Layout makeover with Patio Party!

PATIO PARTY! This has to be my favourite designer series paper from the new Stampin' Up! catalogue (p165) so far.  In fact, I love it so much, I am ready to order some more!  Aside from the designs being fun and fresh featuring the new in-colours, the designs are so versatile you can use it for a wide variety of project themes!

Initially I was thinking birthday cards and other celebratory themes.  But then i realised it would have been perfect for my BOAT TRIP layout that i did a few months ago!  I confessed to a good friend of mine that I wanted to redo my layout. I was met with an exasperated text message of "Oh, dear Lord!" Besides making me laugh, i knew deep down she knew why I HAD TO DO THIS!

And here it is!  I didn't need to use much of the Patio Party papers for this layout, so it just goes to show these packs really go a long way. I used the Fun Flowers Bigz L die (p193) to make the flower and popped an Antique Brad in to finish it off. I have not veered away from the original layout. All i have done is use a different colour scheme and introduced Patio Party paper to give the layout a makeover. You can view the original Boat Trip layout here.  

I created my own date tag by cutting a small piece of the Crumb Cake card stock and sponging the edges with Soft Suede ink.  I also added the rounded corners with the 5mm Corner Punch (p183). The stamp set i used is So Many Sayings (retired) and again, i used the Soft Suede ink. It's such a simple little tag and so easy to make.  It's amazing how sponging the edges with a darker ink creates such a lovely effect.

  

I used the same technique for the journalling tag. Again, the stamp set i used is the retired So Many Sayings. 

I was surprised how easily i could create a simple embellishment by putting the Patio Party paper through the Big Shot with the Fun Flowers' Bigz L die and then adding in a brad through the centre.

If you haven't explored the beautiful range of designer series papers, my guess is that once you try them, you will wonder how you ever survived without them.  They give projects an instant injection of colour and design detail.

Stampin' Up!® supplies: Stamp Set: So Many Sayings (retired). Classic Stampin' Pad (Soft Suede). Card Stock (Crumb Cake, Midnight Muse, Summer Starfruit). Papers: (Patio Party Designer Series Paper). Accessories (Antique Brads)

What about grain free rice?

I was talking to one of my good friends from high school last week, and it was so good to catch up on the latest goings ons in our lives. It's hard to believe we used to see eachother almost everyday, and nowadays, I'm lucky to see her once a year! It is a distance thing.

These days, instead of the girly giggles about the latest cute boys we have a crush on, it's more about "grown up" stuff... like the kids, bills, home life, and food ideas. 

The conversation turned to more "mature" matters when i told her about my plan to eliminate grains from my diet to heal my body. Although she won't have realised it, her suggestion for grain free rice was rather inspirational and has motivated me to look further into mock fried rice using vegies.
     

I spent many hours over the weekend searching for grain free recipes and ideas. There is so much out there, but it really is a matter of getting a good range of easy, filling recipes that i can refer to at anytime.  

    

Friday night was Vietnamese Pho night - without the rice noodles. Can I say, I really missed the noodles to start with, but overall it was a tasty meal which the kiddies enjoyed. They asked for seconds which is always a good sign. 

Vietnamese Pho (Sue Style): Wombuk, Brocollini, Beef with fresh coriander, mint and lime juice.

When you finely chop up cauliflower and then pan fry it, you end up with a yummy mock fried rice. Great as a light lunch. This is what i had for lunch today. The side of pan-fried pumpkin was a tasty sweet addition.

Mock Fried Rice made with finely chopped Cauliflower, Yellow Squash and Shallots,
with a side of thinly sliced pan-fried pumpkin.

I also spent some time this weekend making a card for a friend of mine, and I can't wait to share it with you! But first, I have to wait for her to receive it before i post up the photos. Don't want to spoil the surprise.

I got out my embossing powder and heat tool and embossed away like you wouldn't believe. I must have gone a little bit crazy as I dropped my entire VersaMark ink pad into my embossing powder. If you have used a VersaMark ink pad, you will know how sticky it is, and will understand why i let out a big "D'OH!" and grumbled at how i couldn't believe what i had just done.

Happy to say, I am not deterred in the least and cannot not wait to do more embossing soon - once i get myself a new VersaMark inkpad!

Looking forward to sharing more of my cardmaking projects with you soon!

Glittery cards for Christmas.

The magic of Christmas is something i look forward to every year, especially now that I have two little boys who's excitement about Christmas is extremely contagious. 

