this week you needed to use spots and stripes. I love this Christmas paper.....it is really festive but could be used all year round.

I absolutely love this image of Edwin and Tilda under the mistletoe. Only after I had completed this card did I realise that I'd forgotten to stick on the bench I'd stamped and coloured for them both to be sitting on! D'oh! Never mind....I'm sure noone will notice.....! I would like to enter this card into the Sparkle Creations Christmas Card Challenge. Again this was another sketch and one I will use again.

And my final card today is for the challenge over at A Spoonful of Sugar. The challenge this week was 'Let's Celebrate'. I have been itching to use my cupcake Tilda and Papermania Cupcake papers for a while now. I loved making this card, it is very pink and girly....just my kind of card!

That's it for now! I hope you enjoyed looking at my cards....I am hoping that I might be able to take part again next weekend as we have a long weekend again. Then it will probably be the Summer holidays before I can join in again....if I can join in before then I will do. I have really enjoyed getting back into my crafting this week and have loved joining in with all the challenges. Fingers crossed I can join in again really soon!

Thanks for looking.

Hugs

Arline

xx

Baking Day!

With the return to work on the horizon, I thought I would make the most of today by having a go at a couple of new recipes. I have always wanted to have a go at making a Victoria Sponge cake and braved it today! Who better to get a traditional recipe from than Mary Berry herself. I bought one of her recipe books a couple of weeks ago and have been looking forward to having a go at a few cakes in there. Victoria Sponge is one of my favourites and I was really nervous about having a go, but for my first attempt I was pleased! One of my cakes sunk a little in the middle (so that one went on the bottom layer!) and I think I put a bit too much buttercream in the middle but apart from that I thought it went well. I have popped a photo below for you to have a look at. I have had a taste and it tasted lovely, very rich though so you only need a slither!I then made a few chocolate chip cookies....ashamedly out of a packet! Lol! I have to say that in the past I have enjoyed making cakes/biscuits out of packets but now I have found my baking mojo again I found it less than fulfilling! I wish I had made a mixture myself as it wouldn't have taken very long! Nevertheless, they taste very nice and they were a quick addition for tea tonight! I then had a go at another recipe out of Mary Berry's book which was for a chocolate and vanilla marble loaf cake. I have never made a loaf cake before but thought I'd have a go! It was easy to make-same mixture as a victoria sponge cake but half of the mixture was to be mixed with some cocoa powder to make the chocolate side. I bought a silicone mould but think I need to invest in an actual loaf tin as I overdid the mixture a little and therefore it stretched the mould! Lol! Came out a bit bigger than I wanted so I cut it down to size and then 'tested' the bits I'd trimmed down...was yummy! The decoration was chocolate icing with some white chocolate to decorate but I didn't have any white chocolate so I just did without. I think the cake would be fine without any icing really. It has a lovely colour to it. Haven't had a proper slice of this yet so will let you know what it tasted like with the icing on later.

Finally, I made some good old crispy cakes! You can never go wrong with these and I always make some at Easter with mini eggs like little Easter nests! I need to invite some people over I think so I don't end up eating all this myself! Will definitely need to get back on my diet when I'm back at work next week! Lol!

Hope you've enjoyed looking at my cakes. I am starting to feel more confident with my baking again and am thinking of getting into sugar craft....would love to be able to make decorations for cakes. I will keep practicing with my cakes to get them perfect and then move onto the next challenge!

Happy Easter and thanks for dropping by.

Hugs
Arline

xx

Is it too early for Christmas?

I woke up this morning in a Christmassy mood....not sure how normal that is for April! Lol! I decided that I would crack on with some Christmas cards....as I was supposed to be starting them yesterday. Whilst I was blog hopping yesterday, I found a few Christmas challenges so I thought I'd have a go! The first card I made today was using a gorgeous image of Tilda....she is so cute just waiting under the mistletoe for her Christmas kiss. I'd like to enter this into the 'Winter Wonderland' challenge which was to include some mistletoe somewhere on your card this week. I was on a roll after I made this one so I used another Tilda image of her and Edwin skating. I used some of my neglected Papermania papers that had been sitting in my craft box for a while and finished it off with a few bits of card candy! I'd like to enter this into another Christmas challenge for the Sparkle Creations Weekly Christmas card challenge where this week, anything goes! They also have a link to their shop with some gorgeous stamps....think I may be making a purchase very soon!

