~ My final DT layout! ~

Well todays a sad day for me as this is my final piece of DT work for Sketches:Creatively Yours. The las 7 months have been fantastic and I have loved every minute of being a member of such a fab team.

I would like to thank all those who have taken the time to make the challenge blog what it is. You have given me some great inspiration.

This layout has again been made using Echo Park 'Walk in the park' papers. I had a photo collage made by an online photo company and I'm really pleased with the effect it has created.

Fusion was such a fantastic event for girlguiding UK, thousands of girls visited Harewood House in Leeds for a spectacular of street performers, live music shows and a circus. I think they all had a fab time.

Well I'm having a relaxing night tonight, might even play with my new stamps from Little Claire Designs. I have subscribed for 6 months to their stamp club and I must say I am very impressed.

Happy Crafting!

~ LSNED - 10th September ~

On friday 10th september I went to my friends straight from work (i.e 9.30pm) and we had a chat and a cuppa. Although we only had about 1 hour together it was priceless! She moved to Middlesbrough for her teaching job so is 2 hours away now. I really miss her being around sometimes, so when we get the chance to spend even a little amount of time together we make the most of it.

I'm hoping she's going to be spending a little more time down here in the next few months as she is getting more invoved in guiding.

I knicked this photo of her from facebook, am sure she won't mind.

Happy Crafting!

~ A bit of bunting! ~

Good Afternoon!

Well today has been quite uneventful and unproductive to be honest. The day seems to have flown (doesn't help when you don't get up until 9am!).
  
This layout has been rumbling around in my head for a while, then Alix posted a sketch on her blog so I decided to give it a go.

Alix was concerned at the number of brads she used but I think this layout is a little 'blingy' to be honest. I've never made bunting before so was really pleased with the outcome. I originally had white letters for the title but they didn't stand out enough.

The papers were from this month's Cleocrafts kit they are Echo Park 'Walk in the Park'. I really wasn't sure what I was going to use them for but decided that they would be perfect for my guiding centenary layouts.

The story behind the pictures - well on camp I was part of the brownie sleepover subcamp which meant that we had over 600 people arriving on the tuesday pitching tents and then striking their tents and leaving the next morning. We had the tents delivered to the sub camp and then carried (more like dragged because they were so heavy!) the tents in to their allotted pitches. 

I also then realised that I can use this layout for the Craft Garden's monthly challenge which is 'Bunting'.

Well I'm off to brownies now, might make some christmas cards this afternoon.

Happy Crafting!

~ It's another 'Winter Milly' card ~

I made this card using the sketch over on Sketches:creatively yours. I'm really sad that my DT term with them is ending as I have had so much fun using their sketches every month. It's given me the push I needed to keep my mojo running! Let me know if you use the sketch I would love to see your interpreatations.

Happy Crafting!

~ Discover your potential ~

Good morning!

Well its a blustery day here and the sun can't make it's mind up. I really want to have a good sort out of my craft stuff so its more organised. If anyone has any great tips leave me a comment.

I can't say this is one of my favourite layouts but I found it really hard with such a large busy photo. The papers are Cosmo Cricket Snorkel papers.

Happy Crafting!

~ Finally finished! ~

Well this layout has been waiting in the wings for ages! Waiting for me to buy a stamp set that would do it justice. So when I went to Harrogate show on Sunday and spoted the 7gypsies alphabet I knew exactly what it would be used for.

I did this layout at a class about a year ago but never quite managed to finish it. So yesterday whilst trying to shrink my piles of crafting stuff I decided to finish it. I'm really pleased with the finished result.

Have a happy crafting day!

~ LSNED - 9th September ~

On the 9th September was mine and my boyfriends 8 year anniversary and we went out for a Thai meal. Whilst we were in the middle of choosing our food he slipped a card to me. We had agreed no to do cards but it was absolutely beautiful.

I thought it was a beautiful card and some gorgeous words inside which made me well up.

