On my Soapbox

Well I have something different to talk about today scrappy friends! I often find myself in discussions with people about our wonderful Aussie scrapping magazines. I've been amazed at the number of times lately that people have made comments like, "Oh is that edition out already?" (it came out three weeks ago) or "my local newsagent didn't have any copies left" or "I keep forgetting to buy it".

I'd just like to say one word to all those people - subscriptions!

Subscribing to our mags has soooo many advantages:

• It is usually significantly cheaper - prices can be 30 or 40% of the retail price. Postage is free.
• You can choose to pay more (but still less than you would pay in a shop) and receive amazing freebies. Just keep your eyes open for deals.
• The mag arrives in your letterbox as soon as it's released. Sometimes this is even before the newsagents have it on sale.
• You don't have to remember to drop into the shop for it.
• You will never miss out again!

We are so fortunate in this country to have three wonderful magazines dedicated to our craft. The three are all different to each other but all provide inspiration, info on new products, news in the industry and are full of fabulous ideas.

Here are the links:

Scrapbooking Memories

Click here for online subscriptions or phone 1800-801 647 or email subs@magstore.com.au

Australian Scrapbook Ideas

Click here for online subscriptions or phone 07-3160 9940 

Scrapbook Creations

Click here for online subscriptions or phone 1300-303 414 or email mailorder@universalmagazines.com.au

And to those scrappers in other countries, all of our wonderful mags post overseas. Just contact them to find out if yours is one of the countries they post to.

OK - I'll get off my soapbox now!

Hapy Scrappin'!

Heather

The New Look Scrapbook Creations

Well, after much anticipation, the new look Scrapbook Creations magazine is out! I have my copy already - don't you love subscriptions? - and it looks fabulous. And guess what? My work is in it!

Here's the front cover of the mag:

And here's a sneak peek of my project:

You can find the Scrapbook Creations blog here and a really cool digital sample of the mag here.

Cheers!
Heather

50 Posts and 5,000 Page Views!

I hope you've had a good week everyone.

I was putting up my last post and realised I have put 50 posts on my blog. I can't believe it! Coincidentally  I also just had my 5,000th view so that's got to be some sort of milestone.

I thought I should do something to celebrate. I remembered how I really enjoyed looking through other blogs at the end of last year where people listed their top 10 favourite layouts for the year so I thought I'd do this. I've gone through all my posts and picked out my 10 favourites pages. I can't believe how hard this was! There are layouts that I love because I think they look great but there are others that I love because they record a special memory or have some other significance.

So, without further ado, here they are.

In tenth position:

This was a page that was quick and simple to make and I really love the result. I made it for my Design Team work at Scrap Everything! using the KaiserCraft Secret Admirer Collection. This layout also brings back fantastic memories of Mykonos!

In ninth place:

I love the retro feel of this one and the funny story behind it - when my son was 2 he couldn't blow his candles out because he couldn't blow properly! This layout was published in Scrapbooking Memories Vol 14, No 12.

In eighth spot:

I made this one for my DT application for Manor House Creations. The photo is of my mum when she was a young teen. It's such a stunning photo. I went with the colour purple as it's mum's favourite colour. I really like the unique frame I created with covered wire adorned with flowers.

In seventh place:

I really love this as not only does it look great but it holds all the secrets to my very versatile casserole recipe. I made this for my sister-in-law when she had just had her third child. I figured she needed all the short cuts in the kitchen she could get! For more pics (and the recipe) go to here. It was published in Scrapbook Creations.

In sixth place:

I struggled with which of my Masters' layouts to put up here. I couldn't make 4 out of my 10 favourites layouts from my Masters application! In the end I went with two of them.
I love this one for the stunning photo of my daughter and the acrylic flower frame. My daughter doesn't often let me take 'nice' photos of her but on this occasion she just had her lovely long hair cut short and she loved it so was happy for me to take a pic.

In fifth place is another Masters layout:

The pastel colours really didn't show up well in the mag on this one. I loved the old pics of me and I was really pleased with the multi-layered tags I placed behind each photo. There's a lot on this page so for more info see here

In fourth position:

This gorgeous pic is of my nephew Archie, who has featured in a few of my layouts. I loved experimenting with sprays and stencils on this one. It was published in Scrapbook Creations Issue No 95.

In third place:

Again, I love it when I can get good pics of my daughter! I love the rich colours in this one. Those Bo Bunny papers are just awesome! The black Manor House flowers finished off the page nicely. And just to show how fickle it can be trying to get layouts published, this one wasn't accepted by the mags and it's my third favourite!

In second place:

This is another one I did for Scrap Everything! Although this is a simple page, it really speaks to me. I'm not sure why. I don't even remember where these pics were taken. Somehow it just seems to work.

