Finlay

On Sunday, this little bundle of love turns 2.
2!!

I cannot believe that two years have passed, two years of a journey of self discovery and utter love.
I had no idea how much this bean would change my life, sometimes I wonder what life was like before him, and can't remember.

So, today I start party planning. We are having a small gathering of family/friends to celebrate his little day. I am doing a "space" themed party. I have been googling and flickring images and some are amazing! I have to share!
I wish I had the funds to do all of these.
I do however plan to make a large cutout of a rocket that they can have their head poked through for photos! *cute or not?*
Also, I am hanging stars and bits around the flat, covering Finlay in tin foil ~lol kidding~
Anyway - onto the inspo!!!

this little cartoon is one of my favourite cartoons ever to exist.

my carbaord rocket will NOT be that elaborate - I only wish!!

1825

260 weeks
1825 days
43800 hours
I walked into work for the first time.
You were on shift, with a nervous smile you introduced yourself.
If someone had pointed you out there and then and said "you will fall in love with this mans soul" I wouldn't have believed you.
But I did.
Slowly.
At first, you showed me what a real friend should be, something at that time in my life I was without, and surrounded by those without my best interests at heart.
You showed me that I didn't have to be told what to say to be interesting to you.
You met my soul with a smile, and embraced me for my quirks.
You encouraged me to paint again.
You shared my belief in angels - and made me see my belief was worth talking about.
You dared me to dream of a life less ordinary,
extraordinary.
You held my hand the night in the hospital when you could see I didn't want to go home.
You stayed 7 hours passed your shift just to make sure I got home safe in the rain.
You caused me to question everything, run away and hide.
Till it was time to face the truth, that you had become my life.

"The stars look so beautiful tonight"
"not as beautiful as you"

That conversation changed my life forever, when you were so closed to not answering the phone.

I am so glad we didn't believe their lies, that we took time to sit a while, and find our way.

5 years ago I met you at work for the first time.
If I knew then, what I know now. I would have taken you by the hand, walked back out the door, and driven away into the sun.

Today, we are a family, me you and the most beautiful boy ever created.
He has your temperment, my sense of humour, your lips, my eyes, your hair, his own smile.
I am thankful for the job I walked away from, I believe I only started there so we could meet.

My life has taken on form that I didn't know possible. Its all down to you.
My forever.
xxx

There is a man who's work makes me think of you, Kurt Halsey - here are some of his sketches

and lastly - one I drew.... inspired by Kurt

Little things

It's Saturday night, Xfactor night, duvet, wine and stirfry night. It's "listen to those fireworks and think about what a strange tradition bonfire night is" night. It's also "yay my prima album arrived" day, so I'm starting to plan my JYC kit. I plan to put a whole bunch of supplies in a pizza box and only scrap from it, mainly to illiminate the "mmmmmmmm what now?" moment. Tonight I am pre-preparing some hand made embellishments, including mini blanket stitched gingerbread men, and felt flowers. I am also pre-sewing buttons, and sticking glue dots to the back!!













Awww he's tiny and lovely!!

WHOOOP!

I am SUPER happy today, BT sent our home hub and we are officially back on line! No more balancing on the bed to pick up Internet signal for me! I can freely blog from the comfort of my desk, sofa, garden, toilet (OK... I really never would I promise!)

Waiting for the net to be connected...I have come to know a few things:
1: IPhone are a life saver... but also not the same as my laptop
2: I am not a very good "Waiting for Internet to be fixed" kinda gal.
3: there is life outside the Internet - and that sometimes I should remember that.

Things I have learned today:
1: Meringues take a long time to cook. too long, I gave up.
2: That regardless of how many times I will curse at our neighbours, they won't stop sending fireworks up and freaking Finlay out just because I "will" them too.
3: That sweet potato mash is quite frankly the superior mash.
4: That when the estate agents telephone number flashes up on my phone, my heart skips a beat, despite it never being good news lol!

