Crock Pot LOVE

Tonight i'm sharing something a little out of the ordinary for me - a recipe!!!  Originally i thought this blog would only be about all things paper and craft related, but i just had to share this one...  I follow a lot of overseas blogs, and i always read about the "crock pot"...  I found the most yummy looking recipe on Pinterest today, but it said that it's made using a crock pot - so i googled it, and to my shock i found out that a crock pot is actually a slow cooker (blond moment for me)...

I've had a slow cooker for such a long time, but i think i've used it once, because i don't have any recipes for it, so it's kind of been hiding in the back of one of the cupboards... 

So while i was "playing" on Pinterest today, i came across this recipe:

http://crockingirls.com/recipes/crockin-ham-sweet-potato-casserole-crockin-brownies/

The picture caught my attention, and it just looked so YUMMY...  I used Gammon - and let me tell you - it was DIVINE...  I served it with rice, pumpkin and potatoes - mmmmmmmm....

It is the easiest recipe i've ever tried and it turned out delicious - definitely a keeper...

If you decide to try it - let me know, but trust me, you won't be sorry you did...

Liesl
xxx

Washi Tape

I have a new product that has triggered my interest - Washi Tape...  I had no clue what this was, but every blog that i read and every crafty website i've been on, i've read about Washi tape - so of course i had to search high and low to find washi tape locally...  A while ago i was looking for Bakers twine as well, and i found a lady named Cathy, who lives in Stellenbosch - she has her own stationery design studio at home where she makes the most beautiful stationery - go check it out:  www.paperpeony.co.za

I was so excited to find out that not only does she sell bakers twine, but she also has washi tape...  So on Friday Michelle and I visited her studio to "shop", and i got the most divine washi tape - here's a little preview of what i bought:

For those who don't know (yet): washi tape is like masking tape, but just much "prettier"... Cathy showed us some projects that she's made using washi tape - oh my word, the possibilities are endless...  You can stick pictures to the wall, and when you're bored with those pictures, just pull it off, and the washi tape comes right off - no damage to the wall - it's amazing....  You can use it on presents, instead of ribbon - it looks so pretty...

Of course i'll be using it on some scrapbooking layouts, and another thing i want to try to make is bunting - i saw the most beautiful little bunting line - i can just picture this in my crafting space...  I also saw a picture where somebody used the washi tape to cover wooden pegs - this is so awesome!!!  You can stick a little piece of magnet on the back, and you'll have the most beautiful fridge magnets..   So many ideas - so little time...

Anyway, as soon as i've made my first "washi project", i will be sure to post it here and share the awesomeness with everybody....

Liesl
xxxx

Hello - I'm back again

First of all i have to apologise for being MIA again (tomorrow it will be a month ago that i last posted something on my blog - shocking!!!)...  So many things have happened since my last post...  My cousins son, Graham, passed away after a 2 year battle with Leukemia - very sad because he was only 29 years old...  I wish i could have been there to say goodbye, but at least my mom, dad and sister were there to see him...  I feel inspired by him - we are all so quick to complain about small things, and thru out his battle he never once complained, or felt sorry for himself - he smiled and lived life to the fullest...  This puts things into perspective for me again - be thankful and grateful every day for what you have!!!

And then, drumroll please........... We've moved into our new house - and it's awesome!!!  That is of course except for all the boxes and stuff that's still laying around...  But i'm taking it one day at a time - i like having all my things in it's place, so this is driving me insane - all my crafty / scrapbooking stuff are still in boxes, because the "office / Liesl's crafting room" is not done yet!!  Living out of boxes are not fun, but once everything is unpacked this house is going to be great...

At the moment i feel like this house has taken over my life!!!  I'm feeling very frustrated, because i'm used to having my stuff organised and at the moment i don't know where anything is, but i'm sure that will all change soon...

We've had construction people in and out of our house, fixing a couple things, and then we've had blinds installed, burglar bars installed, kitchen is being re-done, etc...  So we're living in "organised chaos"...

 I will share 1 photo of the chaos, but that is it - i just can't get myself to add any more pictures, because it's not "pretty"...  Once everything is done, and everything has found a special little place, then i'll be more than happy to share more pictures...

Today they're busy finishing my kitchen - this will be my proud and joy - ohhhhhhhh i can't wait for them to finish so i can sit back and enjoy it...

We had a meeting with a landscaper last night, so hopefully he'll be able to make the outside (front & back) look pretty...  I am not a garden person - i want my garden to look beautiful, but i want somebody else to make it happen...  I do not like sand under my nails - i'm a crafty person, give me paper and scissors and other beautiful things and i will make magic happen - but a garden, not so much!!!

So, watch this space for more "home" updates, and of course, i still have loads of other crafty projects to share... 

Liesl
xxx

Go Stormers!!!