And finally, here's my number one pick from my first 50 blog posts:

I made this layout a while ago and the products were older ones even then. I still love it though! It was published in Scrapbooking Memories Vol 14, No 10.

Hope you've enjoyed this. I had fun putting it together!

Heather     

It's all about the layers...

Hi everyone!

I've just got back from holidays and I've had serious scrapping withdrawals! I haven't scrapped for three weeks and I'm itching to get back into it!

I hope everyone with school -aged kids or grandkids got to do something fun over the school hols with their young ones.

Here's a layout that was published a while ago in Scrapbook Creations magazine. I really love this one. The photo is a rare one of my gorgeous nephew actually pausing for a moment. His mum took the pic and I think it's a stunner.

I went to town with layering mists and masks on this one. Working out which layer to put where so each would be seen in the right way was a real brain strain! You have to think about every detail before you spray as it's so easy to get it wrong and spray over a bit you wanted kept clear.

Here's the layout:

I had fun "extending" the rail he is leaning on. I cut a strip of cardstock to size and used it as a mask. I used lots of things I had lying around as masks - paper circles, cogs, die-cut shapes - anything was fair game. The swirl shape under the photo is actually made using the plastic backing of a self-adhesive felt shape. I then added heaps of stamps.

Here are some close-ups:

The placement of many of my elements was decided upon by my unique high-tech method - I simply placed them wherever I mucked up the stamping! I had a few issues with one of the stamps in particular so there were a few places that needed fixing. I placed embellishments over them and I really liked the end result! From memory, I think the "snapshots" sticker, the green star and the green arrow all hid mistakes. As Katherine, the owner of Scrapeverything! says, "there are no mistakes in scrapping, only opportunities".

Better go now - the scrap room calls!

Heather

The Busy Cook's Secret Book

Hi everyone.
I made a recipe book and it was published in Scrapbook Creations a while ago. The book was called "The Busy Cook's Secret Book" because it contained a special recipe that could be changed to make many different meals. I should point out I'm not the world's best cook. The way I see it, anything that takes me out of the kitchen and gives me more time to get into the scrap room has to be a good thing!
I used October Afternoon's "Modern Homemaker" range of papers and chipboard which worked beautifully with the theme.
Here's the cover:

To enhance the "secret' theme I used flaps and envelopes to hide messages in and under.

I can hear you now - yes that book is all very lovely but "What's the secret recipe?" For the first time ever, by popular demand, only to be found on Heather's blog, here it is - the one and only "Secret Recipe"! 

Ingredients

1.5kg diced beef - chuck, blade or any any similar cut will do

1 - 2 large onions, chopped

1 leek, sliced

2 cloves garlic, crushed

4 sticks of celery, sliced

4 large carrots, chopped any way you like

Other vegetables (depending on which version you are making - see later notes)

2 x 425 grams cans of diced tomatoes

1/2 cup red wine

1 cup beef stock

some olive oil

Method

1. Brown beef in small batches in olive oil in a frying pan.

2. Transfer beef to a large pot and add all other ingredients.

3. Bring to a boil then reduce heat and simmer, covered, for at least an hour. Remove lid and simmer for another half an hour.

THAT'S IT!

However, knowing the recipe is only half the secret. Knowing what to do with it is the other half. The trick is to convert the basic recipe to create something that appears to be completely different. The above recipe should feed a family of 4 twice, so make one half with one flavour, and the other half with another flavour and serve the second one a couple of days later. Your family will think you spent hours making the second dish. 

Here are some of the alteration options:

Here are some other ideas:

Thai

Add a jar of your favourite curry paste. Add capsicum, potatoes and peas to a green curry and pumpkin to a yellow or massaman curry. Top with peanuts and coriander. Serve with rice.

Indonesian

Add rendang paste. Use less veges and serve with rice and salad.

Mum's old fashioned curry

Brown Keens Curry in the pot with a bit of oil before adding the rest of casserole. Add sultanas and diced apple right at the end. 

Other meats

Chicken works really well, either in whole joints or diced. Cook for about half the time you would cook the beef dish for. Think chicken cacciatore,  chicken curries, chicken pies etc...

Lamb is great, particularly with Middle Eastern dishes. Cook as for beef.

Vegetarian

My daughter is a vegetarian and I have no trouble adapting this recipe for her. In a separate pot I use all the same ingredients except the meat. I make sure I add some sort of protein - chick peas for Middle Eastern, lentils or chick peas for Indian, tofu for Asian etc. Nuts are good as well.

Well there you have it. My secret recipe is secret no more!

I hope you all enjoy it.

This blog was especially for you Helen T!

Heather