It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas #5 ...

Head over to Design Digitals ... they are having 30% off and Ali Edwards has some great designs ... check out her blog for an idea of the designs! Sale ends 16th November.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas ... #4

An easy Christmas decoration idea ... found over at Kerri Bradford's blog

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas ... #3

Tutorial

It uses a Spellbinders diecut but I think you could make it with out one ... just a bit of cutting by hand!!

or the video ...

Sketch challenge - Sandra

Hi there Sue!!
Woot woot I have completed another challenge.
I LOVED this sketch!!!
and of course when you say misting or masking I think of none other than Lou. :-)
Love these photos of Louise at Tiff's 40th Birthday and I think this quote I found is pretty
 apt for our Lou. :-)


Thanks for a great challenge!!


Cheers
Sandra
x

Thanks Sandra for sending this gorgeous one in, i love those photos of Lou!! Love your colour combo and that misting/ masking is beautiful. I think quite a few of us think of this lady when it comes to anything to do with paints, inks etc... And what a great quote you have used too!!

thanks for joining in on this challenge!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas ... #2

Tiny notes in a jar ... created by  ... just Laura ... just so cute I reckon!!

November Colour Challenge - Judy W.

Dear Amanda
Sending you a layout for the first time for the November challenge
Cheers Judy W

and another couple of recent layouts:

Firstly Judy - a massive WELCOME! It's always nice to see some fresh e2c faces and names.


Love your green adaptation to the colour challenge - it is lovely… all these summery colours are making my mouth water… not to mention your yummo pudding in the pic!!!! Fantastic!


Super cute monkey layout - love the photostrip type effect and the adorable monkey embellishments! 


The twine additions to Lovin U is easy are brilliant. The black and white + grey is so striking!


Well done Judy. Hope to see you join in again!

November Colour Challenge - Marika

Hi Amanda, 

Here is my page for the colour challenge shock horror two pages in 2 weeks, i loved these colours together.

Thanks Marika

oh my goodness Marika - this is just WOW. Really love the paint effect and your random scallops! The white absolutely pops against the crisp yellow and the craft.


DE-LISH!!

Sue's Sketch - Karen

Hi Amanda,

Here is my attempt at Sues sketch challenge,  I have to admit I start out with good intention then when I look at the end product it looks only a little bit like the sketch!  So if you stand on your head this may look kind of like it ;)  I scrapped last night at my new scrap desk and it was awesome!!  Think I may do some more today.

Cheers

Karen D

Thanks Karen - the pink spotty paper is fabulous with the splats! Also loving the strip of photos! Makes me want to do the whole e2c retreat thing again even MORE!

I think it's fantastic how you have incorporated our 2011 retreat colours in this. Beautiful!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas ... #1

okay ... the start of my posting Christmas craft ideas ... LOL

A cute card ...

Source: Paper In Bloom

mini book project ...

Love this one ...

Source: The Creative Place

November Challenge - Tiff

Hi There.

 

I loved the idea of the Kraft and the yellow green but found finding that colour a bit tricky so I went to a more subtle orange tones.

 

I just LOVE the new chicken wire template from Crafter's Workshop. So many ways to use it!!! White paint with this LO.

 

thanks for the ideas.

 

Tiff

i really like that chicken wire work there Tiff - along with that great banner. Wish we could read your journaling hidden under your watermark!

The orange and white pops against the kraft. Lovely.

October Challenge - Marika

hi Amanda,

Sorry i am a bit late for last month finally did my first page for months just need to find some more time to get in the scrap room. Thanks for the blog for the continued inspiration.

Marika

love the splashes of green and teal with this Marika - great collage of photos too! Lots of different elements - my eyes are spying all sorts of beauties!

Great job!

Amanda's challenge - Sandra

My November challenge entry. A card using the box as a sketch. Not my most favourite card, but these colours were a lot of fun. And now when  I look at it again, those white splats look like a bird has pooped on it!!!  Oh dear!

oh pooey Sandra ... I mean phooey (;-)) ... I think it looks pooutiful!! Oh sorry ... no seriously I love it ... great colours hey!! Love your concertina flowers ... did you make them?

