Chocolate Truffles

I've done a different kind of crafting today...I made whisky, ginger and chocolate truffles!
Here's the recipe:
250g plain chocolate
95g unsalted butter
95g ginger biscuits
2tbsp whisky
cocoa powder
chopped walnuts (optional)

Just melt the chocolate and butter together in a bowl over hot water, add the whisky, crush the biscuits in a plastic bag with a rolling pin and mix everything together!
Put the mixture in the fridge for a couple of hours before rolling small pieces into balls and dipping in cocoa powder. I also rolled some in icing sugar and chopped walnuts.
Keep them in the fridge.

Thank You Sesga!

I've met so many wonderful people since I started blogging 9 months ago and one of them is Sesga http://sesgaloves1950s.blogspot.com/

She and I started blogging at the same time; we somehow found each other and have been friends ever since.

I often tell her she's a sweetheart and she really is. Look what she sent me for Christmas.... 3 of her gorgeous peg dolls. They are so cute - and she even did them in my favourite colours.

Not only that but she sent 2 in a little parcel just for my mum.

Thank you Sesga.... we hope you have a wonderful Christmas!

JOY

Joy is one of my favourite words. Its my daughters middle name. When she was younger she used to tell me off and say mummy, its not a real name!! But now she's grown to like it.

So I shall use this tag for one of her presents. Its one of Tim's tags from last Christmas; you can find it here - go and have a look, it's rather lovely.

Here's mine....

I made the leaves for the wreath by cutting fabric with a soldering iron. (I think its organza, but I'm not certain.) I love doing this...there's an element of danger, admittedly, but just occasionally I like to live dangerously!

Anyway, it gives an interesting edge and of course, it doesn't fray.

(Yes - I know my soldering iron needs cleaning.)

Some of the leaves I stamped onto card which I had previously coloured with acrylic paints.

Going back to DD - I've bought her a box of make up for Christmas from ASOS. Its in the most gorgeous box with lots of little pull-out drawers. When you open it it plays music and there's a little twirling dancer inside! You may be thinking how old is she.....(she's 25 - but it's ok because she asked if she could have it.) Isn't it cute?

I had a horrible day yesterday......certain things were getting to me and I felt like I was sinking into a depression; I couldn't do any artwork or settle to anything. But thankfully today is better.....I've got carols playing in the background, I've wrapped most of the presents and tonight I'm going out with DH for a pizza, then a film (Quantum of Solace). I'm trying to be positive and thankful for everything good in my life. Why do we let Christmas get us down? Its supposed to be joyful, which is where I came in...........

Merry Christmas Everyone!

(This is my conservatory. Sorry it's a bit blurry but you have to hold the camera really still when it's dark and I'd probably had a couple of Chardonnays.....................)

12 tags of christmas - 6 and 8

Here are tags 6 and 8 (I wasn't keen on 7 and didn't have all that snowy stuff - sorry Tim!)

I'm not keen on the bird one, but I really like the way my baubles turned out!

I didn't have grungeboard ones so I just cut them out of card. I didn't have metallic crackle so I used glitter glue and I didn't have Tim's Christmas stamps so I just used a mixture of patterned stamps for the background. In fact - you could say mine are 'tags on a budget!!'

If you want to see Tim Holtz's proper versions, have a look here....... Merry Christmas everyone!

Tim Tag Day 5

I love doing Tim Holtz's Christmas tags mainly because of the different techniques he teaches .... I would never think of making tags like these without his inspiration. The background for this one was quite unusual, see here: http://timholtz.typepad.com/my_weblog/2008/12/12-tags-of-ch-4.html

Big Art Adventure Challenge - Windows

Our challenge on the Big Art Adventure this week is windows.

I chose this image from Artchix; its on a sheet called 'Loveliness'.

I love the quote To those who can dream there is no such place as far away.

Rosie would say she's thinking of her love who is far away........

Gothic Arch - Trees

The theme for this weeks Gothic Arch Challenge is trees.

For the background I used Broken China Distress Ink Pad and splattered it with white acrylic paint.

I chose my favourite squiggly tree stamp from Paper Artsy and kept the snow theme going a bit longer.....

