Styled shoot {vintage}

Together with blomcreate we did a styled shoot with two beautiful models {anje and riaan} who wanted photo's for their new home.  It was the first time we worked together on a shoot, but certainly not the last... we had loads of fun!

Models: Anje and Riaan
Photographer: Sandri @ Blomcreate
Styling: Denise @ We Love Events

Handmade roses {with coffee filters}

We had a craft workshop last week and made these beautiful coffee filter roses...

In the same way that we made the paper roses in a previous post, but only using coffee filters.  I also used florist tape instead of the glue gun, but you can use which ever one you feel most comfortable with.

We used beetroot juice, red wine and food colouring to colour the roses.  And they looked beautiful. Here is a photo for you too see what the different roses looks like.

Beetroot:

Wine:

Food colouring {pink}:

Experiment with different colourings and see what it comes out like.

Here is a template that I have made that you can use to cut out the petals.  Cut them all on a coffee filter {so you will end up with two of each} but the no.4 cut it on a fold where the arrows are {so you will have one long one} and the no.5 and no.6 cut 3 {thus ending with 6 of each}.

Common mistakes:

• When folding make sure that you fix the whole bottom edge {don't let is hang loose}
• Make sure that you put the bottom edges on top of each other and not attaching them down the stick so that you can see the tape of the previous size
• The first few leaves will bend and curl a bit - but that is what gives the rose it's lovely look... as long as the bottom edge is attached leave it
• Mould it as you go along, scrunch the leave and stick the bottom edge... play around don't feel that you have to just stick it flat to the stick
• You can use wire, but the thinner the object you use to for the rose around the more difficult. So I would suggest that you try the first 3 or 4 on sticks and when you feel comfortable use the wire {wire is nice to put in a bouquet so you can make the rose face any direction}
• Don't number your petals... in fact there should be no pencil marks on them.

Happy rose folding! :-) And if you use other things to colour it with let me know!

Name tags

I made these cute name tags for a craft workshop I have tomorrow and they were just too cute not to share :-) They would also be great for bridal showers, kitchen teas, or parties were all the people don't know each other.

What you need:
Old book pages
Washi tape
Off-cut ribbon
A pretty pin

Use your creative flair and tear the book pages and position the piece of paper so that the top of the "name tag" has the big open space for each person to write their name.  Then stick the ribbon to the paper just under the open space with a small piece of washi tape.  Put the pin through the washi tape.

Put all the name tags on a table with a pen, so that each person can write their own name and pin it to their chest.

Homemade hamburgers

For those of you that don't know, the first Burger King opened in South-Africa {Cape Town} just around the corner from me.  And with this there has been a big "whoo haa" about who's got the best burgers :-) so I took the challenge ;-) not really but here is my hamburger recipe, my favourite  Saturday lunch if I'm home {specially after a long cycle}.

What you need {for 4 burger patties}:
500g lean beef mince
1 medium onion finely chopped
1 clove of garlic finely chopped
1 XL egg
1 slice of bread {crumbed}
1/2 teaspoon of mixed herbs
Salt and Pepper to taste

Lightly fry the onion and the garlic with a bit of olive oil until soft.

Then mix all the ingredients well in a mixing bowl.

Divide the mixture into 4 equal balls, then form these balls into patties {with your hands} :-)  Fry them on the one side in a bit of oil {medium heat} until brown, then turn around, and fry till done.

Now to put the burger together....

What you need:
4 Sesame seed rolls
Butter for the rolls
Cheese {8 Slices or more}
2 Large pickles slices in thin slices {gherkins for the South-Africans :-)}
2 hands full of rose tomatoes {roasted with a bit of balsamic and olive oil} or one large tomato sliced
2 hands full of rocket {or green leaves of your choice}
250g bacon {grilled until chrispy}

Half the rolls, and butter them.  Then put them under the grill until the butter is melted.  

