My Beautiful Blog

Morning all!  A card and a layout to share with you today.  Yep, I finally scrapbooked, lol!  I found these pictures of Rebecca on my memory card and realised I hadn't scrapped them yet.

For this card, I stamped the vase image from the SU Fun and Fast Notes set, first on one piece of patterned paper, then again on a different one.  I cut out some of the little flowers and layered then on with dimensionals, so it looks like a decoupage piece.  I think this might be my new favourite things to do with stamps (although I think that about every new thing I try!).  I will be adding some gems to the centre of all the small flowers, but ran out of glue dots!

 

Finally my new bank card turned up, so at least I can go into shops without wads of cash in my pocket now!  I had completely forgotten how annoying it is to have to queue up inside the bank all the time to get money out, so spoilt are we with cash machines and cashback, lol! 

My new phone arrived too, so I'm busy playing around with all the features, like texting my tweets to Twitter, and probably will still be messing around with it for the next hour or so, when I'll no doubt get bored, lol!  I can recieve tweets as text messages too, so it will make keeping up with my friends easier:)

I hope you all have a wonderful Bonfire Night!  I shall be watching the fireworks from my windowsxx
 

Another card to share today.  I seem to be going through a flower and butterfly phase at the moment, everything I do seems to have either or both on them!

I made these butterflies with the SU Flight of the Butterfly set and the matching butterfly punch.  It's great to be able to stamp and then just punch out your designs after.  What a shame they can't do that for all the stamps, although I guess we'd need an awful lot of punches then, lol!

I'm running out of storage space for stash now, and have been really eager to make lots of cards to use some of it up.  Now though, I'm running out of space to keep all the cards!  It's a bit of a vicious circle really, lol.  Hopefully, sales will pick up at FOLKSY and I might sell some, only one item has found a new home at the moment, which is a bit disheartening.  Either that, or we need to move!

Yesterday, Rebecca left for her school trip to Butlins.  They have a whole week of activities there, most of which are learning based, but they have use of all the facilities and evening entertainment too.  She rang me yesterday evening to say she'd arrived safely and was looking forward to dinner, rofl - that's Rebecca for you!  

Anyway, off to do a bit more creating:)  Have a lovely Tuesday, and I hope the weather is a bit brighter where you are.  Rainy and cold here.xx
 

Another card to share today.

I love how this one turned out:)  Hope the recipients do too!  I gave the card some depth by using felt on it, there's also ribbon, gems and my favourite santa image from SU.  I made a matching tag to go on a present too, as I think it looks nice when things go together.

Yesterday was like a wasted day here.  I was waiting for my shopping to arrive in the morning when I got a call from Tesco to say my card had been declined.  Knowing I had money to cover the bill, I rang my bank to see what was going on, only to find they'd put a stop on my card again due to suspected fraudulent activity.  Believe it or not, this is the third time they've done this this year!  The first time, I had a basketful of shopping in Sainsburys that I then couldn't pay for, the second I was trying to pay for things in Next, and obviously couldn't, now this. 

To say I was livid was a bit of an understatement!  Before, there was nothing fraudulent on my account, but this time, they are saying there was and they read out a couple of companies that I didn't have any dealings with.  Somehow though, it didn't ring true, as they were legitimate companies and I can't see why they would flag them, also, nothing fraudulent has actually gone through my account!  Why on earth they can't just contact me beforehand and ask if transactions are correct or not I'll never know.  The first couple of times they lied, said they'd sent a letter (never ever received) and the second that they'd rung and spoken to me (hmm, think I would have remembered that).  This time, the guy didn't have an answer at all!  Anyway, the long and short of it means I now have to wait for a new card to arrive (fun hey, with the postal strike!), and can't do anything online:(  I actually had to traipse all the way into town to physically get money out of the bank so I can get some shopping ( would have been nice if they hadn't closed my local branch grrrrrrr!)

Well, rant over, lol!  I hope your Friday is going well:)xx
 

Time ran away with me yesterday and I never managed to post this recipe.  It's really delicious though, and if you like butternut squash, I bet you'll love it!

Stuffed Butternut Squash

INGREDIENTS

• 2 butternut squash
• Jar of green pesto
• 1 onion
• 250g cherry tomatoes
• 6 rashers of streaky bacon
• 80g baby spinach
• 80g feta cheese
• 2tbsp pine nuts

Cut the butternut squash in half and scoop out all the seeds with a spoon.  Make crosses over the cut sides and brush with some pesto.  Cover with foil and bake in the oven for around 1 hour, or until they are tender.

