Blogging for Scrapbookers day one

(I'm afraid that's about as imaginative with the title as I can get today! The Blog class officially started yesterday, but I'm fairly sure there's no-one watching to make sure I post each day)

If you're here through the links from that class, hello! Come in, sit down, have a cup of tea and a chunk of gingerbread (see recipe on the previous post). It's nice to see some new faces, hopefully I'll see you at your place too!

(If you're not here from that class, and you're interested in the sound of Blogging for Scrapbookers, then click on the square graphic to the right to be taken to Shimelle's website.)

So, my aim for today is just to make a resolution, a promise to myself that I will try to post more regularly on the blog, perhaps with a view to separating my blogs like my friend Trees (she has one crafty blog, and one blog for less crafty but no less interesting musings which is updated more regularly). Now I like that idea, and it sort of appeals to me because I do like this blog, but on the other hand I feel like if I waffle on too much about non-creative stuff then I'll bore you all rigid. And I'm taking this class because I want to record more of the daily stuff that goes on, not just that special picture every few months.

Resolution duly made. Watch this space!

You are invited...

to join the party! It's not my party, but I am a guest and I'm allowed to bring friends. So, pop along to see Kirsty Neale and Julie Kirk's double-blogged Hallowe'en inspiration party. They asked me to join in and make a little something Hallowe'eny, so I have.

I think I've realised that I get a little carried away when people challenge me to do things. Last time was here, when Shimelle Laine challenged me to make things with her printables during her weekend party. That was 4 things. Now, I've calmed down a little today; there are still 4 things, but I've only made 3 out of paper and digital. The first was the invite that you see at the top of the post. Dead simple, with a couple of digital scrapbooking kits from the Shabby Shoppe - I used "Boo" and "Bountiful", though mostly Boo for that project.

Then I made this:


A little close-up of that tag:


This repurposed Prima flower tin was covered in printed out digi-designed paper, using the Bountiful kit. I then printed out the phrase, the digi-rub-on bird and the lettering on card, cut them out and stuck them together. Add a touch of ribbon and ta-da! Possibly the prettiest thing I've ever made, apart from my darling daughter ;)

Now I can't promise you actual party cake, but I am going to give you a rather lovely recipe for sticky gingerbread, and for those of you who may be dairy-free, you can make this one, just use the veg/sunflower oil option :)

Sticky Gingerbread

Makes 1 x 25cm/10in square "loaf"

275 g (10oz) plain flour
5ml (1tsp) ground cinnamon
5ml (1tsp) ground ginger
5ml (1tsp) bicarbonate of soda
100g (4oz) butter or margarine or sunflower oil
175g (6oz) golden syrup
175g (6oz) black treacle
100g (4oz) brown sugar
2 large eggs, beaten
150ml (1/4pt) hot water

Sieve together the flour, cinnamon and bicarbonate of soda into a large bowl.
Melt the butter/margarine/oil gently with the syrup, treacle and sugar and pour into the dry ingredients (the heat helps to combine all the sticky stuff properly).
Add the eggs and water and mix well (the mixture will be very runny, but I promise you it does work).
Pour into a greased and lined 10 inch square cake tin, or 2 large loaf tins, then bake in a preheated oven at 180°C/350°F/gas mark 4 for 40-45 minute until well risen and springy to the touch. Test with a skewer to see if middle is cooked.

(adapted from the classic 1000 cake and bake recipes, Wendy Hobson)

I'm afraid I didn't have time to bake one to show you (plus there's only me to eat it, although it freezes VERY well), so you'll just have to imagine a chunk of sticky, moist cake delicatey placed on a pretty plate alongside a steaming hot cup of tea, coffee, or whatever you fancy!

Now for the last one. It's a layout that I've decided will join this one to become part of an album on "5 things". The first layout was published in Scrapbook Inspirations earlier this year, and I really enjoyed messing about with the photo. My new layout came from this photo taken on my web cam:


(a pretty scary photo in itself I think you'll agree!). Then by resizing, fiddling around with the brightness and contrast and then applying a cut-out filter effect, I ended up with this, on an 8" x 8" document:

Woah, look at those pink eyes. Can I hear you say "conjunctivitis"? :)

Now, I am currently working on the title and journalling on this, and later this morning I hope to photograph and upload a picture of the finished article, but I really wanted to make sure that this blog post was ready to go for when it all kicks off. So, pop back later and find out exactly what this layout is all about...

ETA: Done, done and done. Here you go:


I used "Thriller" font, the bargain pound alpha stamps from studio g, some my little shoebox alpha stickers, and my trusty bare chipboard American Crafts Thickers. The thickers got covered thickly in copper acrylic paint; I then sprinkled a bit of dark blue embossing powder on them and gave them a good blast with a heat gun (until it all went a bit bubbly). Great fun.
I'm very pleased with the finished article, and am now racking my brains for other "5 things" to do. Any ideas gratefully received!

Thanks for looking, and if you haven't come from Kirsty or Julie's blogs, go look at their individual and their joint copy and paste challenge blog as well. Maybe see you in the kitchen :)
ETA Apparently if you sign up for their 12 days class this weekend, you get a bonus set of printables... look here for details. I love freebies!

OK, so I lied...

...I may be fitting in a little crafting, but not so much of the blogging.

