Handmade with love ~ breakfast muffins

I had a lovely surprise this morning Paul got up and made me some yummy Bacon & Cheese breakfast muffins. Yummy



Bacon & Cheese Breakfast Muffins
Sift 250g Plain Flour, 1/2 teaspoon Salt, 1 teaspoon baking powder into the bowl.
Add 175g chopped cooked bacon, 50g Cheese, 1 teaspoon Mustard, 2 lightly beaten eggs, 1 teaspoon Thyme leaves, 65g melted butter, 125ml plain yogurt & a pinch of Cayenne pepper and fold together until blended.
Spoon the mixture into the prepared muffin tins and bake in a preheated oven at 180 c, gas 4 for 20 - 30 minutes until golden & firm.
They are lovely whilst still warm

Quick cards

Having been really poorly and totally lacking in energy I needed some very quickie cards as I am totally behind with all the early Birthdays & family celebrations.

Splitcoast Inspiration

Over the last couple of days I have had plenty of time to go blog hopping and cruising around my favourite sites like Splitcoatstampers...............Which has inspired me to get out some old catalogues and dusty sets and case a few cards.



The set I chose for these cards was a hostess set here in the UK in the last catalogue called In the spotlight & is very versatile ................ Maybe now I have dusted it off I will use it more.

Does anyone have any ideas for slimming down their stash? I have loads of stash I no longer use as I am so into Stampin up and the whole colour family set up & doodlebug who have a very similar philosophy where everything is centred around 12 core colours.............. I am finding so much is now obsolete in the cards I make. Ebay seems to be a waste of time & also very time consuming for small items like stickers & embellishments etc...

I have sent bags of stuff to my niece as I got her hooked, My grandchildren also have had a couple of parcels as I got them into making family cards at Christmas & my two little next door neighbours, after their mum came to my last Stampin up party they altered her cards ( the first ones she had ever made ) ............. So i gave them a whole Christmas goodie box & a couple of weeks ago I topped that up with lots of pastel colours & spring embellishments................. So as you can see I am running out of people to get hooked on cardmaking.

Is the grass greener?

Is the grass greener? I keep looking at the new USA catalogue on line and see sets I like & due to stampin up rules demo's are not allowed to sell on e-bay so until someone falls out of love with a set or they are retired ( the prices then go through the roof ) and demo's sell them off some sets are very hard to source, so having fallen in love with the buzzin bees set I had to find an alternative solution for some cards I wanted to make.........In my dusty sets I found a set from 2006 called the Fine print which I used a lot when it was new..............In this set is a cute little bee.

Cuttlebug border sets are the embossed flowers
Again the texture is from the cuttlebug embossing folder Swiss dots

The background papers are from the doodlebug range
The black heart is embossed with swiss dots
The yellow heart is embossed with the "with Love" border from cuttlebug.

Wedding Portfolio

A few weeks ago I made a wedding stationary portfolio to show prospective brides, since making this one I have been asked to make another one & then we had a phone call to say our Son has decided to get married in 2010 & obviously I would love to make the invites & stationary.
Well I finally uploaded all of the photo's today ( The camera doesn't do the cards jusice, the cardstock is beautiful and had a pearlescent shimmer )

Stair stepping cards

I didn't quite position everything right, so I will try again tomorrow, I do like the idea though.


First, cut your cardstock 10 1/2"x 5".
Now, score it at
1 1/4"
2 1/2"
4 1/4"
6"
8 1/4"
Starting with the 1 1/4" side pointing down(mountain), continue making an accordian until you fold the entire paper.
You will start and end with the paper on the ground (mountain).
If you wish to stamp on the cardstock, now is the best time.

Take 3 pieces of designer paper and cut them into the following lengths:
5"x1 1/4"
5"x 1 3/4
5"x 2 1/4"
Decorate and send! The finished card will fit in a standard envelope.
Inspiration & ideas for this card fold can be found on Splitcoast stampers.com
Have fun!


This is the view from the side so you can see the idea.

Please dont laugh at me!!