My final card for now is another Magnolia image....this one is where Tilda is decorating the Christmas tree. Again, I used some of my neglected papers and a little bit of ribbon to finish my card off. I'd like to enter this one into Fab's Big Christmas Cards Challenge where the challenge was to use baubles and ribbons on your card. You could make either one or four cards as it is a monthly challenge....I may try to make a few more using this theme if I get chance.

I have really enjoyed making these Christmas cards and having a go at the challenges. I am hoping that I can make a few more before I am back at work next week! Thanks for looking and I hope you have enjoyed my little creations. Hugs Arline xx

A day of crafting!

As it is the Easter holidays I decided to have a relaxing day crafting! I initially started off with the intention of starting my Christmas cards but I then had a look at some of the challenges I used to take part in, and some new ones too. I was inspired to have a go at them and really pleased I did! I might even have time to do some Christmas cards whilst cooking a roast dinner later! Lol! So here's what I've made. I started off last night making a few ATCs...haven't made any of those for ages so really enjoyed making them.

My next card is for a challenge I have never entered before, the Crafters Companion Challenge Blog. I absolutely love Crafters Companion products so really enjoyed using my Popcorn the bear stamps on this one. The challenge was to use the colours 'Aqua and Brown'. I found this really difficult at first and wasn't sure it was going to look right, but once I found some aqua and brown crafty items I was away! I was really pleased with the end result and thought the colour combination really suited a man's card. I also had a go at an easel card...think they may be my new craze!

I'd like to enter my next card into a number of challenges! Firstly, I have made this for the Cute Card Thursday challenge which is to make a card inspired by the weather. My 'Gorjuss Girl' is enjoying the rainy weather! I would also like to enter this card for the 'My Time to Craft' challenge which was to include some kind of spots or dots.....I used some embossed spotty card and dotty ribbon. The final challenge I'd like to enter this card into is the 'Papertake Weekly' which was to add some dimension to your card and so I have decoupaged my image here. So a triple challenge card! My next card is for the 'Just Magnolia' challenge. the challenge was to make a birthday card as it is their 2nd birthday, and so I used this really cute image of Tilda shopping. I really enjoyed taking part in this challenge again as I love working with Tilda and her friends! They are so cute! Happy birthday 'Just Magnolia'!

My final card....for now(!)....is another birthday card and I would like to enter it into two challenges. The first challenge I'd like to enter it into is 'Sketch Saturday'. I have really enjoyed taking part in this challenge again. I really struggle with the layout of my cards sometimes, so challenges like this really help me to vary my style of cards! I would also like to enter this into 'A Spoonful of Sugar' challenge which was to use animals on your cards, so I have used this really cute Penny Black cat on my card. This is another challenge I used to take part in, so it has been lovely to have a go at it again. I have really enjoyed taking part in these challenges again, and trying a few new ones too! Hopefully I will get some Christmas cards done so that I can get a head start! Hope you enjoyed looking at them and thanks for looking.

Update #1!

Had a bit of a mad week! Had lots on at work so been busy there but have also not been feeling very well since Thursday. Think I have a touch of Man Flu! Head is a bit all over the place! But here are my first lot of resolution updates!

1) Had my first weigh in today and have lost 3lbs! Really chuffed. Have started back on my Weight Watchers points diet but to be honest I think it may be due to my loss of appetite over past few days! Will try and keep it up this week though!

2) Giving myself one day off a weekend....mmm not really succeeded in this this week! As my head is all befuzzled I wasn't very productive yesterday so will need to do some work today...in fact have been marking already....will work on this for next week!

3) Have finished reading the latest Kinsella book, 'Mini-Shopaholic'. Review to follow! Was great! Am now going backwards and reading Shopaholic Abroad....is good so far! Doing well with this resolution!

4) Well this is my first blog since last week but probably will end up being once a week but if I can keep it up I will be well chuffed! Will also try to leave messages on blogs I like to read!

5) Spend more time enjoying my hobbies....well I am enjoying my reading at the moment, haven't had chance to make cards or anything yet..or bake but I will find time!!!

