At last....

...yay another post.  Right I've got half an hour while the boys are on the x-box to get up to date.  Its been a funny ol' time and I'm sort of looking forward to the boys going back to school - just so I can get in some sort of routine again - I've been doing odd days here and there at work to fit in with Ians shifts so we didnt have to rely on others for childcare. 

We've had some lovely days out of which I've got no photo's because I either forgot the camera or then took it but forgot I had taken the memory card out - doh!!!  But we've had great days at Whitby, away in our Caravan, Saltburn and Stockton Show with combined food festival.  It doesnt seem much but our days seem to have been full???

I've also been busy at home when I have had the chance.  We had an emergency birthday card make for the little boy over the road - when I realised I had no fall back cards I decided to have a couple made 'just in case':

These are just a couple of bugaboo images coloured with promarkers and one with an embossed background.  I need to get a couple of young girls ones made too - just in case!!


I've also been building my confidence in the cooking department too, so a few photos and shout outs to blogs who've helped either with baking or recipes to liven up tea times - as I am sick of cooking the same old stuff!!

My first attempt was this easy chocolate cake:

 Yum, easy to do and with  Nutella (or Asdas version) in the centre and a sprinkling of icing on the top - this went down very well and didnt last long - a big thank you to Froogs for this recipe.

Next were some Banana & White chocolate Muffins from Rosie :

Now these didnt really turn out looking anything like Rosies muffins - not sure why, unrefined sugar maybe???  But they taste delicious - now can anyone help here with a bit of a query  - now these seemed cooked tops springy and golden and had been in the necessary time but when I tried one (purely for quality control you understand - erm with a nice coffee (of course)) the bottom seemed to tear away and stick to the muffin case - does this mean they werent properly cooked???  I didnt like to leave them any longer as they were quite golden - they didnt taste uncooked???  Any help would be appreciated.

Right now for something savoury, tonights tea was BBQ Pork Burritos - this recipe came from a new blog I've found with a great name: Jenny Eatwells Rhubarb & Ginger there are some great family friendly recipes on there and I laughed when reading how her son has a thing about eating things a certain colour - hmmm sounds familiar - lol - anyhoo, here is a pic of my Burrito filling bubbling away:

I had to make a few alterations to the recipe i.e. Paul Newmans bbq sauce and  NO kidney beans  that really would have been pushing it -  I only JUST got away with the red onions - pah! I would have done if they werent so long - lol.

Right I think thats most of it caught up to date - I've got a few more cards to blog - I've managed to get Toms done - at last we've moved on this year and managed not to make an army one we've gone zombies and captain america (not on the same card though!!) - I've probably bored you to tears now so I'll do them another night. 

Okey doke, off to have a rummage through my cross stitch basket and get that started again as I havent picked my needle up for ages - lovely hubby is taking me to Harrogate on Saturday for the Great Northern Needlework & Quilt show and I know I'll want to buy something but will feel a bit guilty if I havent done any for a while - if you know what I mean - lol.

Enjoy the rest of your night - thanks for looking

Ali
xx

Oh dear...

...after my many posts (lol) in July, it must have worn me out.  I did get a couple more cards made, which I havent blogged yet and a couple still to make.  However,  I dont think I've done any stitching - not sure my Tusal looks any different and my mojo has gone walk about!!  Cant be bothered to make cards or sew - my gnome alphabet is looking a bit sorry for itself and my father in laws birthday card is just not happening :-(.

Anyhoo, here is Augusts Tusal - pop to Daffycat to see how everyone else is doing:

Sorry for the saddo post, hopefully back soon and back up to speed.

Ali
xxx

Oooh...

... such a cuty image from the $1 bargain bin at Sassy Cheryls, just couldnt resist her:

I've coloured her with my trusty promarkers and matted onto spotty K&Co papers as well as  shades of orange papers/card, with flowers, lace & pearl from my stash.

I would like to enter this into:

Sassy Cheryls Challenge : Polka dots everywhere (I know they are not everywhere but hope there is enough - not to worry if not just let me know and I can remove her from the challenge :-) )

Secret Crafter - Bright & cheerful
Poodles parlour - anything goes

Thanks for looking

Ali
xx

Helloooo...

....ooh I think this is a record number of posts for a month this year!!!  Just here with a really quick post before I pop out to my brothers to deliver his birthday card - but shock horror I bought his :-(, ah but only 'cos it was quite cheeky but v.funny that I know he will like and I really couldnt resist :-).


Anyhoo,  heres my card its a new home card for Ians aunt and uncle:

I have used a  Crafty catz image that I have coloured with promarkers and decoupaged the bird house:

I have used I think MME papers and used a freebie sentiment from Nettys blog - that I have actually managed to change the colour of - yay!!!  Then punched some butterflies with my MS punch and added little pearls to the centre.

I'm going to be making another New Home card soon and am going to use a fab freebie from Spyders blog that she has at the moment - I do hope I'm not cursing these sales going through by posting my makes lol.

I would like to enter this into:

Simon Says Challenge - anything goes.
Sisterhood of Crafters - Diamonds, pearls or lace - any one of those to appear on the card - mine is pearls.
Nutcrafters - butterflies or bows

Thanks for looking

Ali
xx

At last...

... I've finally bitten the bullet and had a go at monochrome colouring!!!!  I've admired this sort of colouring for ages but not been brave enough to attempt it but with a couple of challenges tempting me I had a go and quite pleased with my first attempt:

I have coloured a sugar nellie image with warm greys 1-5 with a touch of aqua, then used aqua paper with ribbons, grey pearls and charm from my stash.

I would like to enter this into:

Sweet Stamping - monochrome
CYDA - shades of grey and one other.
Crafty Catz - monochromatic.
Crafting when we can - monochrome


On Friday, we went to see some football - Team GB v Brazil:

Well all I can say is the pre-match excitement was wasted on the match - very poor performance from Team GB I dont think we'll get any medals from this lot :-(.  Brazil might though!

Right best get some tea sorter   - what to do, what to do!!

Thanks for looking

Ali
xx

July Tusal...

... oops almost forgot:

Pop to Daffycats to see whats happening.

Ali
xx

Another sketch...

...  ooh this is going to be short and sweet before I head out the door for the school run/work.

You know when you are blog hopping and you see a challenge, well thats what happened here I saw a post for a challenge at Sketch & Stash and thought it would be ideal for a boy card I needed to make for my friends son.

The image is from Digi stamp boutique coloured with promarkers, matted onto Kraft paper and I think possibly smirk papers - or papermania hmmmm not sure.

I have then added hessian from my stash and then squashed a bottle cap in my Big Shot and added a no.9.

I would like to enter this into:

Sketch N Stash - Challenge 92 - Sues Sketch.
Digistamp boutique - anthing goes using one of their images
Dude time doodles - anything goes
Nutcrafters - One for the boys
Sisterhood of crafters - lets hear it for the boys 

Right must dash.

Thanks for looking

Ali
xx