It's been WAY too long since i've posted something on my blog...  Life has just been so hectic on my side - we're moving in less than 2 weeks, so we're living in chaos...  Hopefully in the new house i will have my own little crafting area, so no more crafting and scrapping at the dining room table (or wherever i can find an open spot)...

I've been busy again, making all sorts of invites and party decorations - the most beautiful things (even if i have to say so myself)...

My friend Lyndi asked me the other day to make birthday invitations for her son Louis birthday party - he's a big rugby fan, so they're going with the Stormers theme...  She sent me a picture of the Stormers rugby jersey, and this is what i came up with...

I even copied the sponsor logo's, just to make it look exactly like the real thing:

The invitation is a normal fold open card, with all the party information on the inside:

And on the back, for the position number, we added the number 6 on all of the cards, seeing that Louis is turning 6, and i've added each childs name on the back of their "rugby jersey"...

The party is next weekend and i can't wait to see what Lyndi has in store for everybody - they always have the best birthday parties for their boys...  And the birthday cake - i'm sure she'll come up with something spectacular - as usual...

I'll be back soon with some more pics from the other party goodies i've made...

Liesl
xxx 

Army Party

After a very long week, i finally have some time for myself again...  I'm still catching up on posts from previous parties i've done, so i'm going back a couple of weeks now to Allen's Army Party...  When i was asked to come up with ideas for an Army Party, i used a lot of the ideas from Tristan's (my sisters son) party - his birthday was in February and i made some party packs and decorations...  My sister came up with the "Rat Pack" idea for the party boxes, so we used it again for this party...  We added some "swamp water" to go with the theme...

There were 2 x "Camp Allen" banners running along the tables - we used this instead of the normal table centre piece...

I was responsible for all the paper crafts, and Olivia did the rest - she is so creative, she comes up with the most brilliant ideas - and it always looks perfect once she puts it all together...

There were army boot foot prints running from the door to the table:

There were lots of little army men everywhere - even used as cupcake toppers...  I made some rosettes with stars for decorations, sandwiches cut in the shape of stars - lots of browns, greens and camouflage - and voila, you have the most beautiful army party...

I will try and get some pictures from Tristan's party as well, to add to the Army Party post...

We have started our countdown for the big move - yes, we're moving in less than a month...  I'm super excited, but there's still loads to do and the packing - don't get me started on the packing...  We're currently living in semi organised chaos, half our life is packed in boxes already...  I must be honest, as much as I'm looking forward to the new house, i'm not looking forward to the rest of the packing and then the unpacking again...

I will keep updating on the "big move" as well...

I'm off to bed now, i need to catch up on some much needed sleep...

Liesl
xxx

Baby Shower - Boy

About 2 weeks ago i made the cutest cupcake toppers for a boy baby shower - there was no "theme", but the colour scheme was pastel blue and pastel green...  To keep it neutral, we decided to go with baby onesies, instead of a teddy bear or elephant or something like that...  I cut all the baby onesies with my Silhouette and even if I have to say so myself - they turned out super cute!!!

I used a polka dot cardstock for the onesies - it just added a little something special, so that it doesn't look so plain, and i'm a sucker for polka dots!!!

I also made a cake topper, using a big onesie and adding a little blue pacifier - the pacifier i found in my stash, i've had it for such a long time, i don't even know where i got them from...

And last but not least, i made some popcorn cones, with star cut outs - and i added some ribbon handles...  Hopefully i'll get some pictures from the actual party - it's always nice to see what it looks like when it all comes together in the end...

I love love LOVE making these decorations - it's actually so therapeutic for me to do this, and it brings out the creative side of me...  My whole family is creative / crafty, we all do something different - my mom loves sewing / knitting, embroidery;  my dad loves woodwork and building things (from model aircrafts to cupboards - i don't think there's anything that he can't build); my sister also loves sewing, knitting and baking; and then there's me - the paper crafter in the family...

I'm busy working on decorations and invites for 2 more parties, so watch this space - some more awesome things coming soon...

Liesl
xxx

Doctor's Invites

I know i've been MIA for a while, but it's so fricking cold lately, i haven't felt like doing anything - i wish winter can be over now - bring on summer!!!

About a month or so ago i was asked to make invitions for a new doctor's practice - they were having their grand opening...  After hours of googling and lots of ideas, we finally decided on this cute invite:

Everything was cut with my Silhouette...  I took a father's day card, which was suppose to be a fold open card, and glued the bottom flaps and the button section closed, so that the shirt acts as a pocket for the actual invite - the top part of the invitation looks like the shirt collar sticking out - and that part was personalised with each doctor's name...

I added some double sided tape the make the shirt pocket stand out - just to add some dimension to the project:

I ended up making about 75 of these invitations, and i think it turned out very nice - the client was very happy, so i guess that's all that matters...

I'll be back with some more projects soon...

Liesl
xxx