Life ..... this week.

Rain!  Finally we have had some rain after a few sweltering hot weeks.  Aaaaahhhhhhh ... it was so lovely that Madalyn and I ran around outside in it getting soaking wet.

Here is a couple of photos from my week.

 Creepy yucky bug! on my laundry window trying to eat me as I went out to hang the washing on the line.  He was HUGE!  I think at least 20 metres long .... ok ... only about 15 cms but that's big enough!

 Madalyn making her own sandwich .. this is the first time she has made one.  She had never asked before .. now she asks all the time LOL!  This one was Vegemite and Cheese.

 This is from today .. we made chickens .. and bunnies from egg cartons.  

I hope you enjoyed your week as much as I enjoyed mine ......

xoxoxox Carly

Happy 60th Birthday to my Dad

Hi there blogging friends and craft lovers.  I have been getting a little bit of crafting in here and there .. between gardening, working and a new exercise program (been having terrible back pain .. so I'm trying to fix that).

Here is a card I made for my Dad .. he will be 60 on Tuesday!  Hard to believe .... wow!  I struggle with Male cards .. especially older male.  I'm quite happy with this one.

I have used the Stampin Up Lovely As a Tree stamp and a sentiment also from Stampin Up.  I inked the stamps using ColourBox Fluid Chalk in Olive Pastel and Creamy Brown.  The Tree in the background was first stamped on scrap paper .. this lightened the ink for the actual card.

I have used a nice Spellbinders die and some lovely earthy looking background paper from an old Kasazz stash.

The strips on the top and bottom I made myself.  I ran them through an embossing folder and then rubbed the same two ink pads over them.  Was really happy with the effect.

Oh and I must mention that the card is sitting on a gorgeous little wooden easel given to me recently from my lovely and thoughtful friend Danie.  She thought it would be perfect for standing my cards on when taking a photo ... and she was spot on!  So thank you Danie :)

Happy Crafting
xoxoxooxoxooxoxox
Carly

Dirty and tired .... but look what we have done!

Hello there ..... I know ...... I have been MIA!  and unfortunately this is not a craft blog ... but I intend to make a card tonight!  So stay tuned.

But I just wanted to explain why I have been missing ..... as you know I work part time (night shift) and am a full time Mum.  Also we moved out to the country ... and have been doing a LOT of work.  So here is the latest!

We have been building a vegetable garden!  Both my Husband Steve and I have been outside until 10.30pm at least most nights (unless I'm at work .. which I have been 3 nights a week to pay for it all LOL) .. and we are exhausted!  But it is finished.  Seeds and some seedlings have been sown and now we just have to wait.

 so this was the 'patch' before hand ... just one raised garden bed and we put a wire fence around to keep rabbits out.

 Framework for the new fence and some of the new raised garden bed frames in.  

 another view ... the structure at the end is our chicken coop (also made by Steve)

 Getting ready to cut and attach the recycled tin.

 the last of the 6 garden beds are assembled.

 Steve hard at work.

 Madalyn's new swing ... also made by Steve ... she LOVES it!

 Ta Daaaaa!  all done .. well one of them doesn't have the pea straw on in this photo .. but it does in real life.

The tree you see there is our Cherry tree .... it had to stay ... although we did move the Lemon and Lime trees out of the fenced area.

Will keep you posted on our vegie growing :)  

Thanks for stopping by.

xoxox Carly

Sourdough Bread - very easy!

Well I'm back and as promised I have an absolutely delicious recipe to share with you.  I love bread ..... and most other foods!  I'm only new to the art of baking bread ... and yes it is an art ... but there are recipes out there that require no skill at all and this is one of them.

This is a recipe adapted from Adrian Richardson (an Australian Chef)

I will go through it step by step ...

You will need:-
x1 Large Mixing Bowl
x1 Oven proof pot with a tight fitting lid
x1 wire cooling rack

Plain Flour
Yeast
Water
Salt

Step 1
In a large bowl (as big as you've got) mix together
           3 cups plain flour (good quality and organic if possible)
           1.5  to 2 cups warm water (add 1.5 cups first .. then gradually add more if needed)
           1 teaspoon of dried yeast  (don't forget to store opened yeast in the fridge!)
           1.5 teaspoons salt

Mix it all together with a spoon.  The dough will seem quite wet but don't worry because this is the way you want it ... once it is combined cover the bowl with plastic wrap and leave the whole thing out on the bench to 'prove' for 10 to 18 hours.