Lastly, as this seems to be a non-post, I will blog some....
... things to make you go "ooooooooooh!"
(I have NONE of these things in my home.. but I aim to have one by the end of the year thanks to Next home department)

catching up

Meet Knarly. Knarly by dentures, knarly by name. He is a little felt monster that will be adorning my Christmas tree, along with a selection of other un-named felties, yet to be born. I made him on Friday/Saturday at the getaway in a few stolen moments, his eyes were donated by Laura from her button box, and his insides are 100's of mini felt pieces that Nicola and I cut up to compensate for the lack of actual stuffing! I don't really know where the idea for him came from, I guess those Ugly Dolls that everyone is making at the moment are his foundations for life. Still, I get to practice my blanket stitch again this year. (last year it was felt doughnuts!)

despite taking all my scrap stuff, I didn't actually scrap at the getaway!! (shocking I know!) so when I came home, I decided that I really should other wise I might forget how! I made a layout with a photo I have been meaning to scrap for ages, of Finlay wandering round Blackberry farm with my dad. I love taking photos of people walking from behind (but HATE it when people do it to me!! eeeep!) gotta love those fabric prima letter stickers huh! Lush!

And one I have had in my head for weeks is a layout dedicated to all the random and gloriously cute things that Finlay says. He will be 2 on the 15th of November... don't even get me started on that! :-( But still, here it is. American crafts paper and speech bubble punch outs.

Speaking of the Getaway (ok.. so I was a few lines back anyway!) I can finally upload my layouts for the classes I taught, the first was a Sunday class, and the second was for the Saturday class.

It really was HUGE fun to teach at the retreat, I met some fabulously funny ladies all of whom I adored spending the weekend with. Thank you all for making it such a giant feel good success!

Pumpkin and Getaway

Well,... Its that time of year again! wooo! Pumpkin at the doorstep time! I had grand ambitions this year, of creating a really arty pumpkin, with that stained glass effect of not cutting right through, however, as you can see, It didn't happen! I tried! I really tried! But the Cheshire cat proved too much for me and my £1.49 carving set from Tesco (Aka the worst £1.49 I ever did spend!) So, instead I have a plain and highly simple moon and stars motif, decorated with paint (as usual) I don't think the residents of my road were ready for a arty pumpkin anyway.. it is Bexhill after all!

*********

Can I just say - a quick message to Sharon who sent me the robot napkins- Thank you! I have moved house, and lost your email (Its on the PC that's not connected!) I found them again today in my drawer and felt awful that I hadn't emailed you sooner! Moving proved too much to take for my day to day mind! But Thank you - so cute and perfect for Finlay's birthday! Email me please so I can send you a little something in return :-D

Hooter

I made this little decoration for someone today, she told me she had a thing for owls yesterday... Can you guess who you are?......


-- Posted from my iPhone.... How very 2009 of me!!!

Well, as you can see, I had a go at making one! I used mainly Cosmo papers, with a little Bo Bunny thrown in for good measure. I was lucky enough to be freecycled a wreath wire frame from a local florist, but you could easily buy one of these from a florist if they have any in stock. No harm in asking! I wrapped the frame in florist tape (but wish I had used masking tape now, or even better, the tape you buy in a picture frames, kraft coloured... anyway) I cut a million leaves out - and stuck them in sequence (ish) round the frame. I cut out far too many, I have enough left over to make something else.. but what? I then decorated with paper flowers made from the patterned papers. Cute huh? I love it, its hanging from a hall cupboard at the moment. I intend to spray in matte varnish and hang in the porch. It only took about an hour and a half to put together, I think being "un precious" about it helped add to its "charm". What do you think?

Cosmo Cricket Nutmeg - Garden Planner '09-'10

As promised, pictures of the project I made for Ben this weekend. It is a garden planner. Since moving in, we have taken on a good size garden, with room at the back for a large veggie plot. This has been our little dream for a long time, and Ben is thriving on it. He has become quite the garden centre enthusiast! We also have a compost bin, which, part of me is all "felicity kendal" about (Felicity Kendal for those who don't receive BBC channels was a lead character in a Brit sitcom in the dark ages about a couple who lived off their land) But part of me is like "mmmm, that better not smell of death in the summer!!!" I think I might plant a lavender bush by the outdoor compost bin, that might help with any dubious odours that waft in the direction of my sun lounger! I am all for the "good life" but also have a phobia of those little mini beasts that may inhabit the veggies.. Oh, its a catch 22, but one I am willing to see out :-)

Anyway - back to the topic on hand (wow... I sure do know how to ramble off topic)

Ok - Bens present. A garden planner featuring the new range of Cosmo Cricket papers "Nutmeg" from the mini deck. I love the mini decks from cosmo A L O T. They are divine and perfect for smaller projects where you only need an accent of pattern. I love the 12x12's too of course, but there is something very exciting about using 4-5 patterns from one range without actually cutting up a 12x12! I think Mini Decks will be the way forward for me with card making too. cute. Right, So, I took one of the plain kraft A5 folders from Paperchase, and covered it in my favourite non scrap product of all time, sticky backed woodgrain vinyl from our local large DIY store. Using nut meg papers, and MM cork letter stickers, I decorated the front. I used an old Elsie chipboard frame that I have loved for ages but never got round to using. The sticker strips are Cosmo Cricket Earth Love (apt for this project!)

