May Scrapbook Workshop - Thursday 20th - 7pm to 10pm

We're back in Whitehall on Thursday 20th May 2010 at 7pm for our monthly workshop. This month the layout has an open theme and we'll be using the new Crate Paper Brook Collection and chipboard embellishments.

The colours of the papers would suit a black and white photo perfectly or if you're lucky enough to have colour photos to match then bring them along. As always, the layout can be completed and the photos added later so don't worry if you can't find anything suitable for the night.

The Workshop costs €25.00 and that includes a full kit containing papers, chipboard embellishments and stickers plus to keep the energy levels up, tea, coffee and home baking. All you'll need to bring with you are a scissors, paper trimmer, paper glue, liquid glue e.g. Aleenes, Scrappy Glue, a pencil and a border punch if you have one (we used the MS Loops border punch) and bring along an ink (either one to match the papers or a Tim Holtz Distress, we used Antique Linen). If you don't have the ink or punch then you can borrow ours on the night and we have plenty of glues to buy in the shop!

Places are still available and can be booked by emailing workshops@thescrapbookstore.ie or telephoning/texting 086-2065346.

If you are a crafter and would like to come along to Crop and Shop then crop spaces are also available at €10.00.

Hope to see you there!

Looking forward to Mina's Painting With Distress Workshop this Thursday!

I hope you're all looking forward to Mina's 2nd Painting with Distress Inks Workshop this Thursday 22nd April 2010 in Whitehall Parish Centre. The class is now fully booked and apologies to anyone who put their name on the waiting list, but there were NO DROPOUTS! Now that's no surprise! We do have some crop spaces still available for anyone who wants to come along to crop, shop, chat and eat cake. Not bad for 10 euro! Email us at workshops@thescrapbookstore.ie if you'd like to book a crop space.

Mina sent me a few sneak peeks of her class and here they are:

Gorgeous! I'm hoping to get a chance to take part myself this time as I love the distress painting technique.

We're bringing the full shop with us on Thursday night too for those of you who like to indulge in a little shopping! The brand new Pink Paislee Collections have just arrived. The full Queen Bee Collection is in store and we're using the 365 Collection in our May Workshop but we do have the 6" x 6" pads, brads and Cork Buttons on sale in the store (we're saving the papers for the class!). Plus we have new Stampendous Stuftainers and the gorgeous new Tim Holtz Paper Stacks. If you'd like to have your order ready for collection on Thursday night, you can shop online and put the code COLLECT in at the checkout and you won't be charged postage. Then we'll have your order all packed up and ready for you to pick up on Thursday night.

Hope to see you there,

Girly Layouts, a mini book and some cards! Thanks Sandie!

Need to create a layout for a little girl, or a mini book for a proud Grandma or Auntie then get your hands on the new Crate Paper Doll Collection Pack and take a look at Sandie's fab layouts, cards and mini book, all made from half of one pack! Each Collection Pack contains 16 double-sided papers, 18 title stickers, 22 journal stickers, 6 border stickers and 22 journal stickers.

On the 1st layout Sandie used strips of Paper Doll Papers, with two Designer Diecuts (Sweetie word and flower) and a journalling sticker. On the 2nd layout she used Paper Doll Papers, together with Prima flowers, one Title Sticker (All Dolled Up) and ribbons/lace from her own stash.

These three gorgeous cards were made from Papers and Designer Diecuts from the Paper Doll Collection with lace and pearls added. If you like adding pearls and gemstones to your cards and layouts, check out our new range of both from Kaisercraft and we also have beautiful new lace from Prima now in stock.

I think my absolute favourite has to be the mini book, titled "Little Girls are a gift" and packed with papers, photos, Prima flowers, lace, ribbon and pearls. Mini Books are a great way to pack lots of photos into one project and they're ideal for giving as gifts. Sandie used a Mini Book from her own stash but we have a beautiful 6" x 6" Scalloped Chipboard Book in stock (Irish-made) which would look just as good!

As if all that wasn't enough, to finish off, she created this great tag:

and just to prove that crafters hate to waste anything, she sent me a photo of all that was left! Not bad eh?

Thanks again Sandie for sharing your gorgeous projects with us :-)

TFL

Create the card with Cosmo Cricket Earth Love!

If you haven't gotten your hands on the March 2010 issue of Card Trends, it's now on sale and packed with some great card inspiration.

One of my favourite lines in recent months has been the Cosmo Cricket Earth Love Collection and it's been a winner with cardmakers.

In the March 2010 Card Trends magazine, Laura Craigie has created a beautiful card using Earth Love papers, Earth Love Ready-Set Chipboard and Earth Love Ribbons. Check out Laura's blog http://evidenceofagoodlife.blogspot.com/ to view her amazing cards!

The Earth Love Mini Deck which contains 36 Earth Love papers (2 of each of 18 styles) in 6" x 6" (a perfect size for cardmaking) is in stock, and together with the Earth Love 12" x 12" Ready-Set Chipboard and the Earth Love Ribbons you'll have plenty to create this card and more. Check out the full range here!

Cupcakes at TheScrapbookStore.ie

As it's nearly Easter and it's practically the law to indulge in sweet things around this time, I've decided to devote this post to cupcakes!

I know lots of you are fans of these small cakes, so how about creating some to give as Easter gifts for friends and family? Right now we have in stock the cutest cupcake cases and presentation gift boxes! The boxes come in packs of three and are available to hold 1 or 4 cupcakes.



Now all you need is the cupcakes! I found a really good recipe recently in, of all places, the Aldi catalogue (you know, the free one that comes in the door every couple of weeks). Here it is:

For cupcakes:

175g butter, at room temperature

175 caster sugar

3 large eggs

250g self raising flour

3 tablespoons milk

1 lemon, zested finely chopped

half a vanilla pod, seeds only

Method:

1. Line the cupcake paper cases into a cake tin. Pre-heat oven to 170c.

2. Beat the butter and sugar together in a bowl until pale in colour.

3. Beat in the eggs one at a time. Mixing well between each stage.

4. Gentle fold in the flour a little bit at a time.

5. Add the milk to loosen the mixture up slightly.

6. Split the mix in two and add zest to one half and vanilla seeds to the other half.

7. Spoon the mixture into the paper cases and bake in the oven for 45 minutes.

8. Remove from the oven and allow to cool before decorating.

For really scrummy toppings, you can't beat Martha Stewart's recipe for Mix and Match Cupcakes.

You make a basic Vanilla Buttercream by beating 4oz of unsalted butter with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Then, putting the mixer on medium speed, beat in 12oz of icing sugar, 4oz at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in half a teaspoon of pure vanilla extract. Increase speed to high and beat until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes.

To create a Raspberry Buttercream, use the recipe above and at the end beat in 3 or 4 teaspoons of seedless raspberry jam.

To create a Chocolate Buttercream, use the recipe for Vanilla Buttercream. Then melt 4 ounces of dark chocolate in a bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water until smooth. Remove it from the heat and allow it to cool to room temperature. Then beat the cooled chocolate into the buttercream.

Spread the frosting on top of the cupcakes with the back of a spoon or a butterknife and finish with a swirl.

Enjoy!