Bansky inspired rats

Bit rat obsessed in my family just now. So I did a bit of stenciling for Christmas presents. These are just stencils made from the art work of Graffiti Artist Banksy.

Festive Farts

It has been a running joke in the Whalley household over farts in jars (Clair was in on it too) so for Christmas it was decided that we should hand out festive farts. I created a fart in a jar (needlefelted with wire frame) and Clair wrote a poem:

Searching for the prefect gift for you

Some socks? A tie? They wouldn't do!

Looking in places both near and far

I finally found this fart in a jar

Be sure to keep the lid screwed on tight

Releasing that stench wouldn't be bright

Made from sauerkraut, baked beans and more

It'll knock you out - clean on the floor

It needs no water, food or care

Just that little glass jar of air.

It's only job to remind you of food

That once eaten - will make you quite rude.

As you can see they got a good reaction! 

I also made Bob a 'make your own fart in a jar'. I decorated a jar of sauerkraut with a label on the back that gave the steps:

1. Eat sauerkraut.

2. Place jar beside butt

3. Fart

4. Close lid swiftly!

Stenciled T-Shirts

This year was the year of stenciled T-Shirts. I did a few including 'Where's Whalley?' for my sister-in-law.

The other two are from the internet. Classically Trained from Ministry of Pi and Monty Python Silly Walk from Cut Out + Keep. 

Mmm... I will have a fishy in a little dishy...

Over the last year it has become apparent that I love all things fishy. First things first I must choose from the menu what I fancy.

Do I want a fish supper?

Or a prawn sandwich?

What about a seal steak?

A starfish sundae?

Rat related Christmas ornaments

I always add a Christmas decoration for the tree to Tom's stocking. This year I found these pre-made photo picture frames for the tree. No doubt you are expected to use them to display small and sappy children but I think Mortimer and Wheeler are much cuter! Plus you get two sides so that's two adorable pics of each rat in each decoration.

Present from D'Alby girls

Loyal subjects,

As you know I expect tribute from all of my subjects and the D'Alby girls did not let me down. 

My exciting present...

 Getting help from loyal servants to open it... (sometimes you do need an opposable thumb)

Look at all my precious gold coins! Not to mention the handmade royal stocking they also provided. It really was fit for the King.

I hope you all have a lovely Christmas too,

Your benevolent overlord,

Dumbledore

Christmas Morning

Visions of Sugar Plums dance through my head...

When I awoke it was clear that Santa had been...
Though I was not the only one to get a visit from old St. Nick...
Santa knows me so well, he gave me this magnificent crown...
and a pile of gold coins...
Mohan got some crushed spiders and Mohinder some dried Buzzy Bees what more could we ask for?

Christmas Crafting

The Christmas crafts will soon be revealed. It's been a busy few months but I finished the last Christmas crafts last night - so will have epic posting after then. In the meantime check out Mortimer and Wheeler's Christmas adventures on their blog!

Getting ready for Christmas

According to Kermit the Frog one of the most pleasant of all activities is getting ready for Christmas. Dumble and the tigers certainly got in on the act. While Mohan and Mohinder decorated a little tree, Dumbledore made a gingerbread house.

It's the same gingerbread house kit the D'Alby's used. 

Dumble felt that he'd missed out since we'd ran out of time when to to it with them so he insisted we buy one to bring north! 

He let me, Magnus and Kathryn help but he insisted that I add that any dodgy bits were done by us. His bits all worked out wonderfully.

Visit to Santa

Loyal Subjects,

I went to visit the one and only Santa (he visited Stirling just so we could meet up). I took the D'Alby's with me (mostly for warmth it was freezing!). I asked for chocolate and World Domination. Lottie asked for a game but Lexie forgot what she wanted though she had mentioned chocolate coins previously so I told Santa to give her that (after all who wouldn't want that?).

Till next time,

Dumbledore

Royal Tour

Are you sitting comfortably? The I'll begin...

You'll be delighted to hear the story of my latest royal tour around the Loch Lomond area. You can see the full story on Clair's blog. A loyal subject she has recored my adventures for prosperity. I had lots of fun with wonderful views, snow and tree decorating not to mention loyal subjects to carried and cared for my every whim. 

Now where is my hot chocolate...

Birthday Fun

Well I turned 21 again on the 9th. Dumbledore was their helping me along. Tom made a great Polar bear cake (I think it's the first time Tom's ever given me a birthday cake let alone baked one!).  It was a recipe from the Christmas ASDA magazine. Clair was their to witness and has added a bit to her blog. 