I made a little index card for the front page, slipped into a paperchase A5 page protector

Each section has a divider page, using a punched cosmo tab, and various matching papers and cardstocks.This is my fav page - It has a chipboard peashell that I have been saving for years for the "right" project!

I love the seed section, I used paperchase A5 photo page protectors, 4x6, into which I slipped kraft envelopes for seed storage. I was over the moon with how it looked, the photos don't really do it justice, its a fun section of the planner!There is a section for plans of the garden and notes... to do lists etc
Then there is a Month by Month section, where Ben can write in what needs to be done.
On the back of the folder, I have taped in a bag for his seed markers.

A little close up of the front.

I truly loved making this planner, in fact, I think I would go as far as to say that It is my favourite personal project this year. Ben loved it, and started filling it in the same day (which is unusual for him!)I really hope you like it too!

xxxxxxxxxxx

Autumn Sunday

Today I am carving my giant pumpkin. I have narrowed it down to one billion designs... just gotta pick!

Yay for the clocks going back (not so yay that Finlay woke determined to get up at 6am!) when we were dressed, we went out for a walk to the park for Finlay - it was really quiet everywhere and I was like "wow... quiet for half ten!" Then it dawned on us it was half nine and in fact most people were quite sensibly still in their PJ's. Still, it was nice to get out as the weather was warm and Finlay appreciated the run around.

I am feeling overwhelmingly autumnal. I really want to do all sorts of autumny things. Its at this point of the year that I LONG to live in a big white wooden house in America, with a veranda that runs round the whole house and a porch swing. Each year I would decorate the front with pumpkins and squash (do you Americans call them gourds?) anyway - I would also have a cute wreath on the door, like this Martha Stewart one,

Or this awesome paper rose one. I mean, check it out! How stunning is that!??!

Oh mai, I think I might literally HAVE to make one to placate myself! That votive Jar next to the wreath is a bit pretty too,.... Oh geeze, why do I do this to myself!?

Anyway. I need to reign in my crazy crafty notions before I explode.
Onto something random - the little scrapping weekend I went on last week featured the normal photo sessions, Shimelle brilliantly brought her Polaroid and a box of film, which we all had a photo with, and then held up in front of our faces... I just realised that I haven't downloaded them yet lol.. I have this one though, cute.

She also took these - which, I love a million. I really dislike my photo being taken of me these days, weight gain and general worries about being the largest out of the girls and the frumpiest etc bother me NO end. So - when I was like "oooo I need a new avatar style photo" we did the classic crouch and look up photo - which helps lumpy ladies such as moi look "normal" I love these photos lots! And that, is all I have to say today *I think?* Ooo.. Actually, craft related, I made Ben a Garden planner - I love it, I will get some photos and show you in my next post!

xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

sad

Wow, I could not be more saddened about the news today - that Scrapbook Inspirations will be no more. I really do think that the UK scrapbookers will be worse off for its closure, regardless of what some people say. I thought that the recent changes to the magazine were brilliant, with a fresh new look at the way it was presented, new features, new faces and more. I wish that Future had given the magazine time to prove itself after the changes :-( It catered for all, beginners, those who have been scrapping a while and those who were confident with their scrapbooking. Its a shame that such a good all rounder will be missing from the shelves of my local newsie, and in fact from my door mat once a month. I was lucky enough to be commissioned a few times for layouts (that little aqua and pink one on the front cover at the bottom is mine *sob*) So on a personal level, I will miss seeing my work in print. Some may say "hey, its only paper and glue" but for me scrapping has opened up many more doors, I have found more than a love for patterned paper with this hobby. I have found a new way of capturing my memories, a new found love of photography, a way of releasing creative energy, and also, most importantly, I have found friends. I loved opening SI once a month and spotting my friends work. So today, I am sad for the UK, and for everyone who got published in the magazine, and for those who read and loved the magazine.

xxx

Colour lovers

Colour is a huge part of my life, and probably yours, as crafters, colour is a giant part of what makes us tick. We surround ourselves with colour, our homes, clothes etc, it's a direct reflection of "us". I think we go through colour phases too, for instance, I used to love purple, and I mean LOVE it, but now if someone asked me to scrap in it, i'd be hard pushed! I was thinking about my albums, and how when i am in a "colour phase" I tend to limit myself. So, I decided to download a colour app for my phone, and when I see myself reaching for the green 'again' I will open the app, choose a palette and stick to it for that page.



