A double suprise for the absent Rotty!

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Trust Rotty to do a dissapearing act just when he gets some goodies through the letterbox!

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Yes bloggers whilst Rotty is off on his travels to lands unknown, i had two fantastic presents arrive today. First was a huge box of Easter eggs from Maddy's daughter Sophia. Now Sophia never does anything by half, so i had a wonderfull suprise when i opened the box to find an egg for me AND Rotty!!!

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I have to say my half didn't last long, well i had to make sure it didn't melt....you know how it is? Do not panic though, i have kept Rotty's half for whenever he decides to return from his travels. A big thank you to Sophia for the eggs, we all loved opening them and of course, making them dissapear! :)

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Meanwhile over at the house build, i spent the afternoon making him a couple of beds for his room, one for him, and one for any friends he has sleeping over....they are a bit covered in glue and still need a little fancying up, but you get the idea...

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The only thing i have to sort out for him is bed linen. Being a hardened rat from the rough end of the sewer, he wouldn't be seen dead in the kind of girly stuff Calvin Mouse sleeps in (pink satin nightie, hair curlers etc), so i wondered what i could get for Rotty? I needed something that showed off his tough exterior, coupled with his love of adventure and travel?

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Now i did say i had a couple of suprises through the post today, my good friend Nicki from Switzerland who is an absoloute diamond with a needle and thread, send a little gift for Rotty...

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How cool is THAT!!! A gift just doesn't get more fitting than that! Two sets of miniature duvets and matching pillows. Camofladge one side, and a gorgeous map of the world fabric on the other.

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I made the beds to fit the duvets...i can just see Rotty and a mate snuggled up under these with thier torches, planning their next mission against Calvin "big girls blouse" Mouse!

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So the biggest thank you going out to Nicki in far off Switzerland for these, you are total star and i know that when Rotty gets his furry little backside back here, he will fall in love with them for sure!

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Have a great Easter everyone, eat lots of chocloate and don't forget to tell Rotty he has some here if you see him.....where on earth can he have gotten to?

Easter elegance.

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Yes i know it's a little early, but i finished Maddy's Easter prezzy today and couldn't wait to blog it. Click on the pics for a better look.
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This lovely little egg trinket box started off as a delapilated mess on a charity shop shelf. It was bare apart from some of the beads going around it, it was scuffed, scratched and had the remains of a terrible paint job on it..... So i bought it with an Easter project in mind.
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I've used Distress Crackle Paint on the egg itself, i mean eggs do crack now and again don't they? Painted with a thin coat, the crackles are lovely and fine. I also added a few little things to fancy it up a bit.
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First i punched a simple heart out, distressed it a little and hand stitched around the edge.
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A few fabric flowers and more beading dotted around the place...doesn't that crackle paint look great close up?
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The little butterflies are lazer cut, and with a coat of antique cotton paint and a stamped text pattern on them, they really come to life on the project. I was able to enter this into the Charisma Cardz Challenges this week as they are ofter something with Beautiful Butterflies.
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This pendant/charm was a great find, it originaly came as part of a belt, but in true Calv style i wrecked the belt and used the only bit that was left intact! I can also enter it in the Creative Inspirations "charms" challenge this week.
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I know what you are thinking though, yes Calv that's fine but what about the choccy!!! Have i ever let you down yet? :)
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Filled with mini easter eggs, Maddy has the choice of white, plain and dark choccy to indulge herself in.
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What would this kind of project be without some reference to Alice in Wonderland? It gave me a chance to compliment the box with something nice, whilst using one of my fave stamps, an Alice in Wonderland quote...
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This handmade scroll was made on patterned paper, wrapped around a couple of dowelling rods i chopped up this afternoon. Painted again with crackle paint and finished off with tiny brass knobs.
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A dainty button and some ribbon later.....and Mr Carroll would have been proud of me! :)
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I love these butterflies...
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A close up of the wonderfull quote...
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So there you have it, one Easter prezzy for my partner in crime. :) Hopefully Maddy will forgive me for spoiling the suprise, she'll just have to wait for the choccy now.....i'm sure i'll take good care of it. :)
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Thanks for looking everyone.....and Happy early Easter!!!
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My "effort" with Fimo.

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Well folks, here is a perfect example of why the saying, "Leave it to the experts" was invented. I would like to introduce you to my rabbit "Smudge"....you'll find out later why i gave him that name.
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Yes it's my attempt at Maddy's great Fimo Easter rabbit tutorial. The tutorial was great, even a guy like me who has the clay modelling skills of a drunk chimp....who had it's arms in a sling....could follow it with ease. I would like to add that as Maddy lives 250 miles away from me at the moment, she did not help me with this....she was cooking dinner during the whole process!
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What amazes me when i watch Maddy do her thing with Fimo, is how she keeps it so clean!? I'll let you into a little secret folks, Maddy's craft room is never going to be the kind that you'll see in these books about organised scrap rooms.
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She has the stash, she certainly has the talent, but unlike the ones that look so clinical and as though nobody ever crafts in it like in the mags, Maddy's craft room usualy looks like 50 burglars have been in.....with all their mates!!! :) It is well used and looks like it too. So how on earth she manages to keep her Fimo spotlessly clean i do not know!
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I dropped mine on the floor about ten times, accidentally dug my nails into his teeth, which by the way are rabbits teeth and not a walrus.....but i did really enjoy making this little fella.
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So a big thank you to Maddy for sharing this tutorial, i'll be passing it on to my girls....then when they look less than impressed with dads efforts they can ring Maddy and get expert advice! :)
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If i could pass on my tips that i've learnt during this project it would be....
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1. Don't drop white fimo on a carpet and expect it to come back clean.
2. Licking your finger and trying to rub off dirty marks just makes it worse.
3. Remember to use oven gloves when removing the plate from the oven. Ouch!
4. Don't put the plate straight into the fridge to cool down, it burns the plastic on your shelf.
5. Don't attempt to use Fimo at the same time as eating a chicken curry, prawn crackers and sesame seed on fried toast....it kind of counteracts all the times Maddy instructed you to wash your hands!
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Thank you to my friend Oliver who owns my local craft shop Emerald Crafts, your Fimo was put to good use as you can see! :)
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Thanks for looking....now go try one yourselves!!! :)

Fancy a wabbit for Easter?

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How great is this little fella?!!!
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I'm always blown away by my partner in crime Maddy's Fimo creations, this time she has made this fantastic Easter rabbit out of Fimo, and look at the great box that it comes in!
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His name is Herbert, and on Monday he is going to be free to win on blog candy at Maddy's blog. You can get the box that he comes in too.
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Now if you're like me and have the Fimo skills of a drunk badger, you'll be thankfull that Maddy has done a tutorial on how to make your very own simpler version of an Easter rabbit. Here is what you could make if you go and see the tutorial that's on Maddy's blog now....
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For anyone who has never done one of Maddy's tutorials before, i'd totaly recommend it. Not because i'll be a battered hubby if i don't.....but because the tutorials are so easy to follow even a monkey like me can do it! :)
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Also, if you do get stuck or need any help along the way, why not pop a question in Maddy's chat box at the side of her blog, she'll hopefully get back to you asap.
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Thanks for looking.