I Love Handmade

Jolly Gingerbread Men

Yesterday, I came home a bit earlier than usual. So, I went to the gym since the pilates class which I usually go doesn't start until the new year. I went to use the elliptical and after a mere 5 mins., I was ready to stop and step down. But the people around me are still going strong at their treadmill or the bicycle. I felt embarrassed to leave so soon, so I stayed on for a while longer. I have to say - these people are crazy. That one girl on the treadmill was running non-stop the whole time I was at the gym. As for me, my legs were throbbing by the time I was done.

I made this card earlier this month. I had borrowed the Big Shot die-cutting machine from someone because I wanted to try using it to cut felt. You see the gingerbread men at the bottom of the card? That was cut with a Quickutz die in the Jolly holiday set from last year, except I used felt instead of card stock. Isn't it cool? It just add another texture and makes the card more interesting.

Lifetime of Love

I want to share with you a wedding card I made for a co-worker's request. I got the idea from Nicole Heady's blog. I switched up the colour combo to pink and sage. My all-time favourite colours are sage and aqua-blue. So, any card with any of those colours will appeal to me. I like how the stitched ribbons and buttons all tie in with the quilting theme. I was going to make the same card for my own use, as I had a wedding to go to last week, but then I ran out of time to make it. From now on, I will make multiples when I make cards. It will be easier when I have all the materials out and I will have a good stash to use when I need them.

 Stamps: Papertrey Ink (Quilter's Sampler, Polka Dot Basics); Ink: Copic sketch marker
 

O holy night

I'm so happy to be off work this week. I made a To-Do list earlier and now it's Friday and I don't think I have half of the stuff done. Aside from tackling some housework, I did some Christmas cards. I love this baby Jesus in a manger Quickutz die. I snatched these up when they were on sale at Scrapbooks by Design. The background pattern paper is from the Eskimo Kisses collection from Basic Grey. And the punch is from Martha Stewart. The sentiment is from Amuse.

 

Green Tea Macaroons

I made these green tea macaroons recently. I liked the merigues i.e., the top and bottom part, but I didn't like the custard inbetween after learning it's made mainly with butter. Next time, I'll use fill it with chocolate ganache or the ready-made red bean paste.

Adapted Recipe from Dessert For You by Rachel Yau

Ingredients:

Green tea Macaroons

75 g ground almond

75 g icing sugar

54 g egg whites (from about 2-3 large eggs)

10 g Matcha green tea powder

20 g water

Green tea filling

1 egg yolk

10 g sugar

60 g butter

A couple drops of vanilla extract

1 tbps of water

Method:

Green tea macaroons

1. Sieve together the green tea powder, icing sugar and ground almond. Beat 27 g of egg whites. Then, add the sieved dry ingredients.
2. In a small pot, melt the sugar with the water. Stir it into the remaining 27 g of egg whites. Beat until satiny and stiff.
3. Add egg mixture from Step 2 into the batter in Step 1 in 3 additions. Fold it in, so not to deflate the air bubbles in the egg mixture.
4. On a piece of parchment paper or silpat, pipe the macaroon batter using a 1 cm nozzle. Try to pipe equal size discs. Leave them to dry for 30 mins.
5. Bake in oven at 285 F for 10 mins. Then lower the temperature to 210 F and keep baking for 20 mins.
6. Once cooled. Lift them carefully from parchment paper or silpat.

Custard filling 

1. In a small pot, melt the sugar with the water. Turn heat off. Stir in the egg yolk quickly.
2. Add in softened butter in egg yolk in 3 separate times. Whisk until smooth. Add in vanilla extract and green tea powder.
3. Pipe custard filling inbetween 2 merigues.

 

 

Open Day Display Board

After about 3 days of work, I finally finished the display board for the upcoming Open Day for church. This board will be used to demonstrate the various activities that we will have on that day. The event organizer asked me to use as many 3D objects as possible. My hubby was able to find this paper cut of the Wii remote. You just have to print it on cardboard, cut along the lines and fold it up. It's quite neat.

