5 Things I'm Lovin'

Hey there Bloggers.  It's been another crazy week - The new class Schedule at work is out  so I've been frantically trying to get my class examples finished so that they are ready. Hmmm...good luck with that ;) Anyway, to try and get my creative Mojo going I thought I'd do my five fave things list a little early.  So, here goes:


1.  Hero Arts

I love this stamp company, they have a great range of stamps in clear, cling and wood. I have the owl stamp used in the card below and love to dress it up (re: my Halloween card) I love how this person on the Hero Arts blog dressed it up with a hat, shoes and pearls - hilarious!  And that other card is just cracking me up!

2.  Arian Armstrong

These prints are done by Arian Armstrong.  I've been stalking her blog ever since I stumbled upon it.  She's an artist that sells her stuff on her blog or etsy, you can custom order prints for your kiddies for their room.  Very cute.  Maybe I should commission her to create me a print with Frogs and Chickens in it (with maybe an owl peeking out ;)
 

 

3.  Stampendous

I cannot wait until our Stampendous order arrives at the shop!  I am actually quite excited by alot of the new stamps that they just released at CHA.  Not just these great ones but also some really good collections of sayings and sentiments. So soon it will be - good-bye pay cheque, hello stamps ;)

4.  Prima

I know, I know! Some of you will be very shocked that Prima has made my top 5 list (I am SO not normally a girly girl ;) but I ambushed Fiona as she was unpacking 2 enormous boxes that arrived at the shop on Monday and there were the most stunning metal trinkets in there!  I'm in love.

5.  Distress Inks

I know it's no surprise to most of you that I am ever so slightly (snort!) obsessed by Distress Inks.  I find that they are one of my go-to items when I'm in mortal combat with the Mojo-Monster (you know, the beast that drains all of your creative ideas out of your ear when you are sleeping, until you wake up in the morning and can barely operate scissors? ;)  I think I've been reading too much Jim Butcher ;)
Any hoo, I love them and am slowly building up my stash.  I love them for their versatility - you can ink with them, stamp with them, paint with them, the uses are endless.  I'm also using the re-inkers in my technique trio class.

Well, that's enough of my rambling, I'm off to my sick-bed, I suspect I've caught one of the many bugs that the kids bring home from School and Daycare :(
You know it's bad when you don't want coffee ;)
Have a great night!
B

5 Fave Things Friday

Hey bloggers, I hope you are all surviving the floods that seemed to be determined to wash us all away at the moment, whenever it rains now you just can't help feeling that little bit scared that it's gonna happen all over again.
Fiona has teamed up with  a group called Heart Cards who are accepting donations of cards (Thank you & Blank Cards) to give to the victims of the flood so they may in turn thank the people who helped them. They were instrumental in doing the same thing in the Victorian Bushfire Crisis. If you would like to make some cards then please drop them in to the store and she will send them all off in one lot. If you would like to find out more you can check the group at http://heartcards.blogspot.com/  If you plan on making some cards just make sure you drop them off at the shop before February 20 so that we can get them out in time.
Anyway, I know I'm a bit late in the day but it's still Friday (for another 2 1/2 hrs ;) so it's time for this weeks 5 fave things:

1. Sherbet Birdie

 If you ever wondered about the portrait photo of me that is the banner for my blog (yes, that is me - it only took a few hrs and a ton of photo shop ;) well here you are.  Sherbet Birdie are the most fabulous group of gals, headed by the most lovely Sasha Dobies.  Sasha is such a lovely girl, when you go to have your photos done in her studio it's almost as much about the experience as it is about the photos.  She ply's you with champagne, mouth-watering morsels (cut small enough so as not to mess your lippy ;) your favourite chocolate and plays your favourite music while she transforms you into a saucy mumma!  (how does she know what are your faves?  She asks beforehand to make sure everything is perfect) Her team consists of a professional make-up artist and hair stylist and she has a great range of retro and vintage clothes, shoes and props for you to try for your look. Or you can take in your own.
She's based in Brisbane but also 'tours' the major cities so no-one missed out!  Click on this link to find out more.

2.  Twine

I finally received my twine in the mail that I ordered a couple of weeks ago, it's that classic red and white that I kept seeing everywhere and coveting, so I finally contacted a blog I follow and asked her where she got it.  I bought a 100m roll (over kill much) if you are interested you can get it in different colours and I got mine here.

3.  Crazy hats

 Look at those saucy eyes!  How is it that I do not own this hat???  Can't you just see me in either of these beauties? (I can see Kylie and Dion shaking their heads and muttering that there is no hope for me)  I can't remember at the mo where these pics came from, give me a day or so to track them down and I'll find out where they are from.

