My little man is 5...

... and insisted that he was going to have a Cowboys and Indians party, so I got into the groove and started planning.  I really had to get my head into gear for this one, his birthday is right at the beginning of September, so invites had to be out and with his friends before he finished in July.  Quite an achievement for me to be so organized!!!

I started by spending a lovely morning in the garden, enjoying the sunshine, drinking coffee, and painting (something I rarely do).

This image was then scanned and made into invites.  I printed the cowboy onto card, cut them out and then cut holes at the bottom so that you could put your fingers through and make him dance.  They were fixed to the front of the invites with foam pads and the party details were printed on the reverse of the invites.

This cowboy was then also used for 'pin the mustache on the cowboy' (please also note the decorations the children made...the Fairy produced some fabulous artwork and the Tinker helped paint and cut out the cactus)...

... and also on the party bags.

Next up was the cowboy costume. I found the tutorial for this over at 'House of Noise... I mean boys'.  Really simple costume to make, it took about an hour and a half (honestly)...

...and it looked great!

Next came his card... had to get some paper cutting in there somehow!!! 

And backed onto his favourite colour.

For his cake I made a horse...every good cowboy needs a horse.  I simply made a template in the shape of a head, and cut it from a rectangular shaped simple sponge.  The ears were cut from spare bits of cake and I used BUTTERcream (it has to be butter!!!) to decorate it, colouring it with differing amounts of cocoa.

At parties, I always like to include an activity for them.  I feel it stops them from getting too silly, and means you don't have to play games all the time.  Simple headdresses were made, the children decorated their bands and then added their feathers.

Yee-ha, what a fab party!  

'Somewhere over the Rainbow' charity fundraiser for the NSPCC

I often hold giveaways for those who support and follow me, and when I mentioned I had a one off 'Somewhere over the Rainbow' print that I was thinking of giving away, someone said why not give it away as a charity fundraiser...so that is what I am going to do :-).

Because of the content of the lyrics, I was drawn towards a children's charity, and so chose the NSPCC.  

So, this is how it will work... I have 4 giclee 'Some where over the Rainbow' prints to give away, (the image has been taken from a paper cut that I did earlier in the year).  For every £1 you donate, you will be entered into a draw (£5 = 5 entries).  On the 31st August the draw will be made.

Prizes:

* One very limited edition 'Somewhere over the Rainbow' print.  There will only ever be one of these!  The printed area measures approx 15x21cm and it will be signed, dated and numbered 1/1.

* One limited edition A3 'Somewhere over the Rainbow' print.  This was a limited print run of 50.  It will be signed, dated and numbered.

* Two A4 'Somewhere over the Rainbow' prints, signed and dated.

Please leave your name when you donate if you want to be entered into the draw.  Winners will be announced on my blog www.loulabelleathome.blogspot.com on the evening of 31st August 2013.

The fundraising with be done through JustGiving (just click on the link). 

'Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity. So it’s the most efficient way to donate – saving time and cutting costs for the charity.'

If you could share this, it really would be appreciated.  

Thanks folks :-) x

The Song Within My Heart

Yesterday evening I managed to complete the papercut commission I have been working on over the past week. I'm really pleased with how it has turned out :-)

We have a winner!

I put 1-61 in the random number generator and it came out with 22 :-)
Well done Vickie Ivison. Please email me at loulabelleathome@gmail.com to let me know your choice of print x

Summer Giveaway

I decided I'd have a giveaway because it's summer... as good a reason as any I think!

If you would like the opportunity to win one of these A4 giclee prints taken from original papercuts by Loula Belle At Home please do pop on over to this post on my facebook page and tell me which is your favourite and why.  If you could share and like the post to help spread the LB@H love, that would be fantabulous!

A winner will be chosen on Sunday 21st July at 8pm (GMT).

p.s. if you can't wait that long, all these prints can be purchased over at my shop :-) x

Wedding Memory Commissions

I thought that I would share with you the 'Springtime' Wedding papercut commission I finished cutting last night, and some of the work in progress photos. Not only do these make fabulous wedding gifts, but they are also perfect 1st wedding anniversary pressies (paper). The cut piece measures 14cm across and cost £85 + £4.95 (uk postage) and can be ordered direct from myself.

