T for Tuesday

There is a coffee shop hubby and I love having breakfast at called Coffee Club. There is one near work and we decided on Sunday to go and have breakfast before my shift started. I chose the Gourmet French toast with peaches, it was divine with maple syrup. Hubby chose ham and cheese croissant which looks abit sick because of the way it was reheated.

I love their plate with the message WHERE WILL I MEET YOU? so cute isn't it? Of course I had to have my English Breakfast tea.

Since the last T hop I made a one layer Christmas card HERE

I shared some exciting news HERE and HERE, I hope you will all be able to come and play with me next year, and you can win some gorgeous craft prizes when you play along.

An un thinkable tragedy happened in Australia on Monday 15th, we had a hostage siege at a Lindt Cafe in Martin Place in the heart of the business district in downtown Sydney. I have family and one of my daughters lives there and works right in the area it happened. Tragically we have two heroes who died trying to save other hostages. This is a sea of flowers left by well wishers, it is almost as huge as the flowers left at Buckingham Palace when Lady Diana died. You can read some of the rolling coverage HERE

Joining Elizabeth and Bluebeard for T for Tuesday

WOYWW # 289

I have no idea why this photo is so dark around the outside of the desk lamp., all the lights were on in the room, probably just the angle of the camera. Trying to use Tim Holtz Chevron die, lesson learnt, leave the cut pieces in when you die-cut. It was like trying to put a puzzle piece together. 

Now this photo is taken in the same light from the other side of the loooong desk. I was doing some laminating as well and you can see stamps from Darkroom Door and Ryn's wonderful water droplet stamps which is still in pristine condition (unstamped LOL).

Since the last desk hop I made a one layer Christmas card HERE. I shared some exciting news HERE and HERE, I hope you will all be able to come and play with me next year, and you can win some gorgeous craft prizes when you play along.

An un thinkable tragedy happened in Australia on Monday 15th, we had a hostage siege at a Lindt Cafe in Martin Place in the heart of the business district in downtown Sydney. I have family and one of my daughters lives there and works right in the area it happened. Tragically we have two heroes who died trying to save other hostages. This is a sea of flowers left by well wishers, it is almost as huge as the flowers left at Buckingham Palace when Lady Diana died. You can read some of the rolling coverage HERE

Joining Julia's Stamping Ground for this weekly desk hop

Design Team Announcement - One Layer Christmas Cards

I have more wonderful news to share today. 

I will be designing for 

One Layer Christmas Cards in 2015

Here are the rest of the Design Team Members

Bridget Larsen

Lee-Anne Cross

Kim Makortoff

Nonni Niskanen

Susan Joyce

Vicki Dutcher

Vickie Yeakley

Why don't you come a long and play, what better way to get your Christmas cards done throughout the year than to play in an all year Christmas card challenge.

Design Team Announcement - Red Carpet Studio

I have some wonderful news to share. I have been accepted into the 

Red Carpet Studio Design Team for 2015.

I look forward to seeing your projects in the challenges

The New Design Divas are:

Bridget

Candice

Devra

Kathryn

Leslie

Robin

Returning Design Divas are:

Angela

Connie

Nadine

Stephanie

Tammy

Tonya

Come along and play with us, put on your best Red Carpet gown and win prizes along the way

Less is More Week 202 - One layer Challenge - Snow

This is my entry to Less is More card challenge this week.

A quick and easy one layer card.

Stamp It: Christmas and New Year and Holly stamps

Versa Magic: Cloud White chalk ink

Bazzill: Black cardstock
Kaisercraft: Rhinestones Red

Miscellaneous: Christmas Washi tape

WOYWW # 288

What's on my desk this week.

Some challenges I was making beside the tissue box. 

Tim Holtz Christmas and Chevron die

Darkroom Door stamps 

Designs by Ryn stamps

Ink pads

Couture Creations dies and embossing folders

Craft Projects I've made last week can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE

Some of you may not know but google have put on your blogs that house number verification code. To take that off just change your comments/email to embed.

Joining Julia's Stamping Ground for some nosy desk hopping

T for Tuesday

 We planted some chilli trees and tomato and blueberries a few weeks ago, these are the results

I then realised I had enough colours and shapes to make a smiley face.

This is our miniature garden, you can see sage, mint, rosemary, curry leaf, blueberry and more.

