Scrapping with IDIC challenge 10 'Layers'

The latest challenge for Scrapping with IDIC is Layers. We were given really gorgeous digi papers to use by JLJ designs who are also sponsoring the challenge this week, with the winner getting $5 to spend on their products.




The Zen Papers we were given are all glorious shades of purple and mauve, some patterned and some plain and I really loved them! I used 2 photographs of the old shed in my parents garden back in the spring when there were copious amounts of lilac blossom.

I used one sheet of paper as the backgound, more paper for matting and layering the photographs and pieces of the funky geometric prints as borders. My favourite part was somewhat time consuming, I took the geometric pattern (used as the border at the top) and cut out 4 leaved flower shapes, layed them up (3 flower pieces together) then joined them together with a purple jewel brad. I really loved the affect and tried to highlight my focal points (the photos) with the flowers attached with foam to give more of a 3D layered affect. I made the title really quickly but I don't like it so it isn't actually stuck down yet and it there isn't any journalling yet so this is still a work in progress but you get the general idea!

Please stop by Scrapping with IDIC to browse all the fabulous DT work and don't forget to join in with your version of 'Layers' thanks xxx

New class with Shimelle

Today is the first day of the new class with Shimelle called True Stories.
The first lesson begins with the words 'writing things down takes guts' and goes onto discuss how we are no longer part of 'the pen and paper culture' as we text, email and use modern technology to communicate. So we are encouraged to go back to basics and use a notebook and pen to literally scribble our ideas in for the course.

We were asked to consider the questions that others ask us, our FAQ's or Frequently Asked Questions. Today I was reminded of one of my FAQ's as we had a new hairdresser cutting the childrens hair and mine. She asked the classic ''Where do your children get their hair from?'' DD has the most beautiful auburn coloured hair and DS is a strawberry blonde. The question always tempts me to either laugh (where does hair come from generally??) or to say something flippant like 'it's from their real dad' or 'it's amazing the range of children's hair dyes that available these days!!' The reality is that I am half Scottish, DH is quarter Irish so there is a lot of Celtic blood we both have redheads in the family although we are both brunettes!!

I am also frequently asked about my job as a nurse and what my speciality is/where do I work. When I explain I work in G.U.M (Genito Urinary Medicine) also known as Sexual Health, people then want to know why!? Several years ago, a lady I met said in front of a mutual friend that she recognised me from somewhere. We ruled out a few possibilities then she asked where I worked, when I said the local G.U.M. clinic she went on to tell me (in front of her friend) a story about a one night stand that she had had and how she had come into the clinic for a check up because of x and y, all somewhat embarrassing for her. When I asked her when this was she replied '5 years ago' to which I said 'oh it can't be from work then I have only been there 3 years'!! Whoops definitely a case of T.M.I.!

So what are your FAQ's??? Hope to read what you are doing with the class on your blogs soon xxx

Let's eat blog hop

Welcome to Let's Eat Bloghop!!!

I am soooooo excited to be a part of this amazing international blog hop organised by the totally talented Amy (check out her blog Over at Our Place) and I really hope this has autoposted at the correct time!!

Amy asked us to share a recipe/cooking idea and I sent her an email with a few ideas and she suggested I go with....

'Stir up Sunday'

Growing up, I spent every Christmas away from home, the vast majority with my Dad's family in London, staying at my Nanny's house. Whilst working she spent many years as the head cook at a large school and her ability to cater for large numbers really paid off when all the family got together. She was an amazing cook and seemed to be able to turn her hand to anything culinary and didn't weigh out the ingredients or use recipes, she just had natural talent.
One of the most important things to cook for Christmas was the Christmas Pudding. This was prepared several weeks in advance by my Nan and all the family used to meet at my Aunt and Uncles house around Bonfire Night/Guy Fawkes to stir the pudding.

Stir up Sunday is the traditional day that the family would gather together to stir the Christmas Pudding and make a wish, though we tended to get together on a Saturday. We had the added tradition of stirring in a silver sixpence

or a silver 'thrupenny bit'

On Christmas day if you were lucky enough to find a silver coin in your Christmas Pudding Nanny exchanged it for some 'real' money! The coins have to bemade of silver so that there is no risk of any form of poisoning/contamination to the edible pudding, now that coins are made from other metals they are harder to come by and I think this tradition has been almost lost. I don't know of any of my friends or family who do this old tradition moreover very few people make their puddings as they are readily available in every supermarket. (Obviously coins can be a choking hazard but it never seemed to worry us when we were growing up!!)

My Nan passed away a few years ago and I was determined not to lose this tradtion for my own family. Sadly I have never seen her recipe for Christmas Pudding if indeed she ever used one, so I had to find my own to use. I came across Delhia's Christmas Pudding Recipe and have used it every year since, though it has been adapted over the years, for example, I don't use nuts now.

My family now meet annually at my parents house a weekend in November near 'Bonfire Night'. We all make and take food to share, have a huge bonfire in the garden and usually have fireworks (though this has proved slightly dangerous in the past, but that's another story!!) I make up double the quantity in Delhia's recipe, my Dad supplies all the silver coins and we take it in turns to stir in our coin and make a wish...... I really love this tradition and hope it continues for many years to come.