Krampus

One of my favourite Christmas traditions (and it isn't even mine) is the Krampus. It's an Austrian thing and basically the night before good old Saint Nic comes calling to give the good kids presets the Krampus deals with the naughty kids. He beats them and takes them away in a sack. Anyway you can make a paper version (complete with naughty child) - created by Squealer Paper Toy (both that and the above image are from the Macula site).   Absolute genius.

Christmouse - Nano

Clair has ordered a Christmas tree decoration from me for each of her three kids for their first Christmas. For Lottie I made a reindeer wrapped in fairy lights, then Lexie got a polar bear with a bell collar.

This year Minnie got a mouse - Nano. Complete with candy cane and cozy scarf.

Love of all things sweet

As many of you loyal subjects know I, King Dumbledore, have a sweet tooth - I got given it by the Tooth Fairy :)

Anyway I have been sampling a couple of exciting dishes recen

tly. One was at the Stenness Ice-Cream Parlour. I thought about the Stenness Monster but it is bigger than me and I had had breakfast already.

Then I also sampled some cake at the local Garden centre with Tom's help. I let him have a couple of crumbs as a thank you for his loyal service.

New Hat

Big thanks to Marjorie who knitted me a lovely and warm hat - so as the winter chill begins I will be the envy of all cold headed minions. 

Dumble Gets Crafty

The badge making phase included this gem Dumbledore wanted. It tell's everyone he's King Dumbledore. 'Course most of us could tell be the rather fetching pink crown he's wearing in the pic.

New slaves to do my bidding

Finally after months of trying to convince them the humans have finally got me rat slaves. These two little critters can do my bidding and fetch me food! There does seem to be a small problem right now where they eat the food rather than pass it on to their King but this will change soon enough!

Introducing Mortimer and Wheeler

I wanted to introduce you to Mortimer and Wheeler, our new rats. Mortimer is the grey and white while Wheeler is the brown and white.

Neither are too out going yet but both are getting braver as the week goes on.

They are named afterSir Mortimer Wheeler. A famous archaeologist from the 50's and 60's. He used to be on 'Animal, Vegetable, Mineral?' which got a panel of experts to work out what the chosen objects were. Wheeler used to go to the British Museum and see what had been borrowed from the collections to give himself an edge - genius!

Royal visit to the Dounby Show

Welcome to another thrilling excerpt from my life. I know you inferior humans like to read about my glorious fun so you can give meaning to your otherwise drab existence so I will regal you with the tale of my royal visit to Dounby show.

Dounby is a town in Orkney and the show is an opportunity to meet all the players in the area and catch up on the latest gossip. As you’d expect I enjoyed conversations with many of my loyal animal subjects. I am sure that these sheep will remember this moment for the rest of their limited existence.The local dogs performed for my pleasure. There did not appear to be much plot to their show but they put their heart into it and enthusiastically led their humans around a obstacle course.Like all good local shows a large attraction was the rides. I too love a good tea cup ride and I also really enjoyed the swing ride. I had ordered a royal video of the event but my PR lackey feels that not everyone would appreciate me going round in circles for a minute. I would urge you to campaign for your right to see this momentous movie, I think it’s a shocking piece of censorship that I am not being allowed to share it with you and make your dull little lives a bit brighter.

Adieu,
King Dumbledore

Day of the Dead - Shrink Plastic Sugar Skulls

I did this for my Senior Section girls as part of the activities for the Mexican festival of Day of the Dead.

1. Draw your skull on the rough side of Shrink plastic using pens. This keyring used a 1/4 A4 sheet (the earrings an 1/8th). Beware the colour get darker once it shrinks.

2. Once your happy trim the skull (doesn’t have to be exact 3mm or less edging is fine). Punch a hole in the top for the keyring to go once it’s shrunk.

3. Place the skull in an electric oven (150ºC) on a flat baking tray, drawing side down and heat for 1-4 minutes until it goes flat. Allow to cool and add your keyring, earring or phone charm.

Natural Inspiration

Ok so I’m a bit excited by my new camera and started to test the ‘flower’ setting. I have to say I’m rather pleased with the results. I loved the colours of these too, maybe I should think about doing something using this colour scheme. Then again maybe that would be another thing on my already stupidly long project idea list.