Cute and inspiring. As long as it's not purple that is lol!!! The colour schemes are made up by other app users, hence the odd names. I like "veggies man"...

Cabin of scrap.

I have just spent the weekend with the girls above. It has become a bi-annual thing for us now, and I thoroughly look forward to the weekends in the cabin. I love the dynamic of the group and I just loved the weekend. It was full of paper, glue, scissors, wine, crisps, chocolate, fizzy laces, diet coke, pop up pirate, the early learning centre memory game (AMAZING) super noodles, wooden bunting, Polaroids (Thank you Shim!) Ipod Doc Musicals! (Thank you Clo and Laura!) me snoring (sorry girls! I have a cold!) warm socks, GIANT veggie burgers, lost and found keys, spiders, bear hats, pajamas and laughter,thank you ladies! Now, normally I scrap around 10 layouts - but my scrapping has "slowed" down recently, I used to scrap a page in an hour, but these days, I seem to spend a good evening on one layout at home. I noticed this at the cabin too, I found my considered pace and stuck to it. I made the following 6 layouts........

I hope you like, the last one you see here has a title some of you may find strange. If you do, I suggest you watch Juno or listen to the soundtrack - cute!!

I had a seriously fun time, and there will be some funny photos uploaded soon!

Cabin

This weekend I am in the cabin in the woods, it's amazing and I am having a fabulous time, despite the spiders!!! Here is a sneaky peek at some of my layouts.....



-- Posted from my iPhone.... How very 2009 of me!!!

blog abandonned?

No, but I can see why you might think that. I have been INSANE busy. I warn you now, this is going to be one of those posts that have no rhyme or reason. It will be mere glimpses of things that I have happened to take photos of. I have had a weird week, one I am not too fussed to repeat anytime soon. The move has gone well, we haven't our old flat yet, and that terrifies me to the point of disturbed sleep, I keep wondering if we have actually made the right decision, but whenever I see Finlay running around his new bedroom, it makes me realise it was the ONLY choice we had. He loves it here, he runs round all the rooms, and causes havoc in them all. We have set to sorting the garden out, and once the pond is drained and filled he will have the run of the secure garden as well, which is brilliant. I try and block the thought of the empty flat *or albatross hanging from my subconscious neck* from my day to day life as much as possible.
This weekend I am away with the girls to the cabin in the woods again. I am soooo looking forward to a weekend away you have no idea. A whole weekend away with hopefully no worries!

So, onto the randomish things I mentioned.

Apart from pumpkin joy -I have also been LOVING this seasonal soup by Covent Garden Food Co, It is delicious, and a real must have for the soup lovers. I am normally a soup hater, unless it comes with giant croutons or french bread, but this soup is divine on its own, as it has rice in it.

Mmmmmmmmm... pumpkin soup yummorama. Plus, the packaging comes with a cute Quentin Blake cartoon, who in my eyes was half the magic of Roald Dahl.

Then there are these two cuties that have found their way into my new pad :-D

And Squash Cupcakes *like pumpkin, but milder in flavour, very similar to carrot cake*

Decorated with Cinnamon Cream cheese frosting - DIVINE and a must do!

And finally, my new pram tote - Its always handy to have a bag that you keep on the pram for those "nip to tesco" moments - and this is it! C U T E huh!?

Thats all I have to say about that,...
HALLOWEEN SOON! woo!

Its that time of year again!!!

The time of year that fills me with glee!! Halloween! I LOVE it for MANY reasons, one being that the squash and pumpkin harvest is at its best. Now is the time to experiment with squash if you haven't already tried it in life. If you are unsure and want to start off gently - pop down your local farm shop (or supermarket if you don't have a cute farm shop near you) and pick up a butternut squash. You can prepare it a million ways - but for a really nice easy Sunday treat, cut the squash in half length ways - scoop out the seeds (and plant!!!) Then score the flesh almost down to the skin, and drizzle on olive oil, crush some garlic and sprinkle over, season and roast for approx 50 minutes. MMMM It tastes like sweet potato! We LOVE the winter squash "sweet dumpling" which has a sweet chestnut flavour - and amazing cubed and roasted - or steamed and mashed with a little butter, milk and sweet spices.