We have a winner for my mug giveaway!

The random number generator spat out the number 30... Kathryn Faulkner.  I wonder which cup Kathryn will choose!  Kathryn please email me at loulabelleathome@gmail.com to claim your mug :-)

If anyone would like one (or know of someone else who would like one), they are available to buy in my shop.

Thanks for taking part :-) x

Time for another giveaway 'Mugs glorious mugs'!

Mugs glorious mugs!  Over the past few months I have been busy with a number of projects and new products.  One of which has been these lovely mugs.

'A Woodland Tale'

                                                                   'Apple of my eye'

 The images have been taken from paper cuts I have done and they have been printed onto lovely bone china mugs.  They retail at £12.50 each and are available to buy in my shop now, and will soon be in a number of retail shops.

Here is your chance to win one.

What you need to do is click on this link which will take you through to the 'Mugs glorious mugs' album on my facebook page.  I would then like you to like and share the post, and then tell me what you would like to drink out of your mug if you were to win one.

A winner will be chosen the evening of Tuesday 4th June 2013 around 8pm (GMT).

Good luck everyone :-) x

The winner of the giveaway for my new print is...

Congratultions. A print of this lovely papercut will be on its way very soon. Helen Pheonix (no. 46) please get in touch with your details.

Thanks to all those who took part. I will be offering this print for £10 (+£2.50 postage) until next Sunday, usual orice £12.50. If you would like one, please do get in touch at loulabelleathome@gmail.com

Hello there, long time no see! Do you fancy a giveaway?

Two months... more than two months.  I cannot believe how quickly 2013 is going!!!  I have lots to show you, and there has been an awful lot going on at LB@H HQ, but first lets start with a little giveaway.

This year I have managed to produce some lovely giclee prints (and greeting cards) of the papercuts that I have been creating.  This is fabulous as it enables lots of you to be able to enjoy my work.  You can find a collection of them in my shop.

This is my latest, and is not yet available in my shop...I haven't got that far just yet!!!

It is printed onto A4 Archival Matte Paper, and the actual image is approx 9.5x19cm.  They cost £12.50 + £2.50 postage.

I have one of these up for grabs.  If you would like one, please leave me a message to say that you would on the image at the top of my facebook page.  If you could share this (on fb, twitter, with the lady next door), it would be much appreciated.

I'll pick a winner and announce it here next Sunday 21st just after 8pm.

xxx

Exciting news!

I know, I know twice in as many days!  Just wanted to share some fabulous news with you.  I have been featured in Cloth Magazine!!!

My first feature.  As you can imagine I am very chuffed.  Cheers everyone :-)

Potato Cakes for the weekend

Oh hello!  I have been thinking about my blog a bit recently and didn't know how to start out again after having neglected it for so long!  I decided that I would just come back as if I'd never been anyway.  I have lots to show you, but first, food!

I promised that I would let my lovely followers on facebook have my potato cake recipe, so here goes.

Potato Cakes - makes about 16

2oz butter
6oz plain flour
2 tsp baking powder
pinch of salt
1 small bowl of mashed potato (about 2 cups)
milk
flour for dusting

1. mix together your flour, salt & baking powder.
2. Add butter and rub together until it looks like breadcrumbs.
3.  Add your potato and using your hands combine the two, adding drops of milk as you go along until you have a workable dough.
4. Wash your hands to get rid of all the stickyness and flour the work surface and your hands/rolling pin.
5.  Make your potato cakes you can cut into small pieces and make individual ones.  I make a 'rectangle' about 1/2" thick using a rollin pin, and then cut in half lenthways before cutting into eighths.  I then cut each of these 'squares' into triangles.
6.  Place on greased baking tray and cook in the over at 180° for about 10/15mins until golden brown.

Eat warm with butter (and whatever else you fancy!) :-)

Happy baking my lovelies.  I hope to be back soon to show you lots of the lovely work I have been busy creating.  Have fun x