pretty paper. true stories. {and scrapbooking classes with cupcakes.}

Loving a very chilled four day weekend. Quiet and creative here—we both have a couple projects that we’re working on, so we are quiet for quite some time, followed by a buzz of swapping ideas back and forth, followed by the quiet of trying out those ideas. Nice to have a little extra time to feed that creativity!

It turns out a weekend like this is perfect for making macarons, since they take so many steps, with waiting built in between pretty much every one. We made a vanilla bean batch following this recipe and they came out better than I could have imagined, since macarons have such a reputation for being tricky little things. Then we got a bit brave and tweaked the recipe to include cocoa powder, chocolate ganache and morello cherry jam. That batch wasn’t as perfect but I don’t think we’ll have any trouble polishing them off.

I could see these easily becoming something of a weekend tradition, but I’m not sure how our waistlines might react! So maybe just a special treat for lovely long weekends like this.

Hope your Easter is a happy one!

xlovesx

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It’s amazing how a few days sans the electric internets can throw the normal workflow. I obsessively like to keep my inbox under control. Let’s just say that is something I am still working on right now! But at least the number is now at three digits, which means possibly I will reach the magic zero soon, with everything replied to, filed appropriately, bills paid, work up to date and then I will feel positively amazing. For a few minutes.

But don’t get me wrong—email actually makes me immensely happy most days! And lately I’ve had a few of my favourite discussions—talking to beginner scrapbookers! Recently it’s been about their first few purchases, and giving a bit of advice for those investment buys. I think we’ve all been there in a crafty store: it looks fabulous, there are ideas in your mind, but the real question when you look at that price ticket is: Is this really worth it? and for me, ‘worth it’ means will I continue to use it once the initial wonder has disappeared. I can certainly speak from experience as there are some tools that I still use regularly – even daily – ten years after the original purchase. And there are a few that didn’t last a week in my good graces. So although everyone has their own favourites, I definitely have a few things I just can’t live without, and that’s something I love discussing with crafty girls just starting out in this crazy scrapping world. So perhaps I should make that list public, eh?

Although the list is just ten things, it turns out that my notes on ten things can become quite the lengthy post, so
click here to read the full post—my list of can’t-live-without scrapbooking supplies and contribute your own personal list of ten or so crafty goodies you never want to let go!

Have a fabulous weekend!

xlovesx

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Right then: back to work! Today’s to-do list seems pretty never-ending, but it ranged from the completely dire ‘clean the refrigerator’ to ‘finish final details for Scrapping Angels class’. Can you guess which I haven’t actually done yet?

The Scrapping Angels retreat is the 25th and 26th of April at Wyboston Lakes, and you can book in for the full weekend or just one day. All the details are here.

If you’re coming to my class, we’ll be making a 12×12 layout in teal, pink and green. The kit includes American Crafts Thickers, Craft Fair patterned paper, one of my all-time favourite ribbons, some giant and fabulous monograms and the pinkest, sparkliest brads I could find. Plus we’ll be using the new ‘It’s All About…’ stamps from Banana Frog. And if you’re already packing your crop tote for the retreat (or at least thinking about it), you will need:
1 landscape (horizontal) 4×6 inch photograph of something very happy
scissors
trimmer
adhesive
black pen
black ink pad
acrylic block
paper piercer
Optional:
pale pink ink pad
alcohol ink applicator (we won’t be using alcohol ink, but I also love this tool for blending regular stamping inks)
3 to 8 lines of journaling on white cardstock, no wider than four inches (if you’re happy to handwrite, you can do this in class with no problem. if you prefer to use a typewriter or your computer, write it before class and leave plenty of space between each line so we can cut it into strips.)

That should be everything! If you have any questions, just let me know. I’d love to see you there!

xlovesx

ETA: Looks like this class is now sold out – thank you so much! If there are any extra kits after the event, I will let you know…no promises though!

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A totally fabulous Monday with beautiful weather and nothing on the agenda but walking around with scrapbooking wonder women Sande Krieger and Rhonna Farrer. We may or may not have done things that included shopping, eating and taking pictures. I am sworn to secrecy.

I will tell you that if you ever need to travel to a place where you feel you will be robbed, take Sande with you. These two lovelies helped me trek back to the train station with all my luggage on the Metro and a not-so-lovely character tried to empty Sande’s handbag, but Sande kept her cool, shouted at the would-be thief and got her off our train carriage. Sande = brilliant.

Now…to try to find a way back into the normal day to day! Actually looking forward to staying in England for a while…until June.

xlovesx

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Merci infiniment de venir pour classer des dames! Il était beau pour vous rencontrer à la chute de Version Scrap. Je voyage à la maison le mardi, ainsi ceux dans les classes de minibook recevront des images par l’email mercredi et jeudi.

(and I apologise if that is the worst French you have ever read!)

xlovesx

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^{©twopeasinabucket.com}

Two cool things at Two Peas today: *A new garden of ideas…lots of stamping goodness this month. *For today only, 20% off pretty much the whole store.

Sales count as cool, right?
(And I promise it’s not an April Fool.)

xlovesx

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Brain slightly boggled.
Counting to the same number repeatedly, making sure there is enough of everything.
Reviewing step by step instructions and taking and checking pictures.
Giddy about woodgrain!
Hoping Cropodiles are pretty popular with French scrappers. I only have one.
Remembering that I speak pretty much NO French.

Catching train to Paris on Thursday morning!

Version Scrap is this weekend. I’m teaching four scrapbooking classes there and very excited, in case you couldn’t tell. If you’re coming to class and have any questions, let me know! I now have someone helpful to translate these things for me! (Seriously need to bring her the biggest gift I can.)

Possibly more sneak peeks tomorrow, assuming my eyes have uncrossed and everything fits in my suitcase. Please may the weather report be accurate!

xlovesx

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Out with one crazy week of work and in with the next: we are both in a state of working more hours than we can count. Some of it happy fun work, some of it work that has to be done, some of it we’re just trying to get through and call it finished!

Apparently we both react to overwork with…baking? Over the past few days I made Cannelle et Vanille’s Rhubarb and Pistachio Tart and some not-too-sweet sugar cookies. The Boy made rosemary and raisin rolls, partly to celebrate his amazing skill at nursing the rosemary back to health after I spent most of the winter killing it.

Super Easy Not-Too-Sweet Sugar Cookies
makes a bunch of dough to keep in the freezer and bake as desired
250g unsalted butter
150g icing sugar
50g caster sugar, plus extra for dusting
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 egg
350g flour, plus extra for dusting
1/2 teaspoon baking powder

Cream butter, sugars and vanilla in a mixer. Add the egg and mix until even. Stir in flour and baking powder and mix until it magically balls up as a big lump of cookie dough. Wrap that up in plastic and pop into the fridge for an hour or two.
Remove from the fridge, unwrap and roll out on floured surface. Roll up whatever dough you don’t want to cook, wrap in plastic and freeze. Roll out dough you do want to cook until about 1/4” thick. Cut with cookie cutters and place on greased baking sheet. Sprinkle with extra caster sugar.
Bake at 180C for about 10 minutes.

And now? Back to work.

xlovesx

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