Envelopes

A friend of mine needed some 6"x6" envelopes, so me and my trustry enveloper have come to the rescue. All you need is some patterned or plain paper measuring 24.5cm x 24.5cm, your enveloper, some sticky stuff (I used a Stix2 tape pen) and some envelope gum, et voila!!

Pretty patterns

A little bit of pearlescent

Some florals

Lots of Love

Happy Valentine's Day. I hope you have told your loved ones how much you love them and they have told you too. We're pretty low key on these occassions but I was happily surprised by this lovely card and a rather nice bottle of rioja. But look at the bag it came in - how gorgeous is that - I think this boy knows me pretty well!

Pretty bag and good wine - what more could a girl ask for?

Delightful felt flower tag. Is it wrong to get excited over the packaging!

A little more love. We've been invited to my other half's, brother's wedding. Here's the acceptance card, that I made and we sent. I used the Love CD and matching stamp set from Crafter's Companion. It's brilliant as it has everything to match. The card is made from using the backing papers and an insert, along with some silver paper. The hearts are stamped onto shrink plastic, coloured in with Sakura Stardust gelpens and then shrunk using a heat gun. You get an intense glitter effect as the ink shrinks but the glitter particles don't.

Here's the matching insert. This was so easy as I used the built in verse writer which already has wording for invites, acceptance, everything you need for wedding stationery.

Of course, the envelope had to match too.

Amazing Curry

Another night, another house! So as always I'm updating my blog the day after. On Tuesday night I stayed over at my friend Kamala's house. I've only know her since January but she is a wee treasure and makes the most amazing curry, well amazing everything. It's all made from scratch, the kidney bean curry, the semolina side dish (a bit like cous cous), the chapatis and the yoghurt. As it was a last minute decision for me to stay this was their normal curry not a gentler version for me. I thought I would have to overload on the yoghurt but the curry was so flavourful rather than hot, I didn't have too much yoghurt and loved every mouthful.

Sorry it's not a great photo but I didn't have my camera with me but refused to miss an opportunity, so used the one on my phone.

Thank you for letting me stay Kam, I'll definitely be back. My lunch was great too.

And as I seem to be bed hopping this week, I thought I'd count the number of different places I'll stay this year. So far I'm up to 9 - not bad seeing as it's only February!

Fat Buddha

No, I'm not being rude. It's the name of a eastern restaurant in Durham. I went to see my lovely friend Debbie and her gorgeous boys, but we left her hubby in charge of the boys and sneaked out for dinner and it was totally delicious. It's a beautifully decorated restaurant. I'll try and get some pictures of the catwalk and beaded lampshades next time I go (next Friday!). In the meantime here's a few Buddha's

Here's what we had to eat:

Starter
Fat Buddha Deluxe Platter
Filo King Prawn, Vegetable Spring Roll,
Duck Samosa & Satay Chicken

Second Course
Thai Tom Yam Prawn Soup

Main Course
Monkfish Fillet coat w/Tang Yang Sauce
Mango Duckling
Egg fried rice
Ramen

Dessert
Me - Lemon and lime cheesecake
Debbie - some kind of banana dessert - I couldn't look, I don't like bananas! But she tells me it was very nice.

Thank you for letting me stay - your sofa is very comfy.

Bonkers Conkers

I was recently lucky to be interviewed by DoCrafts Sian Melonie for their Under the Spotlight feature. One of the questions was "What’s the best gift anyone’s given you?" and my answer was "A conker on a beautiful ribbon." So here's a photo of my beautiful conker, sent to me by wonderful nutty friend Jaffers.

As I'm not sure how long the interview will stay on the DoCrafts website I thought I'd record it here:


UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT

'do crafts' Sian Melonie puts freelance designer Claire Hamer Under the Spotlight.To not being tidy, to adoring all things bling...read on to find out what inspires Claire.

When and how did you get into crafting?
I needed a 60th birthday card for my Dad and couldn’t find anything suitable in the shops, so I decided to make him one. I was hooked!

What do you enjoy most about papercrafts?
I love trying new things and I’m always excited about new products.


What would you say your preferred style is?
This is always changing from very simple, to altered, to textured and many things in between.
When was the last time you crafted?
Today of course!

What gets you inspired?
Anything and everything. Music, décor, fashion, lettering and craft supplies.

