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