Please don't laugh at the following, it is the contents of an e-mail sent to me by my ex-husband.
VICKS VAPO RUB - INTERESTING
During a lecture on Essential Oils, they told us how the foot soles can absorb oils. Their example: Put garlic on your feet and within 20 minutes you can 'taste' it.

Some of us have used Vicks Vapor rub for years for everything from chapped lips to sore toes and many body parts in between. But I've never heard of this. And don't laugh, it works 100% of the time, although the scientists who discovered it aren't sure why. To stop night time coughing in a child (or adult as we found out personally), put Vicks Vapor rub generously on the bottom of the feet at bedtime, then cover with socks. Even persistent, heavy, deep coughing will stop in about 5 minutes and stay stopped for many, many hours of relief. Works 100% of the time and is more effective in children than even very strong prescription cough medicines. In addition it is extremely soothing and comforting and they will sleep soundly.

Just happened to tune in A.M. Radio and picked up this guy talking about why cough medicines in kids often do more harm than good, due to the chemical make up of these strong drugs so, I listened. It was a surprise finding and found to be more effective than prescribed medicines for children at bedtime, in addition to have a soothing and calming effect on sick children who then went on to sleep soundly.

My wife tried it on herself when she had a very deep constant and persistent cough a few weeks ago and it worked 100%! She said that it felt like a warm blanket had enveloped her, coughing stopped in a few minutes and believe me, this was a deep, (incredibly annoying!) every few seconds uncontrollable cough, and she slept cough-free for hours every night that she used it.

If you have grandchildren, pass this on. If you end up sick, try it yourself and you will be absolutely amazed at how it works.

I have to tell you that I was getting desperate for a nights sleep so I tried it and IT WORKS!!!!!!!! I am truly amazed.

Sick again !!!!

................I Cant believe it

Having been ill at the beginning of Jauary with the coldy fluey bug I thought I was over it, except for the earache.

Well last week it hit me again this time completely de-railing me with the flu, I worked through the first couple of days in the build up, but Thursday I gave in & came home from work early. Just as well I did by Thursday evening I was unable to do anything, even eating was painful, that was it for five days, still feel rough today so popped myself to the docs...........I have a chest infection................my third dose of antibiotics in 4 weeks & the threat of a chest x-ray if there is no improvement by Monday. So I now have a certificate for a week and doctors orders to rest..........not that I feel like doing anything, the concentration is just not there.

So hopefully normal service will be resumed next week, when I have a pile of cards to make for February birthdays.

Printing in Gold Silver & Copper

The wedding season is galloping towards us & at work we have noticed the increased number of brides making their own wedding stationery.
So here I am sitting here in my craft room making up some sample wedding invitations for a couple of brides to view when I realised that it might be helpful to add the printer codes to print in gold silver & copper. This works with most printers & definateley with Epson printers.

• When you have written your text in word or publisher, highlight the whole text area.
• Cick on the 'A' button to change font colour.
• Click on the line that says more colours.
• The middle tab should br custom, click and enter the following codes in the boxes next to the colour names.
• This will then apply the colour to all of your hilighted text.

Gold
Red 192 Green 168 Blue 104

Dark gold
Red 165 Green 138 Blue 82

Silver
Red 151 Green 151 Blue 168

Copper
Red 205 Green 115 Blue 0

This looks yummy

Cheesy, Hammy, Eggy

I found this recpe on Sarahs blog

Ingredients (Makes four slices)

4 Slices White Bread (white tastes much better with this recipe)
4 Slices Ham
5 Eggs
250g Cheese
Teaspoon English or Dijon Mustard

Method

• First make the cheesy mixture by mixing together 1 egg, 250g cheese and the mustard.
• Place four slices bread under the grill and toast on one side
• Turn the toast over and put the ham on the uncooked side making sure it is just inside the edge of the bread.
• Cover the bread with the cheesy mixture spreading it right to the edge.
• Put the toast back under the grill to melt the cheesy mixture all over the bread.
• Fry four eggs.
• Remove the toast from the grill and place on your plate, top with a fried egg and pepper!

Norwich Dragon festival

Norwich Dragon Festival 2009

Norwich will roar into life as the first ever dragon festival takes place at various venues around the city. The festival aims to reflect dragons as an integral part of Norwich's local history.

