Valentine's Day Baking - Double Chocolate Heart Cupcakes

Here are some yummy double chocolate heart cupcakes dd and I made and then decorated with delicious pink icing.

We cheated and used a chocolate cake packet mix for the cakes and added a good handful of chopped chocolate pieces and choc chips before spooning the mix into the heart shaped baking mould.

The icing is made from butter, icing sugar with a tiny splash of milk and a few drops of food colouring. The cupcakes were then sprinkled with some heart shaped cake decorations.

I don't think these will be making it to Valentine's Day, LOL so thankfully they are quick and easy to make.

Back from my unexpected Blogging Break

First I would like to thank those of you that have emailed me. It has been lovely to hear from you and read your messages. My sincere apologies if I have not replied to you. I have been unwell for a few months and only now just getting back to a normal routine. As things settle down I am hoping to share a few projects with you. So be sure to check back or subscribe(button on the right) to keep up to date.

Christmas Wreath Cards with Cricut and Design Studio

Here is a Christmas card I made for another card swap. Actually I made 6 the same, but forgot to take a photo of them all together. I really wanted to use a leafy wreath and I didn't have the Joys of the Season Christmas cartridge for my Cricut so I designed one similar using Walk in My Garden and Design Studio. I wanted to also challenge myself not to use Christmas paper or traditional colours to make a card Christmassy.

Once I cut the wreaths I embossed them in my cuttlebug using the textiles embossing folder and then inked them before adding a lace bow. The Merry Christmas cut in gold metallic paper from Wild Card cartridge.

The lace type card at the base is cut using the Martha Stewart zig zag border punch and the flourish corners are stamped and brushed with pearl-ex.

Twisted Pyramage Card Using One of My Own Photos

I made this card recently for our local vet as thanks for her saving Bell, one of our little dogs. I created it using a free program called Inkscape and downloaded a how to tutorial from here. You will need to join this ukscrappers to download the tutorial. This card was my first attempt at using inkscape and making a pyramage card. It took me a little while, but with practice I think I could whip one up in no time.

I used a photo of Bell taken a few weeks prior to her surgery where she happened to be chewing on a rock. I used pearl-ex for the thanks and stamped some paw prints on the front and inside the card.

It was Bell's chewing on a stick that got her into trouble where she needed veterinary care and major abdominal surgery. Tinker was lost without her sister until she came home. Thankfully Bell is back to her normal self now chewing on anything small enough to fit in her mouth.

Set of Onesie Baby Cards

I have made these cards for a swap with a few fellow Aussie Cricut owners. I liked the way the cards turned out so much I ended up making another set to keep as a standby in my card box.

The onesie outfits I cut on my cricut and are made using a textured cardstock to give the appearance of fabric.

The stamps are from a mixture of baby ones that I own.

Handprint - Inque Boutique
Feet - Paper Studio Girls Stamps
Boy/Girl - Grant Baby Stamps
Congratulations - Stamposaurous Ellie Set of clear stamps

Like many of my cards lately I have added a punched shape to the inside top right of the cards to coordinate with the front of the card. I think this is becoming a style signature of mine and means I can use my small punches more often.

Monkeying Around with the New Arrival Cricut Cartridge

Here is a cute little furry card that I made for my little nephew's 4th birthday. He just loves monkeys so this card from the New Arrival Cricut cartridge was perfect.

When I made the card I had planned to cut the parts of the monkey in separate colours and paper piece them together; but changed my mind when I remembered that I had some gorgeous chocolate brown and orange flocking and googly eyes in my stash.

The swirly happy birthday sentiment is the Sizzix Sizzlits Happy Birthday #3 die. I use this one mostly on girly cards, but I thought it looked so much like the monkeys tail that I just had to use it! I cut it using the same card I used behind the monkey.

Typing, Typing, Typing and Nothing to Do with Sewing or Crafts! LOL

Just to let you all in on a little secret - I am learning to type properly by using the right fingers on the correct keys! I am hoping it will save me time and help me with my blogging.

I did learn the basics back in high school and that has been enough to get me by most of the time but I tend to lazy type. Usually I type though mostly looking at the keyboard, then the screen and also using the wrong fingers for the keys. Sound familiar?????? The only drawback this way has been that any typing I do seems to take forever.

I started thinking that I would benefit by online so that I can work at it in my own time. I have just started using the free online typing tutor on Typing Web. It has already made a huge difference! I won't tell you how many words I started out typing, but lets say I am now at typing so much faster and with a far better accuracy than what I began with.LOL So if you would like to improve your typing/keyboard skills with different exercises and tests go and have a look. If you register they will store all your results as you learn and practice so you can see how you improve.

Anyway I am off to practice some more typing exercises........I will be back to show you some more of my latest creations soon.

SewDelish