Scrapbook Sunday - Orlando – Memories

Only two of us wanted to go to Discovery Cove while in Orlando, this is the souvenir picture they take as you arrive at the park. I don’t have many pictures from that day because we spent 90% of the day swimming and snorkeling. It was such a special experience  and well worth every penny.The idea bebind the layout was trying to use some of my mountainous stash, I love pages covered in bloom and it's  very simple way to achieve a grand page.

Zentangle - Part 1

Here’s my first attempt at Zentangle, I wanted something simple to go on my bedroom wall and it didn’t take long to sketch out a few designs.

Scrapbook Sunday - Orlando - Four Parks, One World

Two slightly different designs for the title pages. I wanted to show the iconic images from the 4 main Disney World park and this page is perfect. I like to make up for my lack of journaling with clever title so when I saw this I knew it was perfect. I just wish I could remember where I saw this design originally so I credit. The two different designs were for the first page in gifts I made for 30th birthday presents, each scrapbook was slightly different. I choose 8x8 for the scrapbooks, most of the papers I had for these two pages came from my scrap box, which have been in there for far too long! The stick on letters are Doodlebug and Thickers from American Crafts.

Blackberry Designs - Which one to choose?

I just love the jewelry from Blackberry Designs on Esty. I'm saving up my pennies but which one to choose? I particularly like the Wizard of Oz and Alice in Wonderland charm bracelets, but it would be wonderful to have a customized piece of jewelry. We'll see, one day.

 

https://www.etsy.com/shop/BlackberryDesigns

 

 

 

Hairy Bikers Balsamic Pickled Onions

I found this recipe on the BBC food website and they are gorgeous and well worth a try. I doubled the mixture and made 5 half litre preserving jars

 

Bottom of Form

Ingredients

• 900g /2lbs shallots or pickling onions, peeled
• 50g/2oz salt
• 1 large cinnamon stick
• 1 tbsp pickling spices
• 850ml/1½pints malt vinegar
• 300ml/½ pint balsamic vinegar
• 3 tbsp honey

Preparation method

1. For the pickled onions, place the peeled shallots into a bowl, add the salt and cover with water. Set aside for at least 24 hours.
2. Tie the cinnamon and pickling spices in a large piece of muslin and place into a non-reactive saucepan with the malt vinegar. Bring the mixture to the boil, then remove from the heat and set aside to infuse, covered, for 12 hours. Stir in the balsamic vinegar and honey.
3. Drain the onions and pack them into sterilised jars. Pour over enough of the vinegar mixture to cover the onions.
4. Store the pickled onions in a cool, dark place for at least two weeks before eating.

Top recipe tip

For easier peeling, blanch the shallots for one minute first. Drain and set aside to cool slightly, then the skins will slip off easily.

Overnight preparation time

Less than 10 minutes cooking time

Makes 900g/2lbs

Jingle Bell Keyrings - Part 2

As much as I loved the keyrings I put together a few days ago, I felt they were lacking a little something to make it a more saleable item. So to finish them off I have attached them to brown luggage lables with twine and stamped some simple quotes on the bottom. I am really pleased how they have turned out espesially the tartan ones.

Hobbycraft

Is it to early to be planning Christmas? Not for Hobbycraft in Rustington and I have to admit, I did spend a little too long lingering over their new christmas paper stacks and one might slipped it's way into my basket 

Jingle Bell Keyrings

What better way to spend a rainy afternoon than making these little beauties....
The clear shells I bought on Ebay and the papers were out of my scrap paper box.
I'm going to sell these at a Christmas fair this November. I am helping to make items to raise money for my nieces playgroup and hope these will sell for about 50p each as a little stocking filler item.

What's on my desk? Part 2

This beautiful wish stick was a gift from one of my best friends. She knows me too well.

Rainbow Birthday Cake

This was a birthday cake I baked for one of my besties 30th birthday earlier this year. I wanted something visually stunning and fun so make her feel like a kid again. For this recipe I cheated and used a cake kit and premade icing from my local supermarket. I just divided up the cake mix into 6 equal portions, added colouring and adjusted the cooking time so they didn't overbake. There are also many recipies on the internet . Because the cake was double the hight of the cakes I would normally bake, and so it didn't turn out wonky, I leveled each layer by trimming of the top of each sponge, which also thrilled my neices when the offcuts ended up in their triffel. 

Zentangle

While at a local craft fair I came across a stall selling Zentangle books. I think I might be hooked……