My mouth is watering!

Of course, there is another reason I love the farm this time of the year, PUMPKINS! Check out the crop this year at Sharnfold Farm (Hailsham East Sussex) WOW. Last year I took a photo of Finlay sitting in them, and it was used as photo of the day on our Regional TV news. This year, they have made a viking long ship for the pumpkins to sit on (The reason for this escapes me, however it looks cute) However - I FAILED to have my camera battery with me for photos - so I took some Iphone pics - but need to go back with the camera for proper pictures.

I picked up a GIANT pumpkin for a mere £5 and also two squashes (A "sweet dumpling" and a "we be little" - yum!!) I cannot wait to turn the "sweet dumpling" into cupcakes. Don't look like that, they are divine! they taste like carrot cake, but TEN times nicer, and with a cream cheese and butter frosting, they will disappear in seconds! (trust me, or Jamie Oliver - whoever you prefer!, if you want a good recipe for these try this one)

So, for now, I leave you with a couple of pictures from my phone, sorry about that!

-- Posted from my iPhone.... How very 2009 of me!!!

New home

Well, we are in! It took a few days but finally getting sorted. It feels much bigger, and we need some new furniture in the dinning room to make it feel less canvernous, but it's home. I don't have much net access there at present, hence the blog lacking recently. I thought I'd better do a iPhone update with a couple of pictures recently taken throughout the move...
The dresser we got from freecycle now sits in our dining room, adorned with EVERYTHING till we get shelves up.


Finlays room, bunting up, as is his awesome teepee!! (is that how you spell that???)





And I painted a vine in our bedroom...


Mmmmmmmm new bed!!!! Pretty.


-- Posted from my iPhone.... How very 2009 of me!!!

Man i've been busy, we are in the process of moving, and it's extremely hectic. I do have a load of photos to share, but not on my phone, so when I get a chance to blog properly I will, till then, I got some happy post!...



The cutest hambly clear stickers ever. I loved the peek of them at CHA but knew that no uk shops would get them... (I would gladly like to be corrected on this should you know of any!!!) but Rach went to florida and sent me some as a gift!!! It had serious wow factor, thankyou Rach! XXXXXXXX

-- Posted from my iPhone.... How very 2009 of me!!!

Phone blogging

Has changed my tiny world, and I like it.
Sitting on the comfort of my sofa, watching the amazing new E4 series "how I met your mother" and blogging. Toot toot.
So onto something cute, today I worked and then came home and turned these.....


Into 16 mtrs of this.....


I love love love it. So cute, I can't wait to hang it. His room is going to be amazing!
And that's it from me 2night, xxx

Ps: 2morrow is the start of moving day!!!

-- Posted from my iPhone.... How very 2009 of me!!!

OMG cosmo

Dear Cosmo Cricket: Can you do no wrong?

NOPE!

nutmeg is GORGEOUS and I cannot wait till this arrives in the UK *swoon*

Today I....

Feel a bit creative...
I am painting a series of canvases for Fin's bedroom, along side making cute bunting. I ordered some fabric from a cute online store yesterday, and true to their word it arrived today. I love it. I thought I would only have enough for two alcoves in his room, but it turns out that I had enough to cut 113 5" wide triangles!!! So, that works out at around 565 inches of bunting, which means I'll need 16mtrs of ribbon to sew then on.... Um, oh my!!!


It will look a bit gorgeous me thinks!!!

Something else that is gorgeous....



-- Posted from my iPhone.... How very 2009 of me!!!

Bear Hats

So cute! Have you guys seen the polkadot robot blog? Well, they made these COOL bear hats the other day - and I loved them so much, and wanted one for Finlay, but couldn't really afford one from their shop as they are fairly expensive :-( ......... So, I got a friend to knit him one, and she made one for me too!

