Dusting off the Notebooks

Hi there!

I have a special project to share today - it's special because I made these to be given to good friends. I altered hardcover notebooks. I sure hope they like them!

I went a bit crazy with the chipboard on these and I love the result! I first gessoed all the chipboard then I applied sprays, paints, inks and Beck BT's Tinby Designs Metallic Melts. I layered the chippies up, using shapes that complement each other.

The background and the back page are made with gesso and sprays. The sprays remained tacky on top of the gesso so I gave everything a light coat of matt sealer. This also should help protect the fine chippies.

And a close-up:

By using a range of products on the chippies I was able to get that distressed, shabby look.

The Dusty Attic products I used on the blue book are:

Dusty in Colour Oceania DA 0912

Vine frames #1 DA1191

Swirly Vine #4 small

Mini Alarm Clocks DA 1063 

Vintage keys DA0392

Flutterbies #1 DA 0389

Elegant Swirl #13 DA 1133

The chippies I used on the pink book are:

Dusty in Colour Dusty Pink DA 0907

Vine Frames #1 DA 1191 (vine and waste)

Flutterbies #1 DA 0389

Elegant Swirl # 13 DA 1133

Ornate Crosses DA 1083

Hinges DA 0509

I hope you enjoyed this. Maybe you could make a Dusty gift for someone!

Happy scrappin'!

Heather

Scrapbooking Memories Vol 14, No 7

Gosh – sometimes time just gets away on me. I feel like I never have enough time to update my blog as often as I’d like. Life’s like that I guess!

I’m trying to get all my previously published layouts onto my blog. I think layouts often look quite different on a screen that they do on a magazine page – sometimes better and sometimes worse.

Here are some that were published in Scrapbooking Memories, Vol 14, No 7:

I enjoy throwing in a bit of humour into layouts. The words “cat in a box” reminded me so much of Dr Suess that I had to use this idea somehow. I wrote a Dr Suess-sounding poem and used this as an extended title. I fell in love with these BasicGrey papers at the time and I still adore them.

Another double layout in that mag was “The Triffid Trees”.

I told a rather lengthy story on this one about how the “Triffid Tree” that we planted tried to take over our back yard. I really liked using the colour grey in this layout, which is not a colour I use very often. Want up update on Triffid Tree number 3? It’s growing new leaves at a rapid rate in this warm, wet spring we’re having and is looking very healthy.

I also had an OTP project in this edition. It’s my “Family Keyring Album”. Here’s the front page:

You can get these clips in many colours is hardware stores. Simply take a basic tag shape, decorate it as you like and give it a coat of something to protect it from wear and tear if it’s going to be hung on a keyring or bag where it could get knocked around a bit. I used Mod Podge but you could also laminate the tags then put larger embellishments on top if you prefer.

Here are some of the pages:

And last, but not least, I was honoured to be asked to participate in SBM’s “Easy as 1,2, 3 Challenge”. I had to make a layout and a card from a sketch. Here’s what I came up with:

 

I love scrapping pics of my kids when they were little. I hadn’t discovered scrapping then and I think cute kids make the best scrapping subjects (especially when they’re your own!) I tucked journaling tags behind the backing to the photo and concertinaed the strips of paper to create a sunrays effect.

Here’s the card:

You know what I just realised? I used the same line of BasicGrey paper in four out of these five projects! It’s not obvious as there was quite a range of designs in that line. And you know what’s more amazing? The remaining layout (Triffid Trees) is also made using a line of BasicGrey papers! I know I’m a BasicGrey fan but I didn’t realise how much I use them!

Thanks for looking.

Heather

My Manor House Creations Intro

Manor House Creations have started to introduce the new design team on their blog: manorhousecreationsblog.com Gwen Wruck and I are the lucky first ones to be introduced.

One of the items I did for my application was an OTP project. I made this as a housewarming present for my sister- and brother-in-law who coincidentally moved into their new home yesterday!

The Twiddleybitz Fantasy Shadow Frame was perfect for housing the cute little house and sentiment. I then framed it all with my favourite Manor House Creations flowers. The brown flowers and leaves were white and I sprayed them with Dylusions ink spray. The smaller coffee-coloured flower in the top right corner is actually the centre of the same type of flower that's in the bottom left corner. I so love the lacy petals on these!

Here are some close ups:

We're off to the in-laws' new home for dinner tonight so I hope they like their housewarming present!

I went to Paperific yesterday, the largest scrapping expo in Melbourne. Manor House Creations had a stand there and it looked amazing. It was lovely to hear all the excited comments as ladies discovered the beautiful flowers. Letting a large number of scrappy women near a display of Manor House flowers was like releasing a box of moths near a light. It's a good thing we're a civil lot or there could have been injuries! Lol!

Heather
xx

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