~ LSNED - 8th September ~

I went to Yo! Sushi and ordered Spicy Seafood Udon soup and after struggling for a while to get my noodles out of the botttom I saw a women using the noodle chopsticks. After realising how they worked my noodle eating became so much easier. 

~ Courgette and Lemon Drizzle Cake ~

For those of you who have admired the cake:

Ingredients:

250g pack unsalted butter, very soft, plus extra for the tins.

3 unwaxed lemons

200g/7oz caster sugar

3 eggs

2 medium courgettes, coarsley grated (you'll need 300g/10oz flesh)

1 tsp poppy seeds, plus extra to decorate

1 tsp vanilla extract

100g/4oz self raising flour

100g/4oz plain flour

1 tsp baking powder

85g/3oz icing sugar

200g pack full-fat soft cheese

4 tbsp lemon curd (optional)

Method: 

1. Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Butter 2 x 20cm sandwich tins and line the base with baking parchment. Zest 2 lemons, then squeeze their juice in to a separate bowl. Put 200g butter, the caster sugar, eggs, courgette, poppy seeds, vanilla and lemon zest in to a mixing bowl. Beat in to a creamy batter. Stir in 1 tbsp lemon juice, the flours, baking powder. Spoon the mix into the tins, then bake for 25 mins or until risen, golden and springy in the middle.

2. Make a drizzle by mixing another tbsp of lemon juice with 25g icing sugar. Put the remaining icing sugar and butter into a bowl, add the soft cheese, remaining lemon juice (about 2 tbsp)and grate in the final lemon's zest. Beat to make a creamy, smooth frosting.

3. When the cakes are ready, cool for 15 mins in their tins, then turn onto a cooling rack. Prick several times with a cocktail stick, spoon over the drizzle and cool completely. Can be frozen at this stage for up to a month. Put one cake onto a serving plate and spread with just under half the frosting. Spread over the lemon curd if using. Top with the second cake, spread the remaining frosting over the top and sprinkle with poppy seeds.

Happy Baking!

~ LSNED - 7th September ~

I had been at work all day and it had been very busy, but as I walked out of work and drove home the sun was out and the sky was blue. By the time I reach home I was in a great mood and all was right with the world.

~ LSNED - 3rd September ~

Although not actually about feet just metophorically about them I decided to use a photo of my feet to add emphasis to what I had learnt. I realised on the 3rd that despite someone saying they will do things you sometimes need to give them a kick up the bum to actually get anything done at a reasonable pace.

I'm really enjoying doing my LSNED this year. 

~ A grungy distressed 'Winter Milly' ~

Yes its another 'Winter Milly' christmas card! For this card I decided to go very grungy and disressed looking. so all the edges of the patterned paper were distressed and then I used part of a pizza box covered in 'broken china' and 'dusty concord' distress inks. I love the effect its created.

This card has been inspired by the design team over on the Simon Says Stamp and Show challenge blog and I'm entering it in Simon Says Stamp's september blog hop.

I'll be back later with the recipe for that courgette (zucchini) and lemon cake  for those who wanted it.

Happy crafting!

~ Another 'Winter Milly' ~

This time I based my card on the sketch over on Sketch Saturday Challenge blog. Again I used the Pink Gem Stamp 'Winter Milly' and my left over stash. Might just have to buy some more when I go to the Great Northern Papercraft extravaganza tomorrow! oops.

I distressed the piece of purple coredinations cardstock behinf Milly to add abit of texture and also distressed the edges of the patterned paper.

~ A busy christmas crafting day ~

The other night I sat and coloured various stamped christmas images with my promarkers, so I had chance to make a few christmas cards today. I used a few different blog challenges as inspiration, the first being Pink Gem Challenge from their monthly challenge blog.