Thank you for joining in so quickly!!

November Sketch challenge

I've been having moments of misting & masking lately and am loving it! So this month i have put together a sketch from a page i did the other day, a simple sketch but i would love to see some masking and misting happening in the background. Embellish as little or as much as you wish.


Here is my example, i used chipoard butterflies as my masks, then repeated the butterfly theme with the punched butterflies as embellishments. And my title was a photo of the sign at the 'Day on the Green'...

So as you see, all pretty simple....i can't wait to see what you come up with....go have some fun with it!!

Suexx

Challenge from Nat May ...

Hello hello ....

So I was having a bit of a lurk around between getting pages done for classes and came across your November challenge!
This is sooo up my alley and in a matter of an hour ... I had created this page!
I LOVE the DKNY box - the colours are brilliant!
I used the papers from the Tim Holtz Resist pad for the background with Hambly Doily Rub-Ons - perfect match!

Thanks for putting up a great challenge!

Natalie May

November Challenge.

I have just treated myself to a delicious new perfume for summer… and was quite inspired by the box it came in!

(oh i just realised it is called BE DELICIOUS - how ironic!)

Kraft, White and a small splash of yellow. (it is yellow-y green on the box but it may be hard to find in paper!!)

Yum yum yum.

Be inspired by those colours. Go. Create. Now.

Sandra's twiddleybitz winner:

Thank you Sandra for your very kind offer for a twiddleybitz prize for one of our lucky blog readers and challengers for the month of October.

She has drawn a name….

Sandra will catch up with you soon, prize in hand.

Thanks again Sandra… that was a very generous offer to all e2c - ers.

registration details

October Challenge - Ali

Hiya Amanda, here is my take on the mid-October challenge. I had fun actually sitting and scrapping last night! Thanks for the inspiration, I have needed it!! Happy Tuesday!!

Ali i just LOVE that background paper? fabric? I am so envious of your whimsical style - you are fantastic at it! It looks so effortless and yet so damn good!

Clever outlining of the title, the photo is divine, and cute, cute, cute ruffle.

This is totally DE-LISH!

mid October challenge - Sue

I was inspired by Sandra's Dutchland themed page...so i headed to my pile of photos from overseas and grabbed these. With some pp, paint smearing, inking of my ampersand template, i added some scraps of paper, did some folding, sanding & even some tearing, folding paper to make the pleated flowers....this page came together to sort-of look like the mid October challenge!!

Thanks Amanda for this challenge!!

October Challenge - Tiff

Hi Amanda.

 

A lo for the mid October challenge.

 

I've simplified the inspo even further by reducing it to one rectangular element and a white with one colour scheme. The story is the important bit and as there is a lot of it, the embellishing has been kept very minimal so has to not distract from it. I've taken the layering idea and used with a different approach.

 

Thanks

Tiff

The paper edge looks so frilly! I like the white on white effect. Nice work Tiff.

October Challenge - Amanda

October Challenge - Sandra

Hi Amanda
Love love loved this challenge!
My fingers were itching to have a go at creating  that grungey background.
and yay!! another challenge completed!!

Bye for now
Sandra

ooooooooooooooooooh this is totally YUMMO Sandra. Yes i am itching to try out that distressed background too!


Fantastic title and very cute photos / embellishments. Loving the folds and general 'torn wallpaper' kinda look.


Beautiful.

Retreat Shares - Amy

hi here are my retreat layouts finally.  I was quite pleased with how many I did  but a little cheating was involved coz most of them were from maps. 'the little things'  was a lift from a layout I saw on pinterest ( I love pinterest).  As you can see I'm a bit partial to the A4 lately. Anyway happy scrappin every1 :) Amy

Gosh Amy I am loving all of these amazing creations!!


Goodness me @ the Angry Birds inspired birthday - it looks incredible!! Fantastic party and you have scrapped the pictures perfectly!


Love what you have done with that beautiful OA paper in Colour my world. The colours really pop against that delicious white/cream cardstock.


Same with the 'little things' layout - yummy circle work!! Beautiful. I sighed a lot when i saw this one!


Great accents in Gavin's Garden! Cute little clusters!


