Baking challenge day two.

Well, I have managed  day two - phew! Never-before baked recipe for today is 

Hodge Podge.

This is a lovely cake containing dried fruit and cherries, some almonds and nutmeg. It is a tray bake and the husband has already tested and said very nice.

Next to try it on the boys. As before, I will post the full recipe on  Foody Fun by the end of the week.It is really nice to set some challenges, just to see if you can stretch yourself- however this being the day I have committed to lose 10lbs at Weight Watchers by the end of next month is probably not the best week to begin this kind of goal. Hey ho, now I have broadcast this to a certain number of people both projects will hopefully be things I can achieve!

Catch you tomorrow with day 3.xx

Baking Challenge Day One!


Today sees the beginning of National Baking Week. In celebration of this I have set myself a challenge and I am attempting to bake something every day I have not baked before.

Day One: Apple muffins.

The recipe included shredded apple and juice, brown sugar, buttermilk and honey along with wholemeal flower - I like to sprinkle some of the flour on top before I pop them in the oven. Hope to put the whole recipe and method on Foody Fun by the end of the week along with the other things I will be baking. Wish me luck.x

Catch up Monday!

Finally, I have done something about learning to crochet! I contacted - Woolyknit Crafts to find out if they do classes. Think I'll go along this Wednesday afternoon for an hour; it normally runs 2 - 5pm so will need to pick to boys up but it is a start and I'm quite excited so I'll let you know how I get on!

On my trip to the library recently, getting the boys books back, I finally had chance to have a mooch around on my own! Picked up a couple of crafty publications for some ideas for Christmas - starting to make a few lists, now I have my planner finished!

My Facebook page has been going great guns recently - more than 10 new likes over the last week or so; just wish they would ORDER something - so many people like what I do it is such a shame I cannot convert it into sales!

I currently have a sale on my Facebook page - greeting cards so why not take a look?

My Pinterest account has been attracting a lot of re-pins which is fun - see what goodies I have been looking at lately on my account.

Well, that is about it for now. xx

My first step-by-step guide to a thing!!

 

Eeeeek I have been working on this for the last couple of days and here is my step by step guide to making your own banner for Halloween. I would really appreciate your comments.

So, here it is Halloween Banner 2012.

Choose some typically coloured Halloween funky foam. Mine came from The Range.

Mark out templates according to the size you want for your banner. The bases of mine are approx. 10 cms and remember you may need a couple for spacers.

Cut our your templates and decide on the colour sequence and keep to one side.

I then used a Tim Holtz ticket and photocopied this onto craft paper and cut out, see below.

Then, I free-hand drew the letters for trick or treat onto old sheet music and cut out...

 

Use fairly strong glue to stick the tickets to the flags.

String together the flags with something like garden twine.

And there it is.

Hope you found this easy to follow and that you might have a go at making your own.

Back soon. xx

Christmas Planner

Christmas Planner Complete!!

Finally my Christmas planner is finished!

I'm really pleased with it but may add a few extra bits to it , should I find some cool papers to decorate the remaining pages.

If you remember, this is the front cover but I have modified it a little. 
Take a look at the whole thing.

Planning for Christmas 2012 here we come! 
Hope this link works as I'd really like you to see it and there are 16 photographs!

 I so love decorating for Christmas but have to get past Halloween yet!


Right leaving it at that. Back soon.x

Normal family life - as normal as it can be!

I am so glad to be back after not being around due to Alfie's leg, however the cast is off! 

Friday was the last day for me to be in school with him; the teaching staff have been so wonderful letting me hang around, being very patient with the situation and I have really enjoyed being part of the school day, helping out where I can.

He is getting around much better and was even on his trike on Saturday afternoon!

So today he is in school for his first full day!!

I am now working on getting back to my usual routine; this means looking after the house, more cooking from scratch than I have been doing of late but also, on a selfish note, having some time to myself. Hence, getting the blog back on track; a bit wordy but then I can tell you where I am at!

I am considering volunteering at school in the future, once I have got back to normal. (I know I keep going on about it but it has made things very stressful not being able to be at home to do regular jobs and I have been very tired at times.)

That time to myself does also mean doing a bit in the front garden - I have a gift voucher from my birthday to spend. But I also have a journal to complete and send to the States by the middle of October so need to get on with that ASAP! I hope to have my couple of days to work on my blog and to get into my paper crafting properly again. 
 

Halloween is only round the corner and I want to make a few new decorations. I know it is something more celebrated by the US but the kids really enjoy it and I love any excuse to decorate!

Then December 8 and 9 is the next craft fair and I'm really looking forward to that - more details to follow for your diary! I have to look at what stock I already have and think of a few new ideas to hopefully make some sales. This also means looking at cakes and bakes etc, too. I have almost finished my Christmas Planner which I can't wait to show you so I need to crack on with that as well.

Right, that will do for now and I will see you later in the week.x

 

Getting back to routine - almost! 

Last Saturday I visited the Autumn Fair in Uppermill being run by the wonderful Saddleworth Creative Network ,of which I am a member. I bought this lovely gift for a friend made by the very talented Susan Vickers. 

 

Check out her fantastic altered art and fab Steampunk items here.

 I really missed not taking part in this one but look out for our next event on December 8th and 9th to get all your Christmas goodies - details to follow soon but I will be there on the Sunday!!

Now the boys are in school again and in a bit of a routine (?) I've decided to pitch for journal orders and also for cakes and bakes. I have posted on my Cards, Cakes and Bakes Facebook page, see the link on the right, and on Twitter. I am also planning the contents of hampers to make to order like I did last year (one of my hampers was one of the first photos I posted on my blog) so will give details of that soon, too.

The weather has been a little up and down recently but here are my boys playing together  beautifully and having tea outside last Saturday amongst all the, gladly pegged out, washing like today!

Well, that is all I have time for at the moment, apart from to say my boy Harry was a big six years old on Wednesday. How gorgeous is he?

See you next week, soon will be back on track.xx