Challenged! - Back to School

My son starts reception class at the primary school next week. He’s already been in the nursery class but he’ll now have to do a full day, wear uniform and have school dinners....so it really is going to ‘big’ school.

This card is for him and fits these challenges:

http://sentimentalsundays.blogspot.com/  Back to School

http://mojomonday.blogspot.com/ sketch

http://www.cardmakingandpapercraft.com/challenges

Magazine Addict – Cook Vegetarian September 2011

After a morning of cardmaking, me and my four-year-old son did some baking this afternoon. We chose this recipe from this month’s Cook Vegetarian Magazine. My notes are in italics!

Despite their name, they tasted cheesy rather than of carrot or thyme.

Oaty Carrot and Thyme Muffins

175g plain flour

50g porridge oats

1/2tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda

2 tsp mustard powder (I used ready-made mustard)

1 tsp dried thyme

salt and ground black pepper

225g carrots, coarsely grated

lOOg vegetarian mature Cheddar, grated (I used Red Leicester as it was all I had in the fridge)

100ml vegetable oil

100ml milk

2 large free-range eggs

1 Line a 12-hole muffin tin with paper cases.(I don’t have a muffin tin , so used ordinary cake tins and got more, smaller muffins.)  Mix the flour, oats, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda, mustard (as ready-made, I mixed this in later with wet ingredients) and thyme together in a large bowl. Season with plenty of ground black

pepper and a good pinch of salt.

2 Stir in the carrots and 3/4of the cheese. Mix together the oil, milk and egg, Add to the dry ingredients and stir briefly.

3 Spoon the mixture into the paper cases, sprinkle over the remaining cheese, (forgot to do this and had to grab them back out of the oven to sprinkle the cheese) and bake for 20-25 minutes

or until risen and golden brown on top. (Did you notice? No oven temperature is given. I guessed gas mark 6 and they cooked in 20 mins).

We ate quite a lot of these, despite them being a bit greasy ( maybe because I used the wrong cheese?).

Challenged! - Card for a Man

I made this card for these challenges:
http://challengeupyourlife.blogspot.com/: Something for the men
http://theartisticstampercreativeteam.blogspot.com/ : Men/ All things male themed

The main image is Stampington, stamped in Versamark on vellum and chalked. The newspaper background is a clear stamp by Glitz and I made the final layer from an inked up Sizzix embossing folder on Kraft paper.

Doing the Docrafts - Glitter Strips

And so, on with my quest to use up my random Docrafts stash. The challenge at Charisma Cardz (http://charismacardz.blogspot.com/), Glitter it!, reminded me of the bumper bag of 110 glitter strips that came in a Docrafts Goody Bag. Here's how I used them:

The butterflies are Magic Motifs that I've had hanging around for years, covered in glitter; and the greeting is a rub-on.
So, that's 5 Glittter Strips taken care of. Only another 105 to go!

Challenged! - Travel

I saw two challenges this week with a 'travel' theme, so I thought I'd take part.Found the squashed bottlecap lying around when I was tidying up, maybe I should revive that craze!
http://thestampmanchallenges.blogspot.com/
http://dragon-dragonsdream.blogspot.com/

Magazine Addict- Papercraft Essentials Issue 71

This issue came with free CraftsUPrint papers, most of which are not to my taste. I did like this decoupage 'deco' style woman though, and I added a leftover piece of background paper and some square gems (another Docrafts Goody Bag item, I think).

The mag also had a good feature 'Masterclass:Utee' by Sue Pennick. I have a Melt Pot gathering dust, so I intend to get a pendant blank and make the heart shape pendant. Another one onto the to-do list.

My Perfect...Summer Cocktail : A Cosmopolitan

In fact, it's perfect all year round!

You need -                 

•    a nice big glass
•    something to measure with (eg bottle lid, egg cup) The bigger your measure, the more alcoholic your drink!
• 1.5 measures of vodka
• 0.5 measures of Cointreau
• 1.5 measures of cranberry juice
• 0.5 measures of freshly squeezed lime
• ice

Chuck in the glass, mix and drink!

My Victorian Card

I was asked to make a Victorian-style card . I used the stamps and papers and knew it needed something to make it more Victorian-y. Then I saw a new challenge blog : http://fashionablestampingchallenges.cottagecrafts.ie/
and the theme was 'handmade flowers' and I decided to make one. I find making flowers a bit fiddly but I managed a little rose and chucked a bit of 'Glamour Dust'  around and I was quite pleased in the end.

Doing the Docrafts

I love the Docraft goodie bags and the free gifts they give with their mag, but they do mean that I often end up with stuff I wouldn’t normally buy.

So I’m setting a regular challenge for the My Perfect Life Design Team . (That’s me!) I’ll be digging out some of the Docrafts stuff and trying to use it up.

First up, these 12x12 papers from a goodie bag a few months ago. They’re not my taste and I think they’re a bit old fashioned. In fact, this month Docraft brought out a new ‘birthday – theme’ range that’s more contemporary.

I’m going to a party tonight and decided to use them to wrap the present etc. I made a gift bag decorated with 3 lollipops. In addition to the Docrafts papers I used glitter, plain cardstock, adhesive, gems, one sticker and die cutting equipment. Here’s the finished article.

Magazine Addict - Making (Magazine) Issue11 September 2011

I couldn't resist the Chocolate Masterclass by Bethan Davies. I made the Peanut Butter truffles because I always have peanut butter in. Didn't have any peanuts to coat them with though.



Basically, you heat cream, and add it to melted chocolate and butter. Then mix in the peanut butter. When it's set you roll it into balls and stick it in the freezer.

The peanut butter truffles - not so attractive!

The next day, you melt more chocolate and coat the balls in it. 

Mine didn’t look as good as the ones in the mag but they tasted great – like mini Snickers.