Toot!
How cute are they!!!? (very) And, toasty warm. We wore them round a car boot sale today and got a fair few admiring comments. Bless him, what a cutie-bear. Fin's has little pompoms hanging from his, mine has mini plaits. Check out that knitting, this woman rocks!
hehehe, these photos make me giggle.
:-D

Fiskars Friday Project

Yes, I know its Saturday... but It didn't feel right posting something pretty after posting the poop cakes! (Laura asked me if it was Ben who iced them, I had to quickly point out that it was the young men that I work with, who may all have learning disabilities, but clearly have strong sense of humours!- I luv those guys!) Anyway... onto something less poo shaped (I hope!!!)
As you know, Fridays are the day I get to upload some DT work on the Fiskars blog (For September anyway... so sad that next week is my last!) Well, I decided that I would decorate some of the cute jars that I told you about recently. Where we are moving too, my scrap area will be slightly "open" so I need some better storage, and these jars have come in handy for that. (Also, I plan to decorate some for the kitchen for cupcake sprinkles etc!!!)
I used some of the Cloud 9 paper (available from Fiskars) and also the cool tools they sent me to play with. I love how they have turned out. The "BLOOM" one proved to be a little tricky to stick down, it refused, and every time I turned my back the wrap pinged off! So, with a trusty stapler I can now report it has been in place for a good 12 hours now lol!

If you want to try this, I recommend getting one of those fancy coffee jars or even try your local sweet shop, as they often sell "fancy" sweets in these style jars, and may have some empties (or you could just eat the sweets!)Right - that's all I have to say for today - I have been mostly decorating with Ben over at the new flat, Finlay's room is a sunny yellow, and will have little red robot features (I finally get to use a wall decal that I have had saved for nearly a year now!) I am also contemplating hand painting some funky bunting in the alcoves of his room. hmm... more thinking to do on that one!

Night night blog land!

Minty poop cakes

So, this is what happens when you let boys ice cakes..... Double choc chip cakes, with mint and Oreo cookie poop style frosting.... Seriously, I don't need to imagine what dog poop on a cuppy would look like anymore, (not that I did that much anyway...) and, nore do you anymore either!!! Voilà. Kinda hard to eat without cringing. Tasty, but wrong wrong wrong!!





-- Posted from my iPhone.... How very 2009 of me!!!

Oh the potential!!!!

Ummmm, amazing. My mum spotted these for 50p each outside our local sweet shop! Literally begging to be bought, decorated and stuffed to the max with ribbons, buttons etc!!! Cutey McCutey!! I have seven in total - and there is another load at the shop that I might have to go back for!!!

-- Posted from my iPhone.... How very 2009 of me!!!

Peanut Butter Cucpakes (of joy)

I had a few comments about the recipe for the cakes I uploaded yesterday. They are delish, but be warned, they are RICH and you may want to halve the recipe, as it makes 18-24 cuppies!

(normal size cupcake papers are used, but if you love jumbo cupcakes, use muffin cases)

Peanut Butter Cupcakes:
ok - So, you will need:
225G (8oz) Unsalted butter (softened)
225g (8oz) Caster sugar
225g (8oz self raising flour)
4 eggs
115g (4oz) smooth peanut butter (crunchy work as well if that's all you have)

If you like using sugar syrup, you will also need 4 tbsp Caster sugar, 4 tbsp water and drops of vanilla essence. Before you start your cupcakes, boil together sugar and water till the sugar is melted, and then pour into a glass to cool. When luke warm, add about a teaspoon of vanilla essence. This is your sugar syrup, which you can keep in the fridge for weeks!

Icing:
Now, there are no set weights for the icing - it is simply a mix of icing sugar, peanut butter and softened unsalted butter. I used a block of butter, half a small box of icing sugar and about 3 heaped dessert spoons of peanut butter - I like to add a few drops of vanilla extract too.
This makes LOTS of icing, as I love to pipe whirly peaks onto my cakes, hence the quantity - but if you prefer to spread your icing on, you won't need half as much as this! If you are planning on piping - don't use crunchy peanut butter as it clogs in the nozzle of the piping bag.

Method:
Preheat the oven to 175oC (350of/ gasmark 4)
Using an electric mixer, or a hand blender, cream the butter, sugar and peanut butter together, then add the flour and eggs and whisk till smooth and creamy.
spoon into 18-24 cupcake cases (Salisbury's at the moment sell some cute DrOetker cases with butterflies and polka dots on!) And then bake in the oven for 20 minutes (check them at 15 minutes if using smaller cases - the tops of the cakes will be springy to the touch when they are done, if they don't spring back when gently pressed you will need to leave in for another 5 minutes)

when baked - take out and put onto a cooling rack -When the cuppies are warm to the touch (but not hot) prick the tops of the cakes with a fork, and brush on some of your sugar syrup - about a teaspoon per cake is plenty. (this step is optional, but delicious and fun!)
when the cupcakes are cold to the touch, they are ready to ice. If you ice them before, the icing will melt over the cakes and look bad!
You can decorate with sprinkles, or my favourite, chocolate covered peanuts for that extra indulgence!

now the best part ... EAT!


ok - and whilst I am on the subject of Peanut butter lushness, are you a fan of Peanut butter cups? (Reeses etc) Well - then grab a pen, as you will wanna write this down lol!