School photos are hard to scrap but you have done so well with the first page - Awesome!


And wowsers at the All Aboard page - the red accents are fantastic.


Thanks so much for sending these in to share - you are so clever!


Sorry about the delay in popping these in the blog.

Wasabi tape tutorial ;-)

Thanks Sandra for this link ...

Mid October challenge

Feast your eyes on this :

Source: lylaandblu.com via Kristyna on Pinterest

Ohmygoodness - isn't it delicious!??

Be inspired by the colours.  The whimsey. The distressing. The folds. The layout of the rectangles.

See what you can create using this as your jumping off point.

Inspiration ...

So where do you find your inspiration on the internet???? Post a link in the comments for us all to check out!!

I saw this post today ...

and was really inspired!

I am loving ...

by October Afternoon ... I have made a card and nearly a layout in the last day with these beautiful papers and embellishments!

This would be a great way to use wasabi tape card ... LOL washi tape ;-)

Source: Love Letter Card by Linda Barber

This amazing layout by Kinsey Wilson ... stitching, misting and tags = fantabulous!!

 

These amazing stencils from Crafter's Workshop ...

Source: Kelly Purkey

A recent purchase from Marcy Penner's shop Hello Forever ...

can't wait to create with them!!

Amanda Hall's amazing designs for the 2012 Retreat ... 

no previews yet ;-) but let me tell you she is a very clever chick!!

Scrapathon layout - Sue

I just realised i hadn't shared here with you any layouts from the scrapathon. I only managed to get 4 pages done over the weekend....my scrapping brain was elsewhere that weekend, but none the less this one was one of my favs. The cute little angry face on this little fella was just one photo that couldn't be packed away in a box!!

A bit of paint splatting happening here, some crazy cutting, and some yummy washi tape from a dear friend!!

Thanks for sharing all your layouts here, it's been great to see them all on my screen!!:)

Suexx

Sonia - Scrapathon layouts

Hi Amanda + girls

From Sandra’s invitation I’ve taken some photos of some layouts from the scrapathon weekend. A relaxing weekend and super company at the table with an endless stream of ideas! Thankyou to the girls who bought their shop supplies down – really made it great to get up and have a browse for a bit, grab something interesting and continue on scrapping.

Favourite layout was ‘Grandpa Tommy’ – we had some photos a friend altered on an iphone application and it just realy made me laugh to consider what Tommy would end up looking like when he is an 80 year old man. :)

Cheers

Sonia Ford

oh wow Sonia - love the waves in Grandpa Tommy layout - they are fantastic! Also wowee at that ageing app - how cool!!!!

STUNNING weaving in the layout above with some fab colour choices too. - cute little footy player!! And omg at that wonderful crazy stitching!!

Those owls in the middle layout are sensational! Love the pastels too. So pretty. Those button eyes look so effective too Sonia. Clever chook.

Well done and thanks for showing us your pages. Awesome work!

Scrapathon Recipes from Kathryn ...

Spicy couscous recipe 

Jamie Oliver - The Naked Chef page 180

425m1 stock or water
1 medium shallot or onion finely chopped
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 knobs of butter
1 level teaspoon cumin seeds
1 heaped teaspoon coriander seeds
1 heaped teaspoon fennel seeds
1/2 small dried chilli or to taste
1 teaspoon salt
1 bay leaf
1 clove of garlic finely chopped
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
1 teaspoon sugar
255g couscous

Bring the stock to the boil. In a thick bottomed, deepish pan slowly fry the shallot or onion with the olive oil and half the butter without colouring. In a pestle and mortar smash up the cumin, coriander, fennel, chilli and salt. (If you haven`t got a pestle and mortar you can do this by spreading out a tea towel putting your spices in the middle folding the tea towel up and smashing it with a rolling pin or hammer. This works quite well but be careful not to break anything)
Add the spices bay leaf and garlic to the onions and continue to fry, they should look and feel like marmalade but not be coloured or burnt.
Add the vinegar and sugar and reduce to a syrup.
Add the couscous and stir.
Add the hot stock and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes stirring occasionally.
Fork through the rest of the butter to lighten.

This Recipe Serves 4

then you need the ...