For some unknown reason Google has decided they would like to make my blog safe so they have introduced unbeknownst to me the reCAPTCHA facility where you have to type in a housenumber. I have not discovered how to remove it yet. Thanks Elizabeth for bringing it to my attention. I have noticed most blogs have it now.

Linking up with Bluebeard and Elizabeth's T for Tuesday

Elf-Red Carpet Studio Challenge # 84

My design for Red Carpet Studio as a Design Team Member is a Christmas

layout of this cute little Elf Ava, isn't she just adorable!

Run over to 

Red Carpet Studio Challenge #84

an enter your project to win a prize and also a Guest Designer spot in 2015

This movie is about Buddy who was accidentally transported to the North Pole as a toddler and raised to adulthood among Santa's elves. Unable to shake the feeling that he doesn't fit in, the adult Buddy travels to New York, in full elf uniform, in search of his real father. 

THE CHALLENGE: CREATE A PROJECT INSPIRED BY THE HOLIDAY SEASON

Christmas Card

This is my entry for Muse Challenge inspired by Vicki Dutcher

Thank you all for voting for my previous entries.

Linking up with Muse Challenge # 96

by Vicki Dutcher

Also linking up with Kylie's Christmas Card Challenge ends 21st December

prize is a watermark signature by Kylie Purtell 

And Vandicrafts Artistry Challenge # 20-anything goes with a twist

Couture Creations Christmas Lyrics embossing folder

Imaginecrafts/Tsukineko Memento Rhubarb Stalk ink

Kaisercraft Pearls

Miscellaneous ribbon, jewels, kraft and red cardstock

Lumiere Pearl Emerald green paint.

Twiddleybitz chipboard

Swiped the inkpad across the embossed card.

Embossed kraft cardstock, swiped inkpad over cs gently. Use dauber to ink chipboard-let stand to dry. Adhere all the pieces together.

EDITED 10 Dec...thanks for voting everyone my card got Honourable Mention

One Layer Card - Bleach Technique

Bleaching technique

Image is embossed to retain the lines, use a brush you won't need again and brush on undiluted bleach. When the bleach is dry, colour one of the leaves with H20 to bring it out and give it dimension.

The trick is to use an inferior quality card stock, usually found in Australian newsagents, good quality card stock will not bleach well. Or if you look at a piece of card stock side on you will see the middle is a different colour, that is the best card stock to use.

Linking up to One Layer Card

One Layer Card Alcohol inks

Made this card using alcohol inks on gloss card, micro-beads and glitter

linking up with One Layer Cards

WOYWW # 287

 This is what you will find on my desk, hanging holding my glass or cuppa, its a wonderful invention. I too off the rubbish bag as I have lots and only need it for the cup holder for now. If I go to stamp days or retreats I will take the full kit with me.

My newest purchases, love them all, need to get busy and craft now.

For those of you who want to see what I have created this week check them out

HERE-Chipboard and HERE-One Layer Card and HERE-Muse Challenge

Joining Julia's Stamping Ground for more desk dumping

T for Tuesday- Recipe and storm

I found a recipe to make cranberry pickle from the Odd Pantry.   It is awesome. I used dried cranberries as I have never seen fresh ones.

Cranberry Pickle

Makes 1 cup

225g (½  lb.) fresh cranberries (I used dried)

1 tbsp salt

1 tbsp red chilli powder or to taste ( I used a achar mix store bought)

1 tbsp fenugreek seeds (Had no fenugreek so I used black mustard seeds)

1 cup or more mustard oil

Dry cranberries completely and cut each in half. Toss with salt and chilli. Lay them on a non-reactive tray in one layer, cover with cheesecloth and sun for a couple of days and toss with a clean spoon. Over the days the salt will draw out the moisture and air-dry the cranberries. After 3 -7 days they will look dehydrated and shrivel. Pound fenugreek sees in a mortar and pestle or in a clean coffee grinder. Mix in with cranberries. Place cranberries into a sterilized glass jar. Heat mustard oil in a pot and pour into jar with cranberries.

Cover and enjoy. No need to refrigerate.

Last thursday 27 November we had a flash storm, I went outside and got a photo of it approaching, luckily I was at home to close all the windows. It hailed the size of 20c pieces in our area but other areas did not fare well and got golf size or tennis ball size hail.  Lots of damage amounting to $200 million dollars in the whole state. 50 suburbs were affected. Power went out for other suburbs for 18 hours. Because we are on the same grid as the hospital our power flashed off and back on again within 1 minute. My family were the unlucky ones.