Step 2

After the 10 - 18 hours, you will need a large heavy pot with a tight fitting lid.  I use a Chasseur pot.  

Place your pot with the lid on into your oven and preheat the oven to 220 degrees Celsius for 25 minutes.

Step 3

Adrian's recipe says to scrape the dough out onto a well floured bench, dust with more flour and form into a ball shape.

Now I don't know about you .. but flour all over the bench means more cleaning up ... so I scoot the dough over to one side of the bowl ... sprinkle the bottom of the bowl with wholemeal plain flour then roll the dough into that, sprinkle a little more flour on the other side of the bowl and give it a roll around in there.

The reason I use wholemeal flour for this step is I love the 'rustic' texture it gives to the outside of my loaf .. but you could use plain white if you wanted.

(in this picture you may notice some black lumps .. they are olives! 

 In this batch I added olives .. about 1/2 cup sliced black olives .. delicious!)

Once you are happy with the shape pop it into your pot  (I don't even grease the pot) put the lid back on and  back into the oven for 30 minutes.

After 30 minutes take the lid off and cook for a further 15 to 20 mins or until the dough is well coloured.

Step 4

Remove your delicious looking loaf from the pot and cool on a wire rack for 30 minutes .... then EAT IT UP!

 Here is another ... no olives or extras added ... 

It turns out perfectly every time!

Of course if you desire you can add some olives, sun dried tomatoes or other things you may enjoy.  This bread is so easy and has a delicious taste.

I hope you enjoy baking it and eating it as much as I do.

xoxoxox

Carly

New Blog Look and Information

Hi!!!!  I'm super super excited!  So what do you think of my new Blog look???  Pretty awesome hey!  It is all thanks to Kellie over at Give A Girl A Blog.  She has created the sensational colours and layout for me and you would be surprised at the low fee she charges.  So head on over and check out her blog for details.

Ok ... back to being all about me LOL .... well I haven't been around much lately I know.  Life takes lots of twists and turns with road blocks, detours and cross roads.  It can all be overwhelming, time consuming and full on ... but this is also how we grow, learn and decide what is important to us.

In recent months since our move out into the 'country' I have not been getting much craft done and have made the difficult decision to resign from most of the Design Teams I was on.  I just could not give my fellow team members and my gorgeous followers the attention you/they all deserved.  'LIFE' changed and the needs of a Husband, 3 year old daughter, pets and an acre of land not to mention working part time had to come first.

But to be totally honest .. somewhere in the needs of everyone else I lost my own self a little ... and I realise that CREATING is what I need for my own sanity and well being.  So to cut a long story short (yeah I know its pretty long already LOL) ... I have decided to change my blog a little.  From now on you will see all of my passions ...... Craft, Food and Life.  This will be a personal journey of mine and if you like .. you can come along.  So here's to us .... new beginnings .....

Stay tuned for my first recipe ... a 'cheats' sourdough bread .. you will be amazed how easy this is.

xoxooxox
Carly

Crafting For All Seasons #44 Buttons and Bows

Well hello there!  Its been a long time I know ... and I apologise.  Life has not allowed me any time for craft, blogging or much leisure ... but things are settling down.

The latest challenge over at Crafting For All Seasons is Buttons and Bows.  We are being sponsored by Bugaboo who are going to give our winner a lovely prize.

I have used this super cute image from Bugaboo called Boo - Teddy Bear which you can find here.

Be sure to check out the rest of the Design Teams gorgeous Button and Bow projects and then get your own entry in at the Challenge Blog.

See you again soon.

xoxoxo Carly

Mad For Markers - Aussie Christmas

Can it be .... can it really Christmas already???  Wow how this year has flown ....

This month we challenge you to create AN AUSSIE CHRISTMAS (it might rain ... but no snow).

For my card I have used this cute little boy and his dog from the Buddies set from The Greeting Farm.  You can find The Greeting Farm Stamps here.

I adore this stamp!  I love this sweet little boy and his best friend.  I thought it made a lovely Christmas image .... as most little children like to spoil their pets at Christmas.  (I know my 3 year old does)

I have coloured him in the following markers:-
Skin - E000, E00
Hair - E29, E35, E37
Clothes - YG25, R27, R59 and C1
Dog - E35, E37


Thank you so much for stopping by ... don't forget to enter your card into this months challenge for a chance to win!  Head on over to Mad For Markers to check out the gorgeous inspiration this month and to enter!

xoxox Carly