Peel the onion and cut it into chunks.  Add it to a roasting tin with a teaspoon of olive oil, and the rashers of bacon, cut into pieces.  Cook for 20 minutes, then add 2 tablespoons of pesto, the cherry tomatoes, halved, spinach, pine nuts and crumbled feta. 

Remove the squash from the oven, and scoop out a little more of the flesh, adding it to the roasting tin.  Mix together, then stuff the mixture equally into the squash halves.  Bake for a further 10 minutes then serve.

This really is an easy recipe, and I'd definitely use it for feeding lots of people as it's so easy to double or triple the quantities.

Off to get on with some housework now, a neccessity as we have visitors due tomorrow.  Is it awful to say I'd much rather be crafting?!

Have a great Thursday!xx 

I gave up on trying to keep the house tidy today. It's completely pointless when the children are marching their friends through every 5 minutes (and, it puts paid to me having a pyjama day too!).  Instead, I made some more cards.

This one is a gift card holder, which I'm always in need of at Christmas as that's all people seem to want nowadays.

The inside has this pocket to hold the giftcard.

I made a few of these so I'd have a supply handy, although the way Royal Mail are going it'll probably be quicker to send things by pigeon!  Isn't it the worst thing ever to be waiting for post?

Back tomorrow with a delicious dinner recipe. Have a lovely afternoon:)xx 

I thought it was about time I joined in with some challenges to help keep my mojo flowing, and I found this one called CUTE CARD THURSDAY.  I particularly liked this site, as there are no sketches to follow, just a theme.  This week, the topic was candy/sweet based cards.  I decided to use an icecream on this first card, very sweet!  Then decided to make a second and used a cupcake - even sweeter!:)

The first is for the challenge.

I can honestly say I'm having sooo much fun making cards that I'm wondering if I'll ever go back to scrapbooking!  Instead of piles of layouts everywhere, there are now piles of cards, lol.  Still, I'm using up my vast stash supplies, so I suppose that's the main thing.

Anyway, lots and lots to do today so must dash.  Have a great day everyone:)xx  

These are the items I have been working on this week.  Well, there are just six of them, 3 in this style and 3 in another, which I haven't quite finished yet.  You might remember I made similar ones for the Creative World site a while back.

I really enjoy making them and handstitching the design on after, but 6 in a week is probably my limit!  I uploaded this design to my FOLKSY shop today.

Back on Monday with some more crafting.  Have a lovely weekend:)xx 

Oooh, I just HAD to share this delicious recipe with you.  Double Choc Cheesecake, or Heaven on a Plate as I have dubbed it!  Yum Yum Yum!

DOUBLE CHOC CHEESECAKE

INGREDIENTS

• 75g dark chocolate, chopped
• 50g butter
• 200g digestive biscuits, finely crushed
• 300g vanilla white chocolate
• 2x250g tubs of mascarpone
• 3-4tbsp Amaretto liqueur
• 1stp vanilla extract
• 284ml pot double cream
• 1-2 chocolate flakes, broken up

Grease a deep 23cm springclip tin, or one with removeable sides.  Melt the dark chocolate and butter in a bowl, either over simmering water, or in the microwave.  When melted, stir in the crushed biscuits.  Press the mixture evenly into the base of the tin and chill in the fridge.

For the filling, melt the white chocolate and leave to cool slightly.  In a large bowl, mix the mascarpone with the liqueur and vanilla extract.  In another bowl, whip the double cream until soft peaks form.  Whisk the cooled white chocolate and the mascarpone mix into the cream and spoon onto the biscuit base. Place in the fridge for around 4 hours or until set, then scatter the crumbled up flakes over the top before serving.

Honestly, you just have to try this one!  I know it's not good for the waistline (or the arteries!), but once in a while won't hurt (wink wink), and you only need a small slice as it's very rich.

Well, back to the grindstone, busy busy with a project I'll share tomorrow.  Hope you're all having a great day:)xx

Now, I promised a mega crafting post via Twitter a few days back, and true to my word, here it is!

Lots and lots of lovely things to share, which I could have spread over a few posts, but decided to bombard you with all at once!

First though, would you please go and have a look HERE , let me know what you think and maybe bookmark it for future use, or buy something now, don't let me stop you, lol!

So, yes, my Folksy shop was the new little venture I was working on. I have to say, I found the site quite by accident when I was looking for something in google and thought how wonderful it was that a UK version of Etsy existed!  I've been beavering away for the last fortnight to get things ready for it, and finally got things finished today - yipee!  Now I just hope someone buys something, I need some pennies to top up my essential Christmas food fund ( you know, chocolates, candy canes, that kind of thing!).

Here are the items I've made for the shop with details of all the Stampin' Up! goodies used.