4. Retro

I was originally going to have a retro-themed Birthday party this year (in a couple of weeks - aargh) with fondue and crazy games but decided that there was too much happening at the moment, and really that I couldn't be bothered (sigh) so I think we shall have the oldie but a goodie moonlight picnic again.  I still may get that fab fondue kit I saw on ebay though...

5. Designer Woodgrain

I had been resisting buying this stamp for a while (for the life of me I can't remember why) and decided in a blinding flash of inspiration yesterday that I MUST have it and why don't I have it NOW!  Check out the cute card that was on the Hero Arts site - foxes are very popular at the moment - has the owl finally been replaced???

Well that's me!  I have my first UWA meeting tomorrow night  - a tad scared but very excited!  I shall post more about that next week.

Five Things I'm Lovin' Friday (errr...Sunday ;)

Good morning bloggers!  No I haven't gone mad (er) I know it's Sunday (going to work in T minus 2 hours) but I had an idea I wanted to do for the blog that I sort of stole off Elsie (I'm so in love with her right now) She does a weekly post called '10 things I love Sunday' So I thought I'd start smaller and do a '5 things I'm Lovin' Friday'.  Basically a totally random collection of things I've seen or done that I'm lovin' right now.  But I couldn't wait until next Friday so humour me and pretend for a moment that today is Friday!
(that's right, I'm dragging you into my madness ;)
So, with no further ado (or rambling) here is my first Friday-ish top 5:

1. How awesome are these!  Hop on over to the Make it and Love it blog (click on the pic or the link on the side of my blog)  for more hilarious pics of these cuties and also a link on how to get the pattern to make your own.



2. October Afternoon.

I've always LOVED their papers and products but I can't get enough of them at the moment!  I'm totally obsessed by their latest stuff especially Modern Homemaker, Thrift Shop, Seaside and Schoolhouse.

3.Woodland Fantasy

As usual Graphic 45 have produced a spectacular range that is like nothing else on the market.  I'm usually not a big girly-girl but even I can't resist these cuties.  (and besides check out the frog chatting to the fairy - I HAVE to have it)  I'm using these papers in my next Simply Cards feature.

4.Monster Hoodies by Polkadot Robot

Totally ridiculous, but I'm lovin them all the same.  If you want a laugh check out their entire range.  These are basically store-bought hoodies that they've altered, crazy and clever - I'll expect you all to be sporting them this winter ;)

5. Wombok Salad

Ok, so I'm on the weight-loss wagon (again) and salad is not normally my favourite food (unless it's a chocolate truffle salad...mmmm...chocolate) anyhoo, my fab mother-in-law introduced me to this salad years ago and it's become my staple lately to keep me sane.  It's so good that I actually had it for breakfast yesterday morning, I know, I'm a weirdo, and this from the woman who once had melted mars bar on toast (yech, I can't imagine why I need to lose 25kg ;)
The recipe is on the back of the fried noodle packet that is part of the recipe (the noodles, not the packet) but we've mixed it up a bit now and then and it's super delish.  So if you want - here's my adulterated version:
1 whole Chinese cabbage - chopped
Shallots - chopped (as little or as much as you want -I just use the top green bits from the ones in my garden)
1/2 bunch celery - finely chopped (now I thought I hated celery, but it really makes the salad)
100-200g slivered almonds (basically 1 or 2 pkts, depending on how nutty you're feeling ;)
Mix it all together.  This will keep together in your enormous tupperware bowl for up to a week,  when I serve it I add shredded cooked chicken, the fried noodles and then the dressing (to the individual bowls)- that way the noodles wont go soggy and ruin it for everyone ;)
The dressing is:
1/3 cup white vinegar
1/3 cup castor sugar
2 tblsp sesame oil
1-2 tblsp soy sauce
1/3 cup olive oil
1/3 cup boiling water
shake together and immediately drizzle over the salad.  The recipe on the packet says to cook the dressing to dissolve the sugar - but who can be bothered?  So I added boiling water to do the same thing and then add a few ice cubes after I've shaken it, to cool it down again. I also added a tblsp or so of Balsamic vinegar for something different.
If you don't like all that olive oil, I made mine last night by substituting the olive oil for water.  Dion had sliced mushrooms in his and really like it.
Muck around with it, make it your own, and enjoy!
ps - if you click on the pic it will take you to the Changs recipe.

Well I hope you enjoyed my faux Friday ;) let me know if you did or not, I'd hate to think I was torturing you all with my eclectic ramblings!
Happy Sunday!