Wednesday 26 August 2009

Fiskars time

Well i am about to come to the end of my time with Fiskarettes and i have enjoyed every minute of it. I love trying to think of new projects each time and getting involved with the weekly challenges.

So here is my last official project. Its a photo wallet. All the instuctions are on the fiskarettes blog, go on over to see.







And i have joined in the weekly challenge this week. The theme is the weather. I decided to scrap a rare bit of sunshine.

Do you like my large letters in this LO. I inked them, fed them thru a cuttlebug embossing folder, dry painted them in orange paint then sanded and reinked to give a distressed look.











TFL

Sarah

Friday 21 August 2009

Have i gone Ribbon Mad

I have just received a wonderful package of ribbon, buttons, flowers and embellishments from the loverly Emmma at Ribbon Mad as i am the guest designer for the month of September

You can see all the beautiful ribbons that Emmma has here soon once thbey return from their summer hols.

Here are a few sneak peaks of what i created with the kit.







Cant wait to show you the full images once the kit is reveiled.

TFL

Sarah

Saturday 15 August 2009

A Rusty LO

We have had so much rain the last week that there was nothing to do but drown my sorrows in the craft room.

So i decided to have a play at layering, inking, 3ding, sewing, you name it, i threw it at the LO, lol











I also made a sketch for the LO as i have been playing around on the laptop whilst watching the rain fall.



Off for an Early night as so tired lately. I don't know what is the matter, 8 hours sleep is not enough at the moment

Wednesday 12 August 2009

Fiskars time

The new weekly challenge has gone live on Fiskarettes. THis weeks it is sports related. I created a LO about the boys and their football love using the fiskars shape boss and star template.



And its time for my one of my monthly projects. This time i created a fun summery LO based on a fruity theme to tie in with the new fruit themed ATC swap.

I used the cherry template from the flower 2 template on this LO.



Head on over to Fiskarettes to see the full step by step instruction and join in with some summer fun.

Sarah

Rusty Pickle.......More new lines

Can you believe it, so soon after i showed you the new lines a few weeks ago, RP have released 3 more lines.

And i have to say, i just cant wait to get my mits on those.

Here is a sneak peak but you can head on over to Rusty Pickle to see them all individually







I hope you like them as much as me

sarah

Monday 10 August 2009

Scrap Schemes

Its time for scrap schemes inspiration again. Head on over to the blog here to see the scheme and all the other DT projects.

I was inspired by the grid pattern from the scheme and made a bright medly of squares. The papers are all Rusty Pickle Candyland.



TFL

Sarah

Saturday 8 August 2009

Scottish Tablet

OK, every now and again i try and master a bit of scottish cooking. Well you have to embrace the local culture. After my disatrous millionaire's shortbread a few month's ago i decided to have ago at Scottish tablet.

I searched the internet and found about 4 recipes that were all different so i joined them all togther, lol

So here goes





Ingredients

• 1kg white granulated sugar

• 1 tin (appx. 400g) sweetened condensed milk

• 100g unsalted butter

• 100 ml fresh milk to damp sugar

• 1 tea spoon vanilla essence

• quarter bar of white chocolate grated finely

Notes on ingredients

Condensed milk
This is whole milk that has been heavily sugared, and boiled down to a thick, slightly caramelized, sticky liquid. Evaporated milk doesn't give as good results.

Butter
This has to be unsalted, of the highest quality, and margarine cant be used as a substituted.

How to make vanilla sugar as an alternative to using vanilla essence

Simple, but time-consuming: Bury a dried vanilla pod deep in a bag of sugar. After a week or two, fish the pod out.

Equipment
• large pan, not non-stick
• big wooden spoon
• glass of cold water
• teaspoon
• plate, as spoon rest and tester for mixture colour.
• large shallow baking tray, carefully buttered. (I actually used my turkey roasting tin which was perfect)

Method
Damp the sugar with cold milk in the pan. Add the butter, condensed milk, chocolate and vanilla essence and turn the heat to a medium-high. I use electric and have it set to number 3

Keep stirring evenly until the mixture comes to the boil; this usually takes about ten minutes. If you start getting brownish streaks (caramel), turn the heat down a little, and keep up the stirring effort. If you get black streaks, you've burnt it, opps, you need to start again. (CAUTION, be careful here as a splash causes a nasty sugar burn, i have the blister to prove it)

Once the mixture boils, turn the heat down low, number 1. Stir occasionally to stop the mix sticking. When it's simmering, the mix can be more than twice its original volume, so let's hope you've chosen a big enough pan.

You'll notice the mixture darken slightly; keep stirring. It'll take about 20 minutes for the mix to cook.

Transfer a little of the hot mix to a teaspoon, and plunge it into cold water. It should form a soft, sticky ball that should drip off the spoon very slowly. When it does this, it's ready.

(CAUTION the goo on the spoon is very tasty, but be advised that it keeps its heat inside the glob. You can burn your tongue quite remarkably. Beware!)


Now comes the difficult bit. Take the pan off the heat, and start stirring vigorously. Try to mix in some of the crystallized mixture that has formed on the side of the pan; what we're trying to do is to get the mixture to form large enough crystals that it will set, but small enough crystals that it will still pour. Once you feel the spoon stirring slightly grittily on the base of the pan, and the mixture being slightly stiffer, it's ready to pour.

The above is much harder to explain than to do; you'll know it when you feel the change.

Quickly pour the mixture into the buttered baking tray, which should be on a level heat-resistant surface. Scrape out as much of the mixture as you can, as it will set in the pan to concrete hardness, and someone will just have to eat what's left in there.

Don't be alarmed if you see little patterns appearing on the surface as the tablet cools. It's just the sugar crystallizing. Once the mixture has fully cooled and set(usually overnight, if you can keep your paws off it that long or bang it in the fridge), slice into bars or small chunks.


Seriously not part of a calorie-controlled diet but very nice as a treat

And there you go, very simple. ITs just a case of stirring all the time and not doing other jobs inbetween, ni multi tasking when making this.

Sarah

Tuesday 4 August 2009

Some recent projects

I have been doing a few RP Projects of late. So here they are

The first is a LO of my gorgeous cousin, Sharon.

I love how this turned out with all that pink from the piarte princess collection and the flowers from the popstar range with a bit of my favourite candy land collection.



The next lot are anniversary cards as i have a few friends and familiy having anniversaries latly.









And that's it as i have a poorly dog needing some TLC and a son covered in spots, arh

TFL

Sarah

Sunday 2 August 2009

Ready, set, create

I have to point you in the direction of this great E zine that i have found. Its called ready, set, create and there is a great blog and forum to join as well. The mag is available now for $4, all the details can be found on the blog.



I have 3 LO's in it this month, lol

Take care

Sarah

Rusty Pickle Prize Sketch Challenge

Its that time of month again. Head on over to the Rusty Pickle Blog to see Beckie's wonderful sketch and all the inspiration that the DT have produced.

There are certain conditions but at the end of the month a winner will be picked who will receive a prize pack.

Here is my LO



TFL

Sarah