Crafting for November starts here for me. It's a 12 day crafting explosion, with gorgeous crafty ladies Kirsty Neale and Julie Kirk. I quote "With twelve full projects, plus a whole bunch of bonus ideas, downloads and tutorials, it’s designed to help you make the most of your creative supplies in the run up to Christmas. What's even better is that we’ve designed each of the main projects, and many of the additional ones, to be adaptable, which means that, instead of turning into giant crafty pumpkins the minute Boxing Day arrives, they’re just as relevant at other times of year. "

I've been lurking on the Copy and Paste blog for a few months now, dabbling my toes in their challenges,but mainly just being gobsmacked at their creativity. BUT, now they're sharing it with me. Well, not just me, other people too. I just had to go along for the ride. The idea is that they are providing 12 projects for 12 days for a handmade Christmas, using (hopefully) things that you have around your house for minimal outlay, which in this climate is purdy darn tooting, if you ask me (but then, any old excuse will do for me to have a Christmassy play with card, glue and glittery stuff, really). It all looks wonderful, and if you have a browse through their blogs, I'm fairly sure you'll agree.

So, maybe I might get round to posting a couple of pics, like the advent countdown calendar I've made out of BIG matcheboxes, or a recipe book out of an old filofax-type organiser, or some of the results of the new class. Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps.

In addition to this, I also signed up for this class, Blogging for Scrapbookers. But that was a given really, since there's only one class of Shimelle's that I haven't taken. It was inevitable I'd sign up for this one, as it was part of my plan to change the blog layout after new year. Perfect timing. So who knows what this class will prompt me to do, I'm sure I'll love it, Shimelle has a lovely way with words and will get me thinking I'm sure!

So, I feel my evenings are going to be fraught with tricky decision-making... craft, blog or dissertation. Which would you choose?

P.S. Amazing blog candy here - go see! A silhouette die-cutting machine. Love my cricut, but I think this looks even better.

A hiatus.

Dear fellow bloggers, I write to you in a spare moment before I launch headlong into the final 11 weeks of my degree. I may well be panicking, but I assure you I'm hiding it well (the above photo isn't me going bonkers). I've therefore made the decision to suspend "normal" service until nearer Christmas, and am also considering redesigning the blog completely, now that I (sort of) know what I'm doing.

I'll be lurking on your pages, and soaking up the crafting inspiration for the time when my time is my own once again. Thanks for playing along with me the last seven months!

So, please remember me in the new year, and if you can spare a thought (and believe in that sort of thing) please send one my way for good luck :)

Sarah
x

And the winner is... (take two)

So, back to the draw. Or re-draw as it is. I gave Lana another couple of days, but to no avail (apologies if you're reading this and cursing me, Lana!). My daughter charmingly chose the number of the winning post, and it was SarahLP Sarah sent me a RAK last year, and so I'm very glad to be able to return the favour!
So Sarah, please email me with your address at rattuspackus at hotmail dot com and I'll get your parcel off to you asap :)

In the interests of fairness...

I'm giving "Lana" over the weekend to reply to me, then I'm going to have to redraw my prize from the last blog candy - it's been nearly two weeks and no news. So, if you know Lana, tell her to email me :)

See you Monday, have a good weekend!

And the winner is...

"Anonymous said...

Hi Sarah,

All the best for your degree studies - it must be hard work! I've loved your recent LOs in SI magazine. Oh, and I'd love stash pretty please!

Lana

August 26, 2009 12:24 PM"

Thanks so much Lana, please send me your name and address to rattuspackus at hotmail dot com, if you know what I mean!

And thanks to everyone else who joined in. I'm not far off my 100th post (well, another 25 or so anyway) so follow if you don't already, and keep an eye out. And keep an eye out in the December issue of SI, I'll be in there too!

Giveaway update

Here's the picture of the stash for my giveaway post. Bundle includes the following: 3 sheets white cardstock; 6 double-sided patterned paper; 2 single-sided patterned paper; 1 embossed cardstock; 1 pack gel stickers; 1 pack cardstock alphabet stickers; 2 spools ribbon (probably 3 feet on each); one tree-shaped minibook.

If you fancy being in with a chance, go leave a message on the post reached by following this link here, remember to state "stash please" or "digi please", and keep your fingers crossed!

Now, about that giveaway...

I'm sorry it's taken so long for me to get round to this post. I've been manically working for my degree, only 7 weeks to go of my placement, and then it's all mad mad mad 'til December 12th, when I'm supposed to hand in around 15000 words split between two highly intellectual pieces of work. And with a 2 year old daughter, that's pretty blooming difficult!

So I'm hoping you'll forgive me when I say I haven't had a chance to look through my stash for prizes. My blog, however, has had its 2000th visitor and then some. Therefore, this little giveaway is long overdue. If you'd like to be in with a chance of winning some Christmas-themed stash, then leave your comment below, also adding the phrase "stash please". To get an idea of the amount and variety of stuff you might get, look here and here, my previous stash prizes. I've been known to dabble in digiscrap and hybrid too, so if you'd prefer to win a $10 voucher for either the Shabby Shoppe or Two Peas, please leave a comment and say "digi please" at the end.

I will try to have a look through some time this next week, the comments will be open until 29th August 2009, at 12 midnight GMT.

And just to pretty up the post with a layout, here's one I made earlier (this year, that is!)

Another couple of pages and an imminent giveaway!

Who would've believed it, but my little old blog is nearing its 2000th visitor. I'm so pleased that so many people have passed through that I feel the urge to host a little giveaway. Again. Soooo... watch this space, next weekend I shall do just that, giving me a few more days to cobble together something tasty to pass on.

Meanwhile, I have scraped another couple of hours together today, and have managed to finish another two pages for the Simple Pleasures album:



Not the best pics, they look all flat, and there's definitely a bit more dimension to them. I'll try to take some more photos tomorrow if I get a chance. I'm liking this simplistic approach at the moment, glue and run seems to be the order of the day.

Remember, watch this space for my giveaway next weekend, and in the meantime, tell me what else YOU do for fun (keep it clean ;) )