In Love With Carnations...

What is your favourite flower?

I enjoy many, from lilies to roses...

but I have a deep love of carnations.

Perhaps it's because the clove like smell of the old fashioned carnation 

returns me in a moment of my Grandmothers garden.

They are wonderful to pick...

and last such a long time.

'Dianthus Passion' is one of my favourites,

 wearing a bold deep red colour and emitting its spicy clove scent.

Don't you think they look fab in this quirky pig teapot?

Tea pots make fabulous vases.

I have a selection of them to display posies of garden flowers.

Now, there's an idea for you all.

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#carnations #teapots #teapotvaseidea

DIY Starburst can flowers...

What a quick and simple way to upcycle aluminum cans. 

These starburst can flowers are perfect 

for fun and funky fence art,

to adorn a letterbox,

or as I have used them,  

to decorate the side of a shed.

If you create these - remember to be safety conscious.

This one is an 'at your own risk' activity.

Here's what you do:

You will need two aluminium cans per flower.

Using a stanley knife cut the top off the can. 

 It will be a bit rough,

 but use scissors to straighten the edge.

With the scissors cut strips to bottom of the can. 

 Fold each strip down to create the starburst.

Cut the tips to a point.

Do the same with the second can, 

but cut five thicker strips.

Cut these into short petals as shown.

 Fold the petals back.

 Slot the short petal can into the starburst petal can.

 Attach with a bolt to the side of the shed or structure.

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EASY TO MAKE - Themed birthday cake...

Have you ever had one of those moments of panic 

when you need to create a fabulous Birthday Cake,

and you have NO TIME?

Well here is a great idea for a themed cake using

(dare I admit it)

Packets of cake mix, 

the trusty home printer 

and shop bought accessories!

Step one - make the packet cake according to the instructions.

I used two packets and a large baking pan to bake it in, 

as I needed extra cake, 

and the length to place my toys on.

Prepare your themed accessories:

mine were; 

The little yellow digger...

the yellow truck...

and construction printables found free on the internet

 that were printed and cut out.

(Don't stress about the printer ink running into the cake icing,

as the printables were on thick grade card, 

and the cake was put together, delivered, 

printables removed before cake cutting, and eaten within a few hours,

so there was no leaching of ink.)

This is how I cut the cake before icing...

Icing done.

Printables placed,

Some printables were taped on skewers for height...

Toys on...

Candles placed...

The three year old Birthday boy loved his cake!

Everyone raved about the 'Construction Cake'!

Just think about what you could create for future birthdays...

You could make a farm animal cake,

sea themed...

Train...

Mermaid...

Frozen or other movie themes...

Rainforest...

Fishing...

Shell...

Beach...

Barbie...

My little pony...

Pokemon...

Dollshouse...

The possibilities are simply endless!!!!

SIMPLE - oh how I LOVE that word...

And this EASY TO MAKE birthday cake was exactly that!

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