The puddings are then made up in glass bowls and steamed for several hours, stored somewhere cool to mature for a few weeks, then re-steamed on Christmas Day. It is served hot with either, cream, brandy butter, custard or all three!!
Thanks for visiting my crazy blog next on the worldwide tour is Anne here. Her blog is amazingly mouthwateringly inspirational with lots of cupcakes and other scrummy recipes. I would also like to say Congratulations as she has just announced she is going to be a mum xxx

Just in case you get lost en route here is the list of all the blogs on our culinary tour....

http://overatourplace.blogspot.com/

http://beglorious.blogspot.com/

http://mrsbeee.blogspot.com/

http://chattycraftyartypig.blogspot.com/

http://www.cupcakequeenworld.blogspot.com/

http://curlyscrapbooker.blogspot.com/

http://www.debs14.blogspot.com/

http://dianeseverydaymoments.blogspot.com/

http://thelinarstudio.typepad.com/embracelife/

http://suburbansahm.blogspot.com/

http://faithhopecherrytea.blogspot.com/

http://fromhighinthesky.blogspot.com/

http://gallorganico.blogspot.com/

http://helenascreativemaven.blogspot.com/

http://emhowl.blogspot.com/

http://ispeakmelsh.blogspot.com/

http://jennifersjumbles.blogspot.com/

http://libertycottage.blogspot.com/

http://www.lifebehindthepurpledoor.com/

http://rhonacslifeingeneral.blogspot.com/

http://paperturtle.blogspot.com/

http://www.kbwalker.blogs.com/

http://cheriandrews.blogspot.com/

http://scrappyjackylive.blogspot.com/

http://thequietlifeqld.blogspot.com/

http://simplyalexa.typepad.com/trimmingthesails/

Handmade cards

A couple of weeks ago I celebrated a birthday, not a big one, just another one! I was lucky enough to receive several handmade cards and they arrived through the letterbox over a few days so I had something wonderful to open on more days than just my birthday!

I had a handmade card from each of the children, but all the others are from really wonderful women from the MSE cardmaking thread. I actually have only met one of these lovely ladies and I rarely get to go online to chat in the forum anymore, so that made it more special.

These cards are from (from top left clockwise), Claire (Mod frog), Jo (Jowri), Tina (Artydoll), Marg. Karen (Cookie) and Antonia (OAP) they are all completely stunning!!



If you look at these cards the bright yellow one has a pencil drawing of a pig in the sunshine (my talented DS!), the pretty pink pig is courtesy of the arty DD, from top left down we have cards from Debbie (Padster), Soma (Uma) and Sarah (Rainmac). The card on the right above the pig is from Dawn (Addams) and the one below it is from Jenny (Dragonllew). I feel really honoured to have so many fabulous handmade cards so a huge big THANK YOU to each and everyone of you xxx I apologise in advance for my lack of sending cards out to people!!

I don't seem to make cards as much as I did in the past, I am quite busy with work and trying to study plus I started scrapbooking this year and this is definitely my main papercrafting love at the moment. I think the two crafts work quite well together as after you have made a LO there are always lotsa little scraps let over and these are ideal for making a card or two (if only I was that organised to actually work that way.... you should see my pile of scraps!!!)

So if you scrapbook do you make cards too?? What do you do with your scraps and how do you store them? Mine are in a folder divided into colour/pattern/theme sections (plus some piled in a box!!) do share!!

more jumble bargains

I came across this little collection scattered across the Bric a Brac stall. I think they are all Japanese but other than that I am not really sure what some of them are! What do you think??

This is the flat compact type pink flowery thing but what are those little wooden things inside?? What are they for?

This is the inside of the doggy matchbox

How cute are those matches? Their white heads have little dog faces on! I won't be able to use them ever!! The other matchbox looked less interesting

but inside was a surprise

with a note

I was sooo amused by the fact that someone had taken time out to write this note by hand and put it inside the matchbox! Is this a one off or a traditional good luck type charm or something else completely? I have no idea really but knew that DD would love to see this collection and try to imangine what it was for and where it all came from. Please if you have any ideas what these are do post about it otherwise we may be wondering forever!!

Make a note in your diary....

I just wanted to let you know that there is a great Blog Hop happening on Sunday 24th October at 8pm Melbourne time and 10 am UK time.

And I am a part of it (and so proud and lucky to be involved with these Beautiful Bloggers!) so please either come back here on Sunday or go over to the 'Hostess with the Mostest' in the form of the Amazing Amy at Over at our Place and join us as we cross timelines to find out what edible delights each of the blogs is featuring.

Jumble Sale

Saturday 16th October was the annual school jumble sale for DD's secondary school and I volunteered to help. I was there for about 4 hours setting up, selling and then clearing away. The qualitly of goods varied hugely, from those that went immediately into the industrial sized school rubbish bins to items that were spotted immediately by dealers and snaffled up long before the doors opened!

I was on the book/video/dvd/pc/games tables so was surrounded by so much that I really couldn't take it all in!! There were lots of things everywhere and I tried my hardest to keep it all organised and tidy. I had also helped set up some of the toys and some of the more general bric a brac, again some of it was old toot but there were a few pieces of treasure I discovered...

quite a variety as you can see. I will try and share some of my 'finds' with you on here when I get a chance.

These are the books that I bought

There are 2 'old' versions of Enid Blyton's Secret Seven books, which I picked up purely for sentimental reasons as I loved reading these as a child. I thought there was lots of interesting information in 'i before e except after c' and it might even teach me a few things. 'The little Mermaid' is a board book that I hope to make into a mini album some time, I was hoping to find an interestingly shaped board book but this was the only one I saw. The last book I bought was 'The power of a praying woman', which I think my mum will really enjoy. I did feel a little sad that there was a brand new bible on the stall that never sold! I did end up finding someone who knew of a good place to donate it to as we were tidying up at the end.

Do come back again soon and I'll share some more of my wierd and wonderful jumble finds...can you guess what any of them are/or what I plan to use them for???