I have been drinking lots of powerade especially at work when I work outside as I've been getting heat affected with dehydration and no matter how much water I drink I need that electrolyte or else I end up with a whopping headache.

Linking up with Bluebeard and Elizabeth for T for Tuesday.

Muse Challenge #95 Kiss Keep it Sweet & Simple

This weeks challenge on Muse Challenge is from Caroline KISS-Keep it Sweet & Simple

This is my interpretation of the challenge 

Imaginecrafts/Tsukineko: Memento Luxe Tuxedo Black, Memento Dye Ink Rhubarb Stalk
Docrafts Papermania Madame Payraud's : Tissue Paper
The Stencil Specialists: Adhesive Pearls
Judikins: Fuschia Botanical Stamp
Miscellaneous: black and red ribbon

One Layer Card

I designed this card for One Layer Card

Imaginecrafts/Tsukineko Inks: Radiant Neon Electric Blue, Electric Pink, Electric Orange. Stazon Cactus Green.

PennyBlack Stamp:  Blush.

Stamp IT Stamp: Great Love.

Want2Scrap Nestabling: Pet Scallop Circle

WOYWW #286

Not sure why I took this crooked photo LOL. Chipboard on left of table, Memento markers and ink-pads arrived today to play with. Stampendous stamps. Dies from Couture Creations to play with. Stamps by Ryn near base of tv and stamps from Stamp IT- Christmas ones. All laid out ready to be used. Healthy non caffeinated Rooibos empty pack of tea waiting for me to alter somehow. Always a clock near me hahaha. I 'm obsessed with time. See the clock on the wall near my computer in the photo below? there is also a clock near the door of the craft room so no matter where I am in my craft room I have a clock to look at. 

We finally upgraded our tv to a 55". The tv on my desk above is what we watched for years,  it is finally shutting itself on and off in this hot weather and its so small I can barely read the writing that appears on screen. So of course I inherited the tv for my craft desk so I don't have to lug the other smaller one from my computer desk over to craft desk to watch. I just need to take the antenna cord with me and plug into which tv I want to watch.

The weather is so hot these days and humid I have empty bottles that held water on my desk all consumed and my usually cup of tea. 

Cards I made this week can be found HERE and HERE- thanks to all who voted for the last card, it won top 3 in the Muse Challenge # 94. Next important voting of all is on Dec 12..come back to see that card.

Hop on over to Julia's Stamping Ground to view more desks around the world.

Gold, Black and White Christmas Card

Heartfelt Creations Decorative Leafy Frame die in black cardstock

Schmick polka dot ribbon.

Twiddleybitz Merry Christmas Card Words chipboard

Imaginecrafts/Tsukineko All Purpose Ink Frost White

Want2Scrap Nestabling Pet Scallop Circle Small silver

Kaisercraft Rhinestones Silver

Linking up to 

Christmas Card All Year Round DT Challenge 30 Nov

Stamp and Create Ribbons and Bows Challenge 30 Nov

Ooh La La Creations Challenge #170 4 Jan

Craft Dee Bowz-Anything Goes and a Handmade Bow 30 Nov

Dream Valley Challenges - Anything Goes #95 27 Nov

Clean and Simple Card

EDITED: 26 Nov thanks to all who voted, I got top 3 featured Member for this card 

I didn't have balloons of any kind but I do have lots of flower stamps, and in Australia flowers are in full bloom at Christmas time so why not make a non tradition Christmas card.

Love these flowers by Heartfelt Creations. Colours by Imaginecrafts/Tsukineko Memento Pear Tart, Rhubarb Stalk, Pistachio and Bamboo Leaves. Pearls by Kaisercraft. Verse is a die by Couture Creations. Embossing die is by Cuttlebug Provo Craft.

This is the first time I am playing in Muse Challenge # 94, this weeks inspiration is by Marion Vagg.

Also linking up with the following:

ALBC- CAS 

T for Fruitcake Drink

It's Christmas time again, that means Fruit Cake, its English tradition and being born in Fiji we take on a lot of English traditions. Now that I live in Australia the tradition is also here.

I had a grand uncle in Fiji who would bake and bake and bake light fruit cake prior to Christmas. we always looked forward to getting one of his cakes. Of course its a family secret so I don't think I will ever get it as I am not direct descendent of his.

I have googled and asked for light fruit cake recipes and have received and found a few, so I am going to try them out this year. If they turn out I'll be sharing the recipes here.

Of course the first step is to steep the mixed fruit in liqueur.