6) I am trying to relax a little...still think I am a control freak but not stressing out as much about work....what will be will be but I'm not going to change overnight! ;-)

So quite a positive week....apart from feeling rubbish! Book reviews to follow.....might start with some I read a while ago as the shopaholic books might be best reviewing in order so I have two to catch up on before then! Hehe!

Till next week!
Hugs
Arline
xx

Happy New Year!

Happy new year everyone! Hope you all had a nice Christmas and New Year! We had a lovely time, first one as a married couple, but it was mega busy visiting family! We had a very quiet new year, in bed just after midnight! It is going to be difficult to top 2010 due to the wedding, but you never know what the year will bring. Will have to see what life throws at me this year! I have made the standard new year's resolutions that I have popped below...need to write them down in order to keep track of them...thought my blog would be the best place to do that!

1) Lose weight (put on loads since the wedding so now need to try and shift it again!)
2) Give myself at least one day off, at the weekend, from work. (Been getting far too stressed about work so need to do this for my sanity!)
3) Continue to try and read at least one book a month-not school related! (Did quite well with this last year...think I may upload book reviews on here!)
4) Try to blog more! (Since I have been blogging again I have really enjoyed it!)
5) Spend more time enjoying my hobbies. (I love to make cards and have really got into baking again so want to make sure I spend time doing what I enjoy this year.)
6) Try to relax and not be such a control-freak! (I now realise how much I stress myself out with this!)

Think that is enough to be getting on with. I am going to try and track this throughout the year on my blog so will keep you posted! Any motivation will be greatly received!

Our first task of the year is to start decorating again. We decorated our living room in October and now need to work our way through the house. We are starting upstairs now as the kitchen just needs a lick of paint so will do that last. We are saving up for a super duper wardrobe from Ikea at the moment and on the hunt for some nice wallpaper for a feature wall! Want it to be all cosy and warm but make it look a little more spacious as it is quite a small bedroom. Will keep you posted on any decisions we make...I'm looking forward to it but I don't think hubby is very keen! He will like it when it is all done...and all paid for.

First book review will be coming soon....am in the middle of reading the shopaholic books...got the latest one for Christmas. They really let me just escape into a fun girly world for a little while and are such an easy read! Will also be starting to track weight loss....must dust the scales off!

Thanks for reading.
Arline
xx

Snow Day!!

Can't believe the snow! Conditions here are quite bad, roads are icy and thick with snow! School has closed today so am going to tuck myself up on the sofa under a blanket....soooo cold! A50 just down the road from us is closed apparently which shows how bad it is! My sister is currently stranded in Sunderland-she went up last weekend to go and see a band (from Lincoln as she is at uni there!) and is still stuck there with many attempts to get home. Trains keep getting cancelled, buses are cancelled and taxis refusing to go to places in the North East due to the weather! Bless her...bet all she wants to do is get home! Going to catch up with my marking, do some wrapping up of xmas pressies and perhaps a little online xmas shopping! Stay safe everyone!xx

New hobby...baking!

Well, I seem to have found a new hobby....baking! I used to love baking with my Mum when I was younger. I have recently been watching The Great British Bake Off and it has inspired me to spend some time baking! I made just a few simple fairy cakes for my friend's little boy's birthday party....nothing special! Then I branched out and had a go at a Christmas cake...it seems to have gone well! Smells delicious and I think I'm going to get my friend to test it...she doesn't know it yet! Half will hopefully be going in a hamper of food that we have been preparing for the in-laws and the other half will be for Christmas for my Mum and Nan. Apologies about the quality of the pictures... Please give me your opinions as to how it looks! It is my Gran's recipe and a cake my Mum makes every year so I am hoping it tastes as nice as her cake does! (I can't test it though as I don't like fruit cake...the irony! Lol!)

I have been finding some fabulous baking blogs out there and I have found a baking challenge I might have a go at....might inspire me to get going! It will take a while to get back into it all but I'm really excited about starting again! We have also just finished decorating our living room so I feel like a proper little wifey at the moment!