I'm in love with my Christmas Tag Planners!  Will I actually want to sell any I wonder, as they look so nice piled up here on my desk, lol!

• Christmas tree stamp from the Season of Joy set 110384
• Reindeer stamp from the Winter Post set 111780
• North Pole stamp from the Perfect Presents set 111272
• Label from the Frames with a Flourish set 113496
• Tab from the Totally Tabs set 113520
• Round Tab Punch 109974
• Real Red Ink 109924
• Glorious Green Ink 109929
• Old Olive Ink 110076
• Close to Cocoa Ink 110066

I wanted to highlight the Totally Tabs set here, as it's so easy to use.  You just stamp out the decorative finish you want, then use the Round Tab Punch to get that perfect tab shape.  Easy peasy!  I can see so many posibilities for this, like dividing mini books.

My other planner was made in the same way, but with a differently designed front cover.

• Santa stamp, Reindeer Stamp and Tree stamp from A Holly, Jolly Christmas set 111558
• Snowflake stamp from Winter Post set 111780
• Real Red Ink 109924
• Garden Green Ink 110069
• Close to Cocoa Ink 110066
• Brilliant Blue Cardstock 109979
• Glorious Green Cardstock 109958
• White Embossing Powder 109932
• Heat Tool 110197

Could you tell that the cover sheet has an acetate overlay?  For my first planner, I used a premade sheet, but didn't have enough to use for this set, so I got creative and made my own.  I used the snowflake stamp on a sheet of transparency, then smothered it with White Embossing Powder and heat set it with my gun.  It looks and feels beautiful!  I'll be using this technique again to make overlays for my scrapbook pages and cards, it's much cheaper than buying preprinted ones!

And now for some cards!  I won't show close ups of these as I'll be here forever, but there are some in my FOLKSY SHOP (YES, another shameless plug, lol!).

• Whisper White Grosgrain Ribbon 110046
• Tree stamp from Old Fashioned Christmas set 103020
• Spiral punch 109973
• Garden Green Ink 110069

I kept this card on the simple side to show you don't need much to make a lovely design.  The Old Fashioned set of stamps makes it really easy, add a bit of ribbon and some holes with the spiral punch and voila!

• Santa stamp, Christmas Wishes Stamp and Holly Leaves stamp from Old Fashioned Christmas set 103020
• Round 1- 3/4" Circle Punch
• Real Red Ink 109924
• Basic Black Ink 110057
• Old Olive Ink 110076

I LOVE this Old Fashioned stamp set.  LOVE, LOVE LOVE It!

• Santa, Reindeer and Tree Stamps from A Holly, Jolly Christmas set 111588
• Real Red Ink 109924
• Glorious Green Ink 109929
• Close to Cocoa Ink 110066

• Tree and Sentiment stamp from Season of Joy set 1100384
• Real Red Ink 109924
• Garden Green Ink 110069

• Santa stamp from A Holly, Jolly Christmas set 111558
• Tree stamp and Mix and Mingle stamp from Perfect Presents set 111272
• Real Red Ink 109924
• Garden Green Ink 110069

• Hugs and Kisses stamp from Love You Much set 113756
• Flower stamp from Live Your Dream set 111486
• Thank You stamp from Wonderful Words set 103875
• Brilliant Blue Ink 109903

 

• Hugs and Kisses stamp from Love You Much set 113756
• Flower stamp from Live Your Dream set 111486
• Love stamp from Wonderful Words set
• Pink Passion Ink 109921

And...I do believe that's it!!  Phew, I won't save them all up next time, lol!  Can you tell how much fun I'm having with the stamping though?  Seriously, my desk area hasn't been cleared of them since my last blog post!  I'm whirring with ideas for more cards and projects too, I feel craft invigorated!!

I actually want to share some recipes and talk about X-Factor and stuff, but I think I'll go on waaay to long if I do, so I'll just drop in another Stampin' Up! snippet and save the rest for another day.

First, I have a limited number of the latest paper catalogues here.  They usually cost £4.95 + postage, but I'll send them to my blog friends for just £2 with free postage.  It's lovely to look at the images close up, and the book has some nice design ideas.  Just drop me an email if you're interested to:-psealey@blueyonder.co.uk

Second, Stampin' Up! have a great Christmas promotion going.  If you buy goods totalling £45.00 from their Christmas Gift Giving Guide, you'll receive a FREE Tag or Small Tag punch worth £12.50!  If you are interested in this promotion, let me know and I'll email you the guide.

Have a super weekend everyone, and don't forget to vote for your favourite in X Factor!xx

Sorry for my lack of blogging, but my braincells are in meltdown at the moment!  I promise to be back soon with lots of crafting and some news of another new venture:)

I hope you are all well!xx