Place the patty on the bottom roll, then the cheese, bacon, gherkins, tomatoes, and rocket.  Put the top roll on the top.  There you go... "super whopping Big D" {for denise ;-)}

And if that isn't enough you can make a little sauce to put on it: 
2 tbsp chutney
2 tbsp tomato sauce
2 tbsp mayonnaise
1 tsp Worcester sauce

Mix it all together and drizzle over the burger before you put the top bun on it.

:-) enjoy 

Cold clay gift tags

I had my first attempt at cold porcelain {also known as cold clay} this week.  And I'm going to share my "cold clay experience" with you. :-) I bought a packed of clay, if you search, all over the internet you'll find recipes  to make your own clay {cost wise it's not that much of a difference and just seem to be so much more trouble, but i suppose if you are in the mood and you want to make it from scratch, you can give it a go}

FYI...

• You do not bake it, it's air dry only and takes at least 24hours to dry... but it is best to leave it two days for it to dry out properly {the time it takes to dry also depends on the thickness and the size of your piece}
• Do not refrigerate {finished or unused}
• Once the pieces are dry it is hard, but don't wet it {thus you need to made things that don't need washing, or have to hold liquid}
• If it is too sticky you can dust the clay with corn starch.  You can also use cornstarch to dust the mold so that it doesn't stick {but it's not needed}
• Just pinch off a small bit and work with that, as it dry's out very fast.  If you have a piece that you still need to work on, you can leave it under a damp cloth to prevent it from drying out too fast.  What's left in the packet, seal it well and store at room temperature
• You can paint the finished piece with watercolour or acrylic
• Cold clay can be stamped, molded, rolled, cut anything you want to do with it... here you need to use your imagination.  {I used things around that house, but I'm sure plastic icing molding utensils will work very well}
• Before using it work the clay with your fingers a bit to eliminate cracks and to make it a bit elastic.  But not too much that it dried out
• When making jewellery, seal the piece with a clear acrylic sealer spray lacquer {or Sculpey sealers} before wearing it to protect from sweat and getting wet. 
• When using a stamp, don't stamp too hard, as the stamp sticks to the clay and when pulled off it deforms your piece.  But experiment, you can always work it through the fingers and start over again. :-)

So my "theme" was gift tags.  {and by the way you can write on the gift tags with a permanent marker it works well and then the tag is for keep sake} So this is what I experimented with...

firstly = the stamp

Roll out your clay on a flat surface.  Before doing anything, lift your clay from the surface that you have rolled it out on.  If not you will damage your creation when trying to lift it when done. 

Stamp...

And cut out around the stamped part.  if you want to use it as a gift tag you can make a hole with a straw {works well and is a good size}

Secondy = rolling {of a textured object}

See what you have lying around the house, and roll it out over your rolled out clay.  Experiment with different textures, I found this doily that I have used.

Thirdly = Cutting

I used an old gym card to cut out a form that can be used as a gift tag, to write a lovely message on.

Lastly = Molding

Using my hands I molded a little bird. I then used the heart cutter and lightly stamped the tummy if the birdie on both sides.  I then used a skewer stick to make two eyes as well as a little hole through the tail to put the twine through when putting it on a gift.

I really enjoyed working with this medium... and I have LOADS more ideas that I will try out soon and share with you.

Happy crafting :-)

quotes I love... for all the mothers out there {Erma Bombeck}

A beautiful piece written on how God made mothers...

Gifts... what to make for mothers day

Here are a few previous posts that are good ideas for some mothers day gifts {in RSA 12 May 2013}


Button magnets {http://ilovethisandthat.blogspot.com/2011/10/button-up.html}

Ribbon brooch {http://ilovethisandthat.blogspot.com/2011/11/ribbon-brooch.html}

Bath salt tea bags {http://ilovethisandthat.blogspot.com/2012/08/bathsalts-so-clever.html}

Potholder {http://ilovethisandthat.blogspot.com/2011/10/crochet-potholder.html}

 Mosaic {http://ilovethisandthat.blogspot.com/2012/04/mosaic-potholder.html}