These are some I made last Christmas - hence the festive star decorations, however, they are perfect to make as after dinner treats, a girlie evening in, as a birthday gift, a rainy day, when the sun shines etc etc etc...

They really are amazingly delicious - and my friend Shaun has nicknamed them "little drops of heaven" lol (any friends fans will know what he means!)

It couldn't be easier.
All you will need is:
50g Soft dark brown sugar
200g Icing sugar
50g Butter *unsalted - softened*
200g Smooth peanut butter

also
200g milk chocolate beans
100g dark chocolate beans
to decorate - sugar stars, chocolate sprinkles or edible glitter etc

Method:
Place the sugars, the softened butter and the peanut butter in a mixer and blend together - this should turn out like wet sand in consistency.

Lay out about 40 mini cases (petite four cases are best - and widely available)
break off a small some of the mix, roll into little balls, and push into the case cakes so that they cases are about half full.

put the chocolate beans into a glass bowl, and place on top of a saucepan of water - bring to the boil ensuring that no water "flicks" into the chocolate. The chocolate beans will melt fairly quickly. I got my chocolate beans from a local confectioners, however, if you cannot find them, then buy good quality milk and dark chocolate bars and break them into squares before melting.

once melted - you can turn the heat off under the saucepan, and if you keep the bowl on top, the chocolate will remain melty for a fair while. - Spoon the chocolate over the peanut butter mix in the little cases, till it reaches the top of the case. Make sure it covers the peanut mix well. Now you can sprinkle on your decorations, or add the stars etc - so they "set" together. Place in the fridge for a quick set if you need them in a hurry! (literally, this recipe only takes about 15 minutes to do start to finish!!!)
These make AMAZING gifts, if you make them pretty, you can stack them in a little box etc.
I made about 100 of these last Christmas for people, and they went down well, even among those who claim not to like peanut butter! (Yes, I MADE them try one lol!)
And if you like Reese cups - then these really will become a tradition in your kitchen.
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iPhone randoms

Ok, yay for blogging iPhone aps!! Even if it did cost me £1.79.... It was totally worth it. However, I realise now I need to take better and more intersting photos lol. Here are a couple of camera roll randoms....
Silicone cup cases!!!


Hand sewn woodgrain on my sewing machine,...


The peanut butter cupcakes (as promised) if you want the amazing recipe just leave a comment/email . Xx




I made all the guys two with their initials on. Yum


And now i'm off to bed!! Xxxx

um...

Oh wow. I forgot I had a blog! *Insert some lame-o excuse about why I have been AWOL* seriously, I could list about fifty, but the main reason is Tonsillitis - me and Finlay. I also have been busy painting the flat we are moving to on the 1st!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OK - so, I know I haven't mentioned this before, but it is something I am super nervous about *seeing as we haven't sold our flat yet* - but when we noticed the flat across the road become vacant, we jumped at the chance. When I say "across the road" I literally mean, the flat, directly, across the road. Its a bigger garden version of ours. I am not looking forward to not having the Internet for a while during the transition, however, it has a garden. If you know me, you will know that a garden has been my ongoing NEED for my soul, my son and my sanity.
The flat is lovely and big, however, the previous occupant had some strange taste, I assume that one day she went to a DIY store and went like this:

Lady "Hello 1970's DIY store"
Store guy "Why hello lady who clearly has no taste"
Lady "Yes! That's me, now my good man, wrap me up a goodly amount of EVERY 3D wall paper you have in store! - today I must cover every inch of my home in it - and while you're at it, please also sell me 1000 litres of nicotine yellow gloss paint for ALL my woodwork"

So - we have been busy with large tubs of white emulsion and white gloss to eradicate all of the above. Photos to come on that one. So, onto other RANDOM things that fill my life.....
(aside from tissues, antibiotics and staying in bed!)