Really looking forward to Christmas too so am thinking of combining my craftiness with baking and making some homemade treats. I have been eyeing up some Christmas chocolate moulds and cake tins today so watch this space! I also found out that you can create something called cake-pops (a lollipop but cakes!) Never heard of them before....has anyone ever had a go at them?

Anyway peeps...thanks for looking and watch this space for any treats I may have a go at!

xx

Blog Makeover...about time methinks!

Well, now the wedding is all over (:-() I felt it was time for a blog makeover and to rejoin the world of blogging! I have taken up a few more hobbies that I thought I would tell you all about but didn't feel I could begin telling you about those until I shared some of the wedding photies with you! Here are a few of my faves...there are so many it is very difficult to choose and I don't want to bore you all...here we go!

I had ironed some transfers onto hoodies and t-shirts for us girlies in the morning! Love this shot of the four of us!

Me and my Mum before the event! My Mum looked gorgeous on the day...when she tried on the dress she wore when we went shopping, I started crying! Knew it was the one! I was worse than when I got my dress! Lol!My fabulous bridesmaids! They did me proud on the day, running around like headless chickens...I'm sure they can be hired out if needed! Thanks girlies, you made the day really special!This was taken before we went to the Church, just after the girls had helped me get ready. I was so excited all morning!

Here is myself, my stunning two bridesmaids, Becky and Lindsay and Becky's son Dylan who was our gorgeous little Page Boy! This was just before we left for the Church!

I absolutely adore this picture of Dylan! He was a star all day, so good and we had a good old boogie at night....a future breakdancer me thinks!

Here is our gorgeous little flowergirl, Florrie! She didn't make it down the aisle-think she was a little overwhelmed, but kept us entertained for the rest of the day and looked so pretty in her dress!

This is one of my favourite pictures of Steve. I was so pleased he liked the surprise of his Mustang and I was so relieved it had shown up!

This was one of our first photos as Mr. and Mrs. Mellor! We had a dramatic exit...the doors opened and the clock above them fell and smashed everywhere! Luckily noone was hurt but it definitely made for an exciting exit!

Here is one of the group shots of our two immediate families together with our wedding party. They don't scrub up too bad do they?!

This is one of my favourite shots as it really shows the venue off! It was such a lovely day, the weather was brilliant. This shot looks as if we have been photoshopped on! It is real, I promise you!

The cutting of the cake! I couldn't believe how many people were taking this picture...it was like the papparazzi had arrived!

And finally, our first dance! I really enjoyed this...Steve kept making me giggle as he said he felt really silly everyone watching him 'dance' as we circled round and round! Lol!

Here is a write-up of the day that I wrote for the newsletter of the wedding forum I was on which helped me so much throughout all of the wedding plans! I warn you....slush alert!!

I won't bore you anymore but post this and then tell you all about what has been happening since!

Thanks for looking...hope I haven't bored you silly with all the photies!

Arline

xx

Hair and Make Up Trials!

Today I went with my bessie mate and bridesmaid Becky, for my wedding hair and make up trial! Piccies are below...what do you think?! I think the front looks better when the curls have dropped...ones with the veil are from when I got home after getting windswept walking around town! Please excuse the dodgy one in the mirror! Becky had a lovely bun on the side, I was fascinated when the hairdresser was putting it up! We had such a giggle today though...fab day! Thanks Becky!xx

Bridesmaid Dresses!

Well, I picked up the two bridesmaid dresses last year and paid the balance. They now just need to be altered when it gets nearer to the big day! Becky has bought her silver satin shoes to go with her dress....£3!! What a bargain from BHS! Lindsay is still on the hunt for hers. I wasn't sure whether the colour was going to be ok as the swatch was a bit grey but they are a lovely shade of purple-possibly a bit lighter than we wanted so we are going to take one to the suit shop to match the colour with the men's ties. Here are some pics!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year everyone! Thought I'd take a bit of time to update my blog. As we only have 7 months till the wedding -eek!-most of my posts are going to be wedding related! Haven't had chance to do much crafting recently apart form making some wedding invites for somebody! I've had a blog makeover as you can see-tried to get colours that matched the wedding colour scheme but couldn't! I like it though, nice and fresh for a new year! I shall be posting quite a lot today, uploading lots of pics and getting you up to speed with wedding details!xx