12 Tags of Christmas - Day 3

I had to adapt quite a lot today as I don't have a Father Christmas stamp! Have a look at Tim's here and see what I mean.

I used an image from Digital Collage Sheets and covered it with thick acetate. The tag is made from a sheet of copper. The stamps are from the Tim Holtz ATC sheet from Scrapz.

Now I have 3 tags to put on my presents!

12 Tags of Christmas - 2

I wanted to catch up with Tim..... so here's day 2.

I didn't have a tree stamp so I drew mine.

Gothic Arch Challenge - SNOW

Here is my contribution to the Gothic Arch challenge.
This week's theme is snow. I used a Paper Whimsy Digisheet for the background and the little girl is from http://www.digitalcollagesheets.com/

12 Tags of Christmas and Awards

I'm going to try and do Tim Holtz's 12 Tags of Christmas.....this is day 1.

Its very different from his, but I kind of think that's the whole point. I used his basic structure and ideas.

If you want to have a go.....click on the link below.

A big hug and thanks to these lovely girls for giving me these awards.....

Jaqi - http://jaqi-scrapbookinginmysleep.blogspot.com/ for this rather gorgeous Marie Antoinette Award

Sandy - http://cre8sandy.blogspot.com/

Elizabeth - http://thelastdoordownthehahll.blogspot.com/

and Carol - http://carol-paperplay-carol.blogspot.com/ who were all kind enough to give me this award.

I really appreciate the fact that you thought of me.

Happy days!

Love Linda xxx

Angel Altered Tin

This is my altered tin which I made for our challenge at the Big Art Adventure. It was an M&S mint tin which I sanded and painted with alcohol inks. The image is from Artchix and the quote is one of my favourites from the list below. I now have a pretty container for my sequins!

Angel Quotes

Thanks to all those of you who left angel quotes for my blog give-away. Here they are, in all their glory................


To hear the angels whisper, you must listen with your heart.

Leave room in your garden for angels to dance.

Angels can fly because they take themselves lightly.

How wonderful it must be to speak the language of the angels, with no words for hate and a million words for love! (The Angels' Little Instruction Book)

Angels have no philosophy but love.

We shall find peace. We shall hear the angels; we shall see the sky sparkling with diamonds. (Anton Chekhov)

All God's children are angels without wings and their innocence as beautiful as the sweet music of the harp.

I believe friends are quiet angels who lift us to our feet when our wings have trouble remembering how to fly.

I saw the angel in the marble and I just chiselled until I set him free. (Michelangelo)

We are each of us angels with only one wing and we can only fly by embracing one another. (Luciano de Crescenzo)

All Gods angels come to us disguised. (James Russell Lowell)

God not only sends special angels into our lives, but sometimes He even sends them back again if we forget to take notes the first time! (Eileen Elias Freeman)

All God's angels come to us disguised.... as our friends.

Children often have imaginary playmates. I suspect that half of them are really their guardian angels. ( ‘The Angels' Little Instruction Book’)

I feel that there is an angel inside me whom I am constantly shocking. ~Jean Cocteau

Music is the language of angels.

I'm no angel, but I've spread my wings a bit. (Mae West)

When babies look beyond you and giggle, maybe they're seeing angels. (‘The Angels' Little Instruction Book’)

Anyone can be an angel.

Be not forgetful to entertain strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unaware.

Thorns and stings, And those such things
Just make stronger, Our Angel wings.(Emme Bache)

If one looks closely enough, one can see angels in every piece of art. (Adeline Cullen Ray)

"Try to think that love´s not around, But it´s uncomfortably near
My old heart ain´t gaining no ground, Because my angel eyes ain´t here..."

If we were all like angels, the world would be a heavenly place.

When we were young kids, my Mum use to use this expression quite often...If you look closely enough, you can see an angel in every single person. (Pattie in Mexico)

Be an angel to someone else whenever you can, as a way of thanking God for the help your angel has given you. (‘The Angels' Little Instruction Book’)

The golden moments in the stream of life rush past us and we see nothing but sand; the angels come to visit us, and we only know them when they are gone. ~George Elliot

Pay attention to your dreams - God's angels often speak directly to our hearts when we are asleep. (‘The Angels' Little Instruction Book’)


Never drive faster than your guardian angel can fly.

