Congrats!

Lots of girls and boys will be celebrating passing their GCSEs tomorrow including a work experience girl we have working with us at the moment, so I made her a little something to say Congrats!

This was made from the cake shop kit from Craftwork Cards. To see a tutorial on pop up cards see my precious bog here: http://mamamakesandbakes.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/pop-up-box-cards.html?m=1 

Good luck to everyone expecting results this year!

Snowman and the Snowdog Christmas cards!

I've been very busy preparing for Christmas! Here's a Selection of Christmas Cards with my Hunkydory the Snowman and Snowdog kit! Enjoy!

Mama's Reviews - Trinity Book Review

Sometimes, especially as a mother who works 12 hour shifts, I need some time away from the crazy world of television and baby food. My normal escape would be to craft but last week I was struck down with the flu, so I decided to kick back in bed and read a book, hoping for a speedy recovery. 

The book I read was 'Trinity' by Nigel May and wow, what a book. I'm not normally a big reader but this was something special, I couldn't put it down so it only took me 30 hours to read!

Trinity is a book about 3 girls who are living in their parents shadow and on their parents money. The story is set in rich parts of London and moves on to the life of luxury in the likes of Hollywood and Venice. The story follows the 3 girls in various relationships and their careers, sex scandals, murder, celebrity life, you name it, it's got it!

I think what got me so hooked about the book is that it's so REAL. You often wonder what happens to the daughters and sons of the rich and famous and this is exactly what I would imagine. Every page has a plot twist and I just couldn't wait to see which character was going to betray who next.

When the book was introduced to me, it was because I had mentioned the excitement behind the 50 Shades film, so I expected the book to be some what raunchy, which it is, but in it's own very mature, very believable way. Gay sex, straight sex, the odd scandal here and there, it had it all, but just as a film or TV show would, they would start or finish the sex and it would move on.. Not a mummy porn/mills and boon book at all, just some good old fashioned horny sexiness.

The characters in the book are very well written, the dialogue is witty and fun and the plot is intense. I honestly can't express enough how hard this book is to put down! I love the likes of Ugly Betty, Gossip Girl and Secret Diary of a Call Girl and if you did too, this is definitely a book for you. Nigel May is a very talented author and I can't wait to read his next novel, 'Addicted'.

Don't buy your morning coffee tomorrow, buy this book with your quid instead! 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B00CNW8Z00?pc_redir=1408087807&robot_redir=1

Tonic Gold!

Have you signed up to Tonic Gold yet?!

Tonic are a company that specialise in all things that cut, scissors and dies are their speciality.

They have recently opened a new website for their special fans and if you sign up (for free!) you become a member.

When you're a member you can access a special members gallery for inspiration, downloads from Tonic, competitions and special offers.

Don't forget to put your address in your profile, because when you do you recieve a special gift! (I got mine in 2 days!)

It's a gorgeous 'made with love by' die, which I just love using, it's so lovely!

I can't wait to use it on all of my creations. :)

See you on www.tonic-gold.co.uk!

DoCrafts Colemans Haul

Howdy! I have been shopping!

I managed to get a docrafts magazine with bare basics wooden letters, a5 coloured paper pack and chalkboard speech bubbles.. Some large white gift bags, small white gift bags, some embellishment, a 2 pack decoupage medley, a stitched decoupage card kit and some canvas alphabet stickers.. For the grand total of..

£11.30! This is with the 10% discount I got for having their arts and crafts loyality card. Also with the loyality card if you spend £10 you get your card stamped and once you have collected 6 stamps you get £5 off!

So if you have a Colemans near by.. Get raiding their bargain bins! :)

Mama's Summer Flowers

I have always been terrible at origami, but since seeing some beautiful flowers at recent craft fairs, I've had a google and they're actually not that complicated to make!

You can make them in all sizes and top them off with buttons or bling, they look fab! Here's how they are made..

You need 4 - 8 pieces of patterned paper or card. I use paper as it's easier to fold, if you choose card, make sure it's not too thick or you'll have trouble making the cone shapes at the end. Any size will do but remember the smaller, the more fiddly it will be. 

First, Take a square and fold it in half to make a triangle.

MAMA TOP TIP: Use a bone folder to score down your edges to give it that professional sharp edge.

Fold your bottom corner up to the middle and the same on the other side.

So now you should have a mini square made from 2 folded triangles.

Fold your triangles out, back on themselves, so you end up with 3 triangles, 2 small ones either side of the large one.

Next, hold up one of your outer triangles, put your finger in the inside and push the crease so you're opening the triangle out into a kite, with the crease in the middle of it from when it was a triangle. 

Do the same with the other side so you are left with 3 kite shapes.

To neaten it up, fold down the triangles that are taller than the back triangle.

Nearly done! Next fold your triangles back down the middle where they were folded before. Glue your outer tabs and stick them together to create a cone shape.

MAMA TOP TIP: Use a peg or tweezers to hold the two glued tabs together while gluing, especially when you have quite a few petals!

And viola your first petal is done! Make 4, 6 or 8 more and then stick your petals together! 

Stick the petals together side by side, using tweezers or a peg. I used a glue stick but from now on I'll be using my new hot glue gun!

Be patient, especially as you add more and more petals, it can be very fiddly but you'll get there in the end. The final petal needs glue on both sides to glue to your petals either side. If you're having trouble making them meet, make sure your points underneath are together in the middle.

 And there you have it! I like to stick a button or brad of some kind of bling in the middle to make it look complete. I also got some florist wire for £1 from Wilkinsons so they have stems to put in a nice vase!

Happy flower making!

Mama x

Charlie's 1st Birthday Party Boxes

Charlie's first birthday crept up on me pretty quick! On his actual birthday we went to Peppa Pig world with some friend with children we know, so I decided to bring some party boxes, instead of your traditional plastic party bags.

These boxes are available on eBay, there's a lot of stockists but I hope one day I'll be able to have an endless supply using a Brother scan and cut (Hint hint, my birthday is in September..)

The ribbon I used was from www.fantasticribbons.com which you must check out! Loads of variety if you're a huge ribbons and buttons fan!

I simply just tied the ribbon on the top and stuck an image on the front. SO simple but amazingly impressive compared to a little plastic goodie bag. The kids were thrilled and I could fit loads inside including birthday cake!

Happy 1st birthday to my Charlie bear! :)

Mama x