Balsamic Dressing

Preparation Time

5 minutes

Makes

125mls (1/2 cup)

Ingredients (serves 6)

• 80ml (1/3 cup) extra virgin olive oil
• 2 1/2 tbs balsamic vinegar
• 1 garlic clove, crushed
• Pinch of brown sugar
• Salt & freshly ground black pepper

Method

1. Place the oil, vinegar, garlic and sugar in a small airtight bottle or jar. Shake well to combine. Taste and season with salt and pepper.

Notes

• Storage: This dressing will keep in the fridge for up to 4 days. Bring to room temperature before using. Serving suggestions: Drizzle over a tomato, basil and bocconcini cheese salad or toss through mixed salad leaves.

and the assembly of the dish ...

Marinated Chicken, Pumpkin, Feta and Asparagus Salad

Handful of Spinach leaves

Marinated Chicken Steaks (Gourmet Meats Pt Lincoln) sliced and stir fry until cooked

Piece of Pumpkin, cut into small cubes, toss in a little oil and roast in oven till cooked and brown

Chunk feta, cut into cubes

Sliced Capsicum, lightly stir fried

Asparagus, cut into 2cm lengths and lightly stir fry

Handful pine nuts, lightly brown in dry frypan, stirring constantly

Layer the above on a plate, in that order and serve with Spicy Cous Cous.

Finish with Balsamic Dressing

This meal can be made to your liking. Instead of asparagus, cut green beans into 2cm lengths. Quantities depend on how many you are cooking for. Have fun playing with this recipe.

Beef, vegetable and pearl barley soup

Ingredients (serves 8)

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 500g beef chuck steak, cut into 2cm cubes
• 1 large onion, finely chopped
• 3 teaspoons sweet paprika
• 3 carrots, peeled, cut into 1cm cubes
• 2 swede, peeled, cut into 1cm cubes
• 2 sticks celery, thinly sliced diagonally
• 8 cups chicken stock
• 1 cup pearl barley

Method

1. Heat 2 teaspoons oil in a large, deep saucepan over medium-high heat. Add a third of the beef and cook for 3 to 4 minutes or until browned. Transfer to a plate. Repeat with oil and beef.
2. Add remaining oil and onion to pan. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes or until tender. Add paprika and cook for 1 minute. Add carrots, swede, celery, stock, 6 cups water, barley and beef. Bring to the boil. Skim scum. Reduce heat and simmer, partially covered, for 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 hours or until tender. Season with salt and pepper.

Notes

• To freeze: Ladle cooled soup into single serve containers. Freeze for up to 3 months. To reheat: Thaw in the fridge. Microwave, covered, on MEDIUM-HIGH (70%) for 2 to 4 minutes, stirring every minute, or until hot.

 Source : www.taste.com.au

            Super Food Ideas magazine June 2005, Page 81

Enjoy these yummy dishes!!

Scrapathon Layout - Karen

Hi Amanda,

Thank you for a wonderful weekend, its always great to sit and scrap or just chat with such awesome company.  I hadnt scrapped since Easter so I loved that it gave me a good boot up the behind to get me going again.  I managed to get 5 Layouts done including this one that I started on Saturday afternoon and finished yesterday morning, its simple but done.

Karen D

Oh Karen this is perfection!!!

Goodness i love that striped ribbon and oh damn cute is that little bee!!

The mix of fonts is delicious as well as those amazing photos! 

*sigh* love love love!

Scrapathon Layout - Trish

Hi girls, 

geez reality check, 2 night shifts... Lol. 

Any way had a fabulous time.. Still cant believe there was still some beds free. 

Had agentle shove... Nudge from Sandra and with her support .. And got busted by Amanda, Caro and Tracey getting my Kraft ready... This is the end result.

Thank you once again.

Cheers Trish

WOW Trish. I did bust you outside and i think i called out to you asking what you were doing - you looked very sheepish but wowser what an end result!!

Love the grunged up aspect to it - perfect. The photo really pops against the craft. Oooooh and look at those burnt bits of wood too. Very arty!

With the Kraft and 3 dimension i can sense that Lou was with us in spirit!!

Awesome work Trish. Really inspirational!