Scrappy stuff

Happy Friday!

Here's a layout share for you - it's for the Show Us Your Stuff monthly challenge in which you must take your creative cue from this image:

I liked the idea of recreating a pinboard, and was also inspired by the hanging camera straps....

My handmade items are the Charms Creations star and a Nellie G button.

Bits and pieces like the emblem, brads, rubber clothing tag and calendar card add to the pinboard idea.

Find out how to enter HERE. There's a nice weekend project for you!

I had the pleasure of being involved in a special tribute to The Year of The Farmer this month over at Red Earth Scrapping.

Operated by the lovely Helen, city-turned-country-girl, the site has been featuring "country" scrappers all this month - and now it's my turn!

Read my story HERE. 

What does the weekend hold for you?

Ours is shaping up to be rather full-on....

a play date, 

a house full of tweenie girls for a sleepover,

 a movie date, 

art class, 

baking for a school-do happening on Monday,

dreaded housework and grocery shopping somewhere in between.

Don't you just love the weekends???

Recipe and Art for you

In my kitchen this week....

A new favourite in our house,

Malted Milk Biccies

Cream together:

125 g butter, softened

1/2 cup caster sugar

1 egg

Mix in:

2 tablespoons golden syrup

1/3 cup malted milk powder

Sift in:

2 1/2 cups plain flour

1/2 teaspoon bicarb soda

1 1/2 teaspoons cream of tartar

Bring together into a dough (add a few drops of milk if needed).

Knead gently, wrap in cling film, fridge for 30 mins.

Roll out to 5mm thick.

Cut into flower shapes (or any shape!).

Bake on lined trays 15-18 mins at 150 degrees C.

Cool on trays.

Spread with icing:

1 1/2 cups icing sugar

2 tablespoons malted milk powder

1 tablespoons milk, approx

Top with a choc melt or freckle.

Makes 36 irresistably yummy cookies great for lunchboxes or with your morning cuppa.

At Art Class lately.....

My first attempt at charcoal - very messy stuff!
The model chose mine as his fave - how cool is that!

A 30 minute sketch using my fave medium - graphite sticks...

Using my new Derwent Sketching pencils, which you blend with water....obviously not the correct paper - it buckled and "pilled"....you learn something new every day!

I have more, but not yet photographed.

Hope your week was dandy.
See you next time!

True "family" accommodation

Oh, and to add to yesterday's post about Newcastle......

If you need to take your family to Newcastle, I highly recommend Bluegum Apartments in Jesmond.

Having that 3rd child makes staying anywhere almost impossible!!! You either have to get a cabin at the local caravan park, have someone sleeping on the only couch or get interconnecting rooms at a motel - effectively doubling the cost of your visit - and by taking that option you still have to eat out.

We paid $180 per night (not much more than a scabby cabin at the nearest holiday park) and our apartment was BEAUTIFUL!!!

Modern, new and spotlessly clean

HUGE living area with enough leather lounges to seat all of us

Massive kitchen complete with "laundry in a cupboard" and all the appliances you would ever need (even oil, s&p and sauces in the pantry!)

6-seater dining table

Big TV plus FREE wi-fi (yes - free!!!)

Cordless telephone

Massive & very comfy king size bed and ensuite in our room (HUGE shower!)

Girls had their own room with bathroom right next door

Only 10 minutes drive into the heart of Newcastle

Own covered off-street car parking spot

Jesmond Shopping Centre on the doorstep

Yummy chinese restaurant across the road

Minimal traffic noise

I really was super impressed!

Mum and her hubby stayed in the same complex - and although they booked a 2 bedroom apartment also, it was much smaller than ours. Still beautifully fitted out though, and great for 2 or 3 people.

But ours was twice the size - I kid you not! So ask for apartment number 27.

A weekend to reminisce

I was so happy to revisit NEWCASTLE the other weekend.

I moved there at age 19 as a second year uni student (to this country girl it really was "the big smoke") - and left 4 years later as a career girl and newlywed. I worked days, partied nights and on weekends spent all my wages shopping! No mortgage, no kids, no responsibilities......oh those were the days!  

Was fun driving around showing the girls our old haunts - first apartment, fave restaurants, the foreshore, where we shopped and where we spent our time.

We went for State Gymnastics - Kate made the team for North West by default, there not being enough competitors in our area to hold trials at zone or regional level. So there she was - her very first competition - carrying the banner as the lone NorthWest rep - in the midst of the best high school gymnasts in the state!  

Was she worried? Was she shy? I would have been petrified! But not our Kate. She took it all in her stride, chatting to the other girls, doing her thing and performing her best. Amazing girl. So proud of her!

We braved the cold and took the fam to the footy on Saturday night - Knights (Tim's team) vs Bulldogs. Had great seats and got caught up in the atmosphere - while we watched the Knights get smashed! 

Bessie and Tim:

 Mia was impressed by the Cheerleaders (did I tell you she started Cheer classes this year?)

 Close to the action: 

Thanks for popping by.

I'll be back soon with some new drawings and what's been cooking in my kitchen!

xxx