This month the challenge was to use the sketch and add lots of sparkle. Unfortunately the photo doesn't show the sparkle particularly well. The snowflakes have glitter on them and the white polka dot matt is covered with rock candy distress stickles. I absolutely love this stamp from Pink Gem 'Winter Milly'. There is so much scope with different colours. You'll see her pop up alot over the next few months or posts.

I'm really pleased with myself because I've managed to use up quite a bit of my leftover christmas stash from last years Christmas themed Cleocrafts monthly kit.

Hope everyone is having a fab weekend!

~ The beginings of a christmas present~

Well this is the start of my handmade xmas presents. I can't really go in to too many details about it, I can just say that it is going to be a travel based recipe book when its finished.

I'm really trying to use up some of my stash, these papers were from a cleocrafts monthly kit. I'm doing well with using up my stash as I'm using 2 part kits for my LSNED aswell.

~ LSNED - 4th September ~

Well on Saturday I learnt quite a simple lesson... simply that practice makes perfect.

It was the second time I had made this Courgette and Lemon Drizzle cake and if I say so myself it turned out much better than the first one, although the first one was lovely aswell. The topping was so much smoother and creamier than the first but it was less lemony. The main thing is that I really enjoyed making it and the results were brilliant and it was enjoyed by everyone at the BBQ on Saturday night.

Well I'm off to work shortly, on a late then early shift so will have very little time to craft, I may get a little blog hopping in but that is about it.

Have a great week.

~ LSNED - 3rd September ~

Well I've started to get behind with the scrapping now although I have got my journalling sorted for today!

On 3rd September I learnt...

... that sometimes some people simply need a kick (up the arse!).

I'll not go in to the actual reasons behind the statement as it is work related and got me rather stressed at the time.

Hope everyone else is keeping up. I plan to scrap Friday and Saturday's lessons on Sunday afternoon.

Have a fab weekend!

~ Shaken, not stirred ~

A couple of sneak peeks of my layouts for the 'Cocktails' CJ for Simply CJ over on UKScrappers.

The book is in a very vintage style so I have tried to be in keeping with the theme when doing my layouts. Unfortunately I didn't get chance to sample the cocktails before doing the layout.

What is everyone up to today? I'm off out camping tonight hoping the weather stays fine!

~ LSNED - 2nd September ~

Day 2 in Shimelle's class has taught me that when trying to be extremely organised by starting your xmas shopping now it is vital that you plan ahead and create a list (or download an ipod app!) to ensure presents aren't duplicated. The photo is of some of the gifts I gave last year.

I wonder what today will bring!

~ August Recipe cards ~

Here are my August Recipe cards for a swap over on UKScrappers. I absolutely love this soup it is gorgeous! We grow courgettes in our garden and have been overwelmed with them over the last few months. I also have a fab recipe for lemon and courgette cake. Yum!

If anyone want the recipe, please leave me a comment and I will blog it.

~ LSNED - 1st Sept ~

Well I'm starting out well, its only the second day of Shimelle's class and I'm managing to keep up. The first thing I have learnt is that when I'm tired following a night shift I can sleep through pretty much anything. This became very apparent yesterday as apparently our neighbour was sawing things up and breaking paving slabs, generally making a lot of noise.

The tag slots in to the envelope leaving just a little patterned paper and flower visible. The papers are MME 'So Sophie' collection.

~ Eid Collection No. 5 + 6 ~

Well here we go the last stint of Eid cards. I used handmade paper which I bought on my second trip to India to ad finishing touches to these cards (the blue metallic paper). The orange paper was found by my boyfriend at a local car boot.

Finally the last collection of Eid cards was a first for me... I had a go at making easel cards.

I must admit that I really like these cards and can see  me makign some easel cards for Christmas. They were simple, easy to make but look very effective.

I used Kaisercraft Marrakech papers which have really complement the gold handmade paper and mosque photo.

Well I finally finished nights this morning, so after a shopping trip and lunch with mum I intend to get cracking on with my 'Learn something new everyday' mini envelope book.