I made this for the FISKARETTES blog - It was my Friday project. I used the cool fiskars circle cutters, and the deckle scissors to distress the edges.
The paper is jillybeans soup staples, and the flower is prima, mmmmmmm pretty flower!

um, what else?
I made fudge chunk shortbread - mmmmmmm! It was good too!
I also made peanut butter cupcakes for the guys at work today - and my gosh they were good. With a peanut butter icing too, very very rich and they literally disappeared in seconds.
I think I have a photo on my iPhone.. can I upload to my blog direct from my iPhone?This was my recipe book that eve - what a mess! I must confess, not one of the pages had a proper recipe written down, all were on scraps of paper shoved in! Not anymore, I sat and wrote them all in :-) I feel so angelic!
and then....I found these gloves that a friend knitted me about 4 years ago! (if not longer!) I wore them LOADS back then, but stopped for a while, and then "lost" them in my junk drawer. I love them, they are so toasty warm, Ben doesn't like them so much, so I will have to pick and choose the days I wear them... I love the face that you can change the ribbon lacing, at the moment it is white - but I am thinking some polka dot may soon make an appearance...

Because I have been poorly, I am SOOOOOOOOO late and behind on my LSNED book - I literally have to do a gazillion pages, but I WILL do it - as I cannot fail to complete this book, its my first online class and I would feel like a failure if I didn't do it! Plus, I have used thickers etc in it already, and I wouldn't want to waste them on a half done project....
yup - these pages are not in order thanks to bloggers random photo selection choice!

I also taught at the fabulous GoGo Storyteller day event on Saturday - It was amazing fun, and meeting people whom I chat to on the boards was cool too! I will blog some photos of my book 2morrow when I have taken photos of the inside. I loved what people did with their project - and I can't wait to see some of the finished projects.
Right - I am literally all blogged out for this evening... night blog land!
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mmmmmmmm October GoGo kit!

Check out that colour palete of lushness! The October kit is right up there with my favourite GoGo kits ever - it's so beautifully subtle, and features some of the delish new October Afternoon papers, aswell as the must have Cosmo Earth love range.
Here are my layout designs this month...I hope you like, I found myself scrapping with a more "torn edge" style of scrapping this month. I am usually really anti tearing, but found myself strangely drawn to it.
The is one is Octobers Mini kit - which is packed full of papers this month, including Jillibeans (yum) and Earth love.

If you want to see more GoGo layouts that the DT have made - then swing by the gallery here
and get inspired!
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Also - I just wanted to offer my congratulations to some VERY talented ladies, who were picked to be on the Fab new Scrapbook Inspirations DT - the new look mag is really cool, and has some new funky features.
I am lucky enough to know some of these girls in real life, Laura, Jen, Sam and Chloe - who are all really lovely - and totally deserve a place. Well done girls. xxxxx

Sunday woe

Sorry I haven't blogged much of late - I have been poorly for the last 10 days, and its only just come to a head, I feel like poop. Finlay has got laryngitis and spends all night coughing, which sounds so painful, and the only way to ease his pain is just to sit him upright on me/Ben. I wish I could master the art of sleeping upright - and I would spend all night like that with him.
I have gotten a bit behind on Shimelle's "learn something every day" class - I don't feel I have learnt much these last two or three days, apart from perhaps that Vaseline is good for sore noses, and that the painful cry from one of your children at 2am can tug on heartstrings you never knew you had before.
This is a photo of us last week when we were "brewing" for the full effects of the infection.
you wouldn't know he was ill by looking at him here. Those eyes! :-DI tried to cheer us all up and made cuppies, by following the recipe in the Salisbury's magazine, (if you haven't got that mag - go get it! that lady is an inspiration!!!) Sugar syrups - mmmmmmmm!
Anyway - these were raspberry and vanilla cuppies.
They were a bit too sweet really - but you learn by your mistakes in this world!
So, on the lack of crafting front, I was browsing through folksy today - and found some of these cuties!
HUGE button badges - how lovely are they! Imagine one in every colour..

I just love how it looks on her jacket.

And this gorgeous "Clutter bucket" (cute title!) The fabric is so pretty, and green, yay green.

mmmmmmmmm oh yes please!

Pretty! (you see that picture of cuppies in the background? I have that on a lap tray hehe!)

This would look cute on Finlay's bed.

And this is just amazingly funky...

That's literally it from me, I am pooped and need a hot bath to clear the head cold!
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