If you were given £500, what would you spend it on?
I think I’d have to spend some of it on storage. I’m never tidy. I would also have a spending spree, with stamps at the top of my list.

How much do you spend on kit and supplies each month?
I daren’t think about it, especially with all the essentials like glue.

What have been some of your favourite projects you’ve created?
A gorgeous tag book for my sisters birthday, in zesty oranges and the wedding invitations and place settings for my sister-in-law, it was great to be part of the wedding.

Is there are a particular craft/ or craft trend you would like to pursue?
I’d love to do some jewellery making.

Where would you like to be in ten years time?
I’d love to own a great big studio where I could run workshops and have an organised workspace.

Do you have a nickname?
Yes most of my crafting friends know me as Ginger or MGC (Mad Ginger Claire)!

Favourite product?
Self adhesive stones - I love a bit of bling and all those colours.

Favourite accessory?
Jewellery, especially anything homemade.

Favourite Quote?
Only dull women have immaculate houses.

Favourite technique?
Rubber stamping. I love all the different ways you can use them and all the different effects you get.

What can't you live without?
Friends and family.

What can you live without?
Mean people.

Your basic essentials?
Trimmer, scissors, adhesive, white card.

Your biggest bug bear?
People who don’t appreciate handmade cards and gifts.

Who makes you smile?
Peter Kay.

Describe your perfect lost weekend.
A weekend away with my crafting buddies, with nothing to do but card make and scrapbook, with the odd glass of wine.

What’s the best gift anyone’s given you?
A conker on a beautiful ribbon.

Ideal way to spend a Sunday?
Crafting with someone else cooking me a Sunday lunch.

On what would you spend your last £10?
Anything sparkly.

What's top on your wish list?
Adhesive gems, so I never run out.

Who is your style role model? Why do you like his/ her style?
Anna Davenport, I love the way she works with colour.

Proudest moment?
Watching my sister graduate.

Your top tip?
Use the markings on your cutting mat when your sticking things together to get them lined up.

2 Sisters and a Dog

Jo, Ginny (the cute one) and I had a great couple of hours at Loggerheads Country Park, just outside Mold, this afternoon. For a day that started out foggy, it turned out to be gorgeous. It was sunny and bright and not too cold, just the right weather for a walk in the woods.

The action shot
It's worth the hike up the steps to see such a beautiful view, and no I on't mean me and the dog!

Nutters at Nutters

Last night we went on a great night out with some friends to Nutters Restaurant http://www.nuttersrestaurant.co.uk/ . Pure bliss. It can only be described as an experiance. The building is beautiful, the service is wonderful and the food is to die for. We talked Anne into joining us in having the Gourmet Menu "A six course 'Suprise' Gourmet Menu cooked for all the occupants of your table using only the freshest produce, this menu allows you to sample some of Nutters Specialities". You tell them of any dislikes or allergies and then wait to be delighted. Here's our menu (this changes daily and even during the evening for different tables):

Canapes

Duck and vegetable parcel

&

Spicy salmon fishcake

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Soup

Creamy Mussel and Tomato Broth with Coriander Flakes

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Starter

Goosnargh Duck Leg Confit with a Port and Shallot Reduction

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2nd Fish

Roast Fillet of Black Bream served with a Courgette and Salsa Verde Salad

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Main Course

Pan Roast Fillet of Tabley Brook Beef Topped with a Sunblushed Tomato and

Tarragon Hollandaise served with a Black Pudding and Spring Onion Potato Cake

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Desserts

Sticky Toffee Pudding

Orange Creme Brulee

Raspberry Cheesecake

Chocolate Brownie Ice Cream

Bread and Butter Pudding

Or

A Selection of Nutters Local and Regional Cheeses

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Filter Coffee & Petit Fours

Fluffy Marshmallow

Battenburg

Chocolate Tart

The big news of the evening was the Steve ate courgettes (he hates courgettes) and Ann ate chocolate (she's given up chocolate for lent). She claimed it was rum and raisin ice cream - so what were the big lumps of chocolate brownie!!

Both us girlies went for dessert - heaven on a plate

The boys went for cheese (there were grapes in the little bowl before they got munched), although I had a taste. The cheeses start at the top of the plate very mild and as you move round the plate clockwise they get stronger, but everyone delicious.

The plate and the little coffee cup are so well designed, with the delightful petit fours.

And Gareth college is on Sunday not Saturday!!