 

There's still some jewellery samples that will go on the pink page, with the glittered phrase "Bling Bling". I stuck on the bowling pins toys like a bowling bowl just struck them. I must mention the glittered shiny banners. I made the trim and polka dots myself using yellow glittered paper. I made the pinwheels too. These represent the carnival games we will have on the Open Day. The ping pong is an actual ping pong paddle. I had to use heavy duty tape to tape it on the board, then cut out a paddle shape from the green cardstock and put it on. I wanted it to look like I put the paddle on the cardstock. I also want to mention about the light shimmery yellow-green background. I used misting sprays to colour the white board. It was a major hassle; I don't intend to repeat this process. I was so afraid I would have some paint on my floors or furniture. I'm happy this is now done since I can now work on the board for my fellowship.

Working Away

I jazzed up a previous wedding card design with a Quickutz die cut of a bride and groom. I really like this card myself. My camera wouldn't cooperate and I can't get a sharp and bright picture. You will just have to trust me.

  Next up are two scrapbook pages that are just finished today. A friend came over to help me do some pages. They will go on a display booth for an Open Day for my church in a couple of weeks. Each fellowship will have a booth to introduce ourselves. My friend made this one about the day when we went bowling. Do you love the silly monkey?

I made the next page about the time when we went out for dinner. I like how the paper pierced flower pattern framed the assorted pictures, which guides your eye to the pictures. And the elegant font for the title just completes the page.

Royal Botanical Gardens

Yes, I know I haven't updated my blog in a long long time. I just didn't feel like doing any crafts. But I do have many cooking and baking recipes to share. But first, I'd like to share these photos of today's day trip to Hamilton's Royal Botanical Gardens. 

 

 

There are about 4 separate gardens altogether. We only had energy for 3 gardens. When I arrived, I took out my camera and immediately realized I have yet downloaded all 200+ pics of the weekend at Niagara Falls a couple of weeks ago - which means there was`t much memory left. I was so pissed at myself. I ended up buying a good old fashioned disposable camera. You remember those with actual film inside? I had to turn a wheel to take the next picture!

 

 

Charm Bracelet & matching Earrings

Today, we had another 'Crafting Bella' gathering. This time, we had five of us. We started with a very satisfying lunch as made by my hubby. We enjoyed vegetable soup, homemade pizzas, bacon-wrapped scallops and thanks to Cangi, we also had walnut bread pudding. And I made the mini raspberry-topped lemon muffins. Then, we proceeded to make the jewellery. There are two basic techniques used in this project. The simple one is how to properly open and close jump rings. The other is a little bit more complicated - wire wrapping using headpins. But the bellas caught on after a few practices. And after some time, all had completed a set of very beautifully handmade dangling earrings. Everyone rushed to the mirror to try on their earrings after they're done. It was funny as I had done the exact same thing when I worked on them beforehand. Some started the bracelet too, and they brought the remaining materials home to finish. It feels a bit like school today; there's handouts, video presentation, class work, then homework. Ha ha. And viola, here is the finished project.

 

And here is a group picture, showing off our own homemade earrings. Can you feel our sense of accomplishment? LOL

Jewellery making

I made these for someone's birthday. I have started making simple earrings and liking the results. They make nice gifts. I think the hard part is actually coming up with the design and finding the right beads and the right hairpin, clasps or hook. I just went to a bead store in the textile district after work today to buy the materials for the next craft gathering. (We are making jewellery next time.) I had some ideas in mind and actually sketch them on paper and brought it to the store, in hope to find the right materials. But it's quite hard to do in such a short time since the store closes at 6pm, and it was like a quarter to six by the time I got there. Boy, those street cars seem to stop every 30 secs. Quite annoying. The nice lady there helped me find the right stuff...probably because she wants me out of the store, so she could get off work. I will probably need to go back once I finally the designs. I hope the other girls will like the jewellery when we make them in the gathering.

 

Baby Onesie

I made this for my hubby's co-worker. The baby onesie was made using Quickutz baby clothes die set. I haven`t been crafting lately even though I have two more requests. I have been using all my spare time to read the Twilight saga. I just finished the second book, New Moon. And I can't wait to read the rest. The first book is so much better than the movie, although Robert Pattison, the actor who plays Edward Cullen is really good-looking. I know I'm no longer a teen, so not supposed to gush over a 23 year-old actor. But it's hard not to look at Pattison and not dream he's the character, Edward Cullen in the books. If you like suspense and romance, I highly suggest you read it. You'd enjoy it!