Red Velvet Loaf Cake

I saw this recipe in the Top Billing magazine of November 2011 and I couldn't resist!

There is buttermilk in the mix, there is cream cheese in the icing

and it is all dressed up with a blueberry compote..... 

and how can anyone say: "I don't want to have any, because then I will get fat!"

Well, if you are on a diet (hopefully not for life)

do as the French do

take three bites

and hopefully you won't crave more tomorrow, when your chance has gone!

xx

Papier Plesier - Love & Friendship

 We are hard at work in preparation for our next teaching event
taking place on 4 February.

 Elna's project - 3 Friendship Canvasses

Benice's project - Love in a Tin

 To make it even more special, our hostess for the day will be
Jaclyn Venter from Scrap It / Plak Dit fame!  How cool is that?

Click here for more information.

Wishing you a day filled with colour...

Soldered Bottle Pendant

Crystal beads, pearls and rayon ribbon forms the basis of this neck piece.

The small bottle's cap is removed and then soldered close and decorated with a piece of silver wire.

Inside the little bottle is a secret message on a piece of music paper.

Three small glass beads creates a bit of movement inside the bottle.

Remember that flux is your friend when you solder.

Thanks to everyone that attended the class on Saturday,

we really enjoyed having you!

Our cure for the Most Depressing Week of the Year

According to the people that know (Wikipedia), this is the most depressing week of the year. 

Many of us have more days left till payday, than money left in the bank!?
Here in South Africa it is also the start of the new school year, which goes with having to buy loads and loads of stationery, school uniforms and to top it all, pay the school fees!?

That is why I thought I will "gift" you with something that does not cost anything.  Something that will help ease the financial woes and give you a bit of creative inspiration, be it in the kitchen or in your craft room.

 Over the last couple of years, I've stumbled upon many free on-line magazines, ranging from foody e-zines to ones aimed at creative souls.

For the food lover in you

Crush

mowiekay magazine

For your creative self
Amy Powers' inspired ideas - the older issues are for free
A Subtle Revelry by Victoria

Paper Runway

Simply the Sweet Life

(Please feel free to send us links to other free e-zines.)

My wish is that you find at least one thing that will make you smile...

PS - All the photos above are from our personal library.

Altered Tekkies at Variety Packaging

Elna & I presented our first two workshops for 2012 at Variety Packaging last week.  At both workshops, our guests had an opportunity to create their own Altered Tekkies.

When you look at these photos, you can understand why it remains one of our most popular classes.

For a tutorial on how you can do this, go to Elna's tutorial on our blog.

Wishing you a week filled with colour!

Thank you for visiting.

Craft Retreat in Clarens 11 to 16 March 2012

 Two dear friends of ours have decided to host the first ever 

craft retreat in Clarens

from 11 to 16 March 2012.

We have it on good authority that there are still a few spots available,

so pop over to their website to read more about this venture.

Some of the activities planned for the week include:

 collage, 

journal making, 

painting, 

decoupage, 

mixed media tips and tricks, 

steampunk,

 Zentangle

and some other great surprises...

You can also find details about the classes here.

Your teacher for the week is Helene Lombard, a well-known mixed media artist who has been teaching crafts for over two decades.

Thank you for visiting!

"Kitchen Closed" - Bonus project

Here are 2 greeting cards to go with the "Kitchen Closed" twinchie canvas.

 The base of both cards measure 6" x 4" and are cut from craft card-stock.

The patterned paper is from the same "Sweet as Cherry Pie" range by Webster's Pages.

 Stamp a quote and some flowers onto a seed packet

and place over a doily onto the patterned paper.

Some blue baker's twine finishes it off.

For the second card we used patterned paper from the same Webster's Pages range.

Stamp cherries and "Recipes" onto the back of a seed packet,

wrap string around the bottom and place a piece of scrap paper inside.

Fold about half an inch of the bottom of the packet back

and cover with some left-over paper.

Use a border punch or a "Borderabilities" die from Spellbinders 

to add interest to the top of the patterned paper.

Wishing you a week filled with lots of creativity and joy!

Thank you for popping in....

Silvesterchlaus...Neujahr Chlaus

In Switzerland it is a tradition for the children to dress up on the 31st of December and go to the neighbours and wish them a Happy New Year. They make the costumes themselves and are proud to show off their handy work.

This is Julius whom I met in July when his dad invited me to an Alphorn blowing lesson. 

Julius and his dad made this whole headpiece. I am amazed!! Look at the detail...

Alida, my friend who is one of the neighbours that he visited, said that he walked with that little flower in his mouth for the whole day!

Here he is on his way to her house, yes... all those stairs has to be shoveled clean

so that she can get to her house, the garage is at the bottom of the stairs... Say no more, just be thankful.

This photo was taken in July when he played in the freshly cut grass.

I wonder what they do when they have show and tell at school to show off their masterpieces?

Julius, you looked wonderful!

Red Velvet Cupcakes - the Ina Garten way

It seems I've been watching way too much TV over the festive season!  In particular programs featuring sweet stuff.

My mother-in-law came over for tea yesterday and I decided to do some baking.

I am a complete sucker for cupcakes and Red Velvet Cupcakes really make my knees weak.

So after a bit of "Googling", I opted for The Barefoot Contessa's recipe and by the time our guest arrived, they were ready to be served.

Her recipe is super easy and the texture of the cupcakes exactly to my liking.

Wishing you a year filled with cupcakes!

"Kitchen Closed" Twinchie Canvas

 Some of you may remember this project from a Soul Sisters class we did in 2011.

 An 8" x 8" stretched canvas was covered with paper from the Sweet as Cherry Pie range by Webster's Pages.

Because of the lovely wording on the bottom left of the patterned paper, we decided to decorate only six squares to fill up the upper right-hand part of the canvas.

 The six twinchies were cut from craft card-stock and matted onto dark red card-stock.
Each square measures 2" x 2" when completed.

1a to 1c.

Stamp flowers onto a small piece of calico, rouge and staple to one of the squares,

place oven mitts cut-outs strategically over the staple and finish off with a spatula brad.

2.
Stamp "RECIPES" onto top of a craft square and place recipe card cut-outs below.

3.
The jam jar image is from a paper napkin (serviette) and the circle text from a stamp by Just Rite.

4.
Stamp a tin image to upper left of square and place a strip of brown patterned paper below.
The mini bottle can be filled with spices, dried herbs or even a secret recipe before attaching it to the square with silk ribbon.

5.
Stamp an image of a coffee pot and a teacup to upper half of a craft square and place a strip of red patterned paper below to mimic a tablecloth.

6.
Stamp image of an apron twice to left-hand side of last craft square and staple a strip of turquoise lace to the right-hand edge.

Attach the six twinchies to your canvas as per the photo at the top (or in whichever pattern makes you happy).

 Mat "Kitchen Closed" sign onto red card-stock and then onto the same patterned paper used for the canvas.
Attach two picture hooks to the bottom of the canvas and punch two holes into the top of the sign.
Use string to tie the sign to the canvas.

I cannot think of a more appropriate time to hang this in my kitchen!?

Here's wishing you all things wonderful and creative for 2012
and Thank You for your support and feedback.