Touched by an Angel
We, unaccustomed to courage
exiles from delight
live coiled in shells of loneliness
until love leaves its high holy temple
and comes into our sight
to liberate us into life.
(Maya Angelou – to read the rest go here http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/touched-by-an-angel )

Metal Arch

Rosie and I were very inspired and impressed by the amazing arch that Sharon made ...... so we decided to have a go ourselves!


First I made a metal frame to practise using the roller wheels and the drawing tool, then I moved on to the real thing! It was wonderful to do and I can't wait to have another go, so will be ordering some metal and tools from LB Crafts very soon. The stamps in the middle are mostly by Paper Whimsy. They were stamped on fabric and then I padded and stitched over it. I used alcohol inks and black acrylic paint to colour the metal.

Making Books

On Sunday I made a stitched spine book at a 'Living Threads' workshop near where I live. I stitched all the pages together then weaved (wove?)into them with a variety of threads that matched my chosen fabric. I made the end papers by screwing up purple tissue, ironing it onto bondaweb and thin card and finally rubbing over with Treasure Gold.
To make covers, I padded the fabric before glueing onto heavy card. The images on the front are from Artchix collage sheets.

I visited Rosie for a couple of days last week and made a fabric journal with her. (I also made something else which I'll show you tomorrow!)

It's strengthened with pelmet vilene and I machine stitched around the edges (about 4 times before I was happy with it!) I've just noticed the front isn't straight...oooops!! I'll put that right tomorrow ( I should have chosen plain fabric!!)

Altered CD

This is the CD I altered for Chriss's challenge on http://thepapergirls.blogspot.com/
I was influenced a little by the style of Anahata Katkin....I just love her collages!

I have become quite addicted to chopping up magazines in recent weeks; I find it quite therapeutic.......

I've had two exciting parcels from Australia this week. I am so grateful to Jacky, who sent me a gorgeous selection of paper napkins to use in my collage work and journaling (much nicer than the ones you can find over here ...as she'll discover when she receives some from me in return!)

And my very good friend Dot sent me some of her fabulous artwork (and lots of extras including a pile of delicious fabric pieces!)

Dot makes lots of these flying birdies in different colour combinations (as you'll see on her blog) - I especially like the Christmassy colours on mine!
And this is the fabric arch she made for our challenge on http://bigartadventure.blogspot.com/
Thank you for giving it to me Dot....its even more lovely in real life (and I just love the bird's legs!)

And the winners of my 'give-away' are.....

Last night I wrote everyone's name (who had left a comment) on a piece of paper and put them all in an empty tissue box (sorry it wasn't very high-tech!) My husband drew 2 names out and they are......... Anna

and Shelly!!!!

Well done to them...and thanks very much to all of you who joined in.

I will put all the angel quotes on my blog tomorrow.

Inchie Challenge

Our challenge on the Big Art Adventure this week is to make a set of inchies.

I decided to do a 'celebration of women' and thought I'd use yet another chunky block from the pile at the side of my table (thank you DH).

My starting point was my mum....I've been thinking a lot about her recently and the amazing way she copes with my dad. Dementia is bad enough, but dad has physical problems as well and can't really do anything for himself. Mum is almost 80 and you would not believe the things she does for him. Not only that but she seems to have more and more patience with him as his condition deteriorates. So....one of the pictures on the block is of my mum. She likes seeing my artwork every time I go round (I always take my latest efforts in a little bag to show her) so I hope she likes this.

Before I go...... I want to thank my Suziblu workshop friend Shonna for giving me this award. Her paintings are just gorgeous and she is doing some wonderful things for Christmas. I recommend you take a look.

Woodblocks and Pincushions

Today I'm making pincushions! Well it makes a nice change....

I like doing these...the possibilities are endless. I've been out and bought lots of pieces of different coloured felt. Do you remember the link I gave you a few weeks ago........

http://www.craftstylish.com/item/945/how-to-make-pretty-pincushions

Here are some more.....

http://www.flickr.com/photos/verybigjen/sets/72057594091530588/

I'm also still painting woodblocks.....

I used the new Paper Whimsy Christmas digi sheet to cover the block, then I sanded all the edges, added lace, words and snowflakes.

Hope you're having a good day.......