One year I soaked the fruit and never got around to making the cake..then three years passed and I finally gave the fruit to my friend and asked her to make it as I couldn't bring myself to bake...was very strange.

So the drink today is liqueur.

I took a whiff of the fruit and I nearly passed out, it was so strong and so horrid (only because I don't drink liquor). I do however know the cake is awesome and I do eat my liquor hahahahaha.

Joining Bluebeard and Elizabeth for T for Tuesday.

Edited: 26 Nov. Robyn Josephs kindly shared a recipe with me so I'll share it here for you all

Easy, Last Minute Christmas Cake

This cake has no added sugar or fat (suitable for a range of diets) but is still really sweet and rich. It should be stored in the fridge and eaten within one week.
(I baked mine on 2 days before Christmas and left on the counter by a chilly window and it was fine.)

2 cups of golden raisins
1 1⁄4 cups water and remaining liquor from the cherries and raisins.
1 and a quarter cups of white whole wheat flour or whole wheat pastry flour. 

1 1⁄2 cup dried cherries that had soaked in bourbon/rum for a few days
1 1⁄2 pecans (Don’t soak the nuts.)
2 teaspoons of baking powder
1 teaspoon of allspice
4 tablespoons of apple cider.

Heat the raisins and water until the dates are soft. Remove from heat and mash with a fork or food processor. Add all the other ingredients and mix well. Spoon into a greased tube pan ad level top*. Bake at 340F for about an hour and a half until cooked.

Once cooled the nut topping can be glazed with a little syrup (melt some sugar into hot water) or you can ice traditionally.

*I used a spring form tube pan, well greased. Also, my mother made a similar cake and always neatly placed pecan halves in the bottom of the pan, then served the cake bottom side up. The nuts made a nice decoration. 

WOYWW # 285

My desk got replaced with camping items, I was MIA last week-well my desk was MIA anyway. We went camping at Dicky Beach Family Holiday Park, for a week-oh what luxury. Hardly any cooking and if I didn't want to cook- no hassles we just went out to dinner .... and NOOOOO housework, well there was minimal-I had to sweep the leaves off the tarp and wipe the tables as we had visitors at night looking for food. a huge possum the size of a cat came visiting one night, I was too scared to go out and shoo him away. 

This was only half the stuff we took, I always forget to take a photo of the car or the trailer. 

You can read more about our holiday in this POST and this POST. 

I don't know what time today this parcel arrived but I saw it at 2pm sitting outside my craft room door. My birthday was on the 8th November and my wonderful friend Sandra Carter is too generous as well as knowing exactly what I like, it's as if we are twins. She wrapped almost everything into separate parcels and I just couldn't wait to rip into it. Funnily she buys dies I have never bought myself and she's never asked me and I've never told her what I bought so she's definitely in my head somehow knowing what I don't have LOL.

THANK YOU SANDRA, you have made my day and my whole year 

xoxoxooxo

Linking up with Julia's Stamping Ground, go and view other desks from around the world

Camping at Dicky Beach

 I love the feature on my new phone called panorama, took this pano of Dicky Beach Family Holiday Park, where we went for a week of camping last week. It was glorious weather for the first 4 days then we got a heatwave.

 This is the kitchen facilities in our area of the camp ground, very clean and the best facilities we've seen in our camping trips. There was electricity to charge phones and cameras etc. free bbqs and even a stove. a fridge and freezer to put your food in.

 This is our kitchen area all set up, to the left is the sink area. The trailer held all the excess stuff that had no room in the camping area.

 This is the sleeping area with out bargain 7 man tent we got for $80. You can see my daughters legs in black pants reclining on my beautiful camp chair recliner

 I took another pano of the stream that flows into the camp ground, it was gorgeous with rocks in it, no one swims there, it looked too dirty

 Just wanted to show off my tan that I got, I only stayed in the sun 30 mins a day, I cant stand the heat or sun baking, unlike my daughter who lay in the sun for hours, of course she has a gorgeous tan.

This is Emma my youngest, I swear she has a tan but its not so visible in this photo and neither is mine LOL.

The photo above was taken at the Belvedere hotel where we all went to celebrate my birthday on November 8th the night before we went camping. We had a platter for two and shared it amongst 3 of us, and we were all full from it. I was laughing so hard because I wanted a photo with the name of the hotel in it and there was none behind us so Michael grabbed the menu and stuck it behind my ear...see his cheeky grin!!!

You can see more of our trip HERE