Better get your flame-retardant clothing ready, as the first ever Norwich Dragon Festival flies its way into the city between Saturday, 31 January - Sunday, 22 February, 2009.

The festival entails three weeks of flame-filled activities including exhibitions, puppet shows, story-telling, talks, films, arts and crafts and a dragon trail.

The aim of the festival is to celebrate dragons as part of Norwich's vast culture and history, with the fiery creatures being a part of the city since the Medieval Ages.

The festival will call at 15 different locations around Norwich, including the £2 million renovated Dragon Hall on King Street, and many venues will exhibit their displays for free.

The Dragon Festival

The fire-breathing creatures have been given the support of many companies throughout Norwich to bring them to the public domain.

"There's over 15 organisations involved from all across the city and about 30 different events," said Christina Lundberg, communications manager at Norwich Heritage, Economic and Regenerations Trust.

"The activities are mainly aimed at families, but there's treats for the young people at heart and talks that are also aimed towards adults," she added.

A dragon in the spandrels at Dragon Hall

One of the main dragons that can be seen at the festival is an incredible 581 years old, placed in the spandrels (rafters) of Dragon Hall.

"We've had groups who've liaised with community artists to work at filling our other spandrels at Dragon Hall, because we only have one dragon there at the moment," said Gina Woods, learning and development officer of Dragon Hall.

"Even though there is only one, it is rather famous, being 581 years old," she added.

Young people have been able to get involved in filling the remaining spandrels of the hall.

"Filling the triangular spandrels has been really fun and creative. We have a felt dragon made by Catton brownies," said Gina.

The history of Norwich's dragons

Ever since the Medieval Ages, Norwich has had a history of dragons.

A Dragon on St John's Cathedral, Norwich

"The dragons are mainly related to St George, the great dragon-slayer, and Margaret, the maiden he rescued," said Christina.

"Dragons have been carved in Norwich since Medieval times and they boomed around the Industrial Revolution, where the creatures were incorporated into the architecture of the buildings.

"Snap dragons were involved in the Annual Guild Day on St George's Day and various dragons can now be found throughout Norwich.

"People in Norwich have really taken dragons to heart".

Now the penguins are coming to Norwich

People are being asked to keep their eyes peeled for a colony of penguins across Norfolk this winter.

We've had elephants in Norwich, hippos are heading for Wymondham, camels visited Brundall last week and next it will be the turn of penguins.

Life-size emperor penguins brought to life with the artwork of poorly and disabled youngsters will be showing off their new looks at The Forum in the new year.

The sculptures, decorated by youngsters from Quidenham Children's Hospice, Sheridan House School in Southborough, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital and Eagle House in Banham will be displayed from Wednesday, January 28 until Sunday, February 8.

Each group has created their individual animal sculptures by transferring the youngster's images on to the fibreglass
penguins through a series of art workshops.


I am sure that this will make an excellent photo opportunity & I hope to be able to visit the exhibition and take lots of pictures.

Why you should always check your childresn homework.

Note sent the next school day with 1st grader...


Dear Ms Davies,

That is not a dance pole on stage in a strip joint! ...I work at Home Depot, ...that's me selling a shovel.

It certainly made me smile and took me back to when I worked in a first school.

Stampin at last

Thank you for all of your get well wishes.......I am now beginning to feel a bit better,I just wish that the tablets would work and sort out my earache.
By Thursday I had some concentration back and sat snuggled up on the sofa blog hopping & I have to say that I feel totally inspired looking at all of lovely projects that you've been posting.
It's so hard to believe that we are already 11 days into the new year.
I did spend a couple of hours in my craft room yesterday and made a few simple Stampin up cards, inspired by Splitcoast stampers.

Delight in Life

Love Matters

Both way blossoms

All of the stamp sets are Stampin up
Cardstock is also by Stampin up
Backing papers are Doodlebug & Sandylion

I have been blog hopping over to Alison's blog & keep looking at her Gorgeous photo's
All of the lovely new winter pictures she has taken have inspired me to break out my camera as soon as I feel well enough to be out walking, so watch this space.