I know that it is only November, but i am already in Christmas card making mode. It was time to start thinking about my designs for this year's cards! After flicking through the new catalogue, I was inspired and couldn't wait to get started.
     

Here are my three designs for Christmas 2012! I used these designs in a recent Christmas stamp-a-stack where everyone made 3 cards in each of the 3 designs, which meant they walked away with 9 lovely handmade cards in total! Not too shabby for a few hours crafting.

This first card was inspired by a 2010 card design by Wendy Todd, a Stampin' Up Demonstrator in Sydney. I wanted to make a card with baubles but without the necessary stamps or punches, I decided to improvise by using the large snowflake stamp (Snow Swirled stamp set) and the 4.4cm circle punch. The top of the bauble was made with the 1.3cm circle punch which i glued half way behind the large baubles.  I also used the Dazzling Diamonds Stampin' Glitter to add a little bit of sparkle. I like sparkle, i mean, who doesn't?  

Cardstock: Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive, Very Vanilla.  Stamp Set: Snow Swirled. Inks: Old Olive, Cherry Cobbler. Accessories: Dazzling Diamonds glitter, string (retired), dimensionals.

The second design features a row of three cute little gift boxes. This was a very quick and easy card to make. 

I used the 3.2cm square punch to create the inside squares from the "Be of Good Cheer" designer series paper, and then using the 3.5cm square punch in Cherry Cobbler card stock to frame the present boxes. For the bows, I used the 1cm Stitched Satin Ribbon in Gumball Green and glued them on with glue dots.

I wanted this card to show the fun and festive designs in the "Be of Good Cheer" designer series paper pack.  There were so many great designs that it was not easy choosing just three!

Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla.  Designer Series Paper: Be of Good Cheer.
Stamp Set: Accessories: Stitched Satin Ribbon in Gumball Green, glue dots.

The third design uses the very elegant Christmas tree from the Snow Swirled stamp set. I fell in love with this gorgeous tree last year and have had my eye on it since. I stamped the tree with Old Olive ink and added the Rhinestone Basic Jewels and Stampin' Glitter to make it really sparkle. 

I used a strip of the "Be of Good Cheer" designer series paper on top of a strip of Old Olive card stock which has added another element to the card.  So there you have it, a simple design with a glitzy tree.

Card Stock: Very Vanilla, Old Olive.  Designer Series Paper: Be of Good Cheer.
Stamp Set: Snow Swirled. Accessories: Jewel Rhinesones, Stampin Glitter.

These simple card designs show how you can create three distinctly different cards with just one set of Designer Series Paper, and one stamp set.  The Season's Greeting stamp from Snow Swirled could have easily been used in the triple gift box card too :)

Thanks for visiting, and I hope you have been inspired to get cracking on your Christmas card making!

But isn't this a paper crafting blog?

Beef and green bean stif-fry with shredded nori and toasted sesame seeds.

So you may be wondering, why am I posting up a food photo?  This is a paper crafting blog, I hear you saying! 

Allow me to explain.  When I started this blog, I wanted to share the fun of my paper crafting creations.  But I had always intended to someday share my other two loves - food and photography. And that is why I chose the name THE MAKING TABLE, it's about making cards, making layouts, making food, and most importantly, making memories.   

Those who know me, are well aware that I have been on a non-stop roller coaster ride for the past 12 years trying to unravel the mysteries of my food allergies. It has taken me on an intense ride that has been emotionally and physically challenging in so many ways.

I am now embarking on my latest challenge.  Grain Free eating.  Oh my goodness.  I thought going gluten free, dairy free, corn free, soy free, sugar free etc etc was hard.  Grain free in addition to all my other "frees" is a tough one.

This little adventure of mine to eat grain free is new way of eating, which means a new way of cooking.  

To make it a little more fun, I would like to take photos of the new grain free dishes I create myself, and of the recipes i try from grain free blogs.

Initially, I won't be posting up any recipes, but you can message me if you would more details. I will leave the recipe posting to the professional food bloggers, like Emma from My Darling Lemon Thyme. 

I stumbled across Emma's blog earlier this year and was fully inspired by her passion for healthy healing foods and recipes, gorgeous photography, and her willingness to share her knowledge and wisdom with others. Also, i am mentioning My Darling Lemon Thyme for no other reason than because I am a big fan :)   

The Making Table will still be about all